AU2017101214A4 - Growing plants - Google Patents

Abstract

A system 1, for producing at least one plant, including an open beverage-vessel 3, an amount 5 of growing medium for receipt within the open beverage-vessel and at least one seed 7 for receipt within the open beverage-vessel.

Description

2017101214 05 Sep 2017 P1385AUI1 1

GROWING PLANTS

FIELD

The invention relates to growing plants.

BACKGROUND 5 Every year many millions of single-use open beverage-vessels, such as coffee cups and soup bowls, go to landfill. In landfill, these vessels occupy space and produce various emissions which are damaging to the environment.

The present inventor has recognised that such open beverage-vessels can be reused to grow plants, so as to maximise the benefit gained from these vessels and also to reduce 10 the deleterious effects associated with placing such vessels into landfill. A preferred form of the invention aims to provide users with the simultaneous pleasures of reducing their impact on the environment and growing a plant.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the invention provides a system, for producing at least one plant, 15 including an open beverage-vessel; an amount of growing medium for receipt within the open beverage-vessel; and at least one seed for receipt within the open beverage-vessel.

The open beverage-vessel is preferably biodegradable. Optionally the open beverage-20 vessel is a paper open beverage-vessel. The open beverage-vessel may have a starch-based liner. Preferably the open beverage-vessel is a cup. 2017101214 05 Sep 2017 P1385AUI1 2

The growing medium may be dry. Preferably it takes the form of a pellet. The growing medium may be or include peat.

The system may include at least one seed mat carrying the at least one seed.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of producing at least one plant, 5 including placing growing medium into an open beverage-vessel; and placing at least one seed into the open beverage-vessel.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of reusing an open beverage-vessel that has been used to hold a beverage, including 10 placing growing medium into the open beverage-vessel; and placing at least one seed into the open beverage-vessel.

Either method may include reconstituting a dry pellet of the growing medium.

Placing at least one seed into the open beverage-vessel may include placing at least one seed mat carrying the at least one seed. 15 Either method may include placing the open beverage-vessel on a windowsill.

Another aspect of the invention provides a system, for producing at least one plant, including an amount of growing medium for receipt within an open beverage-vessel; and at least one seed for receipt within the open beverage-vessel. 2017101214 05 Sep 2017 P1385AUI1 3

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a system for producing a plant; and Figure 2 is a flow chart of a plant production process.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 5 Beverage-vessels come in a vast array of shapes and sizes. Typically, they have a capacity of less than one litre. A typical coffee cup has a capacity in the range of 200 ml to 400 ml.

There is a vast array of single-use beverage-vessels. Often they are formed of lightweight plastics which are non-biodegradable, and as such create a significant waste 10 problem. More recently, biodegradable single-use vessels have become popular. Paper coffee cups are now commonplace. For the avoidance of doubt, the wording 'paper cup' and similar wording as used herein takes in a vast array of lightweight cellulose-based products, including those that might also fit the description of 'cardboard'. Such paper cups are often fitted with lids equipped with drinking openings. The lids are only 15 sometimes biodegradable. Environmentally-friendly materials other than paper include sugarcane pulp, of which some soup bowls are formed.

For the avoidance of doubt, whilst preferred forms of the disclosed system entail a single use beverage-vessel, other forms of the disclosed system are possible.

Preferably the vessel is lined with a bioplastic. 'Bioplastic' as used herein refers to a 20 plastic formed from plant materials as opposed to being formed from petroleum.

The system 1 incorporates a cup 3 and a lid 9 which are biodegradable and compostable. The paper of the cup 3 is recycled paper, and all of the printed matter on the cup 3 is formed of vegetable- and/or soy-based ink. 2017101214 05 Sep 2017 P1385AUI1 4

The system 1 includes growing medium 5 which takes the form of a dry pellet. In other variants, the growing medium may take the form of loose particulate and may or may not be wet.

The pellet 5 is preferably a compressed instant soil pellet made up of peat, fertiliser, 5 dolomitic limestone and other nutrients.

The system 1 further include a seed mat 7 formed of a paper disc fused within which is an even distribution of seeds. The mat is dimensioned to complement the interior of the vessel 3, in this example it has a diameter of about 60 mm to suit the coffee cup 3.

In other variants of the system the seeds could be supplied separately. Preferably the 10 seed is for a super food variety such as chia, kale, beetroot, fennel or spinach.

Preferably the pellet 5 and mat 7 are packaged together and along with instructions to perform the latter steps of the described method. Advantageously that package is itself biodegradable. Preferably it is a compostable box formed of recycled cardboard.

Advantageously the system 5, 7 is supplied at step 11 to a consumer along with a 15 beverage such as a coffee in a cup 3. Once the consumer has consumed the coffee at 13 and washed the cup 3 at step 15 the pellet 5 is placed into the cup 3 and reconstituted by the addition of water. Preferably the water is warm water. The reconstitution may also entail some agitation. The growing medium expands as it absorbs the water. 20 At step 19 a minor portion of the reconstituted soil is then removed and at step 21 the remaining portion of soil within the cup 3 is overlaid with the seed mat 7. The removed portion of soil is then replaced at step 23 so that the seed mat 7 is buried under that portion. The system 1 is then placed at a convenient growing location. A window sill is a preferred growing location to position the system 1 to receive light and for the user's 25 enjoyment. Of course, other locations may meet these requirements. 2017101214 05 Sep 2017 P1385AUI1 5

Preferably the lid 9 is inverted and used as a tray. Whilst typically coffee cups will hold the growing medium for a few weeks, some leakage of fluid may be expected. The lid 9 used as a tray can help catch any drips that might emerge. Some coffee cup lids are designed to enable filled and lidded coffee cups to be stacked. Such lids may be 5 conveniently used to support the cup whilst upright as opposed to being inverted.

Optionally, the lid 9 can be used as a cover to promote germination. The cover might be added prior to placement of the cup upon the window sill. After the germination period, the cover might then be removed and optionally used as described above.

With ongoing care and watering, etc, the user can enjoy the emerging plant during those 10 weeks. Preferably the plants are food crops which can be harvested from time to time. By way of example, various herbs may be desirable for this purpose.

After a few weeks of enjoyment, the system 1 can be disposed of in a compost heap or simply planted into the ground so that the plants can continue growing. According to either option less potentially harmful emissions are produced by the degradation of the 15 cup 3 than would be produced if the cup were simply placed in landfill. Moreover, any emissions produced by the degradation of the cup 3 are offset by the growth of the plants. Furthermore, the degradation of the cup 3 in the ground or in the compost bin results in the conversion of the cup 3 into valuable garden nutrients.

Claims (21)

1. A system, for producing at least one plant, including an open beverage-vessel; an amount of growing medium for receipt within the open beverage-vessel; and at least one seed for receipt within the open beverage-vessel.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the open beverage-vessel is biodegradable.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2 wherein the open beverage-vessel is a paper open beverage-vessel.

4. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the open beverage-vessel has a starch-based liner.

5. The system of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the open beverage-vessel is a cup.

6. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the growing medium is dry.

7. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the growing medium is a pellet.

8. The system of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the growing medium is or includes peat.

9. The system of any one of claims 1 to 8 including at least one seed mat carrying the at least one seed.

10. A method, of producing at least one plant, including placing growing medium into an open beverage-vessel; and placing at least one seed into the open beverage-vessel.

11. A method, of reusing an open beverage-vessel that has been used to hold a beverage, including placing growing medium into the open beverage-vessel; and placing at least one seed into the open beverage-vessel.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11 including reconstituting a dry pellet of the growing medium.

13. The method of any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the placing at least one seed into the open beverage-vessel includes placing at least one seed mat carrying the at least one seed.

14. The method of any one of claims 10 to 13 including placing the open beverage-vessel on a windowsill.

15. The method of any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein the open beverage-vessel is a cup.

16. A system, for producing at least one plant, including an amount of growing medium for receipt within an open beverage-vessel; and at least one seed for receipt within the open beverage-vessel.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the growing medium is dry.

18. The system of claim 16 or 17 wherein the growing medium is a pellet.

19. The system of claim 16, 17 or 18 wherein the growing medium is or includes peat.

20. The system of any one of claims 16 to 19 including at least one seed mat carrying the at least one seed.

21. The system of any one of claims 16 to 20 wherein the open beverage-vessel is a cup.