Zambezi Eco Sprouts is using low-tech aeroponics to change mindsets
"At first, we thought we were just building a food system. Instead, we discovered we were sparking a conversation about climate, entrepreneurship, and hope," says Phathisani Vundla, founder of Zambezi Eco Sprouts in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
What began as an experiment in reusing discarded bottles has evolved into a community-driven initiative that reimagines waste as infrastructure and farming as a tool for empowerment. The project's impact now stretches far beyond its towers of two-liter bottles, becoming a blueprint for resilience, youth engagement, and circular design in action.
From skepticism to belief
In the early days, few people believed the idea could work. "When you are walking around collecting bottles and telling people you're going to build a vertical farm, they ask: Can it really grow?" Vundla recalls.
Those doubts gradually turned into curiosity. Once the first aeroponic towers began producing healthy greens, neighbors started showing up to see the results for themselves. Some even began collecting bottles to donate to the project. "People saw proof that something good could come from what we throw away," he says. "It shifted how they looked at waste and how they looked at possibility."
Today, Zambezi Eco Sprouts sells its produce to households, restaurants, and small grocers in Bulawayo. For many buyers, it's not just about freshness. "Customers often tell us they feel like they're supporting an environmental cause. They're part of something that gives back."
Collaboration and shared ideas
By engaging local volunteers, engineers, and young people, Zambezi Eco Sprouts transformed a personal experiment into a collective effort. Volunteers now assist in collecting bottles, assembling towers, and managing irrigation and monitoring systems. "It's inspiring to see youth involved not just as workers but as innovators. They take ownership of the process."
The project's evolution has inspired a parallel mission: education. "Our goal has always been greater than growing food. It's also about growing opportunity, resilience, and hope. Turning youth into 'Eco-Engineers' ready to tackle climate change head-on."
Through its Eco-Engineer initiative, Zambezi Eco Sprouts trains students, community members, and aspiring entrepreneurs in low-cost vertical farming techniques. The sessions cover tower construction, solar power integration, and nutrient-cycle management. Participants leave with the skills, and often the materials, to replicate the system in their own communities.
"The training gives young people a sense of agency. They learn that innovation doesn't need big budgets or imported equipment. It starts with reimagining what's already around you."
© Zambezi Eco Sprouts
Support and validation
Early institutional guidance helped the project take root. Partnerships with the World Food Program, DanChurchAid, and Swiss Development provided technical advice, exposure, and credibility. "Our most valuable asset wasn't money, but guidance and belief," says Vundla. "They showed us that our local solution had global relevance."
Armed with that validation, Zambezi Eco Sprouts refined its processes and set its sights on replication. "We don't need funds for R&D, because the system is proven. What we need now is capital to procure bulkier components and to rapidly deploy our visual training program for new Eco-Engineers."
A model for inclusive innovation
Beyond food and employment, the project has become a community hub for environmental awareness. Bottle drives and public workshops invite residents to contribute to something tangible by turning litter into livelihoods. "Each tower is a visible reminder that sustainability can start small," Vundla says.
The impact also extends to local schools and youth centers. Several have begun building mini-towers using the same design principles, linking lessons in science and environmental studies to real-world action. "The biggest surprise has been how much people connect to the story as much as the product. We started by reducing trash and growing food. Now we're helping people see that innovation can belong to them too."
© Zambezi Eco Sprouts
Looking ahead
Zambezi Eco Sprouts plans to scale its work through a network of DIY Revolution Outposts, which are community-based training and production sites in cities and rural towns across Zimbabwe. The model will offer both food production and skills training under one roof, creating new income opportunities while cleaning up local environments.
Within five years, Vundla hopes to replicate the system in neighboring countries and form partnerships with organizations focused on urban agriculture, waste reduction, and youth employment. "Today, we are motivated by the certainty that this simple, scalable model is not just a project but the destiny of our community and the transformation that we know our world needs."
For more information:
Zambezi Eco Sprouts
Phathisani Vundla
[email protected]
Phathisani Vundla on LinkedIn