Farm to Crafts has launched an eco-friendly project that repurposes banana stems into sustainable fibers for textiles, art, and crafts in Curaçao. To power the effort, the organization has installed a solar-powered fiber extraction machine and is now inviting local farmers and residents with banana plants to provide stems on a regular basis.
Operating under the slogan Let’s go bananas!, the initiative is encouraging suppliers to deliver at least two stems per batch, though ten are preferred. Each stem should be about 140 centimeters long and 20 centimeters wide, with leaves removed. Fresh stems are essential to producing strong, high-quality fibers.
Farm to Crafts offers both collection services and scheduled drop-offs. After fiber extraction, the leftover pulp is turned into compost or fertilizer, while banana leaves are used as animal feed, ensuring that no part of the plant goes to waste.
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