Vetiver Basket

These Vetiver Baskets are hand made by the women of Murinjapuzha, a spice farming community in India. The women expressed interest in starting income generating activities to utilize their free time and make money, allowing them to earn a better livelihood. In partnership with PDS Organic Spices, the women trained in weaving techniques and learned to craft these beautiful baskets from locally grown materials sourced directly from the farming community.

What is Vetiver?
In Murinjapuzha, spices are grown in hilly terrains with high slopes. Soil erosion and resultant acidity is a major problem faced by the spice farmers in this region. Vetiver is a tropical grass that grows in South India and its roots are well known for binding the soil. It was introduced into the region to counter soil erosion. The leaves of vetiver grow profusely but were left unused. Now, this growing community of women work directly with local spice farmers to source the vetiver leaves they use for their handcrafts.

Dimensions: 6" tall x 4.5" wide