January 31, 2011
-
FIGHTING WORLD HUNGER
Friday we visited one of the most interesting places I have ever been. It is called ECHO Global Farm and Research Center. The letters stand for Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization. Their vision statement is "to bring glory to God and blessing to mankind by using science and technology to help the poor." They experiment with different plants and irrigation techniques to be used in a variety of climates and situations. They find solutions to low water, too much water, nutritional needs and so forth. On the farm they simulate different climatic situations and have very interesting plants. You can learn more about them on their web-site here: http://www.echonet.org
Bamboo... fast growing, renewable and versitle... leaves for animal food, stalks for stakes, fences, irrigation and construction...
Such as this .... also a cash crop in some areas ...
Papayas ... other fruit trees in the background ...they have developed an apple that does not need frost to produce fruit...
The Neem tree... a variety of uses from healing skin to preventing tooth decay to keeping pests off crops and people ...
These birds like it ...
Goats... a good source of milk, cheese and fertilizer
Rabbits ... quickly reproducing food source ... also produce good fertilizer
Ducks ... raised for eggs and meat ... raised in a pond like this can produce algae that sustains tilapia (fish) in the water
Highly nutritious vegetable that produces all year in some climates ... cranberry hibiscus ... pretty as well
Two types of well ...the small one on the left works like an eliptical trainer
A low cost irrigation system for dry climates ... I may try it in my own garden in summer
The miracle tree ... Moringa ... can be copiced (trimmed) to produce a continous supply of edible leaves ...
or grown as a tree ...
Some of the properties of Moringa ... the seeds can also purify drinking water ...
Yes, we have no bananas ...
Creative mulching techniques as well as soil improvement techniques are taught...
Many people in poorer nations move to cities thinking their lot will improve and it does not .. they end up living in places like this ... urban gardening is researched here as well ...
If we lived in Florida, I would definitely volunteer at ECHO!
Comments (8)
So very interesting. Thanks for sharing with us! I will check out their website too.
Thank you for sharing this! This is so great! And so important!
I have been blessed to get involved with several good projects to help feed the hungry. Including a community garden. Us volunteers plant, water, weed...work the garden and then in the summer share the fruits, veggies, (even eggs donated by farmers) with people in the community who are struggling financially. It's been a worthy and fun project.
HUGS!
@ABAHM - thought you would like it cause you aree such a gardener... I bought some morenga seeds and will try growing it indoors
@adamswomanlost - welcome back..and your community garden sounds great ... I think I will volunteer at the local food bank when I get home...
@kafekotka - also because my son and dil hope to eventually be with an unreached peoples group...the sort of thing that would be needed.
We do gleaning here with a group that grows and gleans food for the food bank. I should sign up our youth for another volunteer day!
fascinating, I'll have to show my husband...thanks for the link too
Very interesting-thanks for sharing.
What a neat place.
Just me. Just stopped by with some hugs for you!
Today, give a stranger one of your beautiful smiles! It might be the only sunshine he or she sees all day.
HUGS!
Comments are closed.