jandtaa

Hi YD

Thanks for the link ! I use companion planting in the UK and have a nice book by Bob Flowerdew on the subject . 

Out here in the tropics I'm only just beginning to learn which synergistic relationships work and which don't. Please could you make some suggestions for which species to use in Thailand  based on your 25 years experience growing in the sub-tropics . Often observation is the key in organic farming/gardening and we could all benefit from your years of experience, as Lickey so rightly pointed out in a recent post hopefully as the forum matures we will have a lot more info based on personal experience and experimentation rather than the research and technical papers we are currently discussing !! Your lengthy personal experience could well help other members so please do share  !! 

Where abouts in the sub-tropics have you been growing previously and what are you growing at the moment out here ??

Also can you please shed some light on the term a "mad womans breakfast" not one I've come across before ? I worked as a chef in a high security Psychiatric hospital many moons ago and we served bacon and eggs and always made sure there was plenty left for the kitchen staff many of whom, myself included were far more certifiable than any patient  !!

Keep the posts coming !!

regards Jandtaa

Hi All 

I've just uploaded an organic avocado cultivation guide here jandtaas docs - organic crops

cheers J

Hi Folks I've just loaded an organic cultivation guide for avocado here jandtaas docs- organic crops

Cheers J

What's the minimum number of trees I'm gonna need to get good pollination and is there a maximum spacing (i'd like to spread them out amongst the other fruit trees.

can you explain a bit more about A and B flowers and why you need a mix is it similar to the pollination of apples ?

http://www.avocado.org/growers/pages/proce...gs/p5_daven.php

Thanks Soidog2

Thats explained it nicely !! Looks like I'll be OK with my plan and on such a small scale a bit of hand pollination will be a cinch . Now just the questions of grafting !! I've found quite a nice organic cultivation guide which I will post later 

cheers J

Hi folks

just came across this site biochar farms

really does cover biochars application in most agricultural scenarios including forest gardening,poultry rearing etc. Gives some suggested application rates observed yield increases etc but remains well balanced examining the possible downsides and acknowledges it could be decades before research is fully completed.Different ways to "charge" the biochar including the use of bio-digester methane sludge. Also a couple of different kilns here including a portable hi-tech one.

overall a good read if you haven't come across it already !

cheers J     

P.S. here's the direct link with construction and usage guide to this double barrel kiln      link

Hi FF

Yeah I totally agree !! When I requested a couple of posts to be moved over to here I didn't realise that I couldn't then move the whole topic into one of the pinned threads but have to leave a link . I know how you feel it's bugging me as well ! I think if I give the moderators who are kindly moving them (I can only play around in here ) a link to the pinned thread it might work. Just about getting my head around it so please bear with me !!

Cheers fella J

P.S how were your spoilt walks ??

The proof that even golf can't do that was back in Monterey on the "17 mile Drive". Fog lifted so we could see where we were then came in and just whipped us in the middle of our round. Shortly thereafter it all lifted and a mighty and wild ocean (from the 60 mile an hour winds that rocked us in the desert) just was as glorious as i have ever seen it , it was brilliant blue and heavenly white in unending monsterous waves pummelling the rocky coast. The course, Monterey Peninsula CC, was in the finest condition of any course that I have ever experienced. Truly a magical day.

OK just tested that method and it wasn't possible so I will not be moving any further threads (think we got the most relevant ones anyway ). As Lickey pointed out as the forum matures and people find their way around it these links will dissapear of their own accord. I've also started Tagging topics to help direct the search option to the relevant place. This is a massive task and would appreciate it if anyone with tagging rights could help out and add a tag or two to their posts or those of others  !!

cheers J

Hi Folks moved to here link to green manure thread

sorry about the double link it's the only way the forum software can do it !! (This is the last topic I will move over from the general forum)

Cheers Jandtaa

:D

TT I was considering attatching a sneaky syphon to the afore-mentioned night-jar !! If you you could pop up and give us a hand starting the syphonic action it would be most appreciated !!

Yeah It's gonna be a job persuading the missus about the humanure toilet I'm seriously considering installing when I get round to building the new house !! She's used to my crazy Ideas and generally supportive but this might be a bit much for her . Might just have to build an out-house in the veg patch and take to reading the morning paper out there !!

cheers for now J

Hi Lickey 

Yeah that was the Hope. It was Soundmans suggestion to move a few across to bulk it out a bit in the early days and I thought it might generate a bit of interest from members who had posted in a few of the threads .Think I've moved most of the one's that were wholly organic as it were just wanted a hand Identifying them in the early days when I was really busy !!  

Cheers J 

P.S real heavy rain last night and the ground got a real soaking, off to sow up my green manures 

Came across this amongst my PDF's and thought I'd stick it up inorganic_fertiliser_conversion.pdf

Cheers J

Hi Stoneman 

Thanks for that . Big operation you have !!

I'm just looking to put a few in a small "edible forest garden" along with mango, jackfruit, longan etc.. etc... Haven't really researched avocado yet but met some one recently that has a producing tree that I can graft from in the future .

Here's a couple of questions

What's the minimum number of trees I'm gonna need to get good pollination and is there a maximum spacing (i'd like to spread them out amongst the other fruit trees.

can you explain a bit more about A and B flowers and why you need a mix is it similar to the pollination of apples ?

How old are the seedlings you're grafting and what method are you using ?

Do you need to graft type A flowered varieties onto type A rootstock etc ? 

What NPK value fertiliser did you use as a booster (I recently came across some organic fruit tree fertiliser and wonder whether it would be similar)

cheers for any advice you can give 

Jandtaa

Hi FF

Yeah I totally agree !! When I requested a couple of posts to be moved over to here I didn't realise that I couldn't then move the whole topic into one of the pinned threads but have to leave a link . I know how you feel it's bugging me as well ! I think if I give the moderators who are kindly moving them (I can only play around in here  ) a link to the pinned thread it might work. Just about getting my head around it so please bear with me !!

Cheers fella J

P.S how were your spoilt walks ?? 

Hi folks 

here's a link to an FAO site on a variety of kilns link

Here's the contact details of the guy that designed the masonry retort kiln (apparently he has worked in Thailand with them) maybe someone wants to email him ??

adam + partner 

Bahnhofstr. 13 

82467 - GARMISCH 

G E R M A N Y 

ph: +49-175 528 96 24 

fax:+49-180 5060 3360 3783

[email protected]

these are the only details I could find about it 

Details of the ICPS (Improved Charcoal Production System / adam-retort)

-which was developed in Burundi/East Africa and in South India near Pondicherry. Dimensions

may differ in other countries, depending on brick size and size of galvanized sheets available.

The size of the inner wood chamber: 2,4m x 1,1m x 0,95m height (volume: 2,5m3)

Thickness of walls: 0,07m + 0,04m(space) + 0,07m = 0,18m

The size of the outer wood chamber: 2,76m length x 1,46m width x 1m height

Length including chimney box and fire box: 2,76m + 0,4m +0,6m = 3,76m length

Construction time: about one week to ten days by a trained team of 2-3 workers.

Cost for material and labour: about 200 – 300 Euros depending on the situation in the country.

here's a link about work on kilns in Thailand by  The Royal Thai Forestry Department charcoal kiln testing

might be worth contacting them to see if they have any detailed plans.

But that's about it, most designs seem to be based on the 55 gallon steel drums in various configurations !!

Cheers for now J

Hi IA 

yeah your on the right lines

I've extracted these tables from a PDF I have on the subject which can be found here jandtaas docs-vermiculture

They are taken from the one entitled vermiculture-a farmers manual it's well worth a read

Cheers for now Jandtaa

Hi folks you may find this link useful manures for organic crop production

It provides a good overview and addresses some of the problems associated with using manure as a fertiliser 

cheers J

Hi YD

I'm not sure I follow you on this, I followed up your original post titled organic farming techniques link   if you were using biodynamic farming methods ? your reply was that you were using permaculture methods link

Whilst I agree with your definitions that permaculture embraces a whole wider philosophy, a lot of areas of the two disciplines overlap in regards to agriculture mulch,organic fertiliser, companion planting to name but a few.

Most farmers like to use a combination of techniques they feel appropriate to their personal needs as reflected in many of the posts.

I will edit the title of the pinned thread to reflect the fact that we are discussing permaculture in its regard to agriculture    !!

regards Jandtaa

Hi guys

been having another little dig around and come up with the following on possible drawbacks

Currently manufactured biochar is in short supply and is fully utilized for academic research projects. BEST Energies is purported to have a target price of AUD $200 /Mg (Mg is the same as a metric tonne) for Agrichar™. This is equivalent to USD $0.06 /lb, and would be very competitively priced.

Composting worms have been observed to be unaffected below 50% charcoal content, above which reduced worm activity could occur.

Data on the effect of charcoal on crop yields is still rudimentary – only a limited number of crops grown on a limited number of soils have been investigated. The interactions between crop, soil type, local conditions, and biochar feedstock, production method and application rate will have to be studied in far more detail before large scale deployment of biochar as a soil amendment can be contemplated. Nonetheless, there is evidence that at least for some crop/soil combinations, addition of charcoal may be beneficial

So unless you can find a cheap source of husks and make your own biochar it's gonna be difficult to apply this practically or economicaly over a large area.

I was thinking of incorporating it into some bio-intensive raised beds by composting it first with manure and rice straw etc using EM and then mixing it into the topsoil and covering with mulch. I'll build the kiln and give it a try in 6 months time when I get back.

regarding ph

Raising soil pH is biochar's most important contribution to influencing soil quality. (Source) Soil pH mostly influences the relative availability of nutrients. At low pH, aluminum toxicity is particularly harmful to plant growth. Aluminum toxicity is an extensive and severe soil problem and biochar is the most available and obvious solution that we have to combat it. Soil phosphorus availability is highly dependent on soil pH range, and thus biochar can be used to substantially increase phosphorus availability in soils that are below the ideal pH range of 6.5 to 7.0.

here's a link to a bigger kiln for farm use masonary retort kiln  

and here's a link to the bio-char field trials database terracarbon. org

It seems to be another story of an organic technique that has been used for centuries recently being rediscovered but dependant on further research and commercial enterprises investing in the building of processing plants etc . Probably good for the small scale farmer/market gardeners out here in the tropics and it's certainly worth giving it a go if you have the time and resources IMHO

cheers all J 

P.s. A by product of the carbonisation process is wood vinegar link to where it's being discussed in the organic pest control thread

posts moved here link

cheers J

posts moved here link

cheers J

Hi Lickey

In the Geoff Lawton DVD extras section A guy talks about pintoi peanut which he uses in his maintained orchard to keep the area safe for his kids and snake free .Its a very low growing legume that can be whacked back or mown apparently . Don't no whether it's available out here ? Anyone any experience ?? Is it to invasive?? seems to be recommended for use under mango etc..

here's a link  perrenial peanut

cheers J

welcome to the organic forum Stoneman  !!

Thanks for sharing your pictures . I'm based up in Chiang Rai and want to put in a couple of Avo's myself !! Don't worry about not being 100 percent organic please post any info you have here ( I followed a few threads on avocados and your name always crops up, pardon the pun !!)

Hopefully between us all we can find a way to grow avocados organically without to much of a drop in yield !! As you may have noticed there's a wide range of pinned topics here and hopefully you will be able to find info to help you grow 100% organically whilst at the same time hopefully impart some of your wisdom to other growers  !!

cheers Jandtaa

Hi folks just picked up this link from a post in the general farming forum non chemical control of insect pests in the tropics

cheers J

Just had a look at the site Teletiger posted a link for in his previous post and recommend you all take a look !! Its the most comprehensive site I've yet seen on green manure and cover crops in the tropics !! A great example of members doing a bit of their own research to benefit the rest of us. I've researched this fairly thoroughly but google has never taken me here ?? Great stuff TT I might be able to scale down the aforementioned post I was gonna do and enjoy my beer !!

Edit : I've now read the site and won't even bother posting !! this link will go into the "useful links, resources and recommended reading" thread I'm working on

cheers J

Ha ha !!

No need for apologies TT !! You did however send me off on a three hour googlethon and a reread of all my PDF's so something positive from the confusion !! I just spent about an hour composing a post with loads of info and links plus all the advantages and disadvantages I could find (like you I think it is neccessary to have both discussed) and as I submited it my connection dropped and the post was lost to the nether regions of cyber-space  !! I'll try and re-do it later (using a text editor this time)as right now my brain aches (sometimes it's good to get outside ones comfort zone !!) and it feels like beer O'clock  !!

P.S. if you've managed to get that "techno-translator" invention of yours working send it my way 

http://www.scielo.br/img/revistas/sa/v63n5/31405fr1.gif

also could you let me have the formula you are using to work out the urea content it would be really useful !! and thanks for the link

cheers fella J

Hi Gerontion welcome to the organic forum  !!

Thanks for pointing out the link problem ( I think it is because you also have a scribd account !! the start of the address I usually post is "my-docs" so it's something I'll look into. I usually use this because it takes people direct and as the site can be painfully slow at times it just saves a bit of time )

Do you have any useful info in your account to share re organics ?? Please feel free to share if you do  !!

cheers for now J