Pelicans!!

Iniaki and I went into the park yesterday and saw a massive flock of White Pelicans in breeding plumage feeding in the river. They were very organised and split into fishing groups of 20 to 30 birds and moving back and forth along a short stretch of the Urema River, beating the water with their wings and stirring the fish into a frenzy. A sight to behold!

Pics to follow....

How to kill pests without killing yourself or the earth; Comment from Stephen Tvedten

How to kill pests without killing yourself or the earth......

There are about 50 to 60 million insect species on earth - we have named only about 1 million and there are only about 1 thousand pest species - already over 50% of these thousand pests are already resistant to our volatile, dangerous, synthetic pesticide POISONS. We accidentally lose about 25,000 to 100,000 species of insects, plants and animals every year due to "man's footprint". But, after poisoning the entire world and contaminating every living thing for over 60 years with these dangerous and ineffective pesticide POISONS we have not even controlled much less eliminated even one pest species and every year we use/misuse more and more pesticide POISONS to try to "keep up"! Even with all of this expensive and unnecessary pollution - we lose more and more crops and lives to these thousand pests every year.

We are losing the war against these thousand pests mainly because we insist on using only synthetic pesticide POISONS and fertilizers There has been a severe "knowledge drought" - a worldwide decline in agricultural R&D, especially in production research and safe, more effective pest control since the advent of synthetic pesticide POISONS and fertilizers. Today we are like lemmings running to the sea insisting that is the "right way". The greatest challenge facing humanity this century is the necessity for us to double our global food production with less land, less water, less nutrients, less science, frequent droughts, more and more contamination and ever-increasing pest damage.

National Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24,2007 was created to highlight the dangers of poisoning and how to prevent it. One study shows that about 70,000 children in the USA were involved in common household pesticide-related (acute) poisonings or exposures in 2004. At least two peer-reviewed studies have described associations between autism rates and pesticides (D'Amelio et al 2005; Roberts EM et al 2007 in EHP). It is estimated that 300,000 farm workers suffer acute pesticide poisoning each year just in the United States - No one is checking chronic contamination.
In order to try to help "stem the tide", I have just finished re-writing my IPM encyclopedia entitled: THE BEST CONTROL II, that contains over 2,800 safe and far more effective alternatives to pesticide POISONS. This latest copyrighted work is about 1,800 pages in length and is now being updated at my new website at http://www.thebestcontrol2.com .

This new website at http://www.thebestcontrol2.com has been basically updated; all we have left to update is Chapter 39 and to renumber the pages. All of these copyrighted items are free for you to read and/or download. There is simply no need to POISON yourself or your family or to have any pest problems.

Stephen L. Tvedten

Response to Stephen Tvedten on IPM Issues

Thanks for the comment from Stephen Tvedten on IPM related issues, in response to my post entitled 'Gorongosa National Park, Organic Farming Transitional Phase', and sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I will publish your comment in my blog, and would like to keep in touch. I do not need converting, however, the people with whom we work, do. So we are taking a step by step approach, which is working. We have made contact with experts with local knowledge who will be visiting to advise us how to move forward on the IPM front. In the mean-time, we are encouraging planting of indigenous flora around cropped areas to provide a breeding ground for natural pest predators. Study here has shown that habitat structure is the most effective means of maintaining pest predator numbers.

Lastly, this is exactly the sort of disussion this blog hopes to attract, thank you.

A Great Farewell

Yesterday I had the most touching surprise, the people I have been working with in Vinho, threw a farewell party for me. They wished me and my family well and expressed the hope that we would return to see them in the future.

I am truly touched by this gesture, and will miss these good people. After the get together, they escorted me back to the river, singing and dancing all the way.

Farewell my friends, we wish you alll every success.....

Gorongosa National Park, Buffer Zone Farmers, Transition to Organic Agriculture

The aim in the buffer zone is to eventually convert farming practices from traditional to organic farming. If this is to be done successfully we have to be mindful of the following;

1. The livelihood of the farmers is the production of crops, both for commercial and home use. To this end the transition has to be made ensuring that crop yields are maintained or improved. If our stance is dictatorial and we insist farmers do not use chemical pesticides and this stance has a direct and negative impact on yield, we will immediately lose the trust and support of the farmers.
2. In the transitional phase, we should ensure that chemical pesticides are purchased from registed retailers who sell pesticides that are Mozambican registered.
3. We know experts on the local flora, and in our efforts to promote the use of Integrated Pest Management, they have been invited to show farmers what indigenous plants can be used to make pesticides. Once we have this information, we need to have these concoctions anylised to ensure there are no banned substances in them. Only then should we encourage their use.

It has come to my attention that our efforts are being critisized, and that perhaps a 'harder line' should be taken. May I remind the meddlers; the success of this project relies upon a 'two-way' effort; this organisation and the communities with whom we are working. A dictatorial approach will certainly result in failure. Think about it! Baby steps.........

Vinho Ladie Market Garden-Irrigation System Installation

We begin by laying the pipes and erecting the tank stand

The 'irrigation 'main-line' runs down the center of the irrigated field. Note the drip lines running from the main line. Each drip line is 10 meters in length, spaced a meter apart.

The tanks stand poles are secured

Some ladies closing off the ends of the drip lines.

Bamboo is used for the tank platform

The tank is placed on the tank stand

Ready to start plumbing the system in.

The plumbing is done and the pipe clamps are being tightened.

There is mor to come....watch this space

My Friends At Gorongosa National Park

I have lived in Chitengo camp, Gorongosa National Park in the Sofala Province of Mqzambique. It is a wonderful and beautiful place and there is a special crowd of people living and working there to restore the park to its former glory.

Good luck my friends, the work you are doing is so worth while and you should all be proud.

I am now embarking upon a new adventure and will settle down in the UK, but my great memories of Gorongosa will never fade.

ciao

Fruits of Labor

Photo credit: Monica Lopez Conlon
A field of beautiful cabbages at Senhor Herculano's farm



Photo credit: Iniaki Abella Gutierrez
Senhor Baltazaar with two of the Vinho Market Garden ladies. Their efforts are paying off now as they reap their produce to sell to the Chitengo Restaurant.




Photo credit: Iniaki Abella Gutierrez
Some of the staff at the Chitengo Restaurant recieve good quality organic produce, the lettuce from the Vinho ladies market garden and the kale from the president of the Vinho Organic Farming Association, Senhor Herculano.




Photo credit: Monica Lopez Conlon
Lettuces growing in the field. Successfully grown despite the hot days.

Organic Farming Practices; Simple Guide

Organic Farming Practices

Introduction;

Organic Farming is to copy natural cycles that support the healthy growth of plants. Natural systems rely upon diverse populations of living plants and organisms to complete the cycle from living plants to dead organic matter which is recycled to provide food for more living plants. This cycle also maintains soil structure, improving the soils capacity to capture and retain rainwater for the use of living plants.

This course is to teach the basic practices that will provide ideal conditions for these natural processes to take place. The desired result is that food will be provided for crops by natural means. Also covered are ways in which pests can be controlled, or managed to acceptable levels by introducing natural controls and the use of indigenous plants from which pesticides can be made……..

Mulching;

In nature, mulching occurs when leaves, twigs, branches, grasses etc fall to the ground. The roles played by this mulch are;

The soil is shielded from the direct sunlight resulting in regulated soil temperatures and reduced evaporation of moisture

The mulch provides food for soil dwelling organisms which help break down organic matter and ultimately provide food for plants. (This is natures way of making compost)

On the farm, mulching can be done by using crop residues, which can be cut down after a crop has been reaped, and left on the surface of the soil.

Using Compost;

We will cover how to make compost on another course, but here, we will look at how we can put to use the compost we have made, in the field;

Compost made at home using vegetable matter such as leaves, grass cuttings, twigs, wood ash and food scraps, and is made in a controlled environment that speeds up the composting process. So we can, in a controlled environment, manufacture plant food more quickly than the natural process. Compost can be used in the field in the following ways;

Compost can be turned into or mixed into the soil

It can also be applied by laying it under the existing mulch

Compost should not be applied directly onto the surface of the soil because it will be dried out by the sun and the decomposing process will be retarded.

Multi Cropping;

The practice of mono-culture, (Single crop farming systems) in which only one crop is planted in one field, is not natural and effectively interrupts the balance of natural systems. In order to imitate nature, diverse inter-cropping is required. This means that different crops are planted in the same field. Each crop must have a specific role in which they support the main crop, or in which the various crops planted support each other.

For example;

Main crops-Maize & Sorghum

Living ground cover crops-Pumpkin and Watermelon

Nitrogen fixers-Cow peas or Pigeon peas

The above example shows that we are planting pumpkin and watermelon to help the mulch shade the soil from direct sunlight, but these crops also help provide shade to the mulch, thus preventing the mulch from drying out. In addition we have planted a legume crop so that Nitrogen will be made available to the other crops during their growing period.

Rotational Cropping;

Rotational cropping can be used in conjunction with Multi cropping by growing a legume crop (Nitrogen fixing crop) as the main crop in one field this year followed by a Maize/Sorghum main crop the next year. This helps to condition the soils and the legume residue can be cut and used as mulch that still has a relatively high Nitrogen content after reaping and decomposes more rapidly than maize or sorghum residues.

Example of legume crop inter-planted with other crops;

Main crop-ground nuts

Living ground cover crops-Pumpkin and Watermelon

Inter-planted with a 10% population of maize

This example shows that our main crop of legumes is inter-planted with pumpkin and watermelon to provide living ground cover and with maize which helps to partially shade the groundnut crop.

Crop populations;

A farmer’s resource is the soil. If the soils are not cared for, they become barren of plant nutrients, they lack the ability to catch and retain rainwater and as a result they lack the capacity to support plants. However, even well cared for soil has limitations as to how much plant life it can support. So it is important that crop populations are controlled so that maximum crop yields can be achieved. If crop populations are too high, the plants are weak and produce small, inferior fruit resulting in reduced yields, if crop populations are too low too little fruit is produced per meter squared, also resulting in low yields. It is therefore important to plant at the correct density so that optimum use is made of the planted area.

For example;

We will work with an area of 10m x 10m because it is easy to mark out the area and count the plants within that area.

We are planting the following crops;

For example;

Main crops-Maize & Sorghum

Living ground cover crops-Pumpkin and Watermelon

Nitrogen fixers-Cow peas or Pigeon peas

Crop	Recommended Population/100m sq	% of integrated planting	Recommended population
Maize	500	55%	275 plants
Sorghum	750	30%	225 plants
Pumpkin	400	2.5%	10 plants
Watermelon	400	2.5%	10 plants
Pigeon Peas	750	10%	75 plants
		Total plants per 100 m square	595 plants

This table shows a total plant population of 595 plants in a 10m x 10m (100m sq.) area, this equates to a per hectare population of 59’950 plants which would be considered a suitable population for maize in an area with good rainfall, fertile soils and temperatures not exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. (Point out the obvious differences in climatic conditions to the students)

Integrated Pest Management;

Integrated Pest Management is to make use of natural resources to control pests in a responsible way.

The use of natural pest predators

Pest are drawn to fresh green crops or to the ripened fruit of crops. The pests use the crops as their habitat but the crops do not provide the habitat structure needed by pest predators.

The provision of a habitat for insects that prey upon pests will provide the following benefits;

A place in which pest predators can breed

This habitat consisting of indigenous shrubs and grasses can be avoided when spraying crops with pesticides so that breeding pest predators, their eggs and grubs are not killed by the application of pesticides, thus maintaining pest predator numbers.

The use of indigenous plants; (organise visit from mission @ Manica)

Pest Predator habitat

Plants with qualities that are repellent to pests;

Herbs-herbs such as garlic which give off strong odors help keep pests away from crops.

Plants such as the Marigold also keep pests away from crops.

Plants with properties that are toxic to pests;

There are many plants that have chemical properties that are toxic to pests. Infusions can be made, by soaking leaves, bark or roots in water and then spraying the infusion onto your crops to kill pests.

Scouting for pests (An expert should be brought in to teach what are pests and what are predators and produce a booklet specific to local pests and their predators)

Purpose;

To assess pest numbers

To assess crop damage

To assess Pest predator numbers and the impact they are having on the pest populations

How often to scout?

Once a week under normal circumstances

Two days after spraying

Scouting pattern;

Count pest and predator numbers on two plants every 10 meters, working diagonally through the field.

When to spray

Different pest problems will have different pest/predator thresholds (advice required from Zim Cotton Board)

When plant damage is obvious

When pest numbers are noticeably high

Controlled Spraying;

Spraying should be done when there is a significant pest challenge.

The application of pesticides should be controlled because the application of toxic chemicals not only kill pests, they also kill pest predators and surface and subsurface dwelling living organisms that play a part in the food cycle that provides the crops with nutrients.

Pest predator habitat should be avoided during spraying so that the pest predator populations can be maintained.

If the same chemical is used too often, pests can build up a resistance, so it is important to alternate between at least two different options.

Summary;

The basic practices used in Organic Farming are simple. They are also necessary in order to provide ideal conditions for the natural cycles to occur.

To re-cap, the basic practices are;

Mulching

Composting

Inter-cropping

Crop population planning

Integrated Pest Management

What we wish to achieve by using these practices;

Soil conditions ideal for;

The supply of plat nutrients for improved crop yields without the need of fertilizers

The ability of the soil to capture and retain rainwater

Additional plant nutrients by making and using compost as an organic fertilizer

A balanced plant community in which plants have specific roles

Improving and maximizing crop yield potential by ensuring we do not overpopulate or under populate fields

Responsible management of pests to ensure maximum yields are achieved

Making sure that our soil resource is cared for, to maintain fertility

Grant Norvall

9^th June 2008

Mozambican Spitting Cobra

Photo credit; R. Beillfuss
We had to flush this large cobra out from under a rondavel.


Photo Credit; R. Beillfuss
Finally, I was able to catch this cobra. This is a large example of the species.


Photo Credit; R. Beillfuss
Getting to grips


Photo Credit; R. Beillfuss



Photo Credit; R. Beillfuss
In hand and safe...or was it; unfortunately we have to kill all venomous snakes found in camp....I hated doing it, but had no choice.


Photo Credit; R. Beillfuss
A small cobra (same species) caught the previous day, pictured curled up in a hole eating a frog.


Photo Credit; R. Beillfuss
This little fellow was really feisty


Photo Credit; R. Beillfuss
I am hundreds of times bigger than this snake, but it holds its ground!


Photo Credit; R. Beillfuss
Finally in hand and safe.

The Mozambican Spitting Cobra has a venom cocktail with neuro and cytotoxic properties. Next to the Gaboon Adder and Puff Adder it has the most painful bite, and the venom is deadly. That aside, people are rarely bitten by these snakes because as soon as they become aware of approaching danger, they hide. Here, in Chitengo Camp, we only see a very small % of the snakes we walk past each day. Last year 2 bites were recorded, me and a woman who works in the gardens. I was bitten because I identified a Bibrons Stiletto incorrectly (A common error, even by experts-which I do consider myself) and the woman was unfortunate to stand on a small snake that did not have time to move out of her path. I believe she was bitten by a snouted adder, which although a painful bite, is only mildly venomous.

The bottom line is that there could be serious repercussions if a really serious bite were to occur, so although I hate the rule, I do agree with why it is being enforced.

More Bits of Wigan

A long boat on the Wigan canal


Wigan Church vestry entrance


One of the side doors into Wigan Church


2 long boats in dry dock near Wigan Pier being refurbished


I think this is called a lock, it is used to lift or lower boats to different levels on the canal


This pic taken near Wigan Pier

Bits of Wigan

Click to enlarge

Wigan Town, Lancashire, UK

Click to enlarge

Doorways

Old and even older

My first trip to Europe

I have arrived in England, the weather has been kind and I love some of the old buildings. Still lots to see and I will be getting a tree book and a bird book later on today.