HYACINTH CONTROL

From an obnoxious weed to a village income

Vulnerable river villages are struggling to adapt to the changes in their climate and environment.

HEAPS PNG and Kumbaramba villagers completed a small trial project of river hyacinth weed reaping with recycling of the plant. Hyacinth is a free floating noxious weed which gathers in large clumps, the plant blocks the waterways. The plant stems were sun dried for weaving baskets and making twine. The leaves and roots recycled for compost, mulching and fertilizer used in both the cocoa and vegetable gardens.

This is a community development empowerment project where the villagers where the decision makers. They learnt how to change their stories of hyacinth grief to hyacinth profit. The project was funded by Pacific Conservation and Development Trust of the New Zealand Government

Sun dried Hyacith stalk used for the first time in weaving bags, billums, traditional costumes, mats and rope

Hyacinth stem weaving for a basket

Making Rope from Hyacinth stems

Making an arm band from Hyacinth stems

Weaving traditional costume

Weaving a traditional bag with hyacinth stems

Weaving a bag with hyacinth

Organic Water Hyacinth as compost and mulch for improvement in the local food gardens

Compost is finished when it’s a dark, rich colour, crumbles easily. If it’s too lumpy, it may need more time to fall apart. Once ready you can add it to the soil any time without the fear.

The benefits of using compost are numerous. It builds good soil structure; enables soil to retain nutrients, water, and air. Protects against drought, helps maintain a neutral pH, and protects plants from many diseases commonly found in the garden.

It also feeds earthworms and other microbial life in the soil. In general, it doesn’t matter what kind of soil you have all soils can be improved with the addition of hyacinth compost.