It’s difficult to explore the wonders of gardening and sustainable food-growing while living in Kuwait’s desert climate. From harsh weather conditions such as extreme heat and dust taking over our lives for at least 5 months out of the year, to a lack in community outdoor resources within a largely urbanized nation, we find it easy to just give up when it comes to planting our own produce and greenery. But with initiatives like BioHydro, Kuwait has been given a chance to prove how green it can really be!
Established with the intent to highlight our innate attraction to the natural world, BioHydro is striving to reunite humanity and nature through sustainable technologies. They aim to refrain from pesticide and herbicide use while utilizing nature’s already existing remedies, ultimately resulting in better food and a better environment for us and future generations. BioHydro and UN-Habitat took this to the next level by joining forces to bring awareness on the topic of sustainable growth to Kuwait, in the form of Hasadd.
Created by founder and CEO of BioHydro, Eng. Hamad Al-Kulaib, Hasadd is a campaign conceived to elevate sustainable urban agricultural practices amongst Kuwait’s residents. Comprised of a moving exhibit, a series of lectures, and workshops in Al Shaheed Park, the campaign is set to continue over the next month, and has been perfectly timed in duration with a commemorative day very dear to us all: Earth Day. “Hasadd aims to engage local residents in conversations about sustainable practices, and shed light on Mother Earth’s plea on her special day while raising knowledge about the country’s newly implemented environmental laws,” he says.
Hasadd targets its campaign towards household families and local SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Entrepreneurs), teaching them sustainable methods of growing indoors and helping them successfully commercialize hydroponics within Kuwaiti market dynamics. Other audiences who can benefit are academia and environmental authorities, and persons with disabilities, making it an inclusive campaign for all to take part in.
Split into two phases, the campaign focuses on awareness and capacity building among Kuwait’s youth, while emphasizing the technical application of hydroponics. Phase one consists of many lectures and opportunities for youth involvement, in addition to debates with international environmentalists. In such lectures, Hamad will subsequently raise questions regarding current notions of sustainability in Kuwait’s highly irradiated and arid climate, that will be followed by a discussion session attended by decision makers in governmental scientific institutions and their respective NGO arms.
Phase two’s more technical principles will implement an education towards the use of hydroponic growth, with workshops mainly circulating around Hasadd’s elements of ‘You Plant, You Grow, You Protect and You Enjoy.’ The workshops aim to simplify sustainable growing methods for members of society, especially those with special needs. Participants will be equipped with 6 months’ worth of growing tools to empower them to become proud contributors of the sustainable community. They will also share stories of successes, failures and the joys of growth throughout 22-day home harvesting experience with BioHydro-provided systems sponsored by the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs.
The highlight of the campaign will be a celebration of Mother Nature on Earth Day (April 22nd) with programs designed to boost Kuwait’s contribution towards nature conservations on a global scale. The exciting list of events will include:
Seed Swap
In coordination with the EPA and the Ministry of Interior – Environmental Police, the seed swap will highlight the importance of surrounding native flora trade and CITES’ endangered species. The rules of the swap will ensure collectors know the purpose of the law and its do’s and don’ts.
Hear Nature
With the coordination and approval of Conversation International, Arabic-subtitled “Nature is Speaking” films will be shown in different zones thought Al Shaheed Park on Earth Day, and spectators will sign pledges on the ‘I Heard Nature’ signboard.
#AfterTheLastTree
This exhibit will showcase the stark future vision of a world without trees, intending to move spectators into introspection and action on climate change and its fast approaching, irreversible effects on the world as we know it.
If the above isn’t reason enough for you to involve yourselves in this awareness campaign, then we don’t know what is. All we know is that Mother Earth is crying, and we haven’t given up yet. Support Hasadd and BioHydro for this wonderful gift they’re giving us: the gift of sustainable, green knowledge.
“Our responsibility towards future generations dictates the vision of our human advancement and observation of Mother Earth’s 4-billion-year track record of sustainable living, ensuring that our inherited state of living of what is better rather than worse,” Hamad concluded.
Hasadd has been taking place at Al Shaheed Park since March 18th, and will continue its campaign till April 22nd. Follow BioHydro on Instagram: @biohydrokw to stay updated on Hasadd’s lectures, workshops and exhibits.