Raised Platform for Farm

[slw]

I'm expecting my Farm 12XL to arrive in a few days and I'm trying to figure out the best way to raise it off the floor so that I won't have to bend or kneel down so much for upkeep.   I know that some of you have purchased stands of some type for this purpose and I wonder if you'd share a picture of your setup and say how it works for you. 

I saw this type of wire rack on Amazon and the dimensions sound pretty good; it will raise the Farm 15" off the floor. 

Do you Farm-ers see any problem with that open rack type?  Should I look for something more substantial?   This is supposed to support 200 lbs. 

[scarfguy]

Yes, I've got a bunch of this shelving.  There are a variety of configurations and a variety of sellers/manufacturers but they all are of the same design. I was surprised at how sturdy they are when put together tightly.  Be careful when ordering as I found those with the cheapest prices are made of thinner wire. Mine are much larger than the one you pictured but the one you are interested in should work great for a farm stand.

FYI here's the big heavy duty chrome one I bought:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U314CA0

Here's one of the smaller ones:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07995MHFL

That one is an amazon basics version and it was not quite as robust as the chrome one but turned out to be quite sturdy. This one worked well for me with the middle hanger to hang a AG light panel on.

If the feet of the farm don't fit level on the wire rack, you can alway put a piece of corrugated cardboard under the farm.

[scarfguy]

slw, did you see this one:

www.amazon.com/Whitmor-Supreme-Stacking-Shelf-Basket/dp/B0026SLZDA

I don't know if the dimension are what you need but the addition of the bottom rack would add a lot of stability to the whole thing.

[slw]

Thanks scarfguy.   I'm trying to keep it "minimal" because (as I have whined before) my space is getting extremely limited.  So I need something with a fairly small footprint.   I find a lot of wood options but most of them are not wide enough... the Farm footprint is 14"x18". 

I'm kind of short (5'2"), so I don't want the Farm to be up really high, either.  I'm wondering if a 15" platform is too tall... will I be able to see the controls on top? I keep a small step-stool handy. 

For those of you who keep your Farm on the floor, do you find it difficult to maintain?  The room where my gardens are is carpeted so I want things to be stable.  Do y'all put anything under the Farm?   I see some rubber under-sink mats that might work for that.  These are 19"x22"...

[slw]

Aug 5, 2023 15:22:46 GMT -5 scarfguy said:

slw , did you see this one:

www.amazon.com/Whitmor-Supreme-Stacking-Shelf-Basket/dp/B0026SLZDA

I don't know if the dimension are what you need but the addition of the bottom rack would add a lot of stability to the whole thing.

I do like that and I agree that the basket rack thing would help stabilize.  Unfortunately the Farm dimensions are 14"x18", so this is not quite wide enough.  Dang.

[maskedsonnet]

I've got a couple farms stacked on this wire shelf. It's stable, but if you build it to put 2 farms on you won't be able to see the top controls without a stand stool, and this has a wider footprint because I wanted one big enough for the farm and a reservoir next to it. But the great thing about wire shelving like this is that you can put a bottom shelf for stability and from there make the other shelves any height you like, especially if you're only going to put 1 Farm on there.

here's mine:

[slw]

Wow, that is TALL, maskedsonnet!!   Very impressive. 

[lynnee]

Aug 5, 2023 18:47:13 GMT -5 slw said:

Wow, that is TALL, maskedsonnet!!   Very impressive. 

It's easy to maintain Farms that have high-up controls as long as the AG wireless app is working. However, if the AG servers are acting up, taking out your wireless connection, you will have to climb up on something to see the water level, days planted, plant food alerts, etc., and get at the touchscreen.

I bought a couple of these Dunnage Racks, which fit the Farm 12XL with a bit of extra width.

However, the rack + Farm wasn't wonderfully stable, given my slightly sloped floor. Also, aluminum around electrical cords and water made me nervous, the raised height didn't help things much, and even the short dunnage rack put the controls almost out of reach.

I removed the rack, and was sorry that I'd purchased two to save on shipping. I'll use them in the garage to keep cardboard boxes off the floor.

[agnoob]

I just got my first Farm 12 XL a few days ago. slw like you, I'm also 5'2. I don't want the Farm to be on the floor but also don't want to use a step ladder to reach the screen. So my options are limited to stands that are 12-18" tall. I was also looking for something with sturdy wheels so I can rotate the Farm and reach the plants in the back easily. I got this printer stand that can hold up to 150 lb and is ~13" when the wheels are installed.

I actually just set this up today and found that the Farm is slightly wider than the stand but doesn't seem like it'll slip or fall from the stand. The Farm's screen is at ~ eye level now but I still need to squat/crouch to work on the grow bowl. I'm hoping that I'd like this set up more once the plants are taller and I can prune while standing upright.

[slw]

Hey lynnee.  I was looking at the dunnage racks; that is the best price I have seen on them.  They certainly seem sturdy enough.  

After reading all the complaints about the connectivity,  I have never even loaded the app on my phone or tried to set up my Bounties. 

[slw]

Thanks, agnoob. I was actually looking at "under desk printer stands" yesterday on Amazon. I decided that I don't want wheels because mine will be on carpet. That does look like a good solution, though. Do you have a photo of your setup?

I have issues with my arm/shoulder and if I get down on the floor I have a hard time getting up again, so I'm wondering how I'll manage maintenance if the Farm isn't elevated a bit. I'm sure I'll figure something out!!

P.S. I got my Farm from Best Buy after you posted the deal, so thanks!

[agnoob]

The stand I got can be set up with or without the wheels. Even with the wheels you can lock them so that you have the option to move it easily. 

If you have trouble getting back up from the floor, I'd suggest getting something that's 2-3 ft tall so that you can reach the grow bowl more easily. You'll just need a step stool to help you reach the screen on the Farm XL. You could probably even find a stand with some space for storage underneath for the step stool.

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[lynnee]

That looks like a very workable setup, agnoob! I'm a big fan of wheels on heavy furniture, but never thought of something like that for my big Farms.

The good thing about that platform is that it isn't any wider than the Farm 12XL, so it won't alter the basic footprint except in front. I'm going to try one.

[Shawn]

I can not remember what size I bought but I have a Dunnage Rack from here

[slw]

agnoob--thanks for the pic; that looks great.   I wonder if you'd mind measuring the footprint of the Farm, from the outside of the "feet."   The AG website says it's 18", but according to Amazon that printer cart is 19.7".     It looks like a nice setup and the storage shelf is a plus!   What's your first crop going to be?   I think my Farm will be here on Wednesday.

[agnoob]

slw I measured it from leg to leg and it’s 20” wide. That’s a huge difference from the 18” on AG’s website!

For my Farm, I’m growing two ground cherry plants and two Chinese cabbages (golden beauty variety). While I wait for those to mature, I’m also planting a bunch of herbs and a Japanese wasabi radish (free seed packet from Baker Creek). By the time the other four plants mature, I’ll either harvest the herbs and save them in a herb saver pod, or move some of them to my Sprout (which now has lettuce but will probably be done in like two months).

[slw]

Aug 7, 2023 12:49:19 GMT -5 agnoob said:

slw I measured it from leg to leg and it’s 20” wide. That’s a huge difference from the 18” on AG’s website!

For my Farm, I’m growing two ground cherry plants and two Chinese cabbages (golden beauty variety). While I wait for those to mature, I’m also planting a bunch of herbs and a Japanese wasabi radish (free seed packet from Baker Creek). By the time the other four plants mature, I’ll either harvest the herbs and save them in a herb saver pod, or move some of them to my Sprout (which now has lettuce but will probably be done in like two months).

Hey, thanks so  much for the measurement!  I will have to revise my search with that information.   And how annoying that AG has incorrect measurements on the website. 

I'm trying to decide if I want some patio tomatoes in my Farm, or maybe a different cucumber variety.  

ETA--forgot to ask... could you measure the front to back distance as well?  AG states 14" so now I wonder.   Thanks.

[agnoob]

The depth is 13” and 7/8 - so 14” is quite close

[agnoob]

Just found this 20”x20”x20” nightstand that can hold up to 132lb that might work for you, slw. This should be tall enough to not have you kneel on the floor to use the grow bowl. You might have to use a step stool to reach the screen since it’ll be ~65” from the floor.

Homieasy End Table, 20 Inch Square Side Table Modern Night Stand with 2-Tier Storage Shelf, Living Room Small Coffee Table, Wood Finish Bedside Table for Bedroom, Black a.co/d/1XVXllT

[slw]

Thanks, agnoob!   That might work for me.   I appreciate your help very much.