Is it Organic?

Is Tower Garden Organic? Let’s Break It Down Simply

If you’ve been eyeing a Tower Garden and wondering, “Is it organic?”—you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions people ask. And the short answer? Technically, no. But let’s explore why that is—and why it might not be the dealbreaker you think it is.

First, What Does “Organic” Even Mean?

In everyday language, “organic” usually means grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. But when it comes to science—and official certification—it gets a little more specific.

Scientifically, everything with carbon is organic. That includes you, me, tomatoes, and technically even synthetic fertilizers. (Yep, that’s the twist!) So when we talk about “organic food,” we’re not talking about the chemistry definition. We’re talking about a set of standards laid out by organizations like the USDA.

These standards include things like:

• Using soil as the primary growing medium
• Avoiding synthetic inputs
• Supporting ecological balance and biodiversity

So, by those specific certification rules, a Tower Garden doesn’t qualify as “organic” because it doesn’t use soil.

So What Is Tower Garden?

Tower Garden is an aeroponic system. That means it grows plants using water, air, and a mineral-based nutrient solution—no soil involved. Plants grow vertically in a tower and their roots are misted with water and nutrients on a timed cycle. It’s clean, efficient, and can grow an abundance of produce in a small footprint.

Tower Gardens:

• Don’t use soil (which is a requirement for USDA organic certification)
• Don’t use synthetic pesticides or herbicides
• Use a natural, plant-based mineral nutrient blend
• Can be used indoors or outdoors, reducing environmental exposure

In other words, it’s clean growing—just not certified organic.

But Wait—What About the Nutrients?

Tower Garden uses a mineral solution derived mostly from earth-based sources like rock dust, seaweed, and naturally occurring minerals. These nutrients dissolve into water so that plants can absorb them directly through their roots.

Here’s the part that throws people: because the nutrients are processed into a water-soluble form, they technically don’t qualify under current organic certification rules—even if they started from natural sources.

But the good news? The nutrient solution is:

• Non-toxic
• Plant-based
• Free from synthetic pesticides or growth hormones
• Designed for optimal plant health and growth

Cleaner Than Organic?

Some folks (myself included) would argue that Tower Garden-grown produce is as clean—if not cleaner—than organic. Why? Because:

• You control the environment (less exposure to pests, chemicals, and soil-borne diseases)
• No toxic sprays are needed
• No run-off polluting the local ecosystem
• And your food is grown fresh at home—zero transportation, packaging, or long storage

The Bottom Line

Is Tower Garden certified organic? No.

Is it clean, safe, sustainable, and nutrient-rich? Absolutely.

It’s a modern method of growing that skips the dirt, keeps the benefits, and lets you harvest fresh, delicious food right from your patio, balcony, or kitchen.

If you ask me, that’s a win.