Gardens don’t always have to be about fruits, vegetables and herbs: they are capable of so much more. An Instagrammer has all the details about a particular product.

The scoop

Digital creator and settler Michelle Knox (@morethanfarmers) explains how easy it is to grow your own sponges.

In the seeoMichelle explains that all you need are loofah seeds and a trellis. Sit back and watch your loofah plant grow.

Once they are golden, harvest and peel them. If you want a flat sponge, cut the sponge in half, fold and sew the sides together.

It’s that simple to grow your own naturally antibacterial, zero waste sponges to use for washing dishes, potsAnd saucepans – and they also make excellent shower sponges.

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“These loofah sponges are so sturdy and soften beautifully with warm water and soap! Once spent, I can compost them!”, Michelle wrote in the caption.

How it works

Growing your own sponges saves money, time and wasted resources. They also make great gifts and are better for your health.

Store-bought loofahs and sponges can be filled with bacteria and are usually made of plastics it can’t be recycled or composted. They are meant to clean, but the reality is that they spread bacteria. According to has Blue EarthGerman researchers discovered 362 different species of bacteria in sponges and 45 billion bacteria per square centimeter, more than in a toilet.

Growing your own antibacterial sponges saves a lot of worry and stress from spreading germs in your home. Gardening is a phenomenal way to ensure the quality of the products you use and consume. Not to mention it’s cheaper and helps cool our planet by reducing demand for mass-produced goods.

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Gardening and grow your own food has many benefits, including improved mental and physical health through increased fiber intake and physical activity. Studies found that people who garden are more optimistic and happier than those who don’t.

What people say

THE sponge hack was a great success.

“You can rinse and reuse them until they start to fall apart. They are WONDERFUL,” one comment confirmed.

“I’ve wanted to grow loofah for so long!!” lamented another.

“And I love that I don’t contribute to plastic waste, shipping costs, etc.,” wrote a third.

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