VIDEO. He transformed his yard into a sustainable and self-sufficient garden

In June 2020, Kevin Espiritu, a man living in the United States, buys his new house. He then decided to transform the beaten earth into an urban garden, “high tech” and sustainable. He then put in place systems to make his operation self-sufficient, by storing natural resources, and reusing his waste and wastewater. “I added facilities that allow me to produce energy. For example, I put on a new roof, with 24 solar panels. Most months, I no longer pay an electricity bill, I even produce a surplus which is reinjected into the network”he explains.

But that’s not all : “My new roof allows me to collect rainwater. The water slides over the roof, passes through the gutter and through a filtration system, then it ends up in a huge 20,000-litre tank, which allows me to store it. (…) I recycle my waste water. The water from my shower, my outdoor sink and my washing machine goes back to different areas of the vegetable garden.”

“I advise you to grow the plants that you most want to eat”

But getting to this scale was not done quickly. He then gives his advice to those who, like him, would like to create a sustainable garden in their yard. “Go gradually, that’s the first piece of advice I give. I advise you to grow the plants that you most want to eat.”

It details: “For example, radishes are easy to grow vegetables. But, from what I’ve observed, many newbie gardeners aren’t quite sure what to do with their radishes in the kitchen. So grow the vegetables you really want to eat and learn how to care for them as best you can. I think it helps to feel more invested, because we are often more interested in what is on our plate than what is in our garden. Then diversify from there.”