The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 10 Spring 2014 | Page 10

The Zimbabwean Gardener Watering can Build a green house This idea is spreading like wildfire worldwide and it is cheap and easy to build! Look out for the DIY instructions in the next issue (Issue 11), but in the meantime, start collecting plastic water and fizzy drink bottles – you need about 1600 bottles. This could be a great way to encourage your friends and family to collect the bottles to make your own green house! Drill a few holes in the cap of the water bottle – if you don’t have a drill, hammer a few holes in the lid with a nail. Fill up with water, replace the cap and start using your homemade watering can. This is also a great way to collect and store grey water: scoop the water out of your bath with the bottle, put the lid on and use when necessary rather than sending it down the drain. They are easy to make so you can have as many as you need! A mini greenhouse Use them as bricks In Nigeria, a housing scheme built houses from bottles to help solve their huge housing need and clean the polluted environment. The bottles were filled with sand, capped and then held together by mud/cement and string to form a solid wall. Read more at: http://phys.org/ news/2011-11-plastic-bottles-nigeria-housing-problem. html#jCp Use clear bottles as a mini greenhouse to protect young seedlings from harsh weather elements or pests such as snails and caterpillars. Use bigger bottles to prevent them from becoming too leggy - a two-litre bottle or bigger works well! Container Looking for a cheap container? Plastic bottles are perfect. Chop off the top, make a couple of holes in the bottom, add some compost and your seeds or seedlings are ready to be planted! You can always decorate them if you want to use them in the home. Help your communities The Zimbabwean Gardener would like to show these innovative methods to communities all over the country. Please help us by collecting your water bottles, fizzy drink plastic bottles and dropping them off at: Emerald Seedlings Henning’s Nursery Alpes rd 16 Greendale Avenue Teviotdale Greendale Harare Be kind to the environment and recycle what you can! 10