Sunday 27 March 2016

Lectures on permaculture at Curaçao

'Koperativa Fresku i Organiko' (Cooperation Fresh and Organic) organised an evening of lectures in Papiamento. First speaker was Gianne Balentien. She told how people become more aware on healthy food. We, consumers and gardeners, shape the future. We have to take it in our own hands. That's why this evening was organised.

Then guest speaker Ruben Prince explained the basic principles of the best solution for agriculture at Curaçao very well. The main principle is restoration of the soil. At Curaçao the soil is rich in nitrogen, but poor in organic materials. He recommends making compost. A compost pile has to be four parts carbon (plant materials) on one part nitrogen. Every four days you mix your compost. If you keep the compost moist, after 28 days it's ready for use.

Watering plants with the tap water of Aqualectra is not good. The pH of this water is too high, it's about 7 or 8, while plants need about 6.5. It contains chlorine too, killing all organic material (that's what it's for).

Because of the erosion the temperature in the uncovered soil rises to 45 degrees (C) during the day. Such a high temperature kills everything living in the soil. So the soil must be covered, this is done with 'mulch'. Mulch is a layer of organic material (leaves, wood chips, grass, cardboard, paper) of about 20 cm, to cool down the soil temperature to about 23 degrees (C). That's a nice temperature for your tomato and pepper plants!

Then he told about the iguanas: feed the enemy! Plant a reserved part in your garden with 'iguana food', so they'll stay there and won't eat your edible plants.

More information on permaculture, f.e. the chicken tractor, manure (how much and when to use), etc. you can visit him at his terrain near Sint Joris, where he is busy providing Curaçao professionally with organic food products.


Wednesday 9 March 2016

Just call it GREENING THE DESERT

As you know at Curaçao it's hot and the soil is often eroded. There isn't much life in the soil there. In this blog Salomon shows us, in pictures, how to make the life turn back into the soil.

Needed materials:

coconut peel
carbon
bokashi (fluid compost and the residu)
 

Soak the coconut peel and carbon in water with the fluid bokashi compost for 24 hours. The microbes enter the coconut peel and the carbon. 
Dig about 10 cm deep, put the soaked coconut peel and carbon in there. 
Wet it all with the water and bokashi. Put soil back on top. 
Then add cow manure. Keep the soil wet for a few days.

Then start planting. More on the plants will follow later.

Important

In such a hot country protection from the sun is really needed! You can do this with wood chips, at least a 10 cm thick layer.

Bokashi

Bokashi is a fermentation of vegetable and fruit rests with Effective Microbes. It's done in a special airtight closed bucket.


Saturday 5 March 2016

Thanks

Roland wants to thank all who donated for his crowdfunding. The amount of money he asked for is not yet there, but now he can start his next project (small greenhouses).
In exchange for your donation you'll receive some Moringa-tea. Roland is drying leaves, flowers and bark of the Moringa tree for that tea now. Moringa is called a 'wonder tree'*. 

If you did not yet donate, or if you forgot to add your address for the Moringa-tea … the crowdfuncing action has not yet ended ;-)
Bank account NL42 INGB 0006 7995 46 of A.C. van Reenen, Julianadorp Curaçao.