rainbow of hope for children. biointensive gardening in el salvador.pdf

8/11/2019 Rainbow of Hope for Children. Biointensive Gardening in El Salvador.pdf

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Biointensive Garden

Izalco, El Salvador

Update to the BoardJune 19, 2010

Rainbow of Hope for Children


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Structure of talk

Background on El Salvador and Bio-intensivegardens

Detail of Rainbow support for program overpast 6 years

Challenges

Outcomes

Path Forward


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Rainbow of Hope Philosophy

We believe in the value of caring for the earth andits people and that love has no geographicalboundaries.

We believe in the dignity of, and justice for, allpeople, regardless of sex, race, creed, religion, orculture.

We believe that as members of our global family, we

have a responsibility to work towards this vision. We have abundant hope that together we can make

a difference


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Rainbow of Hope in

El Salvador Two of the United Nations Millennium Goals,

agreed to by all of the countries of the world, and

which are implicit in Rainbows philosophy, are:

1. to eradicate poverty and hunger and

2. to promote environmental sustainability.


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Bio-intensive Mini-Farming

One of the options toachieve these goals

involves the use oforganic biointensive

mini-farming techniques,which enable

marginalized people tobecome food self-sufficient.


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Land Base: 100 km x 200 kmClimate:

Wet Season (tropical): May-OctoberDry Season: November- April

Economy:

Agriculture: Coffee,sugar,corn,rice,beans,oil

seeds, cotton, sorghum,shrimp, beef,dairyIndustry:food processing,

beverages, petroleum,chemicals, fertilizer, textiles,furniture, light metals

El Salvador: Geography

Location of garden


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El Salvador: PeoplePopulation

6.2 million

49% below poverty line, earning less than 3$ per day

10% unemployment

Demographics:

0-14 yrs: 38%

14-64 yrs: 57%

* 60% of the population is less than 25 years old

65+: 5%

Labor Force:

49% agriculture 15% industry

55% services

Diet of the poor consists mainly of corn and beansimportedfood products are expensive


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Back ground: Biointensive

Organic Mini-farms There are numerous

organic agriculture

techniques/models that canbe followed to enhancesmall farm food security

In the case of the Rainbowsponsored projects in El

Salvador, the bio-intensive approach hasbeen adopted.


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Back ground: Biointensive

Organic Mini-farms

The techniques being used, which are actually centuries old,have been scientifically enhanced and adapted for

impoverished regions around the world by such people asJohn Jeavons of Willits, California for the past 30 years.

A national university in Mexico City has trained 2 million

Mexicans in biointensive techniques over the last 15 years andhas targeted to introduce these techniques to all countries inCentral and South America in the next 5 years


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Bio-intensive farming techniques

The key benefits of these techniques, which make them ideally suited tomarginalized people world wide, are that they:

Increase production up to 4 times per unit area relative to commercialagriculture

Are focussed on people with minimal land and resources, with farmingtechniques developed and optimized for very small individual,community and village plots

Do not require any machinery

Reduce water consumption by 50%

Reduce dependence on petroleum based fertilizer by extensive use ofcomposting

Focus on utilization of natural insecticides and companion planting withinsect repellent plants


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Overview of the Site and the

Bio-intensive MethodBiointensive gardening- key practices

Use of compost

Double digging Close spacing of plants, correct crop rotations,

companion planting

Organic methods of pathogen and pest control

For more detail see John Jeavon`s book How toGrow More Vegetables


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Composting is a critical componentof any sustainable gardening method

At the Izalco garden, various formsof composting are employedincluding:

Conventional biointensive methods, bocashi (composting and

fermenting) and Vermiculture

All of which are used to improvesoil fertility, and eliminate the needfor inorganic fertilizer

Francisco and Santosassembling acompost pile

Mauricio watering a bocashi pile

Bio-intensive Gardening Methods: Composting


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Double Digging is the second key component in the Bio-intensive method. It involves:

1) Carefully digging out the topsoil to expose the mineral subsoil

2) Compost is then added to the subsoil, and is mixed in thoroughly

3) The topsoil is then returned to the surface of this newly enriched layer.This process increases the depth of productive root zone, and hence improves productivity

Bio-intensive Gardening Methods: Double Digging


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The bottom line :

Great soil = great production

Brenda showing how deep the fork can beeasily sunk into a bed which has been double-dug,The good soil extends even deeper.


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The crops are planted in a closely spaced pattern

This provides for more production per unit area

But more importantly, the closely planted seedlings provide shade to lowerevaporation ( improved water use efficiency) and to discourage weeds.

Crops are rotated between the beds to prevent pathogen accumulation and toenrich the soil by alternating nitrogen fixers with heavy feeders etc.

One of the

farmers leading a

workshop and

demonstrating a

plant spacingframe to help

with seedling

placement

Bio-intensive Gardening Methods:

Plant spacing, companion planting,

crop rotation


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An array of biologic pest and pathogen control methods are

utilized at the site including an extract of these peppers

which is sprayed on soil and leaves

and which acts as a pesticide

Bio-intensive Gardening Methods:

Organic pest and pathogen control

Amendments such as limeare also used


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The site at Izalco is organized into 150 beds, which are each 4 feet by 25 feet.


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Rainbow Organic Mini-farmingDemonstration Site : Izalco

The Izalco site, whose namederives from that of the Izalcovolcano that towers over thelocality, is the focal organic mini-

farming demonstration site.

The site itself is the property ofthe Sisters of the ImmaculateHeart of Mary who also managethe Izalco Orphanage, where

they care for and feed around 90children.


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Objectives for Izalco Demonstration

Garden Create a demonstration site for organic and bio-

intensive agricultural techniques and adapt thosetechniques to Salvadorian climate, soils and plant

species Train farmers from the region in basic agricultural skills,

and who also agree to train other residents of their localcommunities

Supplement the normal corn and beans diet of theorphanage with organically grown vegetables and fruit


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Support provided by


Support provided for 6 years 2004 through 2010

inclusive.

Support provided in the form of :

a) equipment and infrastructure

b) salaries


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Support provided by


Equipment and infrastructure :

Drilling and installation of water well for irrigation and drinking water,including payment of montly power bill for groundwater pump

Purchase and installation of drip irrigation system for 100 beds

Purchase and installation of greenhouse for seedling production

Purchase and installation of vermiculture compst system

Gardening tools, seeds, fruit tree seedlings, other miscellaneous materialsand equipment to support garden over the 6 years


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The site for the garden was a donated 3 acre field near the orphanage.

It had been used for sugar cane and corn production.

Work started in 2004 with drilling and installation of a well and water tower to allow for


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Work started in 2004 with drilling and installation of a well and water tower to allow for

irrigation of the garden through the dry season (November through April)

This allows for year round production from the garden


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Drip irrigation installation 2004

Drip irrigation reduces waterconsumption and allows

continuous cultivation eventhrough the 5-month dry seasonNovember to April.

Irrigated beds 2009

W T


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Water TowerNovember 2004

Water TowerApril 2009


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Papaya Trees over time

Check out thosePapayas!


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Panorama of garden as viewed from the water towerApril 2009


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In 2006 Rainbow sponsored construction of a greenhouse for starting theseedlings used for out-planting, and for growing tomatoes and peppers, whichcannot tolerate the intense sun in El Salvador


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Original greenhouse for seedlings, and shade cloths for tomatoes (2004)

New greenhouse for seedlings and tomatoes being constructed 2006(l), and in April 2009(r)


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In 2007, Rainbow funded the constructionof a pair vermiculture compost units

Alec enjoying the

worms


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Support provided by


Salaries

for 55 farmers over the 6 years

approximately 6 farmers per year until 2009 when reduced to 3 farmers

per year


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Support provided by


Salaries for organic agriculture technical

support:

agrologist specialized in organicagriculture who provided:

training workshops forfarmers,

trouble shot pest and diseaseproblems in the garden asthey arose and therebytrained the farmers in plant

pathology and methods oforganic pest control,

trained farmers in a varietyof composting methodsincluding vermiculture and

bokashi Mauricio, our agrologist


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Support provided by


Salaries

for monthly visits to theorphanage by a nutritionist

to assess childrens

nutritional status, provide advice and

track changes in theirnutritional status as aconsequence of increased

consumption of organicgarden vegetables


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Support provided by


Salaries

For El Salvadorianproject coordinator whocoordinated allpurchases and trainingand documented resultsand financial aspects ofthe project for required

reporting

Brenda Carpio, our program coordinator, withoutwhom the project would never have succeeded,

here with Juan, a boy from the orphanage


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Challenges

As with all projects, the first few years were ones of learning and trialand error,

Seed supply issues: donated seed from Europe, North America had poor germination, finding local seed sources with good germination was also a challenge

(suspect old seed in many stores- i.e. foreign suppliers dump expiredseed into third world markets)

Suitable crops some crops were not successful due to the elevation, very hot

temperatures encountered in Izalco (eg. Brussel sprouts, tomato)

Disease/pests Optimizing early identification and treatment with the appropriate

organic pest controls took time as the farmers learned and techniqueswere adapted


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Outcomes

Over time the vegetable production has steadily increased

This is because of:

the improved soil conditions due to use of double digging and compostamendments

Improved soil conditions result in healthier plants, and greaterfruit/vegetable production

Also, with Mauricios excellent help, much greater knowledge aboutorganic controls for insects and pathogens have been imparted to thefarmers, leading to much healthier crops.

Also, over the last 2 years we have had Santos as a lead farmer- thisconsistency at the training site has been crucial. His presence, his abilityto put into practice all of the biointensive and organic methods taught byMauricio, and his excellent mentorship and leadership with the otherfarmers has led to improved productivity of the site.

O t


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Outcomes

At Izalco, the farmers have

produced 47 different types ofvegetables, various medicinalplants and fruit trees


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Outcomes

Year of project


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Outcomes: Economics

Please note that for the previous and upcominggraphs, the productivity is recorded as value of thecrop in dollars

This is because most of the food from the garden wasutilized to feed the 90 children at the orphanage, onlynoni fruit was sold as a cash crop

The graphs show the value of the garden to theorphanage, as these costs were NOT incurred, rather themoney that would have been used to purchase these

vegetables before, could then be redirected to purchaseof other necessities


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Outcomes All produce from the garden has gone to

feed the 90 children of the orphanage-

with yields increasing over time from

$6,0000 to $15,0000 dollars worth of

food annually


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Outcomes The children play in the garden and, when it is possible, the

older children participate in some of the farm activities likeplanting and harvesting

Playing in the orchard

Madre Ursula has set upa playground with donateditems

Some of the boys

having fun planting


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Outcomes

55 farmers have been employed and trained in a range oforganic agriculture techniques at the site

work terms ranging from 1 to 12 months

O t


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Outcomes

Shorter 1 and 2 day training sessions have also been

conducted for local farmers and community groups, as wellas demonstrations for visitors from Universities in CentralAmerica, environmental organizations and international andnational governmental and nongovernmental organizations.


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Outcomes

Since 2004, approximately

600 people have come to

visit and/or have receiveddemonstrations or training.

The site has also been

featured on national El

Salvadorian T.V. and radio.


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Conclusions

The Izalco Mini-farm demonstration site hasbeen very successful

In 2009 we achieved our goal of a self

sustaining garden, where the amounts ofproduction now exceed the monetary inputs!


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Conclusions

This on top of meeting all of our other goals to adapt the biointensive organic techniques to Salvadorianclimate, soils and plant species,

train farmers from the region in basic agricultural skills whoalso agree to train other residents of their local communities(55 farmers with intensive training, over 600 visitors received

workshop level training, new gardens being established inadjacent communities)

supplement the normal corn and beans diet of the orphanagewith organically grown vegetables and fruit ($6,000 to $15,000of fruit and vegetables provided for the 90 children each year)

expose children to a working farm where they periodically helpwith planting, weeding and harvesting.

This is a remarkable achievement and is a testament to thehard work of the farmers, our agronomist Mauricio, and ourEl Salvadorian coordinator, Brenda


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Ongoing Funding

In order to be truly self sufficient,the garden would have to startselling some of its produce, whichwould lessen the amount of foodgoing to the orphanage

We would like to continuesupporting this very importantproject and the orphanage bycontinuing to support:

wages for the farmers and

electricity costs to run the pumpfor the irrigation.


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Ongoing Funding

We are asking Rainbow of Hopesupporters to consider adoptinga farmer.

One farmers wages and

training for 1 month cost$150

If this money can be raised:

the garden can be maintained atits full capacity and

continue to feed the children ofthe orphanage while

reaching out to the communitiesto improve their food securitythrough training in organicagriculture.


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Thank You for

Your Time !

rainbow of hope for children. biointensive gardening in el salvador.pdf

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