Who is planting a garden this year?

This isnt the pretty pictures we have already seen
but opens up the idea of what can be used .
helps with water use and ground level pests and
if its no garden or a plastic bag garden !
Will look better when all the veg is growing out the top

Latest news on the project following a fact finding trip to Kenya 2011

If every discarded plastic supermarket carrier bag was used as a hanging container for growing vegetables worldwide food shortage would be eradicated. So say Rochdale Rotarian David Acton and Middleton Rotarian John Brooker rotary international members of a water/horticultural conservation evaluation team who experienced a ‘eureka’ moment on a recent trip to Kenya.
Acton explained that they had taken vertical vegetable growing bags to trial in the semi arid areas of Kenya, within 2 days of arrival they realised that the cost of the product they had taken was more than the poverty stricken African market could afford.
After much brain storming with members of the Kenyan Rotary team and the local rural community development agency staff, it was decided that what is the scourge of the world, used supermarket plastic bags was in fact the answer to universal hunger, that leap of imagination and the worldwide ramifications of using discarded plastic bags to grow food was worthy of an on the spot celebration. (see jpeg image 1195)
The main advantage is that the bags are free and available worldwide. There are supermarkets everywhere albeit of varying sizes, reports David Acton. The completed grow bag takes 5 seconds to make – place one bag inside another for strength, half fill with suitable growing medium, hang it up, punch 2 holes 1”/2cm up from the bottom of the bag, plant seeds or push in a seedling ‘plug’ add water and let nature take its course.
Other advantages over growing traditionally at ground level are: when the bag is hung up it creates a plastic ‘cone’ shape this allows condensation to trickle back down inside the bag into the soil so reducing water loss.
The moisture content can be carefully monitored visually and by a light squeeze of the bag, if it feels turgid (slightly soft) then the soil inside is in perfect condition.
The grower treats the bag like a baby, checking early morning and evening to see if water is required as only the minimum amount of water is used (if water drips from the two holes – stop watering – the drips can be caught in a pan and returned to the top of the bag i.e. no waste water – no ‘run-off’
The bag can be hung in semi shade (under the eaves of a building or under the canopy of trees) where a cool environment exists whilst the plant can reach out and be supported in the warmth of bright sunlight. The soil/compost can be examined for ground borne bugs – weevils, slugs etc before being hung up. Bags can be hung one above the other to maximise yield in a given space.
Where farm yard animal’s donkeys, goats, sheep and chickens cause problems by eating the young plants – the bags can be held above their reach. The advantages stacked up like points in a tennis match. By day three the re- vamped completely free grow bag was ready to be introduced to the Kenyon rural community.
Our team of six members including four Rotarians set of to make presentation in the outlying villages. The response is now history one hundred and forty two ‘trainers’ received making and growing instructions which, they will pass on to another group of trainers.
The ‘hanging’ concept was instantly seen as a way forward, the reaction from the trainers was wonderful, with searching questions asked and problems solved on the spot by local growers’ knowledge.
At the debriefing session at the end of the trip, it was decided that simple ideas are the best and most enduring. David Acton the team spokesman said ‘what idea could be simpler and more environmentally friendly’ He would now like to involve interested growers, both amateur and professional in the UK particularly in ‘urban farm’ situations, to try the growing method and ‘feed back’ their comments. Suitable vegetables are tomatoes, peas, beans, courgettes, peppers, cucumbers and strawberries. (see jpeg image 1212)
The ‘above ground’ concept lends itself to the ‘grow your own’ trend and the austere situation we find ourselves in, it may also prove of value in the emerging “Big Society”

Past President David Acton.

Today...the fruits of our labor



Shared some others with our neighbors...their coming in fast

Tomorrow I have to buy a pressure cooker and learn to can fast!
Thanks Carol for the tips