Introduction To IKP, Food Security, Rainwater Harvesting, Bio-Intensive Agriculture

Indigenous Knowledge Project Training Manual: Introduction to IKP, Food Security, Rainwater Harvesting, Bio-intensive Agriculture
Indigenous Knowledge Project
Mission: Assisting rural indigenous communities grappling with climatic change and globalization to achieve food sovereignty by increasing local, diversified food access and nutrition. Empowering the people in the documentation and protection of their traditional knowledge, habitat, and genetic resources. In order to understand how to better assist these vulnerable communities IKP has initiated a pilot project with the Barabaig of Basodami sub-village in the Hanang District of the Manyara region of North Central Tanzania. Together we are designing and implementing a methodology for assisting indigenous tribal villages worldwide.
Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual
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About this book: This book is written for you, the womens group in Katesh and the villagers of Basodami. It is intended to help you understand what Indigenous Knowledge Project is about and why we are here in your village. While you may think you are just one small village of people, your struggles are actually similar to other tribal people all around the world. This is why we the founders, myself Heather Cruise, and Deo Muru, have come to you. We are here to learn from you, about your issues, so we can help you and other indigenous people. We hope that providing education on specific topics, we can inspire your curiosity and help you to take the initiative to seek opportunities that align with your traditional knowledge and will allow you to preserve your indigenous culture. This book is a training manual to help you address the issue of malnutrition by working with the mothers to help them realize the connection between illness and nutrition. We will work with the mothers to teach them how to cultivate a diversity of food using bio-intensive agriculture, compost (soil making), nursery and seed selection, garden planning, companion planting, crop rotation, natural insecticides and biological controls. We will build community gardens and poultry rearing facilities next to the rainwater hafirs and learn how to dry and preserve food. We will also discuss the issue of food sovereignty and it affects gender roles and decision-making.
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Table of Contents: What is food security?.................................................................................................4 How does food security affect indigenous people? .......................................5 Nutrition: .......................................................................................................................... 7 Why do we eat? ............................................................................................................. 8 What is good nutrition? .............................................................................................8 Why is good nutrition important? .........................................................................8 What is a balanced diet? ............................................................................................9 Easy ways to increase nutrition: ...........................................................................11 Malnutrition: ..................................................................................................................11 Vitamin deficiency: .....................................................................................................11 Am I healthy? .................................................................................................................12 Diarrhea ........................................................................................................................... 13 Rainwater Harvesting .................................................................................................14 Introduction to BIA ......................................................................................................18 Compost Making ........................................................................................................... 19 Building a compost pile: .............................................................................................20 Garden planning ................................................................................................................ 23 Companion Planting ................................................................................................... 23 Nursery .............................................................................................................................26 How to raise chickens ................................................................................................ 30
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What is food security? Food security refers to situations where all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious foods that meet their dietary needs in order to lead an active and healthy life. Indigenous Knowledge Project wants to help all indigenous communities achieve food security. This is because, if you do not have enough food, how are you to survive? The issue of food security especially affects women. Women's access to education is a determining factor in levels of nutrition and child health. Studies from Africa show that children of mothers that have spent five years in primary education are 40% more likely to live beyond the age of five. The physiological needs of pregnant and lactating women also make them more susceptible to malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Twice as many women suffer from malnutrition as men, and girls are twice as likely to die from malnutrition than boys. Maternal health is crucial for child survival. Women are more likely to spend their incomes on food and children's needsresearch has shown that a child's chances of survival increase by 20% when the mother controls the household budget. Women, therefore, play a decisive role in food security, dietary diversity and children health.
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How does food security affect indigenous people? Food insecurity increases people's vulnerability. Poor nutrition contributes to poor health, low labour productivity, low income, and livelihood insecurity. These factors, among others, put people, particularly women and girls, at risk of HIV infection as they are forced to migrate for waged labour or to engage in transactional sex for income. World wide there are around one billion people who are undernourished. Each year more than three million children die from undernutrition before their fifth birthday. Micronutrient deficiencies, affect about 2 billion people. Micronutrient deficiencies can cause poor growth (crippling), blindness, increased severity of infections and even death. The most common deficiencies are in key nutrients such as Vitamin A and Vitamin D. Dietary deficiency of vitamin A is quite common in developing countries, and is associated with the high incidence of blindness, viral infections, and child mortality that occurs in impoverished populations. Vitamin A deficiency primarily affects the health of the skin, hair, eyes, and immune system, though loss of appetite, bone abnormalities, and growth retardation are also associated with inadequate intake of this vitamin. Deficiency in vitamin D leads to rickets- the softening of bones in children potentially leading to fractures and deformity. Rickets is among the most frequent childhood diseases in many developing countries. The predominant cause is a vitamin D deficiency symptoms, but lack of adequate calcium in the diet may also lead to rickets (cases of severe diarrhea and vomiting may be the cause of the deficiency). Although it can occur in adults, the majority of cases occur in children suffering from severe malnutrition, usually resulting from famine or starvation during the early stages of childhood. Osteomalacia is the term used to describe a similar condition occurring in adults, generally due to a deficiency of vitamin D.
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The most common causes of food insecurity are land shortage, lack of water, incessant drought, lack of farm credit, destructive birds, poor cultivation techniques, decreasing soil productivity, lack of reliable markets for crops and livestock, and misuse of available land. Agriculture can help rural men and women out of poverty and food insecurity through income generation and sustainable production practices.
IKP seeks to address this issue by providing training about the effects of nutrition on health; how food sovereignty affects decision-making; will teach rainwater harvesting; how to grow and preserve diverse food using bio-intensive agriculture; and poultry rearing for income generation.
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By understanding how nutrition affects our health, we hope to create incentive for building and maintaining community gardens. We will provide training in biointensive agriculture so that you can attain the diverse nutrients you need to be healthy. Nutrition: More than one of every three children in Tanzania is affected by chronic malnutrition which leads to stunting. Stunting is caused by maternal malnutrition, inadequate infant feeding practices, and low quality of health care and poor hygiene. The Tanzanian diet is based on cereals (maize for ugali, rice), starchy roots (cassava) and pulses (mainly beans). Consumption of micronutrient dense foods such as animal products and fruits and vegetables is low and subsequently micronutrient deficiencies are widespread the most common being: Vitamin A: causing blindness (night blindness especially in women) Iodine- causing goiter Iron- causing anaemia Zinc- increases frequency and severity of diarrhea and pneumonia
Anaemia is a major public health problem as almost three quarters of preschool children and half od the women are affected. Iron deficiency due to the low level of consumption of iron rich foods is the main cause, but incidence of malaria and other parasitic diseases are a contributing problem. Leaf greens such as mchicha are a great source of iron and vitamin C. Protein can be found in eggs, groundnuts, meat, milk, and beans. All salt sold in Tanzania is required to be fortified with iodine. Another major issue concerns the nutrition of mothers and their children. What does good nutrition mean?
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What is the best nutrition for women and children? How can you build a food dryer? How to prepare dry and store fruits and vegetables
Why do we eat? Food gives our body energy to carry out our daily activities. The proteins in our food are needed to build muscle tissue and repair muscle damage. The vitamins and minerals we eat are essential to a healthy immune system, which prevents us from getting sick. The nutrients we eat keep our brains functioning properly. For pregnant and nursing women, the food they eat provides nutrients to the baby in their womb and to their children as they breastfeed. What is good nutrition? Nutrition is the health of our body depending on how much food we eat, and what kinds of food we eat. Someone can have bad nutrition or good nutrition. Good Nutrition: - Eating enough food to carry out daily activities - Eating the right types of food (a balanced diet means eating a variety of colourful foods in the diet every day) - Eating clean food - Drinking water Why is good nutrition important? Eating a variety of foods allows us to stay healthy and heal faster when ill, it is essential to a healthy immune system. Children need good nutrition to grow properly and develop their brains so that they can focus in school. Women need good nutrition to birth healthy children. Babies with healthy birth weight are more likely to survive. Eating a healthy diet allows us to feel better and have the energy needed to do work.
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A healthy diet is essential to building and maintaining muscle, bones, teeth, eyes, and skin. Eating nutritious food is especially important for persons who are sick or ill, especially those living with HIV/AIDS.
What is a balanced diet? Different types of food provide our body with different nutrients. Thus eating a variety of foods is essential to getting all the nutrients we need to have a healthy body. For example, if we only eat corn every day then we are missing out on nutrients that are found in fresh fruit. Our body requires protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and water. We can categorize the foods we eat into- Energy foods, Building foods, and Protective foods. Energy Foods: Carbohydrates and fats are the foods that give energy to the body. Ideally a portion of carbohydrates the size of your fist should be eaten every day. Carbohydrates: ugali, rice, cassava, maize, bread, millet, bananas Fats: vegetable oil, lard, coconut, meat, nuts, avocados Sugars: honey, molasses, sugarcane, sugar Building Foods: Proteins are essential for building the structural components of the human body such as muscle and organs. Protein is especially important for children as it helps them to develop and grow properly. Protein should be eaten with every meal. Legumes: pulses, beans, choroko, green lentils, dengu, yellow lentils, soy beans, kunde/cow peas, mbaazi/chickpeas Nuts: cashews, groundnuts Seed oil: sunflower oil Animal products: meat, milk, eggs, chicken, insects Greens: matemblele, bean leaves, pumpkin leaves, and moringa.
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Protective foods: Protective foods are the foods that are high in vitamins. The body uses vitamins to prevent and fight sickness. Vitamins are also essential for our body to function. They help our immune system to be strong. Fruits and vegetables are the best source of vitamins. Everyone should eat plenty of fruits and vegetables each day. All colors of fruits and vegetables: dark leafy vegetables, carrots, tomatoes, onions, peppers, mangos, papaya, oranges, watermelon and other local fruits. Water: Water is essential to a healthy body. Our bodies are made up of mostly water. Our brains need water in order to function properly.
The food you eat should have a variety of colors. Red: tomatoes, watermelon, peppers. Orange/yellow: oranges, carrots, lemons, mangos, papaya, corn, pumpkins, sweet potatoes. Green: avocado, greens, cabbage, okra, green peppers, green beans, peas Whites/browns: bananas, garlic, ginger, onions, potatoes, rice, ugali, pulses
Good nutrition is critical for persons living with illness, especially those
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infected with HIV/AIDS. People who are sick require more nutrients as their immune systems are fighting off the illness. Additionally, the bodies of people who are sick often have a more difficult time absorbing vitamins and minerals.
Easy ways to increase nutrition: eat a healthy breakfast every day increase consumption of fruits and vegetables eat whole grains rather than refined ones (dona instead of ugali) eat plenty of warm beverages, soups and fruit juices eat an abundance of proteins eat a variety of colors
Malnutrition: If our bodies fail to get all the nutrients they need this is called malnutrition. IF a person suffers from malnutrition they are more likely to catch diseases that can affect the functions of their body such as brain, eyesight, organ performance, body growth, as well as the formation of an unborn child. Malnutrition can also make someone tired, irritable and inattentive. Inadequate diet in infants and young children slows down or stops their growth, wakens the body and affects the growth of their brain. Children attending school often do not get enough nutritious food so are unable to concentrate and do not learn as well as nourished children. There are two types of malnutrition: 1. Lack of food: when a person is not eating enough food to give their body the energy they need to grow, learn, work, and play, their growth, development and overall health may be affected. This is especially true for young children. Lack of food may cause a child to be stunted (interrupted growth) for life. 2. Lack of nutrients: when a person is easting an adequate amount of food, but those foods are not balanced, they may experience negative health effects due to lack of essential nutrients. Vitamin deficiency: Insufficient dietary intake of vitamin A, iron and iodine are all problems in subSaharan Africa, particularly for PLWHA, women, and children. A varied diet and
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eating micronutrient rich foods is key to long-term illness prevention and reduced malnutrition. Vitamin A deficiency: Vitamin A deficiency can cause blindness in children and night blindness in women. It is also a serious problem with HIV patients and pregnant women. Good sources of Vitamin A are greens, pumpkin, cassava leaves, green peppers, carrots, papaya and mango. Iron deficiency: iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most widespread nutritional disorder in Tanzania. It affects about 3 out of every 10 members of the population including almost half od children under 5, and 8 out of every 10 pregnant women. IDA leads to prematurity, low birth weight babies, death during childbirth, and anaemia (two few read blood cells)- also common with PLWHA. Good sources of iron for the diet are green leafy vegetables, whole grains, sorghum, millet, beans, chicken, liver, fish, and eggs.
Iodine deficiency: iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) is more common among women and can lead to goiter (swollen thyroid gland in the neck). Also impairs growth, development and intellectual capacity. It is the single most preventable cause of intellectual impairment in the world. Iodized slat is the most commonly available source of iodine. Fish also contain iodine. Zinc deficiency: Zinc deficiency can lead to diarrhea and pneumonia. IT can cause problems in delivery of a baby and decreased appetite. Good sources of zinc are meat, beans, milk, lentils, and potatoes. Am I healthy? Our bodies give us clues whether we are healthy and well nourished or not. By checking our body regularly we can pick up on signs of ill health and poor nutrition. Parts of our body that give excellent clues to our nutritional and general health status include our fingernails and toenails, hair, skin, tongue, eyes, lips and gums. Check these parts regularity and look for any changes. Another easy way of checking your health is by your urine and stools. Healthy urine should be clear and light yellow in color. Urine which is dark orange in color but clear may indicate that you are dehydrated and need to drink more water. Cloudy urine or urine with blood in it may indicate a more serious problem and a doctor should be seen.
Healthy stools are light brown in color and semisolid. Stools should be passed easily without straining. Stools which are hard, dark and difficult to pass may be caused by a diet low in fibre and water. Stools that are loose or watery may indicate an infection or food intolerance. Stools that are green, chalky, black or red may be evidence of a more serious problem, If they persist for several days you should see a doctor. Diarrhea Diarrhea is a serious issue in relation to nutrition as it prevents nutritionist and water from being adsorbed during the digestion process. This is especially harmful for young children. Worldwide, diarrhea is the second biggest killer of children under five years old. Diarrhea causes dehydration, which can be fatal. Fortunately it is relatively easy to treat mild diarrhea. Here are a few rules to remember for treating diarrhea. Fluid intake should be increased at the onset of diarrhea. Uji is an excellent food to take during an episode of diarrhea. Fluid should be taken after every loose bowel movement. For infants continue feeding or increase breastfeeding during, and increase all feeding after the episode to prevent malnutrition. Adults should also continue eating. Prepare ORS (oral rehydration solution) if available or the homemade solution below, and take in small amounts frequently. Oftentimes, water alone is not enough to properly hydrate someone, If vomiting occurs, wait ten minutes and then take more ORS If diarrhea increases and or vomiting persists go ta a clinic
How to make ORS Mix 1 teaspoon of salt, and 8 teaspoons of sugar with one litre of clean drinking water. Stir until salt and sugar is dissolved If using boiled water, wait until the water is cooled before adding salt and sugar
This solution can taste quite bad however, it more quickly rehydrates someone that plain water.
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Rainwater Harvesting
1. A hafir is a cistern, materials cost only about 10,000 Tsh per 1,000 liters; cheaper than any other tank. It will allow you to keep a small vegetable garden irrigated through the year. Placing the hafir is important; there must be enough water harvested to fill the tank, but the filling water must not overly exceed the capacity of the ditches, settling pool, and tank. There must be an outlet which can prevent erosion of the actual tank area. The water should enter at a slow speed to allow sediment to settle out before entering the tank.
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2. Measure an area 1.5 meter wide by 10 meters long. The width is important; it depends upon the width and depth you desire for safety and strength, and upon the width of the plastic sheets. 3. Dig an area 1 meter deep by 1 meter wide the entire length of the trench, and put the earth at least half a meter away from the edge of the hafir. Digging deep down first will make it easier to loosen the balance of the earth and to shape the hafir by tapering the sides. Place the removed dirt off to the sides and on the one end, leaving at one end an inlet and an outlet at the other or at the same end. 4. Loosen the balance of the earth and dig out the rest of the tank so that it is 1 meter wide at the base and 1.5 meters wide at the top. At one end you may dig a bit deeper so that the water will be easier to extract at the deeper end when the hafir is low. Tapering the earthen sides underneath ensures that the plastic will not cave in when filled with water. Pound the earth at the floor of the hafir so that there are no sharp points but a soft gravel-like base. 5. When the hafir is nicely shaped with vertical ends, dig a small trench all around the edge of the hafir, 30 cms from the hafir edge, where the plastic sheet ends will be buried, held by rocks or clods of earth and then packed earth. This will prevent the sheet from pulling out of the ground on the edges. At the inlet point, dig a deeper hole to bury the plastic corner which has been rolled around a stick and buried so as not to be washed up when water passes into the tank. 6. If the plastic sheet needs to be glued together, tape it with a 5 cm overlap, and then glue the other side with a strong adhesive which is water proof, such as samba Contact Adhesive. Allow enough time for it to dry well. When ready, place the seam in the center of the hafir lengthwise, and use a blunt stick to puck the sheet into the corners.
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7. Place clods of earth or rock on the sides of the plastic sheet along the small trench around the hafir so that the plastic sheet will be kept buried. Have someone barefoot descend into the hafir to fold the corners nicely so that there are as few folds as possible. Place the plastic sheet loosely so it will not stretch apart in the hafir but allow expanding as water fills the hafir. This will reduce the stretching on the plastic especially where is has been glued. 8. Create the small trench inlet and outlet so that water can flow slowly into the hafir. Near to the inlet, dig a round sediment basin at least two meters diameter and 30 cm deep. Water will collect and sediment will settle out before it flows into the hafir. The more slowly the water flows, the less sediment will be carried into the hafir. If the hafir is built on a slope, make a contour about the hafir to
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catch water and prevent flowing full force into the hafir. It is hard to take sediment back out of the hafir again; prevention is the key. 9. Dig ditches with small slope (1%-2%) flowing into the sediment basin. If the hafir is built near to your house, try to channel the water from the roof directly into the hafir this will be cleaner than water from the outer catchment area. A plastic tarpaulin must be placed over the top of the hafir to prevent evaporation of water. Placing bamboo, sisal or wood poles to hold the top cover out of the water, but allowing rainfall to enter from the top by poking small holes in the top tarp. It will make the plastic last longer by protecting it from the sun. 10. DANGER- WARNING_ AVOID DRWOWNING: to prevent children and animals from falling in to the hafir place thorns or build a fence and plan a Jatropha hedge around the hafir. Only allow adults to draw water from the hafir. If built higher on a slope you can use a long hose to siphon water out of the hafir without going too near the edge. If drawing with a pail, use a smooth edges pail so as not to cut the plastic sheet when lifting. Place a stone to stand on tat the edge. Help you neighbours to build a hafir so everyone can have water and be healthy.
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Introduction to BIA Bio-Intensive Agriculture is a method of organic farming rooted in maintaining soil fertility and living soil. BIA does not use any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. BIA uses methods such as crop rotation and companion planting to increase harvests while protecting the natural soil health and the local environment. The main components of BIA are: - Composting, to restore nutrients to the soil - Double-dug beds, to decrease soil compaction, increase the ability of water to soak down, and increase planting area - Companion planting/crop rotation, which provide a mix of plants, encouraging growth, deterring pests and diseases, and conserving soil space - Pest control using natural methods - Seed selection and storage, to maintain plants that are suited for your growing climate and that are chemical free BIA uses local resources to create cost-free natural fertilizers and pesticides. Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are harmful to both people and environment. Chemicals sprayed on the field often remain on the food and are eaten. Consuming chemicals leads to serious diseases such as cancer. For persons already ill, chemicals are especially harmful. Benefits of BIA: - Growing your own food is empowering and allows yourself to be selfsufficient - Growing a diversity of food enables you to eat a diverse diet and to grow strong
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Compost Making Materials needed: (To save time it is best to have the students collect the material the day before the training.) Shovel Hoe Tape measure Course materials- sticks, twigs, maize stalks Browns- dry grass, leaves, weeds, hay, etc, that have been breaking down for awhile Greens- recently cut weeds, tree leaves, green plant material, kitchen scrapes Wood ash Manure- chicken, rabbit, pig, sheep, goat, horse, cattle (do not use cat or dog!) Top soil Water Stick Compost allows us to take natural local material and turn it into a healthy soil that can be used as fertilizer. Compost restores the soil in order to feed the crops and restore their resistance to disease and pests. A sustainable garden grows plenty of crops whose waste (such as corn stalks) will regenerate into the compost. Advantages of compost: - Soil structure and health: Bacteria that feed on organic matter temporarily hold the soil together, improving the health and structure of the soil. Improved soil structure increases workability and resistance to erosion. - Water absorption: Compost helps dissolve minerals in the soil, making mineral nutrients more available to crops. When the soil has more nutrients he food will too. - Increases Water and Nutrient Uptake of Roots: Organic acids also increase the permeability of root membranes, increasing the uptake of water and nutrients by roots. - Disease and Pest Resistance: Well nourished and hydrated crops naturally resist pets and disease - Free: all material needed to successfully grow compost are readily available
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Three critical elements in building a compost pile: - Having enough air in the pile (this is why we loosen the soil below the pile) - Using a diversity of composting materials - Keeping the compost pile moist Building a compost pile: Preparing the Land: 1. Select a shady place, not far from garden or water source. If there is no natural shade build a shelter or cover the pile with mulch, or burlap to protect from sun. 2. Measure an area 1.5 by 1.5 meters- if pile is pile is smaller it wont generate enough heat for good decomposition. Piles that are tool large take a long time to decompose. A pile that is 1.5 m by 1.5 m will produce about 15-18 20liter buckets of compost. This is enough for one double-dug bed. 3. Clear leaves, weeds and other debris until you can see the soil. 4. Loosen soil 30 cm deep using a fork or jembe. This will provide for water absorption. Building the Pile: 1. Lay course materials 5- 10 cm high 2. Lay browns 5-10 cm high 3. Add green materials and food scrapes 5-10 cm high 4. Sprinkle wood ash about 1-1.5 kg. 5. Add manure about 2-3 cm high 6. Add top soil 2-3 cm high 7. Water the pile with 20 liters or more- enough water to dampen, not soak, the pile. The pile should be like a sponge that has been squeezed. 8. Repeat steps 2-7 four to five more times until pile reaches a height of 1-1.5 meters Protecting and monitoring pile: 1. Cover the pile all over with mulch to maintain the moisture of the pile. 2. Put a stick about 2.5m long in the middle of the pile to act as a thermometerwhen the end of the indicator is too hot to touch the compost is cooking correctly; when it starts to cool the decomposition process has slowed, and then the pile should be turned.
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3. Water the pile as needed to keep it moist- check the moisture in the middle weekly- it is easy to overwater or underwater the pile. 4. Once the compost pile is built do not sit or stand on it, the pile needs to breathe, so it must be free of compaction.
Turning the Pile: The pile can be turned after two to three weeks (depending on your climate) when the stick thermometer starts to cool. No new material should be added during turning except water. Turning speeds up decomposition. The purpose of turning is to ensure even decomposition of a pile. In turning, make sure the top becomes the bottom of the pile and the inside becomes the outside. This is because decomposition at the bottom and outside goes slower then at the top and inside. Start by loosening the soil in an area about one half to two thirds the original size and add a layer of rough material at the bottom. Move the materials from the
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original pile to the new pile, bringing the drier material to the inside. Add water as you go, if necessary to ensure that the pile is evenly moist. Storage: Once the pile is completely broken down, you will be left with compost that looks like loose, dark, rich soil. It takes about six weeks for a 1.5 m pile to decompose. Now you can spread a thin layer of it on your crops or can incorporate it into a double-dug bed. If not immediately used, cured compost must be stored properly to avoid continued decomposition. Continued decomposition will lead to a pile that is devoid of nutrients. 1. Spread the cured compost pile out to about 6 cm thick; let the pile dry for two days. 2. Bag the dried compost (compost wont be completely dry) or re-pile and store in a shaded, protected place. Stored compost will stay for one year. Using your Compost: Spread on beds. The best time to apply on beds is just before transplanting the seedlings for the major growing season. As a general rule, you can spread 1 cm of cured compost over the surface of the bed. This comes to approximately six 20-liter buckets per 9-square-meter bed. Then work it evenly into the top 4 cm of the soil. Once application of compost per 4-month growing season is adequate. Using in double dug bed A double dug bed requires 3 buckets of compost per meter length of bed. This is discussed further in the double dug bed manual.
Garden Planning: Growing and maintaining a garden is a daily task. Every day you will need to check your garden for pests such as insects and snails, slugs and grasshoppers. Killing
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them and dropping them on the garden bed will make a smell to frighten away other insects. You will need to keep a close eye on new transplants- some may have died odd and need to be replaced. You will need to water the garden. It is best to water your garden 2 hours before sunset. Immature plants and seedlings may have to watered in the morning and again at night. When watering a new bed, the shiny layer of water should stay for 2-3 seconds. On older beds it should stay for 5 -15 seconds. Companion Planting: Companion planning, crop rotation, and the use of beneficial are ways in which you can plant crops to naturally deter pests and disease, conserve soil and space, and maintain long-term soil health. Companion planting Each plant releases different chemicals into the soil, which can either encourage or discourage the growth of the other plants. Plants whose chemicals encourage each others growth are called companion plants. Plants that discourage each others growth are called antagonists.
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Plant Asparagus Beans Beets Cabbage, cauliflower, kale, nightshade, broccoli Carrots
Companions Tomatoes, parsley, basil Almost all vegetables Onions Aromatic herbs, potatoes, dill, sage, mint, rosemary, beets, onions, hyssop Peas, lettuce, chives, onions, leeks, rosemary, sage, tomatoes Carrots Potatoes, peas, beans, pumpkin Beans, corn, peas, radishes, sunflowers Beans Onions, carrots Carrots, strawberries, cucumbers Beets, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, parsley Tomatoes, Asparagus Most vegetables
Antagonists
Onions, garlic Some beans Strawberries, tomatoes, some beans Dill
Chives Corn Cucumbers Eggplant Leeks Lettuce Onions and garlic Parsley Peas
Peas, beans Cauliflower, cabbage Potatoes, aromatic herbs
Peas, beans
Onions, garlic, potatoes
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Potatoes
Beans, corn, cabbage, horseradish, marigolds, eggplant Corn Peas, nasturtiums, lettuce, cucumbers Grows with anything Strawberries Nasturtiums, corn Beans, spinach, lettuce Chives, onions, parsley, asparagus, marigolds, nasturtiums, carrots
Pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, sunflowers, tomatoes Potatoes potatoes
Pumpkin Radishes Soybeans Spinach Squash Strawberries Tomatoes
Cabbage Potatoes, fennel, cabbage
Plants that are beneficial to your garden: - Basil is a great companion to tomatoes. Basil repels flies and mosquitos. - Chives are a companion to carrots it improves its flavour and growth. - Dill is a companion to cabbage it improves the health and taste of cabbage. Dill dislikes carrots. - Fennel should be keep away from garden. - Marigolds should be planted throughout your garden to deter pests. - Mint is a companion to cabbage and tomatoes and deters white cabbage moths. - Garlic deters beetles and birds.
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- Hyssop deters cabbage moth; a companion to cabbage - Nasturtium is a companion to radishes and cabbage- plant it under fruit trees to deter aphids, squash bugs, stripped pumpkin beetle, improves growth and flavour. - Petunia protects beans. - Horseradish plant at corners of potato patch to deter potato bugs - Calendula is a companion to tomatoes. It deters asparagus beetle, tomato worm, and general garden pests. - Rosemary is a companion to tomatoes, cabbage, beans, carrots, and sage. Plant throughout the garden as it deters cabbage moth, bean beetles, asparagus beetles and carrot fly - Sage plant with rosemary, cabbage, and carrots. Keep away from cucumbers, deters cabbage moth and carrot fly - Tarragon is good to plant throughout the garden - Morning glory should be grown with your corn as it deters mosquitos - Thyme should be planted throughout your garden as it deters cabbage worm Nursery A nursery us a well-dug and fertilized portion of land with good soil drainage and shade protection, where seeds grow into healthy seedlings and become ready to be transplanted into a bed. We use a nursery to allow us to lower the die-off rate of plants. We can maximize the use of our garden beds by planting only the strongest seedlings into the bed, and can consistently keep new plants growing in the bed. Not all plants need to be started in nurseries. Some plants, like beans of all kinds, carrots and corn, do best when directly seeded into a bed. Many others, like leafy vegetables, chives, and tomatoes are best first planted in nurseries. Seed packets will indicate whether or not to direct seed. Always make sure you have worked out the crops rotation schedule, and have a bed to plant your seedlings.
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Different types of soil mixes: Strong plant growth in these first nursery stages is important to a plants future health. There are different soil mixes for different growing situations. Consider the stage of a plant growth and its environment: container, pot, or bed. The three main types of soil mixture are a seed planting or storing mix, first transplanting mix, and potting mix. 1. Sowing (seed transplanting mix): The initial sowing mix does not need so many nutrients. What is essential to the sowing mix is good drainage, moisture holding, and textural qualities. 2. First transplanting mix: Plants begin to need more nutrients approximately when they get their first leaves. At this time they are transplanted. We make this soil richer in nutrient content. 3. Potting mix: Often used to grow trees or perennial plants. The plant is being grown in the container for a long period of time, so it requires a lot of nutrients. More manure, compost, fishmeal, etc. can be added to help this potting mix. 4. Nursery bed: Nursery beds do not have the same aeration problems that containers create, so they are easier to work with. One wheelbarrow of manure or compost and four spades of sand should be a good mix. Bone meal, fishmeal and lime can also added if required. This mix should be about 1 to 2 inches, or 2-5 cm thick covering the surface of the bed. It is then mixed with the top 3 or 4 inches, or 7-10 cm. of the bed. Id you mix the material any deeper, it will not be usable to the plant. How to make a soil mix: There are different recipes for soil mixes. One set is below, and another follows it. Use the one that works best for you. Compost, soil and sand can be sifted through cm screen. By passing all the material through a sieve we reduce the physical obstruction of larger clumps of soil and introduce air into it. The materials are then mixed thoroughly on any flat, convenient surface. A loose and aerated soil mix will reduce physical resistance to root growth and seed germination. As you mix the
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materials water them to achieve good moisture. Eventually you will be able to make a soil mix without having to count or measure out each ingredients. Sowing mix 5 parts of soil 4 parts of compost 1-2 parts of sand 1st Transplant mix 5parts of compost 4 parts of soil 1 part manure Handful bone meal Creating the Nurseries: There are two phases to nursery management: primary nursery and secondary nursery. Primary Nursery 1. Select a piece of land (approximately 4 ft by 20 ft) a shaded area close to a water source is best. 2. Clear the weeds from the selected area and loose the soil 1-ft deep. 3. Rake or shape the area into a raised bed or beds- provides better water infiltration and limits run-off due to excess rain or force of water at watering. 4. Fertilize the 9 square meter bed with 3 wheel barrows of a of manure/compost and 4 spadeful of 4 spadefuls of sharp river sand 5. Distribute the mixture at various places in the bed and spread evenly, then mix it thoroughly into the top 3 inches of the soil. This kind of mixture provides the soil with good drainage and ample nutrients for growing seedlings in the nursery. 6. Using a watering can or any other available water implement, water the bed and observe the rate of infiltration. If it sinks uniformly, then your mixture is
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perfect- if not add half again the amount of mixture of old manure or compost and sand to improve drainage. 7. Spread the mixture all over the bed and work it into the upper 3 inches of the soil thoroughly mixing it with the soil. The bed will raised a bit to limit run off. Rake until fine, then water well and again watch the rate of infiltration. 8. Make shallow furrows and spread the seeds and cover with the soil about inch thick with the soil/compost mix. 9. To provide cover or protection for the nursery bed: a. At all corners of the bed put strong support sticks measuring 1.3 meters high, ideally forked sticks. Tie the sticks across from each corner to the other. b. Then tie on smaller supports horizontally and lightly cover the tops with grass, banana leaves, mats. Or you can simply cover your nursery bed with some dry grass to provide moistness in the soil. This is okay when your nursery is situated near a tree or someplace with good shade all day. Sowing your seeds in the Primary Nursery: Broadcast your seed evenly over the surface of the soil. The size of the seed and plant variety will determine the proper spacing. May herb and flower seeds are very small, requiring careful sowing so that an over-abundance of seedlings doesnt result. With the vegetables that will be most frequently sowing, the average spacing is -1/2 inches between each seed. Close spacing encourages growth by creating mini-climates. Cover seeds with a sowing mixture or sifted compost to a depth of to inches. Newly planted seeds need adequate moisture, shade, and air. Water your seeds at least twice a day for quick germination. Water gently, careful not to miss the corners and edges. A simple watering can may be made by place small, closely-spaced holes in the bottom of a tin, providing an even, gentle flow. The nursery should never be allowed to dry out completely. The proper amount of water is critical. Too much or too little water can lead to death or disease (such as damping off). Finally, cover the area with light straw to help retain moisture.
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How to raise Chickens: How to raise chickens successfully means knowing what they eat. Chickens have different nutritional needs at the different stages of their lives. Young chickens need more protein when they are young as opposed to when they are around 12 - 18 weeks when they no longer have a growth spurt and are growing more slowly. However, despite the fact that chickens are foragers and will eat slugs and snails, insects, table scraps and the like, they also need protein for growth, tissue repair and to develop an immunity against diseases. They also need fats and carbohydrates for heat and energy, and a small amount of fiber aids in digestion.
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Grow sunflowers for your chickens. They love the seeds when they are ready for harvest and improve the quality not just of egg production, but also the quality of the meat when eating. Some people swear that feeding each laying chicken an ounce of finely chopped meat, the size as found in sausages, during the winter when the insects disappear will ensure that there is little drop in egg production. Continue to feed in this way throughout winter until the insects return. Finally, a chicken needs vitamin supplements and minerals for optimal health, strong bones and good eggshell formation. How to raise young Chickens: When raising chickens that are a day-old they should be fed on chick crumbs for the first 4 weeks of their lives, and stay away from household scraps until they are much older, as they need the right protein levels at this stage to grow into healthy birds. They should be fed little and often, about 4-5 times a day at first. It is recommended that chicken feed not be more than 15% of a combination of oats and barley, more than 30% wheat, more than 25% peas, more than 10% flax seed, or more than 5% fishmeal. Too much oats, barley, and wheat in the chickens' diet can give them diarrhea, excess peas make it tough for chickens to digest protein, and going overboard on flax seed and fishmeal can add an unpleasant smell or taste to eggs and meat. Most of the high protein seeds (sunflowers, soybeans, etc.) are also high in phytic acid and should be fed in moderation. The solution to most of these problems is variety. If you mix up a bit of oats, some wheat, a healthy helping of corn, and then some higher protein sources, your chickens will do better than if you just fed them wheat. For those of you, like me, who have only grown a limited amount of grain, another solution is to just give your flock a handful of the fresh stuff every day rather than trying to feed solely homegrown grains for an extended period. For example did you know that you cod liver oil is good for your chickens? As is cider vinegar placed in the water for good chicken health as it eliminates internal parasites and acts as a tonic. Cinnamon is good for chickens to stop diarrhea, and chopped garlic can also be fed to your chickens to prevent worm infestations.
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Introduction To IKP, Food Security, Rainwater Harvesting, Bio-Intensive Agriculture

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Introduction To IKP, Food Security, Rainwater Harvesting, Bio-Intensive Agriculture

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Indigenous Knowledge Project Training Manual: Introduction to IKP, Food Security, Rainwater Harvesting, Bio-intensive Agriculture

Indigenous Knowledge Project

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Onions, garlic Some beans Strawberries, tomatoes, some beans Dill

Peas, beans Cauliflower, cabbage Potatoes, aromatic herbs

Onions, garlic, potatoes

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, sunflowers, tomatoes Potatoes potatoes

Pumpkin Radishes Soybeans Spinach Squash Strawberries Tomatoes

Cabbage Potatoes, fennel, cabbage

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

Indigenous Knowledge Project: Training Manual

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