Bamboo hydroponics cultivation technique was developed by an African man name Oliver Waziweyi, Manicaland provincial chairman of the Zimbabwe Farmers' Union Horticultural Commodity. The 50 year olds' invention was dubbed the "Poor Man's Garden."

Mr. Waziweyi's invention was quite simple to understand and develop, however, it solved a complex problem that his community faced.  Certain regions of Africa and other parts of the world is not suitable for agricultural development for one reason or another (infertile soil, limited rain/water supply, et). The Poor Man's Garden would allow people living in areas unsuitable for agricultural development to cultivate plants in their region. 

Mr. Waziweyi wisely thought of using bamboo as a growing container along with a soilless media to cultivate 10 strawberries, four peas, 10 spinach, six covo, one pineapple, six shallots, 10 carrots, four herbs, two cabbages, three lettuces and several flowers on a two tier system measuring one square meter.

Advantages of bamboo hydroponics gardening:
As simple as Mr. Waziweyi's invention was, it was an important invention that help his community to farm their land -- effectively, too. People who used to go hungry can now feed themselves and their family. Some of the great advantages Mr. Waziweyi's invention offers are:

• Soilless media can be used (perlite, rockwool, expanded clay pellets, egg shells, aggregate, crushed wood chips, coir, et.)
• Save land space
• Conserve water by limiting evaporation.
• Avoid using chemicals on soil borne pests (pesticides/insecticides, herbicides)

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