An instant home farm: Just add water

MinifarmBox, a new venture spearheaded by Mount Washington writer Conor Fitzpatrick, takes some of the guess work out of vegetable gardening for novices. Fitzpatrick will deliver and install a 4-by-4-foot raised bed made of sustainably farmed cedar or redwood. Each raised bed includes organic soil, a moisture gauge for proper watering, a gopher screen if needed, a beginner’s manual and three varieties of heirloom seeds. Cost: $289. Other sizes are available, as is a drip irrigation system. The best part: All you need is a flat area that gets six to eight hours of sun a day. (213) 241-9160, www.minifarmbox.com.

-- Lisa Boone