You Can Help Build This GIant Flag That Will Be Visible from Space
Within a few years, you might be able to see the South African flag from space. Not the one waving on the ground, but one made out of 2.5 million desert plants. In an effort to celebrate and unite the historically divided country of South Africa, The Giant Flag project has launched a campaign to build a South African flag-shaped garden the size of 66 football fields in the Camdeboo desert region. According to Fast Company, the flag would be made up of “adopted” succulent plants.
As with most projects with a purpose these days, the founders have decided to harness the power of crowdfunding to finance this massive undertaking, so the flag will not belong just to South Africa, but to supporters all over the globe. They hope the flag will fan a patriotic flame for the country, but also support a struggling economy. The project will cost about $20 million to build, but promises to create 700 permanent jobs and boost tourism in a region burdened with 40% unemployment.
Already, several major foundations and companies have donated to the cause (including Google) in order to get this project off the ground (or into the ground, rather), though eventually the flag should sustain itself. The black color of the flag will be made up of solar panels that will cover a guest lodge and conference center, while the white will be roads and the red, blue and green will be living plants.
If you’d like to adopt a baby plant, you will actually receive the GPS coordinates for your particular succulent child so you can look after her as she grows up. After they reach $2 million in funding, Giant Flag plans to start germinating the plants and preparing for ground-breaking. If all goes as planned, the site could be open to the public as early as 2017.
Are you ready to adopt a plant? Let us know in the comments.
