Merdacotta is a beautiful new kind of Italian clay made from, to put it delicately, shit. The inventors, who it may not surprise you to learn are the same people who run the Museo della Merda in Italy (the world’s first museum devoted to feces), have come up with a formula that uses cow dung as an ingredient for lightweight plant pots.
Among gardeners in the know, merdacotta plant pots are having a moment—and not just because of the ingenious re-use of a waste product. With subtle colors and richly textured surfaces (and stamped with “Shit Museum” logos), merdacotta pots and vases are a lovely complement to green foliage and flowers:
Each pot is made of a mixture of clay, dung, and straw. Invented by dairy farmer Gianantonio Locatelli and architect Luca Cipelletti, merdacotta clay also can be formed into rustic tiles or simple furnishings (tables, stools, and benches). N.B.: We’re also longtime admirers of traditional terra cotta. See:- 10 Easy Pieces: Terra Cotta Planters.
- Stylish Planters from Copenhagen, by Way of Tuscany.
- Design Sleuth: Terra Cotta Window Boxes.
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