a Mexican slumMexico City is known as a victim of poverty, with nearly 15 million residents struggling to endure extreme living conditions. This accounts for nearly 20% of the total population. The amount of food is scarce which compelled a group known as ANADEGES, a collection of several non-profit organizations, to develop a plan to grow foods with the limited amount of space and materials available in Mexican slums. The proposal suggests using backyards, balconies, and rooftops as surfaces to cultivate small quantities of fruits and vegetable in order to compensate for the lack of food. This is known as "container gardening," which is commonly used in urban developments for herbs such as basil and parsley. Despite the confined space that the crops are grown in, they are capable of adapting to these restricting conditions. Moreover, the method is relatively inexpensive to operate and efficient in terms of production. Empty bags, bottle, and bins are all suitable containers that can be obtained cheaply or even for free and the seeds require minimal investment. In addition, vegetables that need little space such as carrots, radishes, or tomatoes make it easier to grow a greater span of products.
An example of a container grown herbWith the large quantity of waste water being produced in Mexico, it becomes increasingly harder to find ethical ways of disposing it. Only about 10% of water is treated for drinking purposes but the technique is costly. As a result, organizations invented multiple ways to make use of the wet waste, one being fertilization. This includes urine and rainwater which proves to be environmentally friendly solutions for growing foods.
Urine contains many traits that are ideal for fertilization. It is a good source of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium which are reoccurring ingredients in commercial fertilizers. When diluted with water, it can be directly applied to soil. Tests conducted show that plants grow faster, healthier, and larger, requiring less water to thrive. Instead of wasting water consumed by flushing toilets, the urine can be directly used without producing any harmful byproducts or pose any major risks to human health. Most importantly, it's extremely economical due to the fact that there is no cost and also reduces the amount of waste that pollutes our environment.
Rainwater harvesting is practice of gathering and preserving runoff agricultural purposes. This is a highly inexpensive process and can be executed with the same materials required for container gardening. Bins can be situated in large open areas to collect rainwater falling directly from the sky, or in places where they can catch the runoff from roofs and gutters. In the slums of Mexico, where rain isn't always frequent, it is best to capitalize on its useful applications.
Basic rainwater collection system
Mexico is a prime example of how wet waste is reused in fertilizing the crops that we eat, creating a cycle that maximizes the use of every available resource.
When relating to countries where poverty is prevalent, it is easier to understand how even minimal efforts can support agricultural practices.
- Lauren Tom
Notes
1. Michael Crown, "Desertification," February 16, 2008, http://desertification.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/mexico-container-farming-in-slums-mmc-journey-to-forever/ (accessed October 30, 2009).
2. M. Hatibu, "Rainwater Harvesting," 1999, http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:EL1mGswl03cJ:www.atnesa.org/contil/contil-hatibu-waterharvesting-TZ.pdf+rainwater+agriculture&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca (accessed October 30, 2009).
3. Van Cotthem, "Container Gardening," November 1, 2009, http://containergardening.wordpress.com/ (accessed October 30, 2009).
4. "Wastewater Disposal and Reuse," December 13, 2004, http://casestudies.lead.org/index.php?cscid=146 (accessed October 30, 2009).
5. Julie Williams, "Ezine Articles," 2009, http://ezinearticles.com/?Using-Human-Urine-As-A-Liquid-Fertilizer&id=392596 (accessed October 30, 2009).
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