The Vetiver Lantern by paiwate wangbon from thailand

The Vetiver Lantern
Soil erosion has become a major problem in rurle areas in Thaiand and Asia, slopping landscapes are the most risked. For many years, Asian people have used the Vetiveria grasses for soil conservation, also in Thailand. Vetiveria adds organic matter to the soil, which provides an energy source to microorganisms and thereby improves soil biodiversity and erosion control, contributing to river health. In the mean time, the vetiverai leaves are fine materiral in craft works.
The Vetiver Lantern is made from dying vetuverai leaves, weaving with metal strings to create the bone structure. The hand-weaving made a ready-sheet material that can be cutting, rolling and folding for new line products.
This concept is added value of vetieria leaves and supported the villagers who have no craft skill but using the vertiveria grasses, can gain more income. It is the down-stream work that will ripple the up-stream of soil conservation.