Our Product Development Process

At OpenHarvest, our mission goes beyond just designing and selling hydroponic systems. We aim to nurture a global community dedicated to sustainable food production and self-sufficiency. Our approach is shaped by seven key steps:

1. Experiment

2. Standardize

3. Optimize

4. Systematize

5. Automate

6. Educate

7. Replicate

1. Experiment

Every great innovation starts with exploration. We test different growing methods, device materials, and production techniques—often on a small scale—to understand what works and what doesn’t. Whether it’s experimenting with new designs for a hydroponic vertical tower or trying out alternative water filtration methods, our process encourages creativity and a willingness to learn from failures.

2. Standardize

After we identify successful experiments, we refine them into consistent, repeatable practices. This means documenting measurements, material sources, assembly instructions, and best practices. Standardization helps us achieve reliable outcomes, ensuring that whether you’re a seasoned grower or a first-time builder, you can follow our guidelines and expect quality results.

3. Optimize

Standardizing a design or process is only the beginning. Next, we seek to make it better, faster, or more efficient. For instance, if we’ve settled on a particular pump and reservoir combo, we’ll look for ways to reduce energy usage, lower costs, and decrease maintenance. Optimization is an ongoing commitment to finding continuous improvements so that our community enjoys the most effective solutions possible.

4. Systematize

Once our core approach is tested and refined, we embed it into a broader system. Think of a hydroponic tower kit that comes with parts, assembly instructions, maintenance schedules, and troubleshooting guides. We package our knowledge so it’s easy to understand and replicate. By turning discrete solutions into cohesive systems, we make it simpler for people to integrate sustainable food production into their lives.

5. Automate

Technology can drastically reduce manual effort while improving consistency. Wherever feasible, we build automated features—like sensors that monitor nutrient levels or timers that regulate water flow—into our designs. Automation frees you from daily manual checks and helps maintain optimal growing conditions. It also generates valuable data for further improvements.

6. Educate

Information is power. We believe that by sharing the “how” behind our products, we can empower our community to innovate alongside us. This is why we’re developing an online platform reminiscent of a code academy, but focused on urban food production and sustainable agriculture. From tutorials to deep-dive courses, we want everyone, from curious beginners to experienced pros, to have access to the knowledge they need.

7. Replicate

Openness is at the heart of what we do. Our goal is not just to sell products, but to foster a movement. In our open-source franchise model, anyone can make and sell our designs locally—without licensing fees or obligations to pay us. We believe that by letting communities replicate our work freely, we will see more rapid innovation and broader impact on sustainable food production worldwide.

In short, our development process is about more than just building products. It’s a cycle of learning, refining, sharing, and then empowering others to do the same. Join us on this journey—together, we can reshape how we grow and consume food, one open-source solution at a time.