Notes de développement de ECHO (EDN)

EDN Issue #30 - A Special Expanded Issue on Rooftop Gardening - 19/08/1990

INTRODUCTION TO OUR SPECIAL EXPANDED ISSUE.

One of ECHO's purposes is to help people grow food under difficult conditions. You are not likely to encounter a soil worse for gardening than a cement slab. Neither will you find such large areas of unused growing space in full sun and near prime markets as on cement rooftops in Third World cities.

The most expensive agricultural land is always that located near large markets. If there were large areas of unused flat land right in the middle of huge population centers, the potential value for producing vegetables would be obvious. How many acres of unused flat rooftops do you suppose there are in the cities in your country?

For the past eight years ECHO has been working on methods for gardening on rooftops. It turns out that cement slabs are not nearly as difficult a challenge for gardening as one might think. In fact, they have become one of my favorite gardening spots. They offer an enormous and almost untapped opportunity for ministry to urban populations. (There are also applications in certain rural settings as well).

Many church-related groups are looking for practical ways to help the people they minister to spiritually. There do not seem to be many options (medical help, community organization, and development of small businesses seem to be the major areas). Urban gardening has a reputation of not being very successful overall. I think the rooftop gardening methods outlined in this issue of EDN will not be limited by some of the factors that have caused other urban gardening projects to fail.

This issue of EDN is being devoted to the subject of rooftop gardening. Its purpose is to (1) help you evaluate its potential for your area, (2) give sufficient technical details to get started, and (3) set up an informal network among those of you who decide to try rooftop gardening so we can learn from each other's experience. Even if you never use the technique, I think this discussion will give you a new understanding of how plants grow and of their adaptability to different conditions.

EDN Issue #29 - 19/04/1990

Lost Crops Of The Incas

The Andes Berry (Rubus Glaucus).

Passion Fruits For Higher Altitudes

The Lost Crops Of Africa Will Be The Next In The "Underexploited Plants" Series

Echos From Our Network

New Pigeonpea Varieties From Icrisat

EDN Issue #28 - 19/12/1989

Intercropping With Sugar Cane

Can Kiwifruit (Actinidia Deliciosa) Be Grown In The Tropics

Sweet Potato Cookbook

Stopping Bees

EDN Issue #27 - 19/09/1989

Vernonia (Vernonia Glamensis): A Potential New Crop For Semi-Arid Areas Of The Tropics And Sub-Tropics

How Can I Simulate Long Days To Make Plants Bloom?

Sawdust Used To Fill Old Tractor Tires

Markets Saturated With Free Grain

New Magazine -- Agroforestry Today

Potential Contraceptive From Neem Tree Oil

Inter-Cropping Of Sugar Cane

Rearing Ladybug Beetles (Coccinella Spp.) In Captivity

EDN Issue #26 - 19/07/1989

Peanut Oil Treatment Prevents Weevils (Calloso Bruchus Maculoatus) In Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata)

What Is The Huge Grub That Is Eating Banana Roots?

Neem Leaf Tea To Control Termites

Ralph Kusserow In Tanzania Writes About Rhubarb

Use Stp To Make "Yellow Sticky Traps."

More On Insect Traps

Is The "Killer" Bee Sting More Lethal Than "Italian" Bees?

Sunn Hemp As Green Manure

EDN Issue #25 - 19/03/1989

Giza Sorghum For Food And Fuel

Buffalo Gourd Is Another Candidate For Food And Fuel

Are Jack Beans Safe To Eat?

Why Are My Washington (Naval) Oranges Dropping?

Sweet Potato Weevil Problems

Echo Basic Document #2: Selecting The Right Crop For Your Location In The Tropics Or In The Subtropics

EDN Issue #24 - 19/12/1988

Book Review: Rooftop Or Shallow-Bed Gardening

Reaction To Bee Stings

More On Making Your Own Biological Control For Cassava Hornworm

Can Peach Pits Be Used As Food?

Crop Production Bulletin #2, Soybeans

Is Velvet Bean Safe To Eat?

EDN Issue #23 - 19/09/1988

Some Personal Thoughts

Electric Shock For Snakebite

How Do I Begin An Experimental/ Demonstration Work?

Are Macadamia Nuts A Good Crop For Belize?

Some Tips For Rabbit Raisers

Can You Make Your Own Biological Insecticide?

EDN Issue #22 - 19/05/1988

Tagasaste, Chamaecytisus Palmensis, A Temperate Counterpart Of Leucaena

Did You Have Difficulty Germinating Your Paulownia Trees?

One Couple's Approach To Work With Traditional Herders

Echo Crop Production Bulletin No.1: The Sweet Potato

Book Review: How To Grow Fish In The Mountains

Another Update On The Moringa Tree

EDN Issue #21 - 19/02/1988

Electric Shock To Treat Poisonous Bites

Doing Your Own Corn (Maize) Improvement

Bush Okra From Echo Grew Well. How Do We Eat It?

A Guide For Beginners In Small Scale Tropical Agriculture

Update On Moringa