Friday, February 20, 2009

Floating Water Gardens


The Gaibandha district of Bangladesh gets covered by water during monsoon season, making it nearly impossible to plant crops. Using the hyacinth plant to create a floating raft, a creative solution has been made for this problem. Once topped with soil and seeds, the raft becomes a floating garden that can yield crops such as gourd, okra, and other leafy vegetables. The garden is inexpensive (hyacinth is available for free locally), and very versatile. It can be used in canals, ponds, and other water sources, and is easily transported. This innovative way to harvest vegetables provides families with food even in the worst rainy seasons.