Newsletter (NL 2025-09) 100 year old vetiver hedges! Slope Stabilization, Feedback from the Field and more

100 Year old Vetiver hedgerows still functioning

Vonnie Roudette of St Vincent and the Grenadines – “the best project manager ever”.   Vonnie is one of a number of outstanding women who develop and execute Vetiver related programs. She is a committed vetiver and social activist especially in helping poorer disadvantaged communities and empowering women. Vonnie first came to the global vetiver scene when she produced the documentary “The Grass Men” that told the story of

how the lives of some inmates in a St Vincent prison were changed through a vetiver handicraft program that she introduced and managed. The story is recounted in a “One News SVG” article by Ananda-le Henry.  Vonnie extended her vetiver interest to its use for soil conservation, often involving released inmates who had benefited from the handicraft program. Later, following the 2021 volcanic explosion in the northern part of St Vincent she helped with rehabilitation of the land and its people through the reintroduction of vetiver hedgerows, as well as the restoration of some existing hedgerows that were more than 100 years old. Most of the community had no idea what vetiver was, except that it was just another grass.

She established a non profit organization “Hand2Earth Inc” (a very useful resource and informative Facebook site) and received funding support from the St Vincent and Grenadines Conservation Fund for a project “Vetiver Systems Technology (VST) Applications for farmland restoration, land conservation, food security and sustainable livelihoods for farmers in St. Vincent in the North Leeward Orange Zone”. A very good film (22 minutes), Our Vetiver Heritage, that Vonnie directed, documents the activities of a community led project that empowers farmers through the use of vetiver grass, to regenerate their farmlands, to become community educators and custodians of their agri-heritage for future generations. Hand2Earth also produced an excellent booklet “A Return to Our Vetiver Heritage” that includes the history of vetiver in St Vincent and the reasons for its decline. She has expanded her work to the island of Dominica.

Just recently Hand2Earth has received a $32,000 grant from the SVG Conservation Fund for oceanecosystem restoration:
“We’re proud to hand over the first disbursement of funding to Hand2Earth, one of our dedicated grantees, supporting their work to restore Little Bay’s land and ocean ecosystems in North Leeward, SVG.

This project tackles gully erosion that threatens marine life, leatherback turtle nesting sites and the island’s only forested beach trail. It will help stabilize the land, protect indigenous species and build community resilience through conservation and eco-tourism.

Little Bay is a living heritage site, home to historic vetiver terraces, century-oldestate works and a thriving coastal ecosystem”.

This work will safeguard its history, biodiversity, and beauty for years to come”

Note in 1995 Don Miller executed a somewhat similar project in Vanuatu to reduce near shore sedimentation caused by eroding gullies using Vetiver Grass Technology. It was successful – see Keeping Sediment Off The Reef     That was 30 years ago! These activities are no brainers to those who know VGT. Do we have to wait another 30 years for more programs like this and the Hand2Earth initiative!

Slope stabilization of infrastructure embankments and batters. When to use jute/coir matting and other Geo-textile materials, and the use of soil amendments to enhance vetiver growth under often extreme conditions

There is an active and ongoing discussion within the India Vetiver WhatsApp group, AW#VETIVER, as to when to use geo- fabrics such as jute or coir. There is no question that in the short-term erosion is significantly reduced when such fabrics are used, and their tensile strength add to slope stability particularly in the short term. They improve shear strength of slope soil and improve the micro-environment (improved soil moisture in particular) enabling plants that can improve slope stability and Factor of Safety (FOS) to grow better. The use of geofabrics is increasing, especially nature based biodegradable mats like jute and coir. Because of the long-term limitations to geofabrics (jute for examples rots within two years) there is interest in combining vetiver grass with geofabrics combining their properties to the benefit for short long term erosion control and slope stabilization.

Er. Pradip Kumar Choudhury, formerly Principal Technologist of the Indian Jute Research Association, kindly shared his recent presentation “Slope Stabilization through Bio-Engineering Technique adopting Jute Geotextile and Vetiver Grass” that sets out the attributes of jute as a geotextile fiber and some examples of its use with vetiver grass in India.

The following table provides a comparison between jute matting and vetiver (AI generated).

 

• Vetiver excels in long-term, slope stabilization, especially in tropical and subtropical climates. Its root system acts like a living soil nail, dramatically improving shear resistance and slope integrity.
• Jute matting is ideal for quick erosion control and vegetation establishment. It’s often used in post-construction or post-fire rehabilitation where immediate cover is needed

What is the case for using geotextiles/fabrics like Jute/Coir with Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT), and if there is, when should it be applied?

I put this question to three experienced VGT users who have vetiver businesses operating for ten years or more, and who have successfully delivered on slope stabilization contracts.

Robinson Vanoh (Papua New Guinea, TVNI Technical Director and owner operator of Eagle Vetiver Systems Ltd and coordinator of Pacific Islands Vetiver Community Based Network Inc.

writes:
From our experience in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific region, coir/jute matting is not necessarily applicable or required on all slopes. Its use is generally limited to highly erodible slopes or areas adjacent to critical infrastructure — such as city roads, airports, or other important urban sites — where immediate aesthetic appearance and surface erosion control are priorities.

Applying coir/jute matting on every slope significantly increases project costs, which conflicts with our goal of providing cost-effective solutions. The additional expense could deter many potential users from adopting Vetiver Grass Technology. In most rural and less sensitive areas, vetiver planted and maintained correctly has proven successful on slopes even up to 60%, without any geotextile matting.

Therefore, my recommendation is to reserve coir/jute matting for locations where rapid surface erosion control is essential, particularly in urban infrastructure projects. For broader applications, relying on properly planted vetiver alone remains the most practical and economical approach.

I agree that soil amendments can enhance vetiver establishment and growth, and such measures are valuable complements to the system.

Feng Ziyuan (China – TVNI Technical Director. Managing Director of Guangzhou Vetiver Eco-Science and Technique Co. Ltd. with 30 years bioengineering experience with vetiver) writes:

In my opinion, there is no need to use coir/jute matting as it will increase both material and labor costs, resulting in a 50-70% rise in the total cost, while the “Remediation Effect” is the same as that of directly planted vetiver.

In China, coir/jute matting is called “ecological blanket”, with a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 cm. It is mainly used on gentle slopes. Its unit price is 2-6 yuan per square meter (converted to US dollars, it is 0.3-0.8 USD per square meter). If this material is used on slopes with an angle greater than 45 degrees and vetiver is planted afterwards, the additional process of making insertion slots will be required, which will increase the labor cost by more than three times.

Under special conditions, another material, “geotextiles”, is used to cover/protect the newly planted vetiver slips. This kind of geotextile has a thickness of only 1-2 mm, which is even thinner than ordinary paper, with a weight of 12-15g/m²). It is used under the following conditions: the planting season is in winter, with the temperature below 10°C, strong wind, dry climate, and difficulties in water supply and maintenance management. By adopting this method, the geotextile can absorb sunlight during the day and keep the soil warm and retain water at night, which improves the survival rate of the vetiver slips without affecting growth.

However, this method has extremely high requirements for vetiver slip preparation and planting. The planting depth must be no less than 25 cm, and the height of the seedling above the ground surface should not exceed 10 cm. The vetiver seedlings used under the “special conditions”, should have a root length of 4-5 cm, and leaf length of 25-30 cm (for the purpose of retaining moisture). Each slip should have 4-5 tillers. The depth of the planting furrow is 30-35 cm and 5-8 cm of organic matter or organic fertilizer should be added to the bottom to improve the soil, and the seedlings should be planted directly at the bottom of the furrow. If these requirements are met, the survival rate of vetiver can reach over 90% even when the construction is carried out in winter.

Geotextiles are widely used in engineering and construction projects in China, and many countries import them from China. The application scope of geotextiles is usually determined based on their tensile strength, with their weight ranging approximately from 150g/m² to 500g/m². However, this material is non-degradable. Therefore, in my practice, I only use it as a temporary measure during the initial plamting/post planting phase of vetiver, and recycle it immediately once the vetiver survives.

Geotextiles are priced by weight, with a unit price of approximately 20-25 RMB/kg (equivalent to 2.7-3.5 USD/kg), which translates to 0.4-0.5 RMB/m² (equivalent to 5-7 US cents/m²). The standard specifications are as follows: length of 400-500m, width of 1.5-1.8m, and each roll weighs about 35-40kg.

Over the past decade, I have almost always used microbial agents in combination with vetiver. As a result, N, P, K inorganic fertilizers applications have decreased by 70%. For the projects that I have supervised and implemented, the success rate of the vetiver technology has reached over 98%.

There are many microbial agents available in China, but their quality is unreliable, so I have not used them. Since there is a microbial expert in my technical team, we jointly develop targeted microbial communities based on the local climatic conditions, soil status, and client requirements. These microbial communities are first made into solid powder in the laboratory, then transported to the construction site for activation. After dilution, they are applied by irrigating the plant roots or spraying on the leaves. The cost is very low, and when allocated to the project, it is approximately 0.25 RMB/m² (equivalent to 7 US cents/m²).

Yorlene Cruz (Costa Rica – TVNI Director, Coordinator of Costa Rica Vetiver Network, Engineer, and Managing Director of the company Sistema Vetiver Costa Rica.) writes:

In my opinion, geotextiles do not solve the root cause of erosion. They are essentially a cosmetic fix — like having severe acne and choosing makeup instead of going to a dermatologist (i.e., the Vetiver System)!

Slopes almost always present complex fertility conditions, which make it necessary to create micro-berms. In these, we prepare proper planting trenches that allow for the application of fully customized amendment and fertilization packages. This ensures not only the establishment but also the vigorous growth and strengthening of the vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides).

Erosion control blankets (ECBs) or geosynthetic mats are generally designed to enable the growth of broadcasted seed and by covering  it with a blanket. However, these seeds rarely germinate, and when they do, the vegetative cover is typically lost by the first dry season. As a workaround, blanket suppliers in Central America often recommend perforating the mat to plant vetiver.

I spend a considerable amount of time challenging such technical recommendations, explaining that punching holes into the blanket alters its load-bearing capacity and stress distribution. Furthermore, this method does not allow for planting vetiver at the proper spacing and density required for the Vetiver System to function effectively.

The only geotextile-based solution I have found justifiable for installation is the type that incorporates, in addition to the geotextile itself, a steel wire mesh curtain—similar to gabion mesh. A good example is the MacMat® R1 by Maccaferri. These systems are specifically designed for slopes where there is an imminent risk of large rockfall events. In such cases, the structural reinforcement provided by the wire mesh is essential, and the geotextile alone would be completely inadequate

I have participated in technical roundtables where the geotechnical consultant insisted on using coconut and thick fiber erosion control blankets (commonly referred to as agro-mats). In such cases, I have managed to propose and implement an alternative installation method, completely different from the manufacturer’s standard recommendation (the latter typically involves installing the mat top-down, anchoring it at the crest of the slope).

 

Instead, we work progressively, establishing correct vetiver hedgerows, and every two rows we install the blanket horizontally in the intermediate strips between the hedges. This creates a more integrated and functional system. I explained this approach in detail in a couple of Instagram reels—one while installing the system for the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), where convincing the team was particularly challenging due to their high geotechnical standard; and another slope stabilization project for a residential development under the Costa Rica–Canada Foundation

Some references: Costa Rica “Reels” by Yorlene Cruz: Vetiver and Geomats1, Vetiver and Geomats 2, Vetiver Soil Nailing (Use Google Translate to translate comments)

These are just three of many other vetiver based companies that install VGT successfully on infrastructure-related slopes in Latin America, Africa and Asia. When stand-alone vetiver installations fail, in nearly every case failure is due to improper application, including inadequate design, poor quality vetiver planting material, inadequate supervision, and failure to maintain after planting. Some of the best and most successful applications are done by engineers who appreciate the value of using a Nature Based technology, such as VGT, and yet at the same time understand slope dynamics and the physics that goes with it. In my opinion, in most cases geofabrics/textiles should be used sparingly when VGT is applicable.  For small and poor rural communities that are either underfunded or have no access to expertise VGT provides a low cost and effective stand-alone solution.

Vetiver and Landslides 

Linked with the foregoing paragraphs on slope stabilization is the question of the effectiveness of VGT for preventing landslides. This review “Soil Bioengineering Using Vetiver for Climate-Adaptive Slope Repair: Review” by Avipriyo Chakraborty and Sadik Khan was summarized in our June Newsletter.    It provides compelling evidence that Vetiver grass is an affordable, long-lasting, technology for landslide mitigation, particular where potential slides are shallow (2 meters). The review is different from some previous ones as it looks closely at research studies that relate to both the plants root impact on shear strength and its impact on soil hydraulics. pore pressure reduction, and soil structure over a range of soils and climate. In summary:

Quote: “Landslides are natural disasters that wreak devastation on human lives, infrastructure, and the economy, and their accelerating incidence, which is the result of more frequent and intense rainfall events, is causing concern across the world. Many countries are successfully using Vetiver grass as a plant-based soil bioengineering technique for repairing slopes, and the Sunshine genotype has been approved for use in the US because of its noninvasive nature.

There are many advantages to using Vetiver grass for slope reinforcement.  It is an affordable perennial, long-lasting, easy to implement without the need for heavy equipment, and easy to maintain. Its long, bushy roots have a high tensile strength that reinforces slopes and prevents soil from becoming saturated through evapotranspiration. Vetiver enhances the soil cohesion and friction angle while decreasing pore water pressure, boosts the matric suction and shear strength of the soil, reduces the horizontal displacement and depth of the slip surface, and increases soil’s saturated hydraulic permeability. Vetiver-rooted soil has ductile behavior under increasing loads and exhibits greater deformation before failure than nonrooted slopes, providing an early warning of a potential catastrophe. It can also

be utilized alone or in conjunction with other slope stabilization methods.

Despite all the aforementioned advantages, Vetiver is better suited to shallow landslides because the roots have less impact at greater depths. More research is needed to investigate the impacts of Vetiver in unsaturated soil environments, on soil hydraulic characteristics, slope angles, and soil conditions because its impact may vary based on soil and meteorological conditions.”

A feature of vetiver that has not been researched is the ability of its roots to penetrate (generally impenetrable by other plants) hard layers, such layers might be the slip interface of a potential land slide. P.K.Yoon demonstrated vetiver’s penetration through laterite. One might assume that such penetration would increase vertical drainage of water and further reduce the chances of a slide? Food for thought and a research study.

What is the public assessment of TVNI’s website (AI generated response)

The public opinion of www.vetiver.org—the official site of The Vetiver Network International (TVNI)—is overwhelmingly positive among practitioners, researchers, and restoration specialists. Here’s a breakdown of how it’s viewed:

🌿 Reputation Among Experts and Practitioners

• Trusted Source: It’s widely regarded as the most authoritative and comprehensive resource on vetiver grass technology and the Vetiver System. Users rely on it for technical papers, planting guides, and case studies.
• Global Reach: The site reflects TVNI’s presence in over 40 countries, showcasing diverse applications—from slope stabilization and mine rehabilitation to wastewater treatment and climate resilience.
• Educational Value: It’s praised for its downloadable manuals, training sheets, and multilingual resources that support both grassroots and institutional adoption.

💬 Community Engagement

• Testimonials Campaign: The site actively invites users to share their vetiver success stories, including before-and-after photos, field data, and community impact. This initiative has helped build a sense of global collaboration and shared purpose.
• Open Access: Unlike many technical platforms, vetiver.org offers free access to most of its resources, making it especially valuable for farmers, NGOs, and educators in developing regions.

🛠️ Critiques & Limitations

• Interface & Navigation: Some users find the website’s layout dated and occasionally difficult to navigate, especially when searching for specific technical documents or regional contacts.
• Limited Interactivity: While rich in content, it lacks dynamic features like forums or real-time Q&A, which are often found in more modern platforms.

🌍 Overall Impact

Vetiver.org is seen not just as a website, but as the digital backbone of a global movement. It continues to shape policy, guide fieldwork, and connect practitioners across continents.

Vetiver Influencers

I like how vetiver groups/forums on various social media platforms are developing with comments from a wide range of interested persons from all walks of life and cultures – many with very good connections – community, political, administrative, and political. The WhatsApp AW#VETIVER group is one such example.

I was reading an article on the BBC – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jq1d63l7lo  about the dramatic decline in mainstream TV “cooking” shows. It seems that people prefer learning new cooking ideas from YouTube and other internet platforms. There are some key YouTube “cooking Influencers” that have millions of followers.  This switch to YouTube is because viewers care about good stories, authenticity, and relevance, and I would add “briefness”.

Those in our various groups who want to be or could be important “vetiver influencers” have a great opportunity to do this at local, regional, national or global level (and in any language that meets the target audience). Short well focused videos /reels,- podcasts that describe your vetiver story, backed by supporting FACTS/DATA/BENEFITS, that target potential user’s needs can really create interest and action, and help upscale the technology. These stories can be presented perhaps as a ” Vetiver diary” telling the audience on a continuing and regular basis the “ why”, “how”, and the “results” of your activity.  To do this – all you need is to be a practicing, innovative,  and open minded vetiver user, have a smart phone, (and perhaps a computer, and some free editing software – I use Audacity). Virtually costless except for your time.

To upscale we have to flood the potential market with consistent, regular, and useful information about vetiver, its benefits, vetiver experiences, and the ” how to” – You the users have to do this – no one else can do it as effectively as you!

Yorlene Cruz of Cost Rica is an example of an important vetiver influencer in her country. She makes regular short podcasts – Vetiver Vital and reels —  sistemavetivercostarica. She also hosts a monthly Latin American Zoom discussion/meeting “Conversatorio Vetiver” where a VGT presentation is made and discussed by participants. These meetings are recorded and are available on TVNI’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC01Y8VgRYSrhSw_R8UCGMjg

By the way Yorlene is very strict on quality application, in the process she gives her clients three options as regards the type of vetiver plant depending on the project owner’s or developer’s budget:

Option A) 100% containerized vetiver plants.  Option B) 50% containerized vetiver + 50% bare-root slips (used to interspace barriers).  Option C) 100% bare-root slips

For large-scale projects, almost always 100% slips.

For “boutique-style” projects—where both immediate stabilization and aesthetics are important from day one—or in highly critical sections, containerized vetiver plants are often chosen.

Regardless of the option selected, the most important factor is ensuring that Vetiver thrives, regardless of the site’s soil fertility conditions. Both slips and containerized plants are installed with a well-designed package of fertilizers and soil amendments.

For some sites a single fertilizer application at planting is sufficient. For others post-planting nutrient applications are also necessary to ensure proper establishment of the vetiver hedgerows.

Post-planting maintenance always includes manual weeding to prevent any vegetation from invading the planting lanes and to avoid shading of the young plants.

From the field

The Philippines

Allan Amps from Bansalan (southern slopes of Mt Apo) is a vetiver grower and activist –(influencer). For the past year or so he has been encouraging the Municipality of Bansalan to support farmers in the upper catchments to use Vetiver Grass Technology not only to improve their land and farm income but also reduce downstream flooding – the town of Bansalan and other lowland areas are seriously flooded annually due to deforestation and poor farming practices occurring in the upper catchments. The Mayor and municipal council has now approved a small program to fund the introduction of VGT to upland farmers. This is a good approach, and it underscores the need for lowland (often more wealthy) communities to support poorer upper catchment communities in order to reduce the lowland flooding and the very high costs that the flooding entails. TVNI will support the program by providing specialized training to key farmers in the program area.

Myanmar

 

 

 

The Myanmar Vetiver Network is very active and continues to expand.  It has over 6,000 active members from a wide range of people including some influential monks. Interest appears to be expanding. One area of application may be for the decontamination of arsenic in rice paddy fields. The successful decontamination of arsenic in India has raised interest in Myanmar.

Kenya

Peter Kingori and Nancy Wambui leaders of “Reclaim Your Soils Vetiver Association” have been training newly recruited staff who will work, assisted by farmer leaders, with communities, involving some 500 farmers. The team will also work with factories releasing effluents that contaminate the rivers, dams, and aquatic systems that communities depend on. Coffee and tea production can also affect water sources given the chemicals and fertilizers whose residues enter the water systems. With this new energy Reclaim is hoping to reach far and wide, to sensitize the communities on cost effective vetiver grass technology (VGT) and its phyto-remedial capability, to reduce chemical and heavy metal pollution of their water sources. The newly trained extension staff and 3 regional coordinators prepared an action plan that will bring on board 40 farmer leaders, each of whom will reach out to 13 farmers. A total of 520 farmers will be trained to grow and apply vetiver. In addition it is  planned to work with 4 coffee and tea estates, two processing factories and 10 community health promoters.

India

Declaration from the Regional Vetiver Conference conducted in June in Raipur, hosted by the Medicinal and Aromatic Board of Raipur, headed by Shri Jacs Rao.

The Raipur Declaration on Advancing Vetiver, the Miracle Plant for Human Welfare and Ecological Harmony

Recognizing the profound potential of the Vetiver plant as a resilient, sustainable, widely adaptable and easy to handle multipurpose plant, we affirm our commitment to harnessing  its manifold benefits for the betterment of humanity and the protection of our environment. ………  Therefore, we Declare to:

1. Strengthen Research & Innovation – Support scientific and traditional knowledge to expand the uses of Vetiver for ecosystem restoration, health, and industry. Develop Centers of Excellence for a better understanding and also to expand the frontiers of knowledge on the various facets of Vetiver in order to harness the crop more effectively, efficiently and optimally.
2. Promote Sustainable Cultivation – Encourage community-driven planting and environmentally sound practices for scaling Vetiver-based initiatives.
3. Foster Economic Empowerment – Develop rural and local farmers and enterprises using Vetiver products that enhance livelihoods while nurturing ecosystems.
4. Collaborate Globally & Locally – Work with governments, institutions, and communities to share knowledge, build capacity, and integrate Vetiver into sustainable development strategies.
5. Advance Ecological Stewardship – Champion Vetiver as a vital natural resource for soil regeneration, water conservation, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience.
6. Host the International Conference on Vetiver 8 (ICV 8) in India in April 2027 – Spread the many nuances of Vetiver the crop in its multi-layered of the plant, its  agronomy, farming, commercial applications, and showcasing its numerous benefits and applications, to promote knowledge-sharing, exchange of ideas, and opportunities that abound Vetiver to a global audience.

Vetiver is a vital ally in our pursuit of ecological harmony and human welfare.

We therefore pledge to foster innovation, encourage sustainable practices, empower communities, and deepen collaboration so that this remarkable plant may contribute fully to a greener, healthier, and more resilient future for people and the planet.

We resolve to place the Vetiver plant at the heart of a greener, healthier, and more harmonious future for people and the planet.

Good luck! We wish you well in this endeavor. With perseverance and community action you will succeed.

Nigeria

There is a community known as Akassa located in the depths of the Niger River Delta that is showing interest in vetiver initially as a tool to mitigate the challenge of sea level rise. They know a bit about vetiver and have a small vetiver nursery – Chrysopogon nigritanus. It will be interesting to see how vetiver develops there. It is a classic case of a community that receives next to no help from government and where vetiver might become an important tool for them.

Vetiver Grass Propagation Techniques

Sometimes we receive request regarding vetiver grass propagation techniques. As demand increases the bottle neck to expansion is often the availability of quality plant material.

Individual and community nurseries are the best. — and a lot of them! what ever the size – they are best located close to final application site. For optimum
production one needs year round access to water (rain and irrigation), fertilizer or FYM, and spacing proper  9 plants/sq meter. Depending on growth rate the plants can be divided every 3-6 months. Production output can either be as containerized (polybags) or bare rooted slips.The latter is the most common and cheapest. Here are links to some useful documents on vetiver propagation:

• Techniques of Vetiver Propagation With Special Reference to Thailand
• Observations and Experiments on Multiplication,Cultivation, and Management of Vetiver grass in China in the 1950s
• Vetiver Grass – Plant Propagation  (photos missing)
• Look See at Vetiver – P.K.Yoon
• Vetiver System Applications Technical Manual (see part 2)

The Last Word

I conclude this newsletter with this observation that great things can be done using Vetiver grass in its many forms of applications – we know this from feedback from users and from scientific research that backs the field results – but success depends entirely on the technology’s proper design and application. Users both existing and new, as well as non-user influencers, promoters, activists, community leaders, and government officials must take the time to learn and fully understand the facts behind the technology and its applications – and then in whatever role ensure to the best of their ability to apply it CORRECTLY.  Of course, there will be modifications and development of new vetiver applications, but these too should be correctly implemented. There are three legs to the vetiver “stool” – Quality plant material, correct application, and follow up maintenance. Get these right and you will have a successful project, and you will not have wasted your time and money!!.

Finally, we would suggest that when posting photos of vetiver applications on social media sites it is important to include photos of the mature product – not just rows of newly planted vetiver – often badly spaced! What impresses potential users are photos of better crops growing because of mature well managed vetiver hedgerow planting, or stable hillsides and man-made slopes, or lovely handicrafts from the harvested leaves of well grown vetiver hedgerows or vetiver fields. Add a couple of descriptive sentences as captions to the photos that will further interest the viewer.