_{Discarded food scraps, stray branches, seashells and many other natural materials are key ingredients in a new system that pulls drinkable water out of thin air. This new “molecularly functionalized biomass hydrogels” system can convert a wide range of natural products into sorbents, materials that absorb liquids. By combining these sorbents with mild heat, gallons of drinkable water can be harvested out of the atmosphere, even in dry conditions.}