One thing to note is that as much as the Auk tries to sanitize and simplify the growing process, plants are still wildlife, and wildlife be wildin’. Within about a month, my beautiful Scandinavian showpiece was replaced by an unkempt bush of leggy parsley and floppy cilantro. I'm sure this process was not helped by a weeklong vacation during which I was not able to harvest. By the time I got home, the Auk's walnut poles and stylish pots were obscured. The aluminum light bar, despite being at its tallest setting, was touched by basil leaves with burned edges and spots where they had grown too close to the LEDs. It was, in a word, ugly.
But it was also fecund. Basil harvests throughout my six-week test consisted of not just a handful of leaves but an entire bowlful—enough to make pesto. Perpetual bunches of parsley and cilantro provided garnishes for multiple meals each week. I also look forward to the possibility of growing less common herbs like epazote and savory.
Photograph: Kat Merck
One risk of pumpless systems like this is the potential for mold. I inspected the underside of the Auk's pots regularly and didn't spot any, but the room it was in was cool, below 70 degrees Fahrenheit—in warmer climates, this could well be a concern.
Leaf Leverage
Just about any user will have success in the Auk—there's no fussing with pump tubing, timers, or pH (the coconut fiber works as a pH buffer, according to Auk), and you can grow legitimately harvestable amounts of herbs instead of just the one stalk that you get with pod-style gardens. If you're on the fence, there's a 100-day money-back guarantee.
It's also worth noting that, aside from the design, there's nothing particularly innovative about the components—there's no obvious reason, aside from R&D, that it should cost twice as much as traditional pod-style planters like the Aerogarden. It does seem silly to pay for looks when the main focal point is a living thing that may or may not cooperate with your aesthetic vision—leaves will drop, stems will die, stalks will twist this way and that in their competition for light. But until this happens, the Auk will look darn good on just about any kitchen island or counter.