Loofah Filter Cultivation (Maria)

Loofah (Luffa) Filter Cultivation is a key component of Project: Maria's "internalized inputs" principle.

The Loofah gourd is a vining plant that is grown in the greenhouse. When harvested and dried, the gourd's fibrous interior forms a tough, porous, 3D sponge.

System Function

1. Filter Production: These dried loofah matrices are cut into flat sheets. 2. Dehydrator Use: The sheets are used as the food-safe, "polishing" filter for the Waste Heat Food Dehydrator. This filter traps any dust from the server room air. 3. Closed-Loop Recycling: When the filter is clogged, it is not thrown away. It is added to the facility's compost or worm bins, where it (and the dust it trapped) breaks down. This compost is then used to fertilize the aquaponics system, which grows more loofah.