Training Vanilla Orchid Vines to Improve Flowering

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

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

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

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.

Composting at ECHO

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

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

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’

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

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?

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

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

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!

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

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

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.