Upcoming events

Las abejas sin aguijón (también llamados Meliponinos) representan un grupo de insectos altamente sociales, con colonias perennes y habitantes de zonas tropicales y subtropicales. Su importancia destaca desde la ambiental como polinizadores hasta la parte productiva, pasando por los aspectos sociales, tradicionales, de inclusión de género, explotación no maderable del bosque, entre otros.

Este curso pretende dar las bases biológicas, así como los parámetros a seguir en la iniciación del cultivo de estas abejas; revisando para ello, la parte histórica de la actividad, la instalación del meliponario, multiplicación, cuidado y división de las colonias y una semblanza de la producción y comercialización sustentable.

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Personas interesadas en conocer e implementar ecotecnologías en su casa, en proyectos productivos, agroecológicos, de vida sustentable familiar y comunitaria en proyectos de ecoturismo.

The course provides a learner charged environment where students wrestle with and find applicable answers to the life issues of hunger, malnutrition, food insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation. Students engage in learning how cultural beliefs, broken relationships, non-sustainable agriculture practices and a lack of understanding contribute significantly to these global issues. Students are equipped with knowledge and fundamental agriculture and community development skills to impact the lives of multiple people groups from rural farmers to urbanites.

The course presents a Biblical grid for agriculture, aims to restore the value and dignity of the farmer, and brings value to the vocation of farming.

Students learn practical, restorative and sustainable agriculture, food production and community development skills equipping them to address these very issues and bring hope for the future.

Natural and organic practices are presented and promoted. Students learn soil rebuilding techniques, appropriate plant choices, varying natural food producing methods with application and appropriate integrations. Studies include, fundamentals of soil health, plant nutrition and natural pest and disease management, agro-forestry, permaculture, bee keeping, human nutrition, natural medicines, business and leadership development, and animal agriculture all within the context of people centered community development. Instructors are qualified experienced practitioners who bring their expertise to the classroom and participants.

The 22 week course provides both personal and team learning experience. Classroom teaching integrates with practicals and implementation of the methods taught. Participants develop their own food growing plots, experience growing field crops, take part in caring for a livestock enterprise, and practice environmental stewardship. Additionally, incorporated weekly throughout the school, staff led student teams work in selected collaborative communities. Here, students get hands-on experience in supervised community development application providing opportunity to implement and multiply learned principles and practices. Community Collaboration participation includes weekly planning, prayer, and strategy for multiplying learned views, principles and practices. The learning process is strengthened by weekly debriefing, processing, and coaching of the team experiences in the collaborating communities.

En este curso hacemos énfasis en el manejo de la fertilidad del suelo en general y en el cultivo biointensivo en lo particular.

También conoceremos un poco de los otros sistemas, como el bosque comestible, las gallinas, la milpa y los sistemas agroforestales.

Cultivo biointensivo

- mas alimentos en menos espacio - 

Esta parte del curso es muy práctica, y aprenderás a sembrar, cuidar y cosechar tus alimentos en poco espacio y de una manera orgánica y sustentable en un huerto biointensivo.

Hemos aprendido directamente con el creador de este método John Jeavons con quien trabajamos difundiendo este método en México y América Latina.

Those interested in preparing for short/long-term involvement in agricultural development internationally  are encouraged to participate in this one-week course held two times a year. Course participants will gain an introduction to aspects of poverty and community development and an orientation to ECHO. They will also receive instruction on proven agricultural principles/practices and practical techniques, systems and technologies to meet agricultural and nutritional needs of small-scale, impoverished farmers. There will also be time for hands-on work on the farm, visits with staff, and study in the library. Course content is presented from a biblical perspective. 

Who the course is for:

This course will especially benefit those who are considering short- or long-term involvement in international agricultural development work. It can also be of benefit to those who have been on the field doing development work for a few years but who would like to take a step back and re-evaluate their approach. Those who could benefit from this course include short-term or career missionaries, international project volunteers (e.g. Peace Corps), leaders of relief-oriented organizations, or missions committee leaders of churches involved in agricultural projects overseas. 

What is offered:

This course covers a broad range of topics relevant to those starting out in agricultural development in a tropical environment.  The purpose of this class is to expose you to several different ideas and concepts.  Although a significant amount of time will be spent looking at examples on the ECHO Farm, given the breadth of topics covered, extensive hands-on farm work should not be an expectation of taking this course.

As a development worker or missionary, where do you start? How might you ensure that development efforts will be relevant, realistic, and community-owned? This five-day course will cover the basics of effective community development. Using proven participatory methods, experienced community development workers will introduce attendees to hands-on tools that can better enable change agents and partner communities to survey local assets and needs. Utilizing feedback, participants will practice prioritizing issues as well as strategic responses in order to develop action plans. Course participants will walk through the fundamentals of project management cycles: planning, implementation, monitoring, finances, and reporting. Additionally, participants will explore methodologies of agricultural information exchange.

The 6th Biennial ECHO Asia Agriculture and Community Development Conference will take place on October 3-6, 2017, in Chiang Mai, Thailand!

Our conference theme "Improving Lives" expresses our desire to partner with you as we train, equip, and grow our network to impact the lives and livelihoods of farmers and their families across Asia. Speakers will share practical solutions to agricultural challenges, personal experiences, and strategies for improving the lives of millions who daily face the threat of starvation. The event offers an open exchange of information, connecting the people and ideas that can  make a real and sustainable difference.

Come join us for 3-days of plenary speakers, workshops, a poster session, paper submission and proceedings, and a seed exchange, followed by a 1-day site visit!

This year marks the 24th Anniversary of the ECHO International Agriculture Conference held in Fort Myers, FL!  We hope that you will make plans to join us for this year's conference.  The event brings together some of the world’s most influential voices dedicated to eradicating hunger and improving lives.

Speakers will share practical solutions to agricultural challenges, personal experiences and strategies for improving the lives of millions who daily face the threat of starvation. The event offers an open exchange of information, connecting the people and ideas that can make a real and sustainable difference.

Conference accommodation and meeting rooms for morning and evening sessions will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (Crowne Plaza) in the Bell Tower district of Fort Myers. Afternoon workshops and demonstrations will be held at the 50-acre ECHO farm in North Fort Myers, which has one of the largest collections of tropical fruits and vegetables in the United States.

If you need to request a visa invitation letter please fill out this form: International Applicant's Additional Information Form

Those interested in preparing for short/long-term involvement in agricultural development internationally  are encouraged to participate in this one-week course held two times a year. Course participants will gain an introduction to aspects of poverty and community development and an orientation to ECHO. They will also receive instruction on proven agricultural principles/practices and practical techniques, systems and technologies to meet agricultural and nutritional needs of small-scale, impoverished farmers. There will also be time for hands-on work on the farm, visits with staff, and study in the library. Course content is presented from a biblical perspective. 

Who the course is for:

This course will especially benefit those who are considering short- or long-term involvement in international agricultural development work. It can also be of benefit to those who have been on the field doing development work for a few years but who would like to take a step back and re-evaluate their approach. Those who could benefit from this course include short-term or career missionaries, international project volunteers (e.g. Peace Corps), leaders of relief-oriented organizations, or missions committee leaders of churches involved in agricultural projects overseas. 

What is offered:

This course covers a broad range of topics relevant to those starting out in agricultural development in a tropical environment.  The purpose of this class is to expose you to several different ideas and concepts.  Although a significant amount of time will be spent looking at examples on the ECHO Farm, given the breadth of topics covered, extensive hands-on farm work should not be an expectation of taking this course.

Those interested in preparing for short/long-term involvement in agricultural development internationally  are encouraged to participate in this one-week course held two times a year. Course participants will gain an introduction to aspects of poverty and community development and an orientation to ECHO. They will also receive instruction on proven agricultural principles/practices and practical techniques, systems and technologies to meet agricultural and nutritional needs of small-scale, impoverished farmers. There will also be time for hands-on work on the farm, visits with staff, and study in the library. Course content is presented from a biblical perspective. 

Who the course is for:

This course will especially benefit those who are considering short- or long-term involvement in international agricultural development work. It can also be of benefit to those who have been on the field doing development work for a few years but who would like to take a step back and re-evaluate their approach. Those who could benefit from this course include short-term or career missionaries, international project volunteers (e.g. Peace Corps), leaders of relief-oriented organizations, or missions committee leaders of churches involved in agricultural projects overseas. 

What is offered:

This course covers a broad range of topics relevant to those starting out in agricultural development in a tropical environment.  The purpose of this class is to expose you to several different ideas and concepts.  Although a significant amount of time will be spent looking at examples on the ECHO Farm, given the breadth of topics covered, extensive hands-on farm work should not be an expectation of taking this course.

Did you know that of 250,000 identified plant species worldwide that only 30 species provide 95 percent of our global food energy needs? And that only three of these crops – wheat, maize and rice – provide half of the world’s food?

With severe weather extremes and other risks to global food security, many agricultural experts agree that global cropping systems should be as diversified as possible. As small-scale farms are particularly vulnerable to climatic and economic instability, underutilized crops may be key to their resilience.

Underutilized crops are those with “underexploited potential for contributing to food security, nutrition, health, income generation and environmental services.” The ECHO Underutilized Crops Workshop (September 10-14) will not only introduce participants to various less known crops but will also spotlight opportunities for their production and utilization.

The workshop will also include practical nutrition activities in which various underutilized crops on the ECHO farm will be harvested and prepared into meals.