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What will be next year’s best innovation for the garden?
Five smart, innovative products have been shortlisted for the Elmia Garden Award for garden product of the year for 2018. They are being exhibited for the first time at Elmia Garden in Jönköping, Sweden.
“They’re all really good entries – new, exciting innovations and technical solutions with a clear look to the future,” says Kristin Koefoed, manager of Elmia Garden.
A composting system that fits under the kitchen counter, a soil-free grow box for herbs and leafy greens, a digital gardening diary to keep on your phone, a Japanese ladder for a safer work environment, and biochar to keep soil porous are the five shortlisted products that all have the chance to be next year’s winner. All five are being displayed to the public at Elmia Garden in Jönköping on 4-5 October.
Elmia Garden Award has both weight and status in the garden industry. Products shortlisted to be chosen as product of the year always meet with great interest. Over the years many ingenious solutions have been presented at Elmia Garden, where the garden industry traditionally gathers to discover next season’s best and most exciting innovations.
Previous winners include an electric-powered wheelbarrow, a bird nesting box with a webcam, a plant pot made of microfibre, and most recently a planting ring made of concrete, which won the award for 2017.
The aim of Elmia Garden Award is to showcase the creativity and product development that is happening in the garden industry, and both large and small companies have the chance to exhibit their entries. The products are judged by a jury consisting of well-known figures such as Simon Irvine, the garden designer at Läckö Castle, Christina Säll, editor-in-chief of the magazine Hemträdgården, and Magnus Åström, creative director at Blink.
“This year’s shortlisted entries also have a clear focus on the environment and safety, smart solutions, and products for everything from urban gardening and compact living to digital technology – assistive devices that can benefit everyone,” Kristin Koefoed says.
The winner of the Elmia Garden Award 2018 will be announced at a press conference in the spring in good time for the start of the gardening season.
