ECHO

Training Vanilla Orchid Vines to Improve Flowering

2008-09-18T15:42:00.004-05:00

Pods of the vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) are used to make vanilla flavoring. Pictured here are vanilla orchid plants trained onto living posts (Gliricidia sepium). Apparently, the resulting curves in the vanilla orchid vines stimulates flowering to occur. We have observed that when allowed to grow vertically, up into an oak tree for example, the vines rarely flower. This is a small observation plot in the rainforest. We're also trying it with black pepper (Piper nigrum) in the same plot.

Deep Planted and Mulched Bananas for Dry Areas

2008-09-10T15:13:00.003-05:00

One does not normally think of bananas as a crop for arid regions. It is quite common, though, to see bananas being grown in monsoon climates where there is a pronounced dry season. These plantings often suffer during the dry season where water for irrigation is scarce. By planting in deep holes and using significant amounts of mulch, however, growth and production of banana plants can be improved. Pictured below are banana trees that were established as follows:

1) A 2.5 ft hole was dug
2) 18 inches of compost was placed in the hole
3) Banana plantlets (pups) were planted at or near the top of the compost (15 to 18 inches up from the bottom of the hole
4) 1 ft of mulch was placed around the plantlet

Mixed Legume Groundcover

2008-04-03T12:17:00.005-05:00

Planting mixed legumes has proven to be an effective way to obtain a vegetative ground cover in our demonstration gardens. For example, the fallowed rice plot below contains a mixture of cowpea and lima beans. These species were seeded in an alternating pattern within each row. The photo on the bottom shows a cowpea plant on the left and a lima on the right.

The advantage of this approach is that if one species fails another will likely succeed. We have also seen that a given species may either become dominant or decline depending on seasonal growing conditions.

Worm Composting

2008-02-12T13:44:00.000-05:00

Three new, concrete composting bins have been constructed on the farm. They illustrate similar designs being used successfully in places such as Nicaragua. In this system, worms are utilized to process organic inputs comprised of manure or vegetative waste (e.g. weeds/kitchen scraps).
Each bin has a cement bottom to prevent incursion of roots. They are also slightly sloped to allow drainage. No soil is used. A rubber mat covers the organic material, providing protection from heavy rainfall. We are using banana leaves, placed on top of the rubber mat, to keep the material from overheating on sunny days.

Illustrated in the photos below is the drainage system (jug in a hole covered with a wooden lid shown above) as well as unprocessed organic matter (fruits and egg shells) compared to material that has been processed by the worms. As worms digest bacteria in the compost, the nutrients trapped in the bacteria are converted to a plant-available form in the resulting worm castings. Both the castings and the liquid in the jug can be used as fertilizer.

It's FREEZING cold!!

2008-01-18T16:43:00.000-05:00

If you would have been at ECHO on the morning of Jan 1, 2008, this is what you would have seen: LOTS of ice (top photo).

Our interns and farm staff worked most of the night running the sprinkler system used to protect the plants. Most of our plants survived, although there was some damage- probably more so than in recent years because of the wind that accompanied the cold.

Most of the damage (remaining photos taken Jan 14) was due to branches breaking from the weight of the ice. A coating of ice on the leaves provides

a bit of protection, as long as the sprinklers are not turned off before temperatures go above freezing. Leaves of some tree species, however, are more sensitive to ice than others. Notice the photo at the bottom right of the jackfruit tree. The leaves reached by the sprinklers were damaged whereas the upper canopy was not.

Quite a few of our papaya and banana trees were damaged. Many of our trees lost a lot of leaves but have buds that are already sprouting to form new growth!

An Idea for Growing Herbs

2008-01-10T16:36:00.000-05:00

Pictured are cement blocks used for steps along a path. Note that the blocks on the sides are being utilized as containers for growing various herbs. One would not need cement blocks to grow herbs, but it illustrates the concept of using whatever space is available to grow food plants....

Agriculture and Nutrition for HIV/AIDS Orphans in Africa

2007-11-07T14:52:00.000-05:00

Kathryn Barrera, from the Mothers' Welfare Group, opened the second day of ECHO’s 2007 Agricultural Conference with a presentation on her group’s agriculture and nutrition programs for orphans affected by HIV/AIDS in rural Nigeria.

Some of the children in her program lost one or both parents to the virus and 70% are themselves infected with HIV/AIDS.

Barrera discussed the importance of nutrition in any program targeting individuals with HIV/AIDS. Initially, she said, the group focused on delivering antiretroviral medication to infected children and ensuring that the medicine was taken properly. They soon realized, however, that without proper nutrition, the pills were doing more harm than good.

The group began focusing on agriculture and nutrition, growing soya and peanuts in a community garden run by the children at the orphanage. From their crops, the children roast and process peanut butter, an excellent source of nutrition.

Mothers' Welfare Group also emphasizes reforestation, growing a variety of indigenous trees and plants, many from ECHO seeds. Barrera, originally from Washington State, talks about her love for trees – beyond their practical uses – and tries to instill this feeling in the children at the orphanage. The younger generations, she said, have begun to develop an appreciation for forests and plant fruit trees and shade trees in an effort to halt the desertification rampant in that part of Nigeria.

Barrera concluded her presentation by emphasizing the importance of working on a small scale, using local products and knowledge, and focusing on low input, high yield programs. She finished by highlighting the significance of HIV/AIDS in the third world. “If you’re in the developing world, HIV will affect everything you do.”

Basin Garden Project

2007-10-31T15:08:00.000-05:00

ECHO's demonstration gardens showcase crops and techniques representative of various climate zones. In recent months, the monsoon area of the farm has undergone renovations to better show irrigation and gardening methods suited to climates with a pronounced dry season. Basin gardening is one of the techniques being shown. The idea is to establish "basins" on a 1% slope that can be irrigated with some type of a pump, like the treadle pump shown in the bottom photo, to bring water from a stream or river to the gardens. In our case, we are pumping from a shallow well. The borders of each basin were established with a mixture of clay and sand. Water is channeled along the top of the clay walls towards the basins. Outlets to each basin can be blocked (e.g. using small sand bags) to control watering. Watering takes quite a bit of work- one or two people to take turns pumping and someone to guide the water to the basins. However, with flooded basins vs. raised-bed culture, the soil does not dry out quickly. Thus, the gardens do not need very frequent watering.

ECHO Sends Fruit Trees to Ethiopia

2007-09-19T14:57:00.000-05:00

ECHO has joined forces with Project Mercy, an interdenominational Christian organization in Ethiopia, to establish a fruit tree nursery for the 70,000-member community of Yetebon.

Funded by the Sanibel Community Church, ECHO is sending over 330 fruit trees - 26 species – including mangoes, avocadoes, blackberries, raspberries, and sapotes.

“The trees are all high quality commercial fruit trees,” says Tim Watkins, ECHO’s Tropical Fruit Nursery manager. Each variety was specially chosen for its quality, marketability, and ability to extend the growing season.

Tim will be accompanying the shipment to Ethiopia on September 9 and staying for two weeks to help launch the project. Sarah Hendershot, an intern at ECHO in 2004, will be joining the team on September 14. She will work with Project Mercy in Yetebon for the next six months to ensure the nursery is a success.

On September 8, ECHO staff and members from Sanibel Community Church joined forces to prepare the trees for shipment. All soil, insects, and contaminants were removed from the plants and the roots were soaked in a packing gel that will preserve them for the long trip to Africa.

It’s jackfruit and avocado season at ECHO!

2007-09-07T10:56:00.000-05:00

As the last mangoes fall from the trees and the hot, humid summer fades into a drier fall, a new season of tropical fruit is upon us. Jackfruit and avocado are two of the most notable fall varieties at ECHO.

Jackfruit, the largest tree fruit in the world, can weigh up to 60 pounds. Green and thorny on the outside, the inside is yellow and moist, with a taste like over-ripe bananas.

“It tastes like the first bite into a piece of Juicy Fruit gum,” says Angela Boss, ECHO’s Assistant Nursery Manager. “A burst of flavor.”

An intern at ECHO in 2002, Angela and her husband, Darren, spent two years in the Central African Republic, where jackfruit was the favored fruit of the indigenous pygmies. The couple helped give gave away 20,000 trees during their agricultural missions project, including jackfruit.

Avocadoes, a favorite Florida treat, are also starting to ripen. ECHO grows more than 26 varieties, but not the famous black-skinned California Hass avocado.

“It’s too humid here,” Angela tells us. But, the farm does grow Brogdans, a similarly rich avocado that turns black when ripe.

Avocado trees are relatively low-maintenance, as they don’t require a lot of fertilizer or pruning, and insects and other pests usually stay away. One caution: the trees are very susceptible to root rot, so they need to be planted in an area not prone to flooding.

In terms of ECHO’s mission, jackfruit and avocado are both important sources of nutrition for people faced with malnutrition. Jackfruit is high in vitamin C and avocadoes, that delicious base for guacamole, are high in necessary fats and oils.

Composting at ECHO

2007-08-29T09:11:00.001-05:00

Heavy use of mulch and compost has always been a feature of ECHO's demonstration farm. In recent months, however, our farm manager (Danny Blank) has been focusing on making higher-quality compost using knowledge he gained from a study on soil biology. The goal is not necessarily to make enough compost to amend entire beds or blocks of land. We've been having success in our gardens using targeted applications of compost or worm castings. Targeted applications involve placing measured amounts of these amendments directly in the planting holes.

The pictured compost heap is turned whenever the temperature approaches 160 degrees F. Temperatures higher than this indicate conditions favorable to anaerobic (able to live without oxygen) instead of the more beneficial aerobic (need oxygen) bacteria. Interestingly, the bamboo poles running through the pile provide a way to estimate the temperature by hand. At 160 degrees F, one should not be able to touch the bamboo pole for more than a few seconds. The pile is watered to keep it at about 50% saturation; firmly squeezing a handful of soil/compost should produce a few drops of water.

ECHO Staffers Join Agriculture Conference in Nicaragua

2007-08-15T14:56:00.001-05:00

Last month, four ECHO interns and four staff members traveled to Nicaragua to take part in a Latin American agricultural conference hosted by Rancho Ebeneze r.

Patterned after ECHO’s annual conference, held each year at our headquarters in North Fort Myers, the Latin American conference lasted three days and featured lectures each morning and workshops in the afternoon.

‘At Rancho Ebenezer,’ intern Emily Andree tells us, ‘they are very concerned with earth stewardship.’ Citing Genesis 2:15, The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it, the ranch’s philosophy emphasizes zero-graze animal pens, sustainable forage crops integrated with SALT (Sloping Agricultural Land Technology), and water catchment systems for rain run-off.

Rancho Ebenezer focuses on three main principles that resonate with ECHO’s own mission and was an ideal location for interns to experience agricultural development in an international setting. Like ECHO, Rancho Ebenezer wants to help the poor learn to grow food for themselves, care for the environment, and provide people with practical experience.

¡Qué un viaje bueno!

Former ECHO Staffer Learns About Life ‘On the Other Side’

2007-07-25T07:20:00.000-05:00

Dr. Grace Ju Miller, Seed Bank Director at ECHO from 2002 to 2006, is finding out what it’s like to be on the receiving end of ECHO’s agricultural ministry.

She and her husband, Garth, are mid-way through their two year teaching assignment at an orphanage in Morocco. Set in the mid-Atlas mountains, at the same elevation as Denver, the American-run school offers a curriculum in French, Arabic and English.

Grace teaches high-school biology, introducing her students to many of the ideas used at ECHO. She especially emphasizes sustainable agriculture and the appropriate use of resources, plus the importance of composting and recycling.

Asked whether she uses ECHO as a resource, she laughs. ‘After all those years of writing plant information sheets and technical articles, now I see what it’s like to be on the other side.’ Grace regularly receives ECHO’s technical bulletin, ECHO Development Notes, plus seeds from the seed bank. She also requested a Chapin drip irrigation system, which she uses in the orphanage garden plots to grow tomatoes, hot peppers, bok choi and moringa as an annual.

Follow the Miller family on their blog www.4morocco.blogspot.com.

Gregariously Flowering Bamboo a Rarity at ECHO

2007-07-19T07:40:00.000-05:00

In the bamboo world, gregarious flowering is a rare phenomenon. Over a period of time, sometimes as little as two years, the bamboo plant flowers and produces large volumes of viable seeds. In the process, the bamboo plant becomes exhausted, and most die from the strain, leaving only the seed to carry on the genetic lineage.

What is especially fascinating about this phenomenon is that during a gregarious flowering cycle, a single variation or cultivar of a species will flower all over the world at the same time. In 1994, thousands of acres of a Thai cultivar of Dendrocalamus asper – pai tong keo – flowered in Southeast Asia. Plants of the same cultivar planted in Australia flowered simultaneously. This is a good reminder of the dangers of monocropping any type of plant.

At ECHO, we recently had the chance to witness our own gregarious flowering of the Bambusa tulda, or Punting Pole Bamboo. Most gregarious bamboos have a flowering cycle of between 30 and 120 years, so it was a rare and exciting spectacle to see. Interestingly, none of the seed was viable.

What are those pots for?

2007-07-13T09:24:00.000-05:00

People were curious about rows of pots on the surface of raised beds. They were placed that way as part of a seed planting technique used quite frequently at ECHO. A seed is planted in the ground, and a pot (top photo) is placed over that spot. Once all the seeds and pots are in place, the beds are covered with mulch. The pots keep the mulch from covering the seeds. In this case, the pots were removed after moringa seed had germinated (bottom photo).

Pumpkin in a Tree

2007-06-26T07:46:00.001-05:00

This interesting sight was photographed in the rainforest area of ECHO's Global Village (demonstration farm). It is a volunteer pumpkin plant, the vines of which had climbed an oak tree. The result was a pumpkin in a rather unlikely spot. There are probably a number of tree/vegetable combinations like this that could
be applied on purpose as opposed to by accident.

Au Sable Students Complete Course

2007-06-18T08:21:00.000-05:00

The Au Sable Institute coordinates more than 35 field courses each summer for students from about 80 Christian colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. One of these courses, 'Tropical Agriculture and Missions', is offered for three weeks in May/June each year at ECHO.

This year, 10 students from nine schools took the class. Besides the professor of record, Dave Unander from the Department of Biology at Eastern University in Philadelphia, ECHO technical staff, including Danny Blank, Angela Boss, Stan and Beth Doerr, Bob Hargrave, Tim Motis, Martin Price and Larry Yarger taught units in their expertise. For example, Angela introduced fruit tree grafting and Larry had the students work through a typical slope stabilization problem.

Assignments included the choice of a term paper or formal lecture. About half the class chose the lecture format, including Larissa Malik, a senior at Cedarville University in Ohio, who presented her seminar on edible insects.

Edible insects are a nutritious food source that 80% of the world's population sometimes eats. She looked to the Bible for inspiration, quoting from Leviticus 11:22, Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

Larissa herself has experienced dining on the many-legged critters: she once ate a June bug at band camp for $5. She said it tasted like 'gooey grass' and wasn't all that bad. She reminded the assembled students, many who plan a career in the missions field, to remember bugs when thinking about available food sources.

-- Article by David Unander & Artis Henderson
-- Photos by David Unander

Yardlong Bean Pods a Yard Long!

2007-06-08T15:07:00.000-05:00

Yardlong Bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis), also known as Asparagus Bean, is thought to originate in southern China and is an annual, climbing legume known for its extra long pods. It is a popular vegetable in Southeast Asia and has been introduced to many tropical countries as a garden vegetable.

Recently, we've been trialing a number of varieties on our demonstration farm. Mainly, we were interested in finding out which varieties produce the most pods. However, we've also been observing pod length, the reason being that few if any of us at ECHO had ever seen a Yardlong bean pod that was actually a yard long. Usually, they reach about 20 inches. A newly acquired variety, 'Taiwan Black', surpassed our expectations and has produced several pods at or over 36 inches (see photo of 40-inch pod- left). Another variety, 'Guilin' (photo on right), seems to be the most prolific in terms of pod number.

US gardeners can purchase Yardlong beans from our bookstore. They can grow in more northern climates as long as they are planted early enough in the spring/summer. Members of our overseas network of development workers may request seeds by email (echo@echonet.org) or letter.

Update from Former Student Olivier Paris-Leclerc

2007-06-07T15:12:00.001-05:00

In less than two weeks, Olivier Paris-Leclerc will head to the Islamic nation of Mauritania in West Africa as an environmental educator for the Peace Corps. Olivier spent three months at ECHO in the fall of 2006, learning about tropical agriculture and studying different growing techniques. He plans to put his agricultural knowledge to good use, teaching villagers how to set-up a school garden and bringing seeds like moringa and chaya to his African home for the next two years.

In between his studies at ECHO and the beginning of his Peace Corps assignment, Olivier embarked on a three month trek across Peru. He saw the ruins of Machu Picchu, traveled along the Amazon, and hiked the Inca trail.

He was impressed by the warmth of the people he met along his journey and hopes to visit again when his Peace Corps assignment is complete. For the time being, Olivier’s South American adventure has whetted his appetite for overseas travel, and he is excited to begin his time in Mauritania.

ECHO's New Generation of Volunteers

2007-06-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Chris Pellecchia, a senior at Canterbury High school, will be graduating on June 7 – and he already has experience in the real world. As part of his Independent Senior Project, Chris chose to spend 60 hours working at ECHO, learning the ins and outs of this non-profit headquartered in North Fort Myers.

“A lot of the other kids were doing things like real estate and business,” Chris tells us. “I wanted to do something different.”

At ECHO, Chris put his love for the outdoors to good use. He spent a day weeding the Semi-Arid plot, a day helping in the nursery, and five days with the maintenance team. One of the neatest projects? Chris helped the guys from the shop rebuild the bridge over the tilapia pond outside of the administrative offices. That’s the same bridge that Chris’s grandfather and longtime ECHO volunteer, Dick Sproat, helped build nearly 10 years ago.

Another of Chris’s skills came in handy during his time at ECHO. While the guys were working on the bridge, a lengthy rat snake took up residence on the library porch. Chris, who raised snakes and had no fear about handling the wily reptile, moved the 5 ½ foot snake back to the bushes surrounding the buildings.

Former Intern Shares ‘Ideas that Stick’

2007-05-24T13:42:00.000-05:00

Ernie Didot, a 1992 ECHO intern, is a great story teller. He visited ECHO this week, sharing the knowledge he has gained over the last decade and talking about the importance of using a place-based educational model.

He began his presentation by telling the story of Juan’s Tortillas. The story begins in a small hut in Guatemala, as Juan wakes up to the familiar smells of coffee and fresh tortillas. Juan loves tortillas, especially the way his mother makes them just so.

As the story progresses, Juan’s mother becomes ill. She has trouble breathing and coughs up a sticky black substance. Juan eventually realizes that what is making his mother sick is the smoke from the open cooking fire in the hut.

He learns about a fuel efficient cook stove from another family and encourages his mom to try the new stove. Juan’s mother gets better, and thanks to the new stove that produces much less smoke, the whole family is healthier.

When Ernie finished his story, he asked the audience of ECHO staffers and interns to identify the ‘cultural handles’ – the parts of the story that made it specific to Guatemala.

‘The tortillas!’ one voice called out. ‘Juan!’ another said.

‘Now, what I want you to do,’ Ernie told the group in a dramatic whisper, as everyone leaned forward to here what he had to say. ‘I want you to put this story in another setting. One group, I want you to tell me this story from a Florida perspective. Another group, I want to hear how it would take place in Africa. The last group, tell me how it would sound in Asia. But, you have to convey the main idea on a basic level: tell me about the hazards of indoor air pollution in your setting.’

As the audience split into groups, Ernie smiled to himself, looking relaxed and confident. He was in his element. In the 15 years since he left ECHO, Ernie has received his Masters in Education and worked on video projects around the world. Working with Shellbook Publishing Systems and now HELPS International, Ernie makes videos that carry a variety of messages, from literacy to parables to health related films on worms and diarrhea.

Back to story telling, Ernie shared a brief tale about how he met his wife. Before he did the overseas component of his internship in Haiti, he saw a picture of an attractive young lady working on a project near his site. While putting his agricultural skills to good use in Haiti, Ernie said he, ‘cultivated my own gardens’ and worked on wooing the young woman. The couple spent the next eight years in Guatemala and now have two adopted children from that country.

ECHO Staff Retreat

2007-05-18T08:18:00.000-05:00

You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Matthew 22:37

On Wednesday and Thursday, May 16 and 17, ECHO staff members spent time away from the office, exploring our faith, and learning to work as a more cohesive team.

Dennis Hollinger spoke to the staff about the importance of loving God with your head, heart, and hands.

Afterwards, we had a good ol’ fashioned barbeque, with canoe trips, fishing, and horseshoes.

ECHO Hosts Neighborhood Cookout

2007-05-16T08:38:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, May 12, ECHO invited our neighbors for a cookout and tour of the farm. Horsin’ Around Deli served up burgers and hot dogs, and Stan, Mike, and Mark lead visitors around the farm.

Soil Texture- An Easy Way to Measure

2007-05-07T15:19:00.000-05:00

The proportion of sand, silt, and clay in a soil determines its texture. Knowing the texture of a soil is important in managing a farm or garden. For example, a soil made up primarily of clay can easily become very compacted, which can hinder infiltration of rainfall into the soil. Incorporating organic matter into this type of soil will "lighten" it, thereby increasing both water infiltration and oxygen availability to the roots.

We wanted to get a rough idea of soil texture in several locations. An easy way to do this is to collect a sample of soil, shake it up in a jar of water, let the soil particles settle out, and then observe the thickness of the resulting layers. Sand is heaviest and will settle first, followed by silt, and then clay. As you can see, our soil is mostly sand. Sandy soils drain well but dry out quickly; mulching helps retain moisture in a sandy soil.

Click here for a more detailed description of using a jar to measure soil texture.

Constuction has begun on ECHO's new houses!

2007-05-04T14:12:00.000-05:00

This week we saw the foundations laid for the building of four new houses on the ECHO campus. R. Fry Builders of Cape Coral is constructing four new single family homes next to the Africa and Asia student dorms. These houses will be used primarily for our Missionary-In-Residence program that provides housing for Agricultural Missionaries that have served overseas.

ECHO's staff is greatly enhanced when overseas partner organizations allow their staff to work in the United States for a period of time at our demonstration farm. These missionary families have great experience that helps us provide sustainable agricultural solutions, experienced teachers and mentors for students preparing for overseas assignments.

The 3 bedroom/ 2 bath homes should be completed by October according to Randy Fry. Thanks to several generous individuals, foundations and civic organizations, the money to build the homes is already raised. However, money to landscape, furnish, and connect the homes to our computer network is still needed.

If you are interested in helping ECHO complete this project, please contact Mike Sullivan at 239-567-3344.

Gone Fishin’

2007-05-01T08:02:00.000-05:00

May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it.
~Irish Blessing

The ECHO interns got a taste of the fisherman’s life on Monday. Waterlogged and muddy, they seined first the duck pond, then the pond by the shop, pulling out nearly 100 fish. Some of the tilapia were over a foot long and weighed nearly 4 pounds. After practicing their netting skills, they learned the art of filleting the catch. And, what better way to finish off the day? With a fish fry!

ECHO Landscape

2007-04-27T10:18:00.000-05:00

We have an incredible team of volunteers that take care of the landscaping around the ECHO buildings.

The amazing variety of beautiful plants and flowers enhance the atmosphere of ECHO.

Two varieties of amaryllis and several orchids are blooming now.

Grafting Workshop a Big Hit

2007-04-17T13:59:00.000-05:00

On April 7, ECHO welcomed a full class of pre-registered participants to its onsite grafting workshop. Students learned techniques for grafting their own fruit trees and each received a grafting kit that included a mango and avocado tree. The class was such a success, that we plan on hosting another one later in the year.

There is still space available in the May 5 workshop: Secrets to Building Great Soil. Come learn the ins and outs of composting and mulching in Florida. Call Artis Henderson at (239)567-3315 to register.

No Squares at this Dance

2007-04-17T08:55:00.000-05:00

The venerable Dr. Price: scientist, humanitarian . . . Square dancer?

Martin and Bonnie were just two of the ECHO faces in the crowd at this Saturday’s square dance, held in the ECHO pavilion. There was a good mix of ECHO staff and volunteers, plus a crowd from New Mission Systems International based here in Fort Myers.

ECHO volunteer Jim Beltman served as the caller, energetically leading the squares through do-sa-dos, left hand allemandes, and star promenades. His wife, Gayle, worked the crowd, snapping shots of the dancers (check out the pic of ECHO intern Aaron Iverson in chaps and a cowboy hat!).

And how was Dr. Price on the dance floor? From the way he deftly maneuvered his partner around the pavilion, we’d say he’s an old hand!

Former Intern Dennis O’Connell Visits ECHO

2007-04-09T14:38:00.000-05:00

In the 10 years since Dennis O’Connell interned at ECHO, God has lead him on a unique missions path. While at ECHO, Dennis was particularly enthusiastic about leading tours and liked sharing his agricultural knowledge with others. But teaching?

‘People always said I would be a teacher or a preacher,’ Dennis says, ‘but I didn’t think I’d be either.’

Now, teaching third grade in inner city Los Angeles, this New Hampshire native is doing a little of both.

Eyes bright, a big grin on his face, he talks about his classroom and how teaching in L.A. is a missions field of its own. With 12 nations represented among his 20 students, he feels like he is touching the world.

At ECHO, a fellow intern was the first to point out that Dennis would be good in the classroom. When his 12 months at ECHO were done, Dennis tried his hand at substitute teaching in Lee County.

The connection was instant. He stayed for the next nine months and was the most popular substitute in the county. Next, he headed out west to work in environmental education, teaching students of all ages through outdoor programs. In California, while working on his Master’s in international agricultural development, Dennis became a certified teacher.

With a classroom of his own now, he is touching lives and sharing his unique mission with his students. Recently, he read the Chronicles of Narnia with his class and took everyone – parents and extended family included – to see the film. Even in the extracurriculars, Dennis is walking God’s path.

New Faces at ECHO

2007-04-05T14:09:00.000-05:00

Marcie Chapman

Marcie arrived in January. She grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo where her parents serve as Missionaries. Her undergraduate work was completed at U. C., Davis.
Marcie is the new "Queen of the Mountain" (Tropical Highlands) and helps take care of the rabbits.

Emily Andree

Emily arrived last month and hails from Virginia. She is a graduate of William and Mary. The Monsoon area is now under the watchful care of Emily and her faithful attack rooster.

Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod ??

The Three Musketeers ??
The Three Amigos ?? (That won't work, 2 are females!)

Yesterday (April 4th, 2007) saw the arrival of triplets !!! at ECHO. Lily and Curry are the proud parents of the as yet unamed kids.

Caterpillar on Sunflower Stem

2007-03-26T14:27:00.000-05:00

Recently, we noticed this sunflower plant about to fall over. Looking a little more closely, we saw that the caterpillar shown in the photo was "sawing" the plant down.
It looks like cutworm, but one normally thinks of cutworm causing damage at the base of plants rather than halfway up the stem. At any rate, it made for an interesting photo.

As far as how to control caterpillars, one way is to simply remove them by hand. This can be done in small gardens. There are also a variety of "Bt" products on the market. Natural enemies are not harmed, but caterpillars die after ingesting the bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis).

ECHO Goes on Safari

2007-03-15T10:21:00.000-05:00

‘Jambo!’ a khaki-clad safari worker says warmly, smiling and hurrying past the group of ECHO interns and staff on the canopied walkway. Overhead, lush tropical plants filter the afternoon sunlight, making the space cool and green. A silver-back gorilla sits off to the right, almost hidden by a screen of thick ferns and bamboo.

On Wednesday, March 7 the small party from ECHO set out on a trek to the wilds of . . . central Florida? As the guests of Wendy Andrew, Head Horticulturalist at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the ECHO interns got a special behind-the-scenes look at the park.

Mainly, the group was interested in learning how the park selects, grows, and harvests forage for its hundreds of animals. No small task, considering all the feed is grown on park property and harvested by hand. Ruth and Aaron, the interns responsible for ECHO’s goats, say that managing the forage for our handful of animals is daunting and enjoyed learning from the folks at Animal Kingdom.

Also on the trip, the interns got to peek in on the innovative techniques Epcot is using to grow crops. ‘They’re a lot of the same crops we grow here at ECHO,’ Aaron says. ‘It’s cool to see how they try different things.’ One of the most impressive sights: a tomato ‘tree’ that produced over 1,000 pounds of tomatoes.

ECHO has record Farm Day!

2007-03-12T07:59:00.000-05:00

With more than 3000 visitors to the farm on Saturday, March 3, ECHO had its biggest Farm Day ever. Harry and his dedicated crew parked over 1000 cars, and the bookstore and nursery had record-breaking sales.

There were workshops and demonstrations galore, including coconut shredding, cook stoves, and moringa processing. Visitors had a chance to taste toasted amaranth, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and pressed sugar cane juice.

The nursery crew hosted workshops on fruit tree care and gave tours of the arboretum, while Martin gave a talk on container gardening and Betsy lead an informative tour of ECHO’s landscaping. Stan hosted a forum on world hunger, and the Seedbank was open for tours.

Check out these great shots from the day’s festivities.

Update from former intern Holly Sobetski

2007-02-23T14:59:00.000-05:00

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…”

…including rice and fish! As my first month in Cambodia comes to a close, I am reminded of the many blessings the Lord pours out on his creation. The different foods that our taste buds enjoy, the beauty of trees bursting with pink blossoms, the laughter shared with friends and the fellowship we have with Him! I invite you to read about my first experiences in Cambodia and share in the Lord’s goodness.

Arrival

I landed in Cambodia January 11^th with a group of 18 people from Christian Service International (CSI). During the first week, I visited different ministries with CSI, including a ministry for girls who are at risk of being sold into the sex trade and one of World Relief’s HIV/AIDS cell group meetings in the slums. We were able to go on a boat ride down the Mekong River to see the house boats and visit a silk weaving business.

Stan and Beth Doerr and Sopeat helped me with basic arrangements for moving to Cambodia. We visited Robledo Intal’s farm in Prey Veng province where Stan and Beth conducted a training on bucket drip irrigation. We met with the president of the Phnom Penh Bible College about using some land to experiment with agricultural techniques. Eventually, we would hold trainings for the students who will one day go out to minister in the provinces. The team left on the 19^th of January, and Sopeat and I began to plan for the ensuring weeks and months.

My Host Family

Living with a Cambodian family is like getting a new surprise every day! I love watching and learning how they do things. They encourage me to practice the language and laugh heartily at my mistakes. I eat dinner with them in the evening and even help cook sometimes. We always eat rice with 2-3 other dishes, including soup, whole fried fish, or stir fried vegetables and meat. I have my own room and praise God for their generosity and welcoming spirit.

The Language

Three times a week for two hours, I have one-on-one tutoring classes at a Khmer language school. I am learning speaking and reading/writing together and, thankfully, my teacher is very patient! I have learned a lot in the past month and continue to pick up on words that people say.

Teammate and Friend

Sopeat and I work together every day and she is a constant source of joy and insight. Culturally, we have different ways of communicating, so we are learning about working together and are committed to being honest and open with each other. Every morning we meet in my room and read the Bible and pray together. It is so encouraging and puts the rest of our day into perspective.

Agriculture Ministry

We have met with a dozen NGO’s over the past 3 weeks, to hear about the agricultural aspects of their ministries and to discuss how we can partner with them. Some of them have projects in the provinces (out in the “country”) and we went to visit several. We are praying about all the different ministry options and continue to research the greatest needs. We hope to start the experiment garden at the beginning of March. I am eager to start working the soil! By June, we will have a ministry outline and plan of action for the next year.

Development

The political and mental situation in Cambodia lends to making development work difficult. During the Pol Pot regime, the people learned not to trust their neighbors and to get what they could for themselves, whatever the cost. It takes transformation from within, not from outside, to change these learned survival skills. Pray for wisdom and patience for all who are working in Cambodia.

Korea

I have the opportunity to go to Soeul, Korea in April for the World Mission Conference of Suwon Central Baptist Church. They invited me to come and share about what we are doing in Cambodia, with the possibility of the church becoming a prayer and support partner. A Korean medical team just came to Cambodia from the church and they have a deep passion for Cambodia. Please pray about this opportunity to partner with them!

Our very own Red Hatter!

2007-02-22T15:45:00.000-05:00

Docent extraordinaire, Vic Estoye, leads a group of Red Hat ladies around the ECHO farm. He must have joined the club, because he has his very own red-trimmed chapeau.

Winter Vegetables in Agroforestry

2007-02-08T15:45:00.000-05:00

Being so far south, we are able to grow vegetables right through the winter months. Cool-season crops like broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and strawberries do well on the ECHO farm this time of year.

Pictured to the left are vegetables growing underneath gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) tree branches in the rain forest area. The reason this is working is that the gliricidia tree has no leaves this time of year, allowing light to reach the vegetables below. Gliricidia is a multipurpose, leguminous tree used in agroforestry systems to provide- among other things- living fence posts, soil nitrogen, and shade to crops such as cacao and coffee. On our farm here in Florida, gliricidia does not set seed, so there are no gliricidia seedlings at the base of the tree to compete with vegetables. It looks like winter vegetables under gliricidia is a winning combination here in Florida.

ECHO’s Fruits Make Great Jams!

2007-02-05T16:07:00.000-05:00

At the heart of the ECHO farm, there’s a room that smells of lemons and cloves, where head coverings are mandatory and the juicer whirs constantly. Jeanne Fiske, apron-clad and hair tucked securely under a plastic shower cap, is queen of this domain. Jeanne serves as ECHO’s commercial kitchen manager, organizing the micro-industry that produces all of the jams, jellies, and picklings found in the ECHO bookstore.

Asked about the current concoctions, Jeanne shyly, proudly, shows off lines of jars against one wall of the kitchen. ‘Tomato marmalade,’ she says, handing over an unlabeled jar filled with a sumptuous-looking mélange of red tomatoes and spices. Pointing to another row of jars, Jeanne tells me, ‘Caribbean banana jam.’

As we talk, Helen Coll stirs a steaming vat of tropical delicacies. She takes out measuring spoons and pulls down exotic spices from the shelf. In the back, at the sink, Connie Ryskamp washes carambola, while a pot of vinegar, sugar, and cloves (for ECHO’s famous pickled carambola) stands ready.

‘Not much on the ECHO farm goes to waste,’ Jeanne continues. ‘A lot of what you see growing around here goes right into these jams and jellies. For $4.95, you can take home your own piece of the ECHO farm.’

Visit our bookstore for the latest treats!

2007-01-30T14:27:00.000-05:00

Look at the size of that jujube fruit!

2007-01-26T08:13:00.000-05:00

Indian Jujube is a fruit species from the Asian tropics that, once established, is quite tolerant of adverse conditions such as poor soil and drought. The fruit is typically smaller than a chicken egg and is usually eaten when mature, as indicated by a greenish-yellow color. The crisp flesh has a taste similar to that of a baked apple. Jujube is also known for its sharp, numerous spines.
Click here for more background info on jujube.

Recently, ECHO acquired a variety of Indian Jujube called ‘Giant Thai’ that is said to produce apple-size fruits when mature. Our tree has been in the ground for less than a year and is already producing egg-sized fruits (see photo below). Other interesting features of this variety are nearly thornless stems and large leaves.

ECHO has sent grafted ‘Giant Thai’ jujube trees to Mozambique, Madagascar, and Haiti. It will be interesting to find out how it performs under conditions in those places. So far, we are pleased with how it is doing on our demonstration farm here in Florida.

Vietnam, Land of Surprises

2007-01-23T10:48:00.000-05:00

Vietnam is fast, slow, traditional, cutting edge, exotic and familiar, and most of all...accessible.

On Monday, more than 200 Fort Myers residents took a cinematic voyage to the Southeast Asian nation of Vietnam as part of our 2007 Travelogue series. Our journey included stops in bustling Saigon and historical Hoi An, excursions to floating markets and cloth merchants, and a trip along the Mekong Delta.

Hosted by the Broadway Palm, both ECHO and Habitat for Humanity benefited from the proceeds. Some members of the ECHO family were spotted in the crowd.

Seed bank grow-out

2007-01-19T17:03:00.000-05:00

Way back behind the global village, the seed bank has it's own piece of land for raising seed. We like to call it "Grow-out". Sixteen raised beds sport all kinds of interesting plants. Such as...

Winged bean

We have eight different varieties planted in a variety trial right now, comparing yield, maturity dates, and other characteristics useful for our overseas network. Some have called winged bean the "supermarket" plant: every part of the plant is edible, from the flowers and leaves, to the young pods, to the dry beans.

Hopi Red Lima beans

These beans are drought tolerant, and produce an abundance of blood-red limas, good for soups and bean dishes. Hopefully we'll collect about 1/2 lb of seed from this row for the seed bank, eventually to be sent around the world.

Carrots, carrots, and more carrots!

Another variety trial, but this time of 22 carrot varieties! A researcher at the University of Wisonsin-Madison has done extensive breeding to develop a carrot more suitable to the tropics. He sent us some seed, so we're trying them in grow-out to find out which varieties have promise.

So, if you ever want to come help in grow-out--planting, weeding, mulching (and of course, learning!)--just let me know! My brother did. :)

2007-01-19T10:55:00.000-05:00

Planning is underway for ECHO's Southeast Asia Agricultural Conference to be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Former intern Katy Barlow has been working with Stan and Beth Doerr this past week, finalizing details for this summer's event.

Taking a tour

2007-01-17T23:33:00.000-05:00

Conference team members get a tour of the hotel conference rooms.

Group Photo

2007-01-17T23:27:00.000-05:00

Team in Chiang Mai working on the conference preparations.

Taking good notes

2007-01-17T23:15:00.000-05:00

Stan Doerr and ECHO intern Katy take good notes at a planning meeting for the June Southeast Asia ECHO Agricultural Conference.

A Word About Papaya Fruit Fly

2007-01-11T16:43:00.000-05:00

If your papaya fruits are ripening and dropping prematurely, the culprit could be papaya fruit fly (Toxotrypana curvicauda). Last week we walked through our demonstration farm and saw some papayas with papaya fruit fly larvae inside.

Adult female flies pierce the outer flesh of small papaya fruits, depositing their eggs inside the fruit where the eggs hatch into larvae (see photo below). Larvae-infested fruits yellow unevenly and easily fall off the tree. The larvae eventually eat a hole through the fruit wall and drop to the ground where they pupate in the soil at the base of the tree. Two to six weeks later, a new generation of flies emerges and the cycle repeats itself.

We minimize papaya fruit fly infestations by disrupting its life cycle. Once a week, each tree is shaken (not too hard) so that any infested fruits fall to the ground. These fruits are then collected and placed underwater to destroy the larvae before they can pupate.

Click here for more photos and detailed information from the University of Florida. Below are several photos taken on our farm.

An infected fruit

Larvae in fruit

Pupa stage in soil under tree

Happy New Year from all of us at ECHO!

2007-01-02T15:46:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! My resolution is to be more healthy in 2007.
-- Mark Maerten, Director of Communications

Bònn ané! I want to take a language class in 2007, possibly French.
-- Rhoda Beutler, Educational Programs Coordinator

I resolve to write more letters on paper.
-- Miles Kirby, Gordon College Student

¡Felíz año nuevo! I want to read more books for pleasure.
-- Matt Schetne, Gordon College Student

Bonne année! I want to start yoga and hand weights.
-- Artis Henderson, PR Coordinator

Aam saiid! I haven't made a resolution for 2007. I believe you should try to better yourself each day, to continually strive to walk with God.
-- Stan Doerr, Executive Director

New Intern Comes to ECHO

2006-12-14T09:54:00.000-05:00

What do you call cheese that doesn't belong to you?
Na-cho cheese

Ruth Tshin, the newest intern addition to the ECHO farm, loves corny jokes. And puns. She can't get enough of the silly word plays.

'My brother works for the UN,' Ruth tells us. 'So, I like to say, he's UN-employed.'

Hailing from Mississauga, Canada (just outside of Toronto, ay), Ruth brings a unique international blend to our North Fort Myers community. She is ethnically Chinese, although her family is from Indonesia. She has relatives spread across Southeast Asia.

At ECHO, Ruth is in charge of the Semi-Arid region, the goats, and will be working in the seedbank. She has already had several firsts here on the farm: the first time touching a frog, the first time slaughtering a chicken, and the first time making molasses. Her favorite treat? Fruit from the strawberry tree.

Goat Haiku

2006-12-12T10:10:00.000-05:00

All I do is eat
munch munch chew munch chew munch burp
Can I eat your shoes?

-- attributed to myspace user, 'Goat'

At ECHO, our goats love to eat! Interns Aaron and Ruth collect forage for the ruminants every morning.

We have a mix of Alpines and Nubians, both male and female, and a buck named Curry.

If you are interested in small-scale goat raising, check out this selection in our bookstore.

HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, and Agriculture Workshop 2006

2006-12-08T14:41:00.000-05:00

By the time you finish reading this article, 10 people will have become infected with HIV. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, 95% of these new infections occur in developing countries.

At ECHO, we find that many of the countries in our network are not only threatened by hunger, but AIDS as well. We decided to host a workshop that would use our agricultural knowledge to the benefit of those working with people living with HIV/AIDS.

Highlights includes: a presentation by Margaret Tagwira, of Zimbabwe, on nutritious foods as part of AIDS care; a seminar on cross-cultural communication, given by Dr. Dan Fountain; and a workshop on plants for special nutritional needs hosted by Dr. Martin Price.

Sugar Cane Pressing on the Farm!

2006-12-06T14:45:00.000-05:00

Unless you grew up in Clewsiton or Bell Glade, not too many folks in south Florida have had the chance to taste fresh sugar cane juice. Today at ECHO, interns, staff, and volunteersrs alike got a taste of the sweet nectar. Even Stan, our Executive Director, took a turn around the sugar cane press brought from Cambodia. After all the cane was pressed, we boiled down the juice to make molasses.

For more on small-scale sugar cane production in developing countries, check out Cane Sugar in our bookstore.

Interns Derek and Katie enjoy the treat, while Nate and volunteer Dave give it two thumbs up.

2006 ECHO Agricultural Conference

2006-12-04T10:03:00.000-05:00

Over 200 delegates representing 29 countries gathered in Fort Myers for the 13^th annual ECHO Agricultural Conference. These visitors included missionaries, students, foreign nationals and other development workers sharing the same desire to fight hunger wherever it occurs. The three busy days of November 7^th, 8^th and 9^th were filled with delegate presentations, workshops on the ECHO farm and many hours of conversation and networking.

Use of Mulch at ECHO

2006-11-16T16:34:00.000-05:00

Mulch is great for shading out weeds, protecting against soil erosion, improving water infiltration into the soil, moderating soil temperature, and the list could go on. We use LOTS of it on our demonstration farm. Illustrated below are a few uses for and types of mulch:

Vetiver under cabbage

Row of Vetiver trimmed for mulch
Hint: Establish mulch source close
to where it will be used.

Banana leaves under Amaranth

Corn stalks under corn
When mulch is scarce, residues
of previous crops can be left on
the field to benefit future crops.

More toilet progress

2006-11-03T14:36:00.000-05:00

The composting toilet starts to take shape.

Progress continues on the composting toilet

2006-11-01T11:22:00.000-05:00

Nate and Beth working on the toilet frame.

Our very own manure!

2006-10-31T09:48:00.000-05:00

“Man — despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and his many accomplishments — owes his existence to a six inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”

In a world where half the population lives on less than $2 a day, this axiom still reads true. At ECHO, we use science and technology to help the poor, improving agriculture techniques and introducing crops that are both hardy and nutritious.

But, we have no artistic pretensions! We've starting building our very own composting toilet, just waiting for some humanure (the Humanure Handbook is available in the ECHO Bookstore). This amazing contraption will evaporate off the liquid component of human waste (about 90% of the 'deposit'), then dry compost what remains.