New Mexico Urban Homesteader

Hello, I am A 50 Something, Prepper ;-}; former 60's Flower Child, don't believe in taxpayer subsidized special interest groups (political parties), DO believe in the Constitution and Bill of Rights (1st 10). Long time Independent & Informed Voter. Lover of the outdoors and firm believer that History Teaches - if only we will listen!

(No longer Urban or in NM. Now Rural in the mountains of Maine.)

This blog was started at the request of some dear friends that wish to become Preppers.

“No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods.”

Demosthenes (384–322 BC, Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens)


Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Grow Your Own Loofa (Luffa) for Sponges

Yep, you don't have to do without or purchase sponges if you grow your own.

Please don't confuse Loofa with Sea sponges, which are part of the animal kingdom and grow on the sea floor.


Loofa's are part of the cucurbit family, a group of plants including gourds, pumpkins, and cucumbers. So you will not want to grow these near any of those plants to avoid cross pollination.

These plants originated in subtropical Asia. But like most plants if you provide the right conditions they can be grown just about anywhere. LuffaInfo has been growing and enjoying loofa fiber since the mid 1990s in Carter County Tennessee.

I have started two of these plants on my back porch and will see how this goes.

See the following sites for great information, how to grow, harvest and save seeds, etc.

http://www.luffa.info/ Tons of history, pictures and how to
http://www.luffa.info/luffagrowing.htm
http://www.luffa.info/luffaharvest.htm

http://www.backwoodsliving.com/loofah.html Great How to

http://www.ehow.com/how_2126943_grow-loofah-sponges.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5100993_grow-loofahs.html

http://www.groovygreen.com/groove/?p=689


To download a document to get you started the above links are condensed in "Grow Your Own Loofa (Luffa) for Sponges" at http://www.scribd.com/doc/29234099/Grow-Your-Own-Loofa-Luffa-for-Sponges

"No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden."-- Thomas Jefferson

From a 50 Something, soon to be rural homesteading Prepper

No comments:

Post a Comment

To reduce SPAM your comment will be posted after review.