The value of empty soda bottles would seem to be limited, which means that they usually end up in the trash. That can lead to an environmental concern, given the lengthy process involved in the plastic breaking down.
However, a Belgian professor named Willem Van Cotthem has found an important use for this otherwise useless item. His idea involves stacking these plastic bottles to form bottle towers that will aid in the growing of food.
Van Cotthem, who is an honorary professor at Ghent University in Belgium and has a degree in botany, showed off the process in a video that was produced over 2011-12.
Using a former kennel, Van Cotthem cuts off the bottom of each plastic bottle and puts it upside down on top of another such bottle. Depending on the particular need, the height of the bottle tower can require the use of between four to six bottles per row. In small spaces, a number of these rows can be installed, with pot towers also a potential option.
At this point, seedlings and cuttings can be planted, with the seedlings becoming young plants in less than ten days. Within a month, lettuce, herbs and peppers can be seen sprouting in the bottle towers. Lettuce has also been planted in the pot tower along with bell peppers.
Rain and the benefits surrounding it become evident when showing off the watering system, which consists of the funnel created by the upside-down bottle.
When harvesting of the vegetables was required during the winter months, great care was taken to leave the roots in place in order for them to be composted for the following growing season. That allows for a higher organic content.
The next planting takes place in June 2012, with Van Cotthem and his son Dennis handling these duties. Among the crops that have been planted are rosemary, lettuce, garden sage and roquette. Meanwhile, tomatoes have ripened to the point that they’re virtually ready to be picked.
At this point, a new system is put in place that will involve filling bottles above the already constructed bottle towers. These filling bottles contain a layer of sand that will help filter the water by virtue of keeping the bottle cap in place. Cutting a one mm hole in the cap allows for drip irrigation to take place.
This strategy results in even greater success in a span of approximately six weeks. The wide array of following items that are able to thrive in such conditions include: parsley (regular and curly), basil, lettuce (regular, red curly, curled-leaved and oakleaf varieties), chives, broccoli, lavas, lemon balm, stevia, celery, cauliflower, curled and escarole endives, sweet fennel, green and red chicory and red beet root.
This potential growing consideration has the possibility of affecting not only those living in rural areas, but those in urban settings and housing projects as well. In the latter case, individuals with balconies could consider growing their own vegetables in the most cost-effective manner possible.
Those cost savings could also be considered when determining specific strategies in attempting to eliminate or at least reduce the problem of world hunger. In this instance, areas that may be prone to such conditions as malnutrition can attempt this approach in order to alleviate the issue at hand.
The video used to present this unique method of growing has had more than 2.8 million online views since it was first posted in July 2012.