In progress
0%
Blueprint 1 · Self-watering planter
from a PET bottle Cut a 2-litre bottle in half. Invert the top into the base like a funnel, thread a cotton string through the neck so it dangles into the basin, fill the funnel with soil and the basin with water.
Why it works: the string wicks water up to the roots on demand — no evaporation, no over-watering. A dead bottle becomes a multi-year growing tool.
Blueprint 2 · High-tensile utility rope
from old textiles Cut worn t-shirts or sheets into continuous 2–3 cm strips. Tie three together, anchor them, and braid with a tight reverse-twist (over-under-twist).
Why it works: braiding multiplies tensile strength. Zero-value fabric scraps become durable cordage for the garden, workshop, or camping.
Blueprint 3 · Enzyme cleaner spray
from citrus peels Pack a glass jar with citrus peels, water, and sugar at a 3 : 10 : 1 ratio. Seal it in a dark cupboard for 2–3 months, burping the gas every few days early on. Strain.
Why it works: fermentation extracts d-limonene and enzymes — a potent, non-toxic cleaner and insect deterrent that replaces plastic-bottled chemical solvents.
Knowledge check · Upcycling
LBGA · Academy
The Upcycling Masterclass
Citizen Science & Action · 1.4
What is the primary difference between standard industrial recycling and localized upcycling?
Ongoing build project
Build one, document it
Pick one blueprint and actually build it this week. Photograph the waste input before and the finished object after. Note what problem it now solves in your home — that "before & after" is your proof of a working micro-processing facility.
① Pick a blueprint② Build it③ Before & after photo