For the Bio Design Challenge we learned that there is enormous potential in our own gardens, in the form of weeds. But instead of using it, we fight it. We ignore it, pluck it out and poison it so that it does not destroy the image of well-kept backyards and streets. Weeds are neglected, even though some of these plants are very versatile and efficient. They have an enormous reproduction rate, grow almost everywhere and we can process and use an extremely large proportion of the whole plant. Nettles, ribwort or dandelion are good examples of such plants found in our gardens. In our process, we focused on the dandelion. Examined it for its individual parts. Made coffee from its roots, found out that it can be used to make car tyres and that it is said to have more healing properties than tea or honey.
Our final product is to serve as a means of communication. We use a non-destructive method to collect seeds and help spread them where the wind cannot take them. We shift the focus to a plant that is often overlooked and take the time to appreciate its value.
From growing and harvesting our own and publicly accessible dandelion, we approached it by a visual investigation under the microscope and roasted the roots for testing out a coffee alternative which tasted not much worse than a burnt coffee.