The Groasis Waterboxx® was created by Pieter Hoff, a Dutch inventor passionate about planting trees to reduce agricultural carbon emissions and rebalance the planet’s ecosystem. The innovative plant cocoon is a simple piece of kit that helps to grow of plants and trees in inhospitable conditions. Perfect, then, for drought-ridden areas of southern Africa.
With no need for groundwater or electricity, the Groasis Waterboxx® collects rainwater and traps water from condensation. It distributes the collected water, over an extended period, to the plant growing in the centre of the cocoon and gains the same growth but with 90% less water. Not only that, but it also prevents the evaporation of groundwater by steadying the temperature around the plant’s roots; it fights off competitive weeds near the planted tree and helps prevent damage from rodents.
Using over 10,000 Groasis Waterboxxes®, donated by the COmON Foundation, Peace Parks is working with local communities to grow thousands of indigenous trees in the hope of restoring woodlands lost to deforestation. And that is just the beginning. In the future these trees will provide nuts and medicinal ingredients too. Right now, they are enabling the school children at the Simalaha Community Conservancy to grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables such as papaya, mango, apple, and manzanilla.
The box itself can be used up to 10 times and it is biodegradable, so this is an all-round good egg when it comes to sustainable growing.
The Groasis Boxxes’ mission goes hand in hand with the work of Peace Parks and partners, working to restore tomorrow for life on Earth. Both share the vision to fight erosion, deforestation, poverty, unemployment and climate change. With the distribution of Groasis Waterboxxes, communities are learning sustainable farming practises whilst being empowered to optimise land use and to nurture their natural environment.
