During recent years, there have been successful attempts to convert this waste in to creative and beneficial uses. It has been used as an animal feed also. Feather waste is one of the clean sources of a protein type known as “keratin”. Feather keratin extracted from these waste feathers can also be converted in to value-added products like mats, filters, compositors, and specific types of polymers.

Keratin extracted from the feather waste has several benefits. It can easily be used as a feedstock for making several types of items including automobile parts, various construction materials which are lightweight and more durable.

One of the best uses of these waste feathers and the extracted keratin is to make plants containers and pots. Such innovations are extremely useful for the nurseries, active gardeners, floriculturists and anyone who wishes to have indoor greenery with house plants.

Extracts derived from the agriculture waste like feathers have been considered as more sustainable compared to all other commercial alternatives. We find petroleum processing derived commercial materials much in use presently. With the depleting petroleum resources and increasing prices the world over, this source has started showing its impacts on the availability and cost affectivity for the commercial production of by-products and other industrial uses.

Agricultural feedstock is gaining importance among the materials industries across the globe as it is sustainable and close to nature. This new source has tremendous potential and now it has been recognized. Scientists and researchers have initiated efforts in order to device a new technology for the nursery industry also.

The “Horticultural Research Institute(HRI) in collaboration with the USDA is making efforts to explore the application of biodegradable animal and plant by-products in to the manufacturing of biodegradable nursery containers and pots.

This research will focus on the use of plastic extracted from the feathers which is a waste stream of poultry industry. The main objective of this research is to develop a new technology and a manufacturing process for producing biodegradable nursery pots. These pots and containers would be easily recyclable and even can be composted when they become free once the plants have been planted in to the garden soil.

It is a “win-win” situation for everyone. When feathers put to use will certainly reduce the land-filling worries of poultry industry and civic authorities equally. Plastic pots thus produced would be biodegradable and this will save the environment up to great extents. Replacing petroleum resins from feathers will ultimately improve the profit margins of growers also.

These biodegradable plant containers will ultimately help gardeners and plant growers’ communities. It is always good to use the environmental friendly and sustainable products with more ornamentation applications adding more beautification to the existing concepts. It is a new, exciting development that brings everyone closer to the environment.

Garden Containers Pictures

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73 Skills To Create Your Dream Garden: Container Planting	Container Gardening: Container Herb Garden
Toller retrives ball from garden container	Container Garden

Garden Containers Question & Answers

Garden Containers Question: 1

what plants to use?

So I recently moved from the 'burbs to an apartment in the city, i love it but i miss my gardening. I'm on the 3rd floor and have no access to a lawn, my porch is basically non-existent, not really any room for plants (plus it's full shade). I recently have started hanging out up on the roof (i don't know if i'm supposed to be up there, but it's gorgeous, so i go anyway!) and i'd like to put some container plants up there. the problem is that it's a black roof, so it's going to get HOT and DRY (no hose access, i'd have to haul up water for watering, so minimal is best!) up there in the summer (i'm in chicago, btw). Any suggestions on what I could do for container gardens up there? What takes heat and drought REALLY REALLY well (besides cacti of course). Any and all suggestions for how i can do some gardening are appreciated. Thanks!(p.s. i always choose best answer)

Answer: 1.
Try sedum, hen-'n-chicks, yucca, and other succulents. Maybe it will rain often this summer.
Leave a bucket on the roof when it is raining for later use.
Answer: 2.
Hello Here what you do go ask the landlord if you can hang stuff on you boucon if so go for it Hanging plants planters just make sure you have room. James P.
Answer: 3.
The place you're buying plants can probably advise you to the best ones for your area. I have been seeing self-watering systems advertised lately...look like a vase with a long stem...you fill with water and stick in the pot and it waters gradually. Anyway, something like that might help keep your plants from completely drying up. Also if you set your containers on a bench or old bookcase (even a couple of cement blocks with a board across them) to keep off of the black surface could help and if that is against one wall of the roof would probably get some shade during the day. Good luck. I would miss my gardens too.
Answer: 4.
I doubt anything would survive up there once summer kicks into gear. With a black roof your talking about 150 F or more in the summer. Anything you put up there will bake in minutes...I doubt even cactus would survive for long. You did say that your balcony is all shade....you can have plants there such as Impatients..and they come in a variety of colors. try hanging pots and floor pots. You can move your house plants out doors on the porch in the summer time ...try philodendrons, umbrella trees, Dieffenbachia, or Swiss cheese plants. If you have any room at all on your porch I would go that route....I would avoid the roof as it will most likely be the death of any plant you place there.
Answer: 5.
I have an area in my yard that is dry and get allot of sun i planted lavender there and it is doing well. I also found my poppies like the same thing. hen and chicks are pretty great and love dry heat. also sedum and creeping phlox. like drier soil. creeping phlox will actually rot in to moist of soil. I hope this helps some! try looking at some herbs like bee balm very fragrant and tolerant. i have my yahoo group posted below please join. i will do some research and put an extensive list of drought and heat tolerant plants just for you!
thanks Jessie



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monroecoun...

Garden Containers Question: 2

container gardening, Is there any climbing plants i could use to cover a stained patch of wall in my backyard?

there is an ugly bit of wall i'd like to disguise in my backyard (catches lots of sun) with some kind of climbing plant that i could train up the back wall of the house and make the whole place look nicer. Only i've never had a garden, (still don't) and dont know anything about plants. could any gardeners out there advise me what i could plant and how to take care of it please?

Answer: 1.
There are loads of climbing plants you could use - it's up to you to decide what you want from them. If you want fragrance, then go for something like honeysuckle or jasmine (you can get winter flowering jasmine as well as summer ones, so you could plant two together). If you want showy flowers, perhaps a clematis or two (again look for ones that flower at different times of the year). Wisteria is spectacular but takes a long time to establish itself. Other than that there are various non-flowering climbers which would cover the wall attractively.

Make sure that whatever you plant has a good trellis or framework to clamber up.

The Royal Horticultural Society (link below) is a good starting point for researching plants. Or you could ask at your local garden centre.

Happy gardening!
Answer: 2.
My mum is an architect and she always said climbing plants are best mounted on a trellis because close to a brick wall they work their way through plaster and dig between the bricks. (ivy is an example).

The advice depends very much on your type of soil, water availability, sun, etc...

If I was living in the south and had enough light and warmth, I would choose climbing strawberries (some produce all year long if the temperature is high enough) as I love to have some colour and taste.

in any case I'd still choose a spice for the fragrance (for some you can find climbing varieties with a google search) and for the smell and taste my grills would have with it
Answer: 3.
Bouganvillea-needs regular pruning to be kept under control ,little water and fertiliser
Star Jasmine- Needs pruning once a year ad medium water and fertiliser
potato vine- needs to pruned 3 or 4 times a year little water or fertiliser
Ivy (needs to be kept under control)
Climbing rose-needs a bit or work ,regular water and fertiliser also spraying for bugs not a good idea in areas of high humidity
creeping fig-needs to be kept under control ,does not like frost,needs water and minimal fertiliser
Answer: 4.
If you want an evergreen to cover in winter as well, try Clematis Armandii. Wisterias make good climbers and are pretty. Then there is Russian Vine which is vigorous. Honeysuckles are good and frgrant. Hederas are evergreen too, but they can be hard to control.
Answer: 5.
Hi,you could try a climbing rose.They grow quick & you will
in the summer have a wall of roses.The instructions will come with the rose.have a look in B&Q.Good Luck
Answer: 6.
I'd grow passion flower. It grows fast and has amazingly beautiful flowers. Plus if you're lucky you might even get fruit (passionfruit/grenadilla)
Answer: 7.
Well, if you are wanting to cover an area, plant a hummingbird vine.
Answer: 8.
sure there are dozens of vines. You could use climatis, morning glory or a decorative ivy

Garden Containers Question: 3

Re: starting an outdoor kitchen herb garden in one container. How big of a pot would I need?

I 'd like to plant about 5-6 different herbs. And what about depth of the pot? By the way, I live in Michigan (zone 5).

Answer: 1.
At least a 24 inch pot. Not only do the herbs need to spread their roots, but anything smaller will dry out so fast. You'll be watering 3 times a day.

This is about herb pots: http://www.ehow.com/how_2253456_plant-bb...
Answer: 2.
The bigger the better. A window box is fine. I would use a good compost, try and get one with plenty of worm castings mixed through it. the more food you can provide the better the plants will do, Bigger pots will allow the roots to spread out,which is reflected above the soil, and supply plenty of nutrients to the plants with out you having to add them. Please use organic plant foods, you can make these yourself with house hold waste such as tea bags, coffee grounds and all veg matter. Bio bizz and Advanced nutrients supply a full range of organic plant foods, for ease of use i would recommend Bio Bizz Grow. You will find this product on-line or in any good hydro store.
Answer: 3.
Depends on the herbs you want to grow. Perennials like thyme, oregano, tarragon, and rosemary tend to take over. (A small 4" pot is now 2' in diameter, planted in the ground.) Annuals like parsley, cilantro, dill, and basil can get big too.

Suggest a rectangular container at least 3' long for 5-6 herbs.

They really prefer being in the ground in full sun. What about a pot for each?
Answer: 4.
This is a really hard question to answer,
So I will recommend ,You have to check it out yourself.

Follow the link below and you'll come to a site that has all the info you need about "kitchen".

Hope this helps out some way :)


http://the--kitchen.blogspot.com
http://the-kitchen-cabinets.blogspot.com
Answer: 5.
I plant one too. I use a plastic 3 foot long window sill container.....works great!!!

Garden Containers Question: 4

What are you planting?

I have my first REAL garden! No more containers or small plots. I have a large garden for the first time! Just tilled it yesterday.I'm going to plant rows of cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes, beefstake tomatoes, sweet corn, cayenne peppers, bell peppers, watermelon, cucumbers, and sunflowers!Any tips for organic ways for pest control is welcome!

Answer: 1.
I myself am planting a variety of things this year.
tiny tim tomatoes
yellow pear tomatoes
corn
watermelon
sugar snap peas
strawberries
asparagus
multi color bell peppers
cucumbers
carrots

The biggest problem I have each year by way of pests is actually cute little furry ones. Rabbits regularly try to sneak in and steal my sprouts before they are strong. I've tried fencing, caging, various sprays, but nothing seems to work as well as having my brother go out and urinate around the proximity of the garden. The levels of testosterone are picked up by small animals and they don't dare come in my garden.
Answer: 2.
Best organic pest control is floating row covers. Be sure to allow sufficient space now that you have room around your tomato plants because a stressed plant will be attacked by insects more frequently. You can also try companion plantings to confuse insects. You are probably going to find out with your corn the major pest will be blackbirds that love to pull up corn seedlings. You can either try planting deeper so the birds can't pull out the corn, or what works best for me, the floating row covers until the corn is big enough to prevent damage. The birds love beans also. I have tried everything to prevent rabbit damage including coyote urine. Chicken wire fencing is the only solution that worked for me. Since I am organic, the only chemical I use is insecticide soap. This is only for infestations, usually if I keep plants strong and healthy I do not have much of a problem. I grow most all vegetables.
Answer: 3.
Congratulations on your first REAL garden! I have tomatoes, basil, green beans, cantaloupe, watermelon, peas, lettuce, beans (green and pinto), spinach, sunflowers, cosmos, radishes, beets, carrots, artichokes and squash. Start a compost heap and collect lots of leaves this fall. Amending your garden soil will promote healthier plants. Put rock piles around to attract lizards for insect control. I recently moved to Scottsdale, AZ, so I have been enjoying the concept of year-round gardening. We just finished eating our winter harvest of broccholi, cauliflower and brussels sprouts. Enjoy!
Answer: 4.
i am planting flowers only.

Garden Containers Question: 5

TopsyTurvey Tree?

Alright, so I saw an infomercial on this planter type thing called the TopsyTurvey Tree where you can apparently grow a garden out of one pot. I'm not one to be sucked into infomercials no matter how good they sound, but I have always wanted my very own organic garden and I live in the city with only a small back "patio". This thing seems amazing but I just don't know. Has anyone ever tried it? It says that you can grow things other than tomatoes, but I'm really skeptical about that...well, about the whole thing in general. And my other question is, because it's a closed container in the sun, wouldn't mold grow in the container, damage the roots and eventually cause the plants to rot? http://topsyturvys.com/ Thanks in advance all!For sensible: How many plants have you put in a 5 gallon bucket at a time? Or rather, what is the maximum you would put in a bucket?

Answer: 1.
The website is confusing and now also says they don't sell the product anymore, so you need to call another number. There are obviously different products called Topsy Turvey. The original is a hanging bag you add soil to and a plant and hang up so the vegetables grow upside down. It is not a closed container, as it is open on the top. You can do the same thing with a plastic 5 gallon bucket and a hole cut in the bottom. You can also add holes to the sides and grow additional veggies from them. I have done this for 3 years.