Tropical Ag Training in Florida

One of the benefits that has come about as a result of our return to the Elikya Center being delayed was the opportunity for me to study for a week at Educational Concern for Hunger Organization in Fort Myers, FL. ECHO is a non-profit organization whose vision is "to bring glory to God and a blessing to mankind by using science and technology to help the poor." See http://www.echonet.org/ for more information.

During the week of February 22nd I attended a new class called "Introduction to Tropical Agricultural Development". This was a crash course on a variety of different topics including principles of community development, appropriate technologies, nursery management, cross-cultural communication, dryland farming and more. The heart of ECHO is their 50 acre Global Farm, divided into six separate "climate zones" where techniques and plants native to each are demonstrated. It was a lot of fun to wander the campus reading about the different methods and crops showcased in each plot.

A kitchen garden plot in the Semi-Arid Tropics zone

Demonstration of Tropical Highlands climate zone

I left with many ideas to consider for incorporation into the training program at the Elikya Center. The ability to sustainably grow more food and better food in their subsistence gardens is a big step towards self-sufficiency for widows and orphans in the Congo. Since every household has a garden from which they get the vast majority of their food, this is not only a big step but a necessary one. There are several challenges to be overcome, including depletion of soil nutrients and minimal inputs. But the opportunity for improvement is enormous and I am excited to see how God would use me and the training I received at ECHO.

Yep...a goat

Taro, a root crop grown in much of Africa

"and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday" (Is 58:10).