Let’s Re-Use and Recycle Part 1

Probably everyone these days understands the need of being more responsible with the environment and consider the choices one makes while purchasing new items. It’s taken a while to become main stream but all around us we see new initiatives and campaigns to reuse things like fishnet plastics and many other materials. We at Art & Home are also trying to do our best sourcing new and responsible materials. We will regularly post our finds and show what we came up with. There is still a lot to discover.

Botanical recycling

One angle of direction is probably not something you will think of when talking about recycling. We produce and use a lot of botanical materials in our daily lives (think of trees – wood, corn – flour, flax – linen) and while processing these plants we will be left with residue which can be perfectly used for compost but have also many other benefits. Another thing is that our travelling all over the world has caused many plants and animals to hitchhike along and end up in places which were not ready for such green guests. Think of tangerine seeds which were spit out while eating them and developed into trees which are harming the indigenous flora, passion fruit is another and the pretty Lantana Camara is driving farmers mad.

Invasive plants

                                         source: wikipedia                                                                                    source: cgtn

One way to get rid of these invasive species is to use chemicals to get rid of them, not very beneficial to the environment either or we can be clever and try and find uses for them. One type of invasive plant we can use is the water hyacinth. A pretty plant with purple flowers floating on lakes and waterways and has such a vigor that in no time at all whole waterways are blocked and all that lives beneath is cut of from sunshine and oxygen. On the more positive side, the plant has pretty flowers, makes a great indoor plant but most important makes great fiber which can used for amazing baskets and other weaving products. And the cool thing is that after the product has finished its lifecycle it can be composted quite simply. We love to work with materials like water hyacinth.

source: Mongabay-India

Harvest residue

                                source: food and wine                                                                       source: water hyacinth fiber-alibaba

Another material we love to use is the stuff that is left over after the crops are harvested. Corn grows tall, is a member of the grass family which also includes lawn grass and bamboo. The corn cobs are the part of the plant we are looking for but around these cobs is husk, leaf like material great for making fibrous rope and great for weaving. We love to use this material which can be dyed quite easily using natural dyes, in baskets, bags and rugs and many other home décor products. Luckily the market craves all thing weaving and so these remarkable materials are sure to find a loving home somewhere.

                          source: specialty produce                                                                   source: corn husk rope-source modular.de