Man Makes Homemade Biodegradable Plastic for His Hydroponics

[@ausfoodgarden]

Nice job making plasticy stuff at home. Those green bags do break down quite well in a regular compost bin. Our local authority provides them to homeowners to use for food waste that then gets put in the garden waste pickup. Of course almost all our food waste gets composted onsite. As for PLA, most of it ends up in landfill and takes decades to decompose. Cheers!

[@bigtoosh]

Making renewable things has always been some of the coolest stuff ever to me. Just the idea of sustainability and letting nothing go to waste is fun, maybe it jogs the hunter-gatherer brain or something. Crazy how clear that glycerin turned out. This is good late night watching

[@LMorrow327]

You are brilliant!! Thank you for sharing your ideas and experiments with us! You are a national treasure.

[@iyoutome]

Thanks for you passionate time to help Mother Earth... 🙏❤🙌

[@lead8mare]

I am getting ready to start growing. I have my supplies to get started. I just need to get going putting it all together. Starting slowly with romaine. Excited to begin this journey. I live in north Phoenix. Between the critters, bugs and heat along with the amount of water it takes to then end up with failure, I took apart my enclosed garden covering.

[@kkl8631]

Enjoying and learning from your experiments! I appreciate your creativity and search for new ways to grow hydroponically.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you very much!

[@nevermind7253]

​​@@KeepOnGrowin Yup made me think. So I went looking on the Zon I came up with something Have you ever seen... Like in a hot dog joint those small/medium paper/cardboard like containers that they serve food in? Well .. I found them and they are biodegradable! They come in all kinds of sizes and are covered in a material from plants that make them waterproof to! Now... I have no idea how long they would last but I am going to buy some and try to grow some Sprout's... Maybe leave some and grow some micro greens as well if they hold up. What I like is the sizes, nice for the home like on a rack or shelf. They are sold in bulk, like $10-20 for 100-200 least on Zon. I bet if you bought more could get a better price. Just an idea ... Following your lead. Just love how you think and your stile Blessings and keep on growing 🌱🌿🍃🌾

[@KeepOnGrowin]

@@nevermind7253 Cool, let me know how it turns out. Believe it or not I have something growing in something similar, hot dog related, lol. Have fun and Keep on Growin'!

[@nevermind7253]

@@KeepOnGrowin Exactly what I was talking about just larger. There's also Palm plates and platers that are also compostable and will last way longer but more expensive as they will last.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

@@nevermind7253 We are on the same wavelength

[@ryanhopps7966]

Wow that is looking pretty legit

[@lead8mare]

Could you also wad the sheets you make in a way to replace the pool noodles? (If not homemade yet, the commercially made bags.)

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Yes, already have, they are just growing and I am keeping an eye on them. I like your thinking.

[@unscriptedrides]

I have been thinking of this a lot - how to contain water without using plastic which isnt env friendly. Love you work and experiments. Looking forward to see something good coming out of your experiments.

[@kimmurphy5903]

Casein, my daughter made biodegradable plastic from milk for school science fair (25 yrs ago) I think i remember her report stating it was a common material for items such as knobs and steering wheels ect. It was brittle, but moldable. Keep up the Great work, Love your projects!😊

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you!

[@notoriousnarratives2024]

Thanks so much for sharing this. I think this is so cool. My 13-year old will also love this as an experiment. I love your videos. We are all the way from South Africa

[@almostoily7541]

Plastic is made from oil but most inexpensive cornstarch is from GMO corn. I'm guessing gauze is GMO cotton and bleached. So, I think it's really just about perspective. I have to order nongmo cornstarch and it was kinda expensive a few years ago. So, again, fuel is used to get it to me, grow it, process it, etc. I personally reuse plastic several years until it cracks. I do like the sciency stuff, though. Good for people wanting to reduce plastic usage. I'm actually buying more totes to grow in this year. I also collect used aquariums. I have one turned upside down over plants as a mini greenhouse now. So, if anyone has a cracked aquarium, it can still be used. Just not full of water. I also have two with meal worms in them for my chickens. I'm going to set up a no tech dirted tank ( Father Fish style) and grow some things in it. Just a few things I'm doing this year. Oh, plus the gutter boxes I ordered from you several years ago. I didn't use them last year but I'm dusting them off this spring. My chickens LOVE greens lol

[@mazmain9248]

Everything that is grown for commercial use is GMO. Do you think carrots were naturally orange? Plants have been changed so much to make them disease-resistant, grow faster or give a higher yield. Sugar cane has been changed so you don't need to burn it before harvest like they had been doing for many years. All our food is GMO, even our seeds.

[@almostoily7541]

@@mazmain9248 no, everything commercially grown is not GMO. Carrots have been bred to be orange and a range of different colors. You could buy orange carrots for a very long time before GMOs were made in a lab lol Putting genes from one species of plant ( or animal) into another is what I'm talking about when I say GMO. It's done in a lab. Disease resistance, breeding, selection, hybridizing is not what I ( and most people) consider GMO. Anyone who says it is is just playing word games. Or, really doesn't know what most people mean.

[@AT-os6nb]

@@mazmain9248 no, gmo is not the same as selectively breeding or hybridising a plant.....genetically modifying genes is not a natural process .... ever seen a fish breed with a tomatoe in nature.?...it just doesn t happen and that is GMO.

[@littledabwilldoya9717]

Wow! I am so excited about this! Need to get some other ‘life’ jobs out of my way and start experimenting and being inspired! Thanks for all the time and effort you put into this, and sharing! The seed inclusion made me think about chia seeds, since they expand with moisture, and become gelatinous?!?

[@yaranezar7252]

This is wonderful news! Thank you for sharing. I always thought finding substitutes for plastic would lead to a dead end, but this is truly inspiring.

[@miayashin8686]

Mike is my favorite hydroponics dude. So cool and so creative!

[@MoPoppins]

There are a lot of tropical plants with WAXY leaves that are used as roof thatching. All of that is biodegradable, and should last long enough to grow plants in, short-term. The “problem” with some leaves, such as banana leaves, is that they impart a strong aroma, as pleasant as it might be (I love when foods are steamed in banana leaves! 😋), but they grow prolifically, at least in some areas, so rather than throw them out, maybe they can be repurposed. Palm fronds & branches repel water well-perhaps something to consider as materials, since they shed leaves frequently & create what is otherwise litter.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you! That is an amazing idea. I live in Florida, palm leaves everywhere, lol. BTW, I love things steamed in banana leaves too!

[@sokov7471]

coco coir is an excellent growing media. it's dried and compressed into bricks for easy transport and storage. maybe it's possible to press and dry palm fronds into container shapes, utilizing the waxy leaves and providing structure to hold water in.

[@trishgraham7639]

Hi Mike! I thoroughly enjoyed watching this video. Such creative ideas. You do get the wheels spinning. Thank you.

[@roopamt7239]

Thanks a lot for the idea... This seems really interesting... I always think of replacing all the plastic items... This is a good start...

[@dawns.2492]

Wow awesome video Mike!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you!

[@null4624]

this is the future , thank you so much for sharing

[@teixeiradasilva6299]

Thank you for the video and congratulations on your work.

[@umbertobaresi3598]

This is wonderful news, thank you. Is there an update on the video in which you show how to prepare the plastic-like version, using sugar? Cheers, Umberto

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Not yet!

[@clayeur]

@@KeepOnGrowin Hello! I am a current STEM student conducting research about bioplastics. If you have any updates with the video on using sugar, it will be really helpful to me and my team. Thank you so much.

[@user-fj5xj8fj6f]

I was thinking about this structure reinforcement with the glycerol - gelatin complex, its nice to see it in reality.

[@UsterKoolageArt]

I was thrilled with your video for reasons other than growing, but have a great idea for you. I am an artist and use acrylics,but hate the fact it's plastic. I must think of a biodegradable colorant that won't fade in my work now to mix with your recipe. But for you and your growing, I have an idea! How about you sew it into a grow bag as well as use it for your hydroponics?! As a retired teacher, I love your simplicity to growing and experimenting! Thank you!

[@harmdeiman6761]

wow bioplastics. what an idea. looking forwards to new staps. me myself just setting up and looking for non plastic containers for kratky methode as a first stap.

[@andrewmills7701]

Love the creativity, I own a health food company and I’m constantly looking for the safest packaging. I’ve been doing a deep dive into Bioplastics trying to find a packaging material that would not leach harmful chemicals into packaged foods. Any feedback on bioplastic that you feel would be worth researching I’d love to hear. Date & nut bars / granola is the foods we are packaging for reference. Thanks ✌️

[@puk182]

Been trying to do this. But trying to go after another industry that's very heavy plastic use and it's sad because the actual material of this industry is very robust. Love the vid. Keep on keepin on.

[@divyapari9164]

This video is amazing. Great work! Thank you for sharing!

[@dollymartin7498]

Love this direction and your approach. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you!! Having fun!

[@gailandrus7667]

I love what you're doing!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you!!

[@tammytamz3046]

Great video!!! Love how you’re thinking!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you!!

[@ellenmcroberts7867]

I would love to know the recipie you used to make your plastic. Just as a jumping off point to experiment for myself. Thanks.

[@cascadepacificrescue]

That is so amazing. I’m doing it!!!

[@PhoenixGirlOfficial]

This is super cool!

[@camilaospinagaitan]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful work I am trying to apply your knowledge into sculpture and art practice! How did you use the gelatine in the super clear one that you create ! Thanks in advance your work create hope over the world 🩶

[@Over.Explained]

Amazing video! This really is brilliant, and extremely realistic! I tried remaking this using a similar recipe but my bioplastic turned out jelly-like and still stuck together when crumbled. Is there any way to fix it and make it more plastic like? Can you also share what measurements you used in your recipe as well? Thanks so much!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

search KZbin for gelatin bioplastic. There are quite a few videos.

[@neesheeneeshee6433]

I really enjoyed this video

[@GWhite1001]

This gives me hope.

[@ronm6585]

Thanks Mike.

[@ikarusm178]

Can u please make a Video of the decomposing process? That would be interesting as hell!

[@SS11_]

I'm determined to try this at home is there something I can do or add to make it less clear but still pretty flexible? I'm thinking to use it as a fabric for clothing

[@chrisbohman3982]

I liked your idea of adding the fabric for strength. IE fiberglass. I thought, could you use corn silk sprinkled into the pre-dried 'plastic', to do something similar. While not as neat, and a bit more labor intensive, but it would be a way to use the corn silk, before simply disposing of, or composting it.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Great idea!

[@cookiegriffith7556]

Did you figure it how long the bags held water? I'm considering using compostable bags inside of plastic pots to create a healthier barrier between my plants and plastic. Also, have you ever tried planting with soil in one of those bags?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

It's ok but spring leaks pretty quick. Ants also chewed through some of mine. The ones in my compost are almost broken down in about 3 months.

[@rec62car]

I wonder if you coat that over wood if it would protect wood from rotting. If so you could make wood containers coated with bio plastic for hydroponics??

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Good thought. Have to work on getting it waterproof, it degrades pretty fast. We will try a few ways like that.

[@solkoksbloggen9938]

That's pretty neat. I used to make masks out of glycerine, sorbitol and gelatine. It's amazing how versatile the stuff is. However, I'm curious, have you tested bamboo or enameled cast iron? I mean, bamboo has been used in hydroponics by others and it's compostable. Enameled cast iron should be reusable for decades, maybe even generations. The trouble is making items that are the right shape. After all, it isn't the easiest material to shape.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thanks. Bamboo costs about $100 for an 8' piece here. I would like to try if I could find it cheap.

[@TatyanaValdaBelindaHill]

This is a winderful video. Please can uou do a video on how you made the hard plastic from sugar? xx 🌻🙏🏼

[@Technogaming-k8j]

Hello Mike oh god thank you that I found you because we have a capstone of making a bioplastic too can I have the exact measurements where you made and cook the plastic plss 😭

[@janelord3483]

Brilliant Mike. Love these ideas. Do you think you could coat the inside of a metal or wood with the liquid you made so it can waterproof the item. Also with the one you made out of bandages, if you put parchment paper both side and iron it it would fuse it all together. Did you try using a vacuum sealer to make the plastic into a bag

[@KeepOnGrowin]

No, not yet, lol, just my first attempts. So many ideas! Thank you, all suggestions are welcome and I invite others to try it too. These are not waterproof but may be long enough to grow some food. We will see.

[@leizelsalcedo5339]

Can be dissolved in water?

[@utubemouse]

Ok, so if it can last 4-5 weeks holding water. Can the cornstarch based or a beeswax coated paper be used to make a humidity dome for seedlings?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Sounds plausible. So many things to try.

[@blackkite13]

How much quantity did you use for the cornstarch one

[@barrel1971]

Very interesting!

[@KristySlicker]

Pretty cool idea!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thanks!!

[@ikarusm178]

I think a lot of Prople didnt get your whole Point of the Video some Plastik things Are tough to replace but we should replace as much as we can with bio products. I am still learning english but this Video is great declarated 🤝🏻

[@chrischungy]

It can be lined with natural fibers like hemp fibers.

[@wheeyay]

How could I recreate what you made (talking about the one infused with fabrics) at home? This video got me thinking to start a project or something of that and spread awareness/share with others, but I’m still a teenager so I’m not able to get access to a lot of stuff. Do you have any advice?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Let me think. I will try to address it in another video.

[@wheeyay]

@@KeepOnGrowin awesomeee! Let me know when you do :)

[@starr9245]

Thanks wow

[@ikarusm178]

Where can i buy that biodegradable plastik?👀

[@americaJC]

Inspiring!

[@katik46]

Hi! what can I do if the bio-plastic cracks in the drying process, how can I prevent this? tnx

[@KeepOnGrowin]

increase glycerin

[@emmasurf8109]

Pretty soon you'll have to change your name from Keep on Growing to Keep on Experimenting. This is super exciting.

[@judgeworks3687]

How did you make the gelatin bioplastic (the clear one)?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

search gelatin bioplastic, there quite a few

[@lwardrop2453]

I wonder if people can use this bio plastic-making technique to make the layers used in vacuum-sealing food… It’s something to experiment with in the future. See what happens if you crimp three edges of the bio plastic, stick a test food in, see how a market-available vacuum sealer interacts with that fourth edge.

[@xen5317]

How to make the sugar based sir

[@noname-xq6tp]

They have found aomething rhat breaksdown plastic. I need to find that video.

[@ktefccre]

😸👏 How do you test how compostable your plastic is?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

throw it in the yard and watch it

[@drillerdev4624]

PLA can be recycled into filament for 3d printers. I know it's not your objective, but it's another way of recycling plastic giving it a new useful life (Of course, 3d printing takes energy, but if you can make it on solar, it'd be pretty green) On another note, I recently learnt about Re-wood, which is a wood dust based substitute to molded plastic (it's injected molded as well). I guess it will be hard to replicate outside of industrial scale, but, who knows? I never would have thought you could make edible plastic so (relatively) easily. Keep on growing!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you! I will look into that!

[@mauriciocastilla6565]

Mix the one made of corn with the other made of sugar

[@kafkaesqui5874]

You could make molds out of this !

[@lelechris-k1t]

can you share the measurements of the ingredients?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I will make a more detailed video. Basically 4Tbs water, 2Tbs cornstarch, 1tsp glycerin, 1 tsp vinegar

[@pixelrancher]

Sciency!!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Lol

[@mykindpharm]

❤🎉❤🎉❤🎉❤ So cool!!!!

[@HangingChad001]

Try adding it to clay

[@elizabethloreti2926]

How about clay or morter

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Yes, as we get more towards Spring and warmer weather, it is on the list of things to do. Great idea!

[@wiwingmargahayu6831]

wow

[@noname-xq6tp]

Organic Corn?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

did I say organic?

[@jomccaghren8569]

I'm allergic to corn...garbanzo bean starch

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Potato and tapioca starch too

[@mystiarnold6405]

Not waterproof though.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

not yet

[@mykindpharm]

There are ZERO places to recycle plastics of any kind around here - and the process of recycling is not great on the environment.. double edge sword We get to do our best with grace for ourselves and others!! 🙏🥰🙏

[@lokiwartooth1138]

Strange that oil comes from the earth but it’s bad for the earth?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

So is arsenic. It's not strange, it's science.

[@lokiwartooth1138]

@@KeepOnGrowin but arsenic isn't bad for the earth. And oil isn't dinosaurs either. Wanna push more false crap?

[@MoeSad]

Great ideas but … plastic became part of us already. Your change of heart is commended but NPK used to grow the corn etc is based on oil industry and the NPK you use is produced by the oil industry. And as one of our friends here commented that transportation is using insane amount of fossil fuel. Biodegradable plastic is destroying the Amazon ecosystem. Gee where do we go from here?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I promise not to make enough to destroy a rain forest. Everyone always thinks in superlatives and it stops initiative in it's tracks.

[@utubemouse]

Maybe you could dehydrate in a solar dehydrator/ use solar charged battery . . . Just don’t start asking where the solar panel components came from😅

[@patsternburg8737]

Recyclable material such as plastic will be around for years and years. Which means we can utilize the time we have now, to create the biodegradable items and to overcome those obstacles for a true biodegradable material. It is a beginning, Thank you Mike for you and others you are experimenting with. To get our creative juices to flow. No idea is a bad idea, to those thinking of the downsides, sometimes they just need a little rethinking. An art that we have left behind, let revive it 🙏🏼

[@pingupenguin2474]

​@@utubemouseI have seen solar power units for led's, made from old cd/ dvd's. There are plenty of them around rotting ( not) in dumps as everyone switches to online for videos. At least that would reduce the usage levels for problem materials and the cd/ dvd's would be being usefully used until we can find a more friendly alternative for the panels, just like Mike here is working on alternatives to oil based plastics.

[@mertturan2986]

thank you first for the video 🙏🏻 can you make a video for homemade plastic granule like fabric version strongness for 3D printing filament(PLA)? Thanks 🤓🙏🏻

[@mertturan2986]

or i could ask like which material could be put in to make the mix stuff like pla plastic? I actually want to grind and extruse it to use with 3D printers

[@KeepOnGrowin]

@@mertturan2986 I would but I do not have a 3D printer yet.

[@mertturan2986]

@@KeepOnGrowin 🙏🏻🙏🏻✌🏻