ORGANIC FARMING

Gathering of Plants

ORGANIC FARMINGI. BIBLICAL & THEOLOGICAL

BACKGROUND “More than being just the planter and

reaper, man is the Steward of

Creation”

1. “Subdue the earth…dominion over the earth”… (Gen. 1:28)

2. It is not an absolute power or freedom to “use and misuse” the natural world. (Gen. 2:16-17)

3. When it comes to the use of the natural world, man is subject to both

physical/biological and moral laws…(John Paul II, On Social Concern)

4. Man as a social being, that is the responsibility for one’s actions extend to the consequences those actions have on other people… “No man is an island”

5. Man has the right to live in a dignified manner (befitting manner)

6. Development cannot ignore both the needs of man and nature and the effects of indiscriminate industrialization and progress.

II. HISTORY OF FARMING SYSTEM

In the PAST, 1950-1971, there were: No commercial fertilizers Compost fertilizers direct to the farm Organic fertilizers Manual systems of farming Abundance of fish/mud fish/eel Natural equipments like Carabao

In 1972 up to the present: • Commercial fertilizers/pesticides are

used.Effects are:

- Soil became acidic - Spring water is contaminated- There is less harvest- More debts- More sickness

• There is single cropping/cash crops.

POSSIBLE/ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION

ORGANIC FARMING/NATURAL FARMING- Recycling- Using available resources as

fertilizers like grasses- No hazardous chemicals- Use of composted fertilizers- Friendly environment- Manageable

FOUNDERS OF ORGANIC FOUNDERS OF ORGANIC FARMINGFARMING

1. DARWIN CHARLES (1880) – Father of Organic Farming– Studied living organism in the soil and how the

relationship between soil and plants evolved.– In every crop rotation you have to put organic

matter.2. RODOLF STEINER (1920) – Founder of

Biodynamic Method of Farming - Planting and harvesting coincide with planetary lunar phases

3. J.I. RODALE (1940) – (WW II) – Promoted the importance of compost/believed that organic gardening is good to human health and environment.– Chemical during war was found good to farming

but needed to stop so he promoted compost farming due to human health is directly related to soil itself.

4. MASANOBO FUKUOKA (1970) – developed a farming method that maximizes natures’ benefits but minimizes human work and effort.TECHNIQUES:

1. Against tilling, weeding, cultivation, mulching2. Just spread and let it grow and produce

product3. No compost/fertilization (just the irony of other

founders)4. He put the seeds in a clay ball and dried a little

and spread.

5. JOHN JEVONS (1970) – founder of Bio - Intensive Method of Farming that involves a total intensive way of living with the earth.

- Combined animal and vegetables- How to preserve them- Small farm unit (for family use)

6. BILL MOLLISON (1980) – developed the Perma Culture Method - involves looking at how one lives and integrates everything.

– Perma-Culture – Permanent Agriculture– Technique: - Do planning/designing before

doing– Principle: - take care of the environment and

do not waste, we must be careful for a healthy and happy generation.

ORGANIC FARMING- A production system that avoids or largely

excludes the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives. To the maximum extent feasible, organic farming systems rely upon crop rotation, crop residue, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off-farm organic wastes, mechanical cultivation, and mineral bearing rocks. It also relies on aspects of biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and tithe, to supply plant nutrients and to control insects, weeds and other pests.

WHY DO PEOPLE CHOOSE ORGANIC FARMING AND BUY ORGANIC PRODUCTS?

1. They want to be good stewards of the environment.

2. They are concerned about pollution of air, water and soil.

3. They care for the health of the family and community (Moral Act)

4. Chemicals destroy life.5. Tending organic garden connects them with

the soil and makes them feel closer to the nature.

HOW DOES THE ORGANIC METHOD WORK?

Natural ecosystems make their own fertilizer.

Natures’ cycle of growth and decay is continouos.

Some insects eat plants but predators and parasites keep their number in check. So there is no need for synthetic pesticides.

Nature allows some damage. (In the law of nature, there is balance)

When organic farmers intervene- they choose control tactics that have little impact on the natural system.

NEEDS OF A HEALTHY PLANT

1. Fresh air2. Complete mineral nutrient (soil)3. Clean water4. Plenty of sunlight (At least 6 hrs of sun)

Less sunlight weakens the plants and does not produce products.

5. Mechanical support when needed

SOIL – Is able to provide most of what the plants need.– A healthy soil is the key to organic farming.– The soil is where our foods come from (not from

the market)

TYPES OF SOIL: 1. Clay2. Clay loamIDEAL SOIL PROFILE3. Sandy loam - Fresh organic matter(1st layer)4. Sand - Topsoil (2nd layer)

- Fine rock pieces (3rd layer)- Largest rock pieces (4th layer)

Test in Analyzing Soil Soil must have earthworms (the small

ones)- surface earthworms for healthy soil

Enough sand Enough clay (less) Enough crumbs (black)

“Soil fertility is the basis of the public health system of the future”. (Sir Albert Howard)

MICRO ORGANISMS AND LIVING CREATURES IN THE SOIL

Good Bacteria – lives in oxygen and easily dies with spray (synthetic pesticides/fertilizers).

Bad Bacteria – does not live; lives in the dark.

- Does not die with spray- Solution: spray microbes

(enzymes) in the soil

MICRO ORGANISM – ENZYMES

IMO – Indigenous Micro-Organism NEM – Nature Effective Micro-Organism EM/EMO – Effective Micro-Organism

USES/FUNCTIONS1. For decomposing2. Anti-biotic3. Deodorant4. Fertilizer

DECOMPOSERMaterials:• Organic rice – non

commercial/commercial rice• Kamoteng kahoy• Banana (dippig)• Sweet potatoes• Bamboo/Wooden box• Bond paper/manila paper/banana

leaves• Straw/string

Procedures: 1. Cook rice and let it cool.2. Place it in a bamboo or wooden box,

cover with bond/manila paper or banana leaves and tie with straw/string in both ends.

3. Put it in an uncontaminated place; it could be under the bamboo tree by digging 6” deep in the soil then put the bamboo cover with rotten leaves then cover with topsoil.

4. After 5 days, retrieve the bamboo then remove or segregate the black molds.

5. Put it in a plate then weigh it.

6. For every kilogram of NEM, add crude brown sugar/mascuvado/molasses of its equivalent weight. (1 kg NEM = 1 kg brown sugar/mascuvado)

7. Put it in a plastic not in a bottle then put it in a shaded and moderately temperatured place for at least 7 to 14 days; this will yield a mud like juice.

8. If the yield IMO is so sticky, add more sugar.* Sugar/mascuvado/mollassess – food of Micro-organisms* NEM/IMO life span: 2 - 3 years

Extract Micro Organism/Activated EM

For every 200cc of IMO/NEM, add 100 liters of potable water in a plastic container.

Add 3 kgs of brown sugar/mascuvado Mix the 200 cc IMO, water and sugar

then cover with a manila paper or banana leaves and leave it for 21 days untouched.

After 21 days, collect and bottle in a plastic (coke plastic bottle, etc.)

USES OF EXTRACT MICRO-ORGANISM

Decomposer – Bio-Organic Fertilizer (BOF) Deodorant – pig/chicken pen Anti-biotic – animals (2 teaspoons – 1 liter

of water 2x a day) Fertilizer –plants

RATIO: For every 1 liter of Extract Micro- Organism, add 100 liters of potable water.

BIO-ORGANIC FERTILIZERMaterials: (Alternative 1) Animal manure – cow/carabao, goat (at

least 60%) Others (40%)

- Garame/dayame- Green leaves (sun flower, azulla, ipil-ipil)- Shells- Pulverized charcoal/kuntan(rice hull)

Extract Micro-Organism = Ratio: 1 liter Extract Micro-Organism: 100 liters of water

Procedure/Process:• For every layer, wet then sprinkle it with Extract Micro-

organism• Dayami/garami – 2” thick with Extract Micro-organism• Animal Manure –2” thick with Extract Micro-organism• Kuntan/rice hull (cooked and pulverized) –

“pagwaris/pagwarsi”• Shell (cooked and pulverized) – “pagwaris/pagwarsi”• Green Leaves – 2” thick with Extract Micro-Organism

Curing period – 30 days (minimum) before packing

For every 1.5m x 6m x 5 layers can produce 35-40 sacks of 50 kgs BOF

• Green leaves - (2” thick) with IMO Extract Shell (cooked and pulverized)Kuntan/rice hull (cooked and pulverized)Animal manure (2” thick) with IMO Extract Garami (2” thick) with IMO Extract

Figure 1- 1 layer

*Kuntan – Korean Technology Carbonized hull – conditioner for soil Microorganism house/shelter

Alternative 2 (Composting)Alternative 2 (Composting)(Master’s Garden)(Master’s Garden)

COMPOSTING- is normally discovered through accident by early (ages) Indians.

a) GARDEN COMPOST (best alternative)Materials/Equipments:

– Shredder (bolo if no shredder)– Raw materials (green materials such

as sunflower, cogon grass, etc.)– Spading fork or shovel

Procedure: 1. Mix the shredded green materials with

activated EM by spraying using the 16 liters knapsack spray can with a ratio of: for every 250 ml of Activated EM, mix with 16 liters of potable water.

2. Mix it everyday the shredded materials mixed with EM. Within 36 hrs, it can reach 170 degrees farenheight in temperature. It can cook any hard and bad bacteria what will be left will be the good bacteria.

3. Do it for at least 11 days if compost tea is mixed and 14 days if w/o compost tea.

b) KITCHEN COMPOST – Kitchen waste (rich in nitrogen); it should be balanced with carbon (brown materials).

c) MANURE COMPOST – animal wastes, except cat and dog wastes, mix with EM to compost properly (high nitrogen if mixed with brown materials).

d) SPECIAL COMPOST – for special plants Ex. Blue berries/flowers –mostly like acid soil– Pine needle (30-50%) in ratio to compost.

e) GARBAGE COMPOST- Municipal Compost Waste*Battery (high in lead – poisonous) not

advisable for use in food production.

• COMPOST SITE – Can be everywhere and must be in a concrete floor as not to waste the richness of fertilizer to be composted. Must be shaded overhead and the site could be only in an open area if sun is out and no rain.

• Should Chemical be used in the Composting Process? – Yes in some cases (by adding urea when the compost is already dry and brown and no presence of nitrogen). But in some cases farmers do not.Nitrogen – component of all protein. (Use to degrade materials).Carbon – food for digestion of materials. (Carbohydrates).Low Cost Compost Builders – hair of man is 15% nitrogen similar to feathers of chicken.Calcium – Shell (egg shell)

• RIPENED COMPOST - fined material compost (3 months) fine texture.

• COMPOST TEA – liquid form digested materials (more superior than manure tea).

• MANURE TEA – lighter than compost tea.*Use to water the plants (Booster).

How to make Compost Tea:Put water 2/3 full into a container then add 1/3 full of compost/manure then mix and put it aside for a while for seven (7) days.

• How to Use:– Put 2/3 of water or any quantity and mix an

amount to make a color like Lipton tea which is for drinking.

– Spray in the morning but wet first the soil before spraying or sprinkling.

• *Note: Plants concentrate in getting food during daytime and growing at nighttime. Always

water plants in the morning and not in the afternoon to avoid attack of fungus due to wetness.

PAKUSOT (FOR PIG AND CHICKEN PEN)Materials: Saw dust Topsoil/Bio-Organic Fertilizer (BOF) Charcoal IMO extract* For every 10 sacks of sawdust: 2

sacks of BOF/Topsoil and at least 1% of charcoal

Process = mix sawdust with BOF/topsoil and charcoal while sprinkling with IMO extract/activated EM until desired moisture content is attained.

Fermentation Period = 14 days before putting into pigpen for a height of at least 40 cm.

FERMENTED FEEDSMaterials: (For equivalent of 50 kgs feeds) 20 kgs – kangkong or ipil-ipil (chopped) 5 kgs – camote tops (chopped) 5 kgs – banana trunk (chopped) 5kgs – corn bran 2 kgs – rice bran 2 kgs – DI rice bran (“muting”) ¼ kg – molasses/mascuvado/brown sugar 6 liters – “arasaw ti bagas” ½ liter – IMO Extract

Process: Mix all materials then put into

plastic container well covered with manila paper and leave it untouched for 4 days.

Fermentation Period = 3 – 4 days before using in a normal way of feeding your pig.

BOTANICAL PESTICIDEMaterials: 3 kgs of

pandan/carrot/sayote/makabuhay 3 kgs Mascuvado 2 regular bottles of beer 1 liter IMO extractFermentation = 14 daysRatio - 10 knapsack caps: 16 liters of

water, mix then spray.

FUNGICIDE/ANTI-BIOTICMaterials:• 1 kg bawang/laya• 1 kg Mascuvado• ½ liter IMO extractFermentation: 14 days

FUNGICIDE ANTI-BIOTIC10 Tablespoons 5 Tablespoons1 liter of water 1 liter of water

Process: mix and spray serve 2x a day

Reasons Why You Should Never Ever Use Chemicals Again

1. Pesticides travel and have contaminated even the most remote regions of the world; they smell really bad.

2. Up to 20 % of the chemicals you buy legally include heavy metals like lead, dioxin and arsenic which are very toxic and poisonous.

3. Chemical fertilizers add nutrients to the soil but they don’t add anything else. The soil structure weakens and it can’t hold itself together and it starts to erode and collapse.

4. It can kill the bad and good bugs, the birds and bees. Without bee pollination there would be fewer fruits and vegetables.

5. The more you use, the more you need to use just like a junkie.

6. They can make your family, your pets, you and wildlife sick.

7. Buying chemical fertilizers and pesticides support huge corporations who spend millions of dollar, lobbying to try surpassing research that shows how bad the stuff really is. And they go and sell millions of dollar worth of DDT to third world countries where it is still legal.

Pesticides are harmful and poisonous to humans and can lead to death.

Pesticides are hazardous to apply and harmful to the environment.

Pesticides contaminate the area of contact and other nearby areas.

Pesticides kill animals. Pesticides kill plants. Pesticides create resistance and

multiply. Pesticides kill beneficial insecticide. Pesticides do not increase yield or

production.

Alternative Pest/Insect Control

A. CULTURAL METHOD OF PEST CONTROL1. Good Soil Preparation2. Use of indigenous variety3. Pest control using mesh screen (nylon knots)4. Roquing or pruning5. Intercropping with aromatic herbs6. Companion planting7. Encouraging insect predators8. Multiple cropping9. Crop rotation

B. BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL = Suppression of pest populations by living

organisms such as predators, parasites and pathogens. These agents are responsible for keeping pests under control most of the time.

C. BOTANICAL PEST CONTROL-NATURAL INSECT REPELLANTS

= Is the method of using plant juices/plant extracts/essential oils in the management of pest population.

“Every part of the ecosystem on earth depends on the green life support apparatus of its survival as a whole”. (by: Anthony Luxey)

“In the end, there is really nothing more important than taking care of the earth and letting it care for you”.

WE BELONG TO THE ENVIRONMENT; WE BELONG TO THE ENVIRONMENT; THE ENVIRONMENT DOES NOT BELONG TO US…THE ENVIRONMENT DOES NOT BELONG TO US…

July 2006July 2006

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!