Worm Composting

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!!

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

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

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

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

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!

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.