Alternative to Hydroponics?

So I'm really loving these lettuce/etc towers that I've been seeing all over lately.

Is there some way to do this without running a pump to run the water through it 24/7? I just feel like that's a lot of wasted energy.
Maybe like this also?

Can you do this with standing water?

I have not done hydroponics but I have read a little bit into it.

You might be interested in the Kratky Method of passive hydroponics especially if you are looking towards greens.

https://gardenandhappy.com/kratky-method/

I hope this might spark some ideas for you.

I also recommend looking into the Kratky Method.

I bought some plants to experiment with growing plants in water.

I change the water often.

I have found that they need to have some sort of nutrition to be productive.

Of course, compost tea would be best, and using that might require the pump to circulate the water.  I don't know since I have not experimented with that.

The Kratky Method may be what I go with, Thank You!!
Is there a way to DIY nutrient water? Maybe throw some banana peels in?

This video shows a vermicompost setup that uses a low power pump to circulate/aerate water  through the system.
They grow a lot of plants in these nutrients.

https://youtu.be/y5caoQ_EEuY?si=dKVssWwDNIsUbLpQ

Reliable solar powered pumps are not very expensive.
Aerating water filled with biological materials will create liquid fertilizer even if there are no worms present

https://youtu.be/dGiJsqR7ERY?si=e5lR-gWiouEpsiYM

  If you are trying for no power container growies I much prefer wicking beds.  Give the biology what it needs not just rocks and chemical fertilizer.

https://permies.com/t/221632/permaculture/Wicking-Beds-Modification

Tom

I think the water can't be standing or it causes problems, but I think it CAN be a periodic cycling. If you have some sort of substrate for them to grow in it will hold the moisture in between Cycling. I have been thinking about building rock beds with bits of cotton where the plants are and Cycling water through 1x a day with a hand pump. This is just a theory/plan at this point, but i can't think why it wouldn't work! Mine would be pumped from a small ground fish farming pond. (Really more aquaponics)

Another option is a hand cranked pressure pump. You could crank it ones a day and have it set up to hold pressure for the next 24 hrs, or set up a windmill pump. I dont have or want electricity in my garden, so I have been trying to plan a way. 😅