Virlanie natural farming school of Sagay City

Step 20: Bad weather for the School Farm of Sagay

2009-10-25T09:08:00.010+08:00

No good news today! I have to tell you the contract linking me to Virlanie stopped on 15^th of October. The main reason is the lack of financing. Virlanie and I tried since 3.5 years to find donors for this project. We found some (Thanks to Air France, Fondation GLNF pour la Promotion de l’Homme, and Region Midi-Pyrenees) but not enough.

Recently, a Belgian NGO, DISOP, offered a possibility of financing after study, as high as 80% of the total budget but only in 2011. Unhopefully, Virlanie was not able to find the financing from October 15th to 2011. A special thanks to Kathleen Deckmyn-Cordero who gave me the hope to save the project during a few months. Our vision of education and needs in the Philippines are so closed that our roads will certainly cross again.

For me, this project is closed and if it continues, it will be with other options or a vision completely different from the generous original idea.

Arrived at this point I have to thanks so many people for their help that I risk to forget some of them. I hope they will forgive me.

This project would have not existed in Sagay City without Dominique Lemay, President of Virlanie, Beth Calvez, a former Executive Director of Virlanie and Edgardo Uychiat (Nisard), who introduced me to Mayor Alfredo G. Maranon Jr. This four people must receive all my gratitude. Different offices of the City Hall offered a great help with a special mention to Eng. Manuel Lopez, Marylyn Manuel, Wally Afuang, Eng. Alenco, and Charlie for mapping and earthwork machine, Mr. Cueva (Marine Research), Mr. Pinongan who solved all the problems with former farmers of the lot, and Jerilu Ganancial from Department of Agriculture.

Other NGO like Nisard (thanks to Rommel and Robert), Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation (Gerardo Ledesma, David Castor who helped us to choose the good seedlings) and NIRD (June, Edwin, Ronnie and Vitri) were a great source of advices.

I cannot forget to thank Brenda Benedicto, Barangay Captain of Luna and her team of Kagawads always solving the little problems of everyday with a great smile.

Andry Lim and Jojie Lim, please, receive all my gratitude for your teaching in Natural Farming since a long time! I don’t forget also many members of the group of natural farming of the Philippines (natural_farming_philippines@yahoogroups.com) who encouraged me to continue this project.

Of course, I’m grateful to some members of the staff and volunteers of Virlanie in Manila and in France who brought their energy, ideas and knowledge to build stone by stone the project. Bernard Leveaux, also former Executive Director, sustained during many months this beautiful idea of school farm of Sagay. Atty Anne Maria Palermo was a great help during thebegining of implementation in Negros.

It is also clear that without our team of 3 farmers and friends, Ricky, Ronnie and Rene, no idea on the paper was transformed in the field. They changed the landscape and increased the yields of harvests with a great courage, with their sweat and sometimes with their blood.

My dear wife, Mechelle, was of course a constant help and source of reflection and her green hands gave life to many seeds.

And to finish, I’m thankful to Mother Nature who rewarded us, showing clearly that it is better to work with her than against.

I will soon give news of what we will do now about natural farming in another place of the Philippines but this is another story...

Long life to Natural Farming!

Step 19: About the pest management

2009-09-23T18:03:00.007+08:00

Some farmers asked me what sort of organic insecticides we use to control the rice pests in the natural farming protocol.

First we have to remember that even if it is organic, an insecticide can kill all the insects and can break cycles exactly like a chemical insecticide. So we have to choose at least selective organic insecticide and reject any kind of product which kills useful insects as bees and predators of other insects like dragon flies. When we decide to use a new product, test must be done to check the specificity of the product.

Better than insecticide, repellent can help to control pests without killing any form of life. Always remember any animal has his place in the cycle of life even if he likes to eat the same thing as the farmer! We must accept and give a part of our crop to the members of the crop system because, all in all, we have more advantage to let the nature organize the number and the type of animals in a place than to destroy one and break the fragile balance. It is when our place in unbalanced that one species can overgrow and become a danger for the farmer. In that case, he must be very prudent and try to control, if possible, the situation.

The second remark is to anticipate, especially with repellant, and not wait to be invaded by a pest. That is why a planning of treatment starting at the good period can help to control the extension of some pest.

Last remark: we have been lucky this time with this protocol in that place. It doesn’t mean it will work for the next crop or in another place. Only a frequent, regular and attentive inspection of the crop allows to react enough early to avoid an invasion. Imagination and adaptation of the farmer is also requested.

Our protocol includes the classical attractant made with 1 gallon of coconut vinegar boiled with ½ kg of molasses. When it is cold we add 1/3 of liter of FPG. We hang at 1.50 m plastic bottles with 2 windows and containing the attractant. We replace the solution every 2 weeks. This attractant is particularly efficient against rice borers because it catch the moths.

The second action is a weekly spraying of mixing of plant extracts from 2 to 3 weeks after sowing to 1 week before harvest. The recipe is very well described in the website of OISAT, http://www.oisat.org

The pictures here under show the different steps. Depending of the extraction, the quantity is good for 1 ha of rice (6 L extracts, 6 sprayers 20L).

10 kg Kakawate (Madre de Cacao, Gliricidia sepium). I take only the leaves and cut them with scissors and stock in a plastic trash bin with a large mosquito net.

2 kg of Makabuhay (Tinospora)

The makabuhay is pound and cut.

Four cups of hot pepper are blendered.

The 3 ingredients are mixed with a total of 8 liters of water and pressed to the bottom of the trash bin

After 24h incubation, the extract is collected by pressing.

The extract is filtered.

The 3 other ingredients are alcohol (2 TBS or 30 ml), coconut milk (6 glasses or 1.5 liter) and grated soap “blue perla” (2 TBS) as sticker.

Addition of alcohol.

Addition of soap.

Addition of coconut milk.

Stir thoroughly.

Filling of the bottles.

Spray every week early morning or late evening. Wear a mask because chili is irritating and take care of the wind.

Step 18: Natural farming: It works!

2009-09-23T13:41:00.004+08:00

We can now give the yield of our first trial of rice production using full natural farming protocol and drum seeder ofPhilrice: 106 cavans (40 kg) of palay after threshering.

This result has to be compared to the 35 cavans of the former conventional farmer one year ago. He was using a little chemical fertilizer because he could not afford the recommended quantities. Despite insecticide sprayings his rice beds were attacked by pests. We didn’t use one gram of any chemical and spend a very few money to prepare the concoctions. The main cost was the vermicompost because we cannot prepare it now in the farm and of course the labor because we are not in a family farming structure.

This good result can not only be attributed to the strict spraying program of natural farming with LCC control but also to other natural farming techniques including:
- Choice of good hybrid variety,
- Leveling of the bed with a tolerance of more or less 2 cm,
- Application of different management techniques:
# Direct wet seeding with drum seeder at rate 40 kg/ha,
# Manual and roto-weeding,
# Trap for rats,
# Lure for birds,
# Hand picking, small canals and bamboo sticks to get eggs for snails,
# Selective attractant for insects especially moths of rice borers,
# Weekly spraying of rice pest repellant (Kakawate/Makabuhay/chili).

Our quest of increasing of production is not finished. The points we have now to improve are:
- Better water management with alternate of drying and watering beds and respect of depth of water according to the age of the crop. This will be possible with a large source of water coming from the future wind mill.
- More quantity of organic matter,
- Use of rototiller to mix more rapidly remaining of last crop with the soil. We spend too much time and manpower in land preparation between two crops.
- Work on the use and quality of seaweed concoction to provide more vegetal hormones.
We must also keep in mind that it is also possible the season has been particularly favorable to the raising of rice. It is impossible to attribute to each parameter a percent of effect on the final result.

Step 17: "Do you want a little more rice?"

2009-07-09T08:16:00.002+08:00

Different varieties of rice were tried during the last months: AG-5, Jasmine rice, black rice and RC-18. Transplantation 25x25 was the only technique used. We also compared the results of different types of farming. The former farmer used chemical fertilizers.

For our first trial, we spread only vermicompost (equivalent 1T/ha) and for the last trials, we applied all the natural farming protocol (see step 13). From far, the natural farming protocol gave us the best results with the RC-18 variety.

The best result of the former farmer with chemical fertilizers (probably very low quantity) was 35 cavans or 1400 kg/ha.

Our best result with AG5 and only vermicompost was 16.5 cavans or 660 kg/ha which is very low.

Our best results with RC-18 and for the first time natural farming protocol was 45.5 cavans or 1820 kg/ha. During the threshering, Department of Agriculture judged this rice bigger, shinier and better quality.

Because too much parameters are different (varieties, season, place, adverse conditions and pests), we cannot conclude the production has been multiplied by 3. But it is reasonable to say the natural farming protocol has a positive effect on the yield.

Of course we are still far from the result of intensive practices and also far from our target of 100 cavans or 4000 kg/ha. We expect this result in 2011 or 2012 after 3 years of rehabilitation of the soil and general improvement of our protocol.

Trials of Jasmine rice and black rice gave very poor results because of Tungro (virus disease) rat and mole crickets.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS?

- We observed the consequences of a bad leveling: it disturbs the management of water and increases the damages by some pests like snails or mole crickets. The beds for the next plantations have been reshaped to be as flat as possible with manual technique.

- Transplanting of one seedling 25x25 cm has limitation from “resistance” of workers how want to “secure” their work (transplant of 6 to 8 seedlings per hill and step by step reduction of the distance) to bigger consequences of

destruction by pests if the number of transplants is only one.

Direct wet sowing is another solution but the management of weeds is not so easy. If we want to use rotoweeder to facilitate the weed management, the drum seeder of Philrice is a great choice and we are very happy of this investment (6000 P) which became an important improvement.

By the way we reduce drastically the cost of production because the work of 8 transplanters during 3 hours is made by one worker with the drum seeder in 5 minutes. In our last trial we sowed 2125 m² in 4 hours with one people It needed equivalent of 80 kg of germinated rice/ha but we can probably reduce to 40 kg. 2 other people were also required to refill the drum seeder and manually sow the places not accessible with drum seeder because of the shape of some beds. There is only one risk with this technique: it is better to have no big rain during 3 days to avoid the disturbance of the rows before rooting.

- We also follow the nitrogen status of the rice plant with the LCC (Leaf Color Chart) of Philrice. Until now we did not have to increase the quantity of FAA (Fish Amino Acid, source of nitrogen) because the test showed good results.

We spoke a lot of Philrice in this step. It is interesting to notice the Philrice evolution. In its publication of July to September 2008 (vol.21 No.3) we can read: "Is it possible to go to purely organic? Rice science experts say it is possible, with proper transition. Before going purely organic, though, farmers must first know where to get the materials they need." Hopefully, with natural farming, we know all we need is around us!

Step 16: First students for a work camp

2009-05-15T14:55:00.021+08:00

From 5th to 12th of May 2009, the Virlanie School Farm of Sagay received 6 young adults from Virlanie Manila and 2 young farmers from Luna, Sagay. School levels was from grade 2 to college, the age from 16 to 24 years old and the knowledge in English sometimes limited. Not easy for the teacher! but with the help of translators, we rapidly found a way to understand us. As we have not yet facilities in the farm, they were lodged in Kauswagan Sagay City and the Barangay of Luna offered the lunches and a classroom in the elementary school. Virlanie and I are very grateful to the Captain Barangay Brenda Benedicto for her generous help and assistance.

The non-stop 8 days program was organized with theoretical formation during the morning and practical

activities on the field or visits during the afternoon. The order was: "Open your eyes, open your brain, open your heart and you will find the answers!"

After the discovery of the farm, the program covered the soil, its structure and its life and how to improve it,

the

laws of the nature, an introduction to the

natural farming, and the profit in the farm through the

processing of the raw products.

About practical activities, they experimented some basic test to know the soil, the jam processing and plantation of trees.

Different visits and meetings was also organised: meeting

with sugar cane

workers, and with Ronnie Doitay, a natural

farmer installed in the South of Sagay. The

visits were in

the farm of

Sagay(vermicompost,

piggery, diary farm, and organic garden), the Sugar Mill of Sagay central. For the Sunday a special game was organized around the adverse conditions, the

adaptation of plants and the use of the mangrove.

Four teams of two students were formed and each team

received at the beginning of the

training course a subject to study and to present at the end

the work camp. Each

subject was an agriculture processing (Jatropha soap,

Mulberry and silk worms, Rice wine and lemon grass oil). With dall the information received during the lectures, the practical

activities, various reading materials, the visits and the meetings, they have the elements to answer to three questions:

- Can I grow this plant in that place?

- Can I manage the processing?

- Can I sell the final product?

These questions are finally the questions good for every

farmers who choose the way of the future,

I mean: the

agribusiness.

Each student received a certificate of participation to this first teaching experience in the future Virlanie School Farm of Sagay. Most of them wish to come

back in Luna when the

school will open.

Step 15: "Of mice and men"

2009-02-14T10:28:00.010+08:00

According to CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), "it is not uncommon for families or villages in South-East Asia to lose more than 50 per cent of their crop to rats." We experienced during our first trial of rice plantation problems with mice and rats in the nursery and in the rice field.

In the nursery, we lost young seedlings after their not friendly visits.

The use of chinese model trap was efficient but not enough to protect the basins of seedlings. The most efficient bait was slice of wheat loaf bread: 5 rats in 4 nights.

We had to isolate the basins with sheets of metal and these two counter measures solved the problem in the nursery.

In the rice field we observed very fast destruction of rice estimated to 20% of the production. We decided to harvest 2 to 3 days in advance to limit the increasing of the destruction.

We decided to start a low cost rat control in the rice field to avoid, if possible, so big destruction in the future. According to rat specialists, March and September are the best months to capture the rats but it is necessary to catch 70% of the population to begin to have an effect on the level of destruction. So, no time to waste!

Our tested low-cost technique, coming from India, needs a pail, a strong plain wire, some cobs of mais and peanut butter.

First step is to locate the rats house near the banks of the rice fields.

Then we dig a hole to install a pail, opening at the level of the soil. The pail is filled 1/3 with water.

A cob of mais is drilled and must turn freely on the wire. The wire is bent 90° each side and driven in the soil. The cob is covered with peanut butter to attract the rat. The rats are supposed to fall in the bucket.

Replant around to give a more natural aspect.

After two days, we catched only frogs! Some corn ears are also eaten probably by wise rats. The hunter must be patient...

Step 14: About insecticides...

2009-02-12T17:42:00.009+08:00

The use of chemical insecticides is prohibited to natural farmer. But what about organic insecticides? These two words together means "we will kill insects but with an organic product which will be destroyed rapidly in the nature and it will not be toxic for the humans." As with any insecticide the problem is the "S" at the end of the word "insects". This short picture story will illustrate that other solutions are possible than directly use insecticide.

Organic insecticides should be used only when all other solutions are inefficient or unknown.

We planted a few month ago some Sesbania as windbreak.

Very soon, we observed that the leaves of Sesbania was the favorite food of a caterpillar, probably a Pieris sp, same family we can find eating the cabbage.

This caterpillar is exactly the same color as the leave of Sesbania and when it takes a rest on a leave it is not so easy to see it. Our first counter measure was hand-picking. Not so efficient as we can see on the picture of the tree!

But one day, we discovered a sort of golden shield bug, sucking directly the caterpillar. And now our Sesbania are recovering and new leaves appear. The predator controls the pest and kills only the pest, not all the insectS.

The lessons of this are:

- The nature can solve any problem and there is always "something" to regulate any excess (we have to think about that regarding the species Homo sapiens...)

- If I used an insecticide, even organic, I killed the caterpillar and the bug. I bet that a few weeks after the caterpillar reappears but not the bug, because predators are less numerous than preys.

- Different scenarios are now possible, for example:

#1 The bugs feed on caterpillars and multiply so much that the caterpillars disappear but soon after the bugs will also disappear (or find another prey).

#2 The bugs are not enough and the caterpillars continue to feed on the Sesbania.

#3 The caterpillars eat too much the Sesbania and desappear because no more food. The bugs disappear just after.

In fact, if we do nothing to interfere with the nature, 3 sinusoidal curves of populations, - one for each actor, the Sesbania, the caterpillar and the bug - will establish and act as feedback for the 2 others: The Sesbania is growing and when there is enough leaves, the caterpillars have food (in fact the butterfly lays its eggs), can thrive and continue there own life cycle. With a little delay the bugs appear and control the population of caterpillars. If they are too much guzzler, they kill themselves!

Always work with the nature, not again!

Step 13: Natural farming rice protocol (Part 2) - From sowing to harvesting

2009-01-06T12:57:00.018+08:00

All our concoctions are now ready (see Part 1) and it is time to use them but... at the right concentration and the good moment. We can divide the protocol in 17 types of tasks.

We will suppose the last harvest is finished and the rice straw are stocked

where the tresher leaved them. Of course burning rice straw is prohibited! As a rule of thumb, "all must go back to the field except the grain (M. Fukuoka)". So all the rice straw is spread on the ricefield.We will consider Day zero as the date of transplanting so we will have dates before transplanting (DBT) and dates after transplanting (DAT). For example if the date of sowing is 18 days before transplanting we will write DBT 18.

The quantities are good for 1 ha and we use 6 backpaks (17L) per ha except for the task 1. The variety of organic rice is Masipag AG-5. As for the preparation of concoctions, use water without chlorine treatment. Spray early morning or late afternoon but not under sun.

TASK 1 - DBT 25 - LAND PREPARATION - SPRAYING MICRO-ORGANISMS

Water management: The field is not flood

Spray the 994 L EMExtended (see Part 1 for preparation), molasses and water for 1 ha of rice field.

A power sprayer is needed for a rice field this size.

TASK 2 - DBT 25 - LAND PREPARATION - SPREADING VERMICOMPOST

If natural farming (NF) protocol is used for the first time after conventional farming, 20 bags of 50 kg per ha is recommended. As the level of organic matter increases, 15 bags are enough the second year

and 10 the third year. It is possible to line and drag the sacks to distribute

the vermicompost and then plow perpendicularly.

TASK 3 - DBT 25 - LAND PREPARATION - MINIMAL TILLAGE

Practice a light harrowing no more than 10 cm to disturb as less as possible the structure of the soil. Do not turn the soil. Suyod (tiller) is a good tool to do it.

From this date to the date of transplanting, the micro-organisms will recycle the rice straw and the waste of the last crop. The organic fertilization is on the way.

TASK 4 - DBT 21 - SEED & SEEDLING TREATMENT - FIRST SOAKING SEEDS

Generally a quantity of 42 kilos of seeds per ha is recommended. If only one seedling is planted 25x25 cm, 160000 seedlings are necessary. 1 kg of rice contains around 42000 grains, so 5 kg of seeds (210000 grains) are enough. Transplant 1 seedling only per hill avoid the root competition which happens with many seedlings per hill. With square 25x25 cm roots and canopy will be greater and will not lack of oxygen.For safety I prepare 10 kg of seeds on 4 m² of beds for 1 ha of rice field.

Seeds are first soaked 8h in a mixing (for exemple 10PM to 6 AM):

OHN, 50 ml

FPJ Riceplant, 50 ml

Coconut vinegar, 50 ml

Water, 10 L

TASK 5 - DBT 20 - SEED & SEEDLING TREATMENT - SECOND SOAKING SEEDS

Put the seeds in a bag and place it under running water, or in the irrigation canal or change the

water every 3 hours. Total soaking is 16 hours (for exemple from 6AM to 10PM, especially if changing water).

TASK 6 - DBT 20 - SEED & SEEDLING TREATMENT - INCUBATION

Incubate the seeds in the bag 36 hours (for example from 10 PM DBT 20 to 10 AM DBT 18).

TASK 7 - DBT 18 - SEED & SEEDLING TREATMENT - SOWING

Water management of seedbeds (basins): Water basins every day. Do not water 2 days before transplanting

Seedbeds are basins 17 cm deep and 55 cm diameter with holes for drainage of water at the bottom and filled with coco coir or, if lacking, coco saw dust. One basin is equivalent to 1/4 m² of seedbed, good for 625 g of seeds and 625 m² of rice field. The advantage is an easy management (protection and transportation, stocking for replanting and no risk of flood). When it is time for

transplanting, the seedlings stay protected in the medium until the moment of transplantation. The excess of seedling can be used to prepare FPJ Riceplant. (Picture: stocking of basins with medium in the nursery before sowing).

TASK 8 - DBT 14, DBT 7, DBT 1 - SEED & SEEDLING TREATMENT - 3 SPRAYINGS

Spray the mixing every week until transplanting:

FPJ Riceplant, 25 ml

FAA, 25 ml

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

TASK 9 - DBT 3 - LAND PREPARATION - 1 SPRAYING

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

EME 1:1:20, 37 ml

Molasses, 37 ml

FPJ Riceplant, 29 ml

FAA, 29 ml

OHN, 29 ml

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

The white molds appear within 2 days acting like a vaccination of the field.

TASK 10 - DT - TRANSPLANTING (18 to 21 days after sowing)

Water management: MOIST BUT NOT FLOOD. Allow water into the field DAT 3-4

Bring the basins to the place of transplanting. One basin is good for 625 m² of rice field. After transplanting, the medium (coco coir or cco sawdust) can be reused for the next crop.

Soak the seedlings 15 seconds in a mixing:

OHN, 100 ml

FPJ Riceplant, 100 ml

Coconut vinegar, 100 ml

Water, 10 L

and transplant immediately 1/hill, 25x25cm or 30x30cm if the soil is richer in organic matter.

Do not push the seedling and not deeper than 3 cm. The respect of the distance of planting is also very important to facilitate the mechanical weeding. Simple nylon rope with knots every 25 cm can help a good transplanting.

TASK 11 - DAT 10, DAT 25 - MECHANICAL or HAND WEEDING

If the transplanting 25x25 cm minimum is respecting, mechanical weeding

is efficient and faster.

TASK 12 - DAT every week, if needed - PEST MANAGEMENT

OHN is a natural pest repellent. Nevertheless, if rice pests are observed, a simple pest management program is to spray every week a mixing of Makabuhay (Tinospora rumphii) Kakawate (Gliricidia sepium) and hot red pepper.

For 1 ha or 6 sprayers, it needs:

2 kg of Makabuhay vines (picture),

10 kg of Kakawate,

4 cups of hot red pepper,

8 L of water,

1 TBS gratted soap (as sticker)

2 TBS alcohol,

6 glasses coconut milk.

The 3 plants are pounded and the water added. Soaking one night. After filtration, add the alcohol, the coconut milk and the soap. Mix thoroughly. 850 ml of the concoctions is poured in the sprayer and completed to 17L.

TASK 13 - AT VEGETATIVE STAGE: DAT 7, DAT 14, DAT 21, DAT 28 - 4 SPRAYINGS

Water management: from seedling stage up to flowering, irrigate and drain the field alternately, keeping soil saturated. The maximum level of water is 2.5 cm.

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

EME 1:1:20, 73 ml

Molasses, 73 ml

FPJ banana, 33 ml

OHN, 33 ml

FAA, 33 ml and LABS, 33 ml if leaves are yellowish or if stems reach 35 cm and count more than 30 leaves,

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

TASK 14 - AT CHANGE OVER PERIOD: DAT 35, DAT 42 - 2 SPRAYINGS

Water management: Maximum level of water 5 cm

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

Calphos, 67 ml

FAA, 33 ml

OHN, 33 ml

FFJ, 33 ml

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

TASK 15 - AT CHANGE OVER PERIOD: (DAT 42), DAT 49 - 1 or 2 SPRAYINGS

Water management: Maximum level of water 5 cm

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

Calphos, 67 ml

OHN, 33 ml

FFJ, 67 ml

FAA, 33 ml if the rice is stunted

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

TASK 16 - AT REPRODUCTIVE STAGE: DAT 56, DAT 63, DAT 70, DAT 77 - 4 SPRAYINGS

Water management: Gradually drain until soil level 2 to 3 weeks before harvesting

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

Calphos, 67 ml

OHN, 33 ml

FFJ, 67 ml

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

TASK 17 - AT REPRODUCTIVE STAGE: DAT 84 or 2 weeks before harvesting , when flower are bloom - 1 SPRAYING

Water management: soil is drained

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

Calcium, 83 ml

FFJ, 83 ml

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

Then, and at right time, enjoy harvesting!

Step 12: Natural farming rice protocol (Part 1) - The concoctions

2009-01-03T17:16:00.034+08:00

With the come-back of the month of January, we have to wish our readers the best possible year 2009. And more power!

We will now discover the secrets of the natural farming (NF) Masipag rice production. In this first episode we will detail how to make the different concoctions. In the second episode we will see when and how to use. Most of the receipes are proposed by Andry and Jojie Lim, pope and papess of natural farming, here in the Philippines.

Andry (left picture) introduced the original korean

techniques of M. Cho Han Kyu's (right picture), founder of the Janong natural farming

institute.

Thanks to them, NF is known by more and more farmers in every islands of the Philippines (may be not yet all islands, but soon!)

We defined natural farming in the presentation of the school farm project in this blog. We can summarize the natural farming with few words:

- environment-friendly,

- higher yield,

- low cost,

- high quality,

- adaptable,

- farmer friendly,

- respect for life,

- based on the nutritive cycle theory.

This last point is probably the most difficult aspect of the NF because it needs a sense of observation of plants and experience but anybody can understand the theory and the experience is rapidly coming with the practice.

The nutritive cycle theory simply means plants and animals like humans have different nutrient needs as they are growing. Do you feed a newborn with lechon? No! It is exactly the same with plants.

During the vegetative growth stage, the plant builds its body and nitrogen is the main requirement. Next comes the cross-over and the plant prepairs to reproduction and needs phosphoric compounds like a pregnant woman needs sour food. The reproductive growth stage follows and the plant prepares its fruits and needs potassium.

With the exemple of rice we will see how to feed the plant with different concoctions and how to make it. NF is simply to give the good quantity of the good food at the good moment.

THE CONCOCTIONS (INPUTS)

As some concoctions need many weeks to be ready, it is adviced to start with the preparation of the inputs. The quantities here under are good for 1 ha. The concoctions are generally "best use before" 6 months. In our experience and for the location of Sagay the cost of the total inputs for concoctions from seeds to harvest is 725 PHP for 1ha, buying all the ingredients (except banana stem and eggshells). The vermicompost costs 250 PHP for 1 bag of 50 kg and we used 20

bags/ha (5000 PHP).

IMO or EM1?

Microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, beneficicial fungi, actinomycetes are working for the farmer in the soil to enhance the production of plant nutrients, speed up composting and protect plants against diseases.

What is the best: Indigenous Micro-Organisms (IMO) or Effective Micro-organisms (EM)?

Opinions are divided even inside the Natural farming group of the Philippines!

The position of Dr Cho is very clear:"Use of imported or artificial micro-organisms is NOT natural farming."

"- Why import alien micro-organisms may be dangerous for our native micro-organisms when it is safe and cheaper to produce ourself our IMO under our bamboo?" say the partisans of IMO.

"- Because we are sure to have much more easily all the types of micro-organisms needed in one bottle prepared in a laboratory under sterile conditions!" answer the supporters of EM1.

One thing is sure: IMO and EM1 work very well. IMO is probably the most difficult preparation of all the concoctions but it is really not insurmountable. If you have time, bamboo and rice, try to prepare your own micro-organisms and you will be a purist natural farmer. If you are late

with your planning and you can find original EM1 (take care of imitations!), or if you are simply a little lazy, or for very large scale utilization, buy a bottle of alien microorganisms. With one liter of EM1 (850P) and after extension, you can treat 15 ha of land.

For this first rice crop in the school farm of Luna, with natural farming protocol, we used EM1 from Pr Teruo Higa manufactured by EM Research Philippines, Inc. in Muntinlupa City. Is it alien or philipino micro-organisms? I don't know...

What is needed to prepare dilution of EM1: molasses, tablespoon, scale, funnel and containers.

EM1 is extended and then diluted before spraying the 1 ha:

90 ml EM1

+ 90 ml Molasses
+ 1800 ml Water= 1980 ml EME 1:1:20
(wait 1 week, check degas every day)
2-12 hours before spraying, give a litle food to your workers!
+ 1980 ml Molasses+ 990 L Water

= 994 L EME:MOLASSES:WATER 1:1:500 (L)

Number of drums 200 L: 5 (for power sprayer)

Number of sprayers 17L: 59

Different techniques are used to prepare IMO. The one proposed by Andry Lim count 7 steps:

1- Fill a length of bamboo pole open or split open on one side with steamed rice,

2- Cover with Manila paper and tie with a string,

3- Protect from rainwater with plastic and from rats with metallic screen,

4- Cover with leaves under bamboos or rice straw or coconut husk,

5- Remove after 3-5 days depending of the temperature and look for white molds on the top of rice,

6- Place in a bucket 5 gallons the moldy rice+molasses 1:1,

7- Cover with Manila paper and tie with a string, 7 days incubation in a cool shaded place.

The mud like juice is used by spraying soil and plants with a mixing 2 tablespoons (TBS) for 1 L of water.

FPJ riceplant, FPJ banana

Fermented Plant Juice produced by the fermentation of plant leaves contains plant growth hormones and micronutrients which enhance plant growth by stimulating the growth of beneficial microorganisms.

For Jojie Lim "Rule of thumb: plant extract of corn plant or rice plant is fed to rice and corn is just like feeding breast milk to a baby".

Preparing FPJ riceplant needs 50 g of seeds. After soaking overnight, and 8 hours for germinating, seedling are spread on planting medium coco coir or coco sawdust in a box with drainage (see picture). After 18 days, leaves are cut and mix with same weight of molasses. Juice is filter after 7 days fermentation.

To prepare FPJ banana, chop 2 kg of stem and mix with 1 kg of molasses. Place something heavy

on the mixing during 5 hours. Then cover with

Manila paper, tie with a string and ferment 7 days in a cool shaded place. (Pictures: before and after fermentation)

For general application, use 2 TBS of FPJ for 10L of water.

FFJ

Fermented Fruit Juice is used as a foliar spray to sweeten the fruits. It contains plant growth hormones that increase the activity of microorganisms and plant nutrition.

Among many receipes, Jojie Lim recommended a

mixture banana, papaya, pumpkin, molasses 1:1:1:3

(1kg of each fruit is enough for 1 ha of rice). Then

cover with Manila paper, tie with a string and ferment 7 days in a cool shaded place. (Pictures:

before and after fermentation)

OHN

Oriental Herbal Nutrient can be considered as a medicinal food supplement which develops the immune system of the plant. It is also a natural pest repellant.

For 1 ha, crush 4 kg ginger and mix with 2 kg molasses and ferment 7 days. Then add 5 L of gin and wait 10 days. Extract around 4L (good for animals) then add same

volume of gin, crushed makabuhay (Tinospora) and chili, and wait again 10 days before second extraction. Add again the same quantity as extracted for a third extraction 10 days later.

Usual use is 2 TBS for 1 L of water.

FAA

The Fish Amino Acid is the source of nitrogen for the plant.

Made with 2 kg of fish and the same weight of molasses, the fermentation is 10 to 15 days. Fill only 3/4 of the bottle to let the micro-organisms breath.

Use 2 TBS for 1 L of water.

CALPHOS

The calcium phosphate made with animal bones (pork or cow), induce flowering and prevent overgrowth.

First, take off the meat by boiling 2 kg of bones. Put the bones in 5 gallons coconut vinegar, cover and wait 30 days.

Use 1 TBS for 3 L of water.

CALCIUM

The calcium carbonate extracted from eggshells, mollusc shells or golden apple snails (kohol) is a source of calcium and micronutrients. Of course it step in the calcium metabolism inside the plant.

For 1 ha, fry 400g crushed eggshell, cool and add to 1 gallon of coconut vinegar. Keep 20 days before filtering and keeping in airtight container.

LABS

Lactic Acid Bacteria breaks sugar into lactic acid means it is needed to convert waste and dead materials in organic matter. As it uses ammonia produced during decomposition it reduces foul odors.

To produce LABS, the first rice wash is poured in a container until more or less 20cm high. Cover and wait 7 days. One liter of the clear middle layer is then extracted and mixed with 10 L of milk. After 7 days the yellow liquid is extracted and mixed with same quantity of molasses. (Left picture: separation between protein and fat of the milk and the serum color yellow; right picture: Extraction)

Use: 2 TBS for 1 L of water.

STORING AND PRESERVING OF THE CONCOCTION (from Natural farming manual, Pabinhi-Pilipinas, February 2006)

For: EME, FPJ, FFJ, FAA, LABS

- Keep the cap loose. For FPJ and FFJ loosen it even more after 2 weeks,

- Shake once a week,

- Add molasses, 20% of the volume of the solution every month,

- Keep 6 months or until it starts to smell bad.

For: Calphos, Calcium, OHN

- Leave the cap loose for the first 2 weeks. Tighten the cap for 20mn and then re-open. If gas escapes the bottle upon reopening, leave it loose, if not, tighten the cap,

- Do not shake,

- Do not add sugar,

- 6-12 months.

Step 11: Is it already a school?

2008-12-05T14:27:00.005+08:00

Not yet! But the few farmers working with us for these first steps of the school farm establishment needed a first and fast formation about natural farming. It is better to understand why all these concoctions and how to do it, doesn't it? Three kagawads of Luna were present showing the interest of the barangay to the future school farm.

To surpass the language problem, it was necessary to give this teaching in local dialect and NIRD (Negros oriental Institute for Rural Development, Cabiguhan, Barangay Lopez Jaena, Sagay City) helped us to reach this target in only one day.

Edwin Gelogo and Kagawad Ronnie Diotay presented during the morning:

- the difference between natural and conventional farming,

- the principles of natural farming,

- the preparation and use of IMO (Indigenous Micro-Organisms), FPJ (Fermented Plant Juice) and OHN (Oriental Herbal Nutrients).

During the afternoon, they share their experience about natural farming rice (SRI technology) and corn production. It was a real discovery for the audience. It is always difficult to accept there is alternative to the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other suicide products.

Among many, one interesting question of one farmer was: "Why nobody told us before about this natural farming?"

Everyone can give his own answer...

Step 10: Corn and mungbean plantations

2008-11-29T16:37:00.018+08:00

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Day by day, harvests of sugar cane set free new areas. Better planting any crop than leaving the soil going back to weeds!

Until 15th of December corn can be planted around Sagay. As we have not yet the equipment and the place to practice true natural farming, we decided to use only vermicompost (produced by the agriculturist of City Hall with the wastes of the market) as organic fertilizer and to plant white organic corn produced by the BPI in La Carlotta near Bacolod.

To improve the soil in the corn area (3700 m²) and the windbreak area recently planted, we decided to use mungbean as cover crop and green fertilizer.

But mungbean can be stronger and faster than the corn. To avoid any problem of competition, the mungbean (75x10 cm) will be planted between the row of corn (75x30 cm) and 40 days after sowing of corn. (Picture: sowing the corn in the rain) . If no mistake, the mungbean will provide on time nitrogen to the corn and can be harvested at the same time 80 days later. Then, all wastes will be incorporated in the soil for the next crop.

On the other hand, the mungbean between the trees of the windbreaks will not be harvested because incorporated to the soil just at the time of flowering. That's the price for a beginning of rehabilitation after years of sugar cane monocropping and chemical fertilizers.

Here under is what a french poet called " Le geste auguste du semeur..." ( "The noble gesture of the sower..."). And it is true the farmer's work is noble when it is practiced in respect of the nature. Always, the farmers must remember that before leaving the farm to go to the big town, attracted like a skylark by the mirror and get a worst life. Other solution exists.

Post-script: The first flower of Calliandra planted 2 months ago:

Step 9: New rows of windbreaks

2008-11-29T13:22:00.016+08:00

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We saw at the step 3, the interest of making windbreaks. An interesting publication about windbreak can be found here.

In September, we started the creation of the first row of windbreaks with the plantation of shrubs as living fence. We can now, in some place, plant the next rows. The sugar cane is far from fully harvested and we have to adapt to this situation.

A selection of 6 trees has been chosen for the second row, the medium size trees:

-Azadirachta indica, the neem tree, a versatile multipurpose tree for urban regreening, agroforestry, fuelwood production, and for a variety of other products, including biopesticides.

- Cassia fistula, the golden shower (picture), is an ornamental and shade leguminous tree used around houses, on the edges of roads, and in the streets, parks, and gardens of towns.

- The malunggay or Moringa oleifera is a so useful tree that, one day, we will reserve a chapter only for it. The owner of the Moringa farm write: "You can pick its leaves and make it part of a delicious fresh salad, use it in one our many moringa recipes, (It goes especially well with

chicken). Or you can dry the leaves to make a delicious green tea. You can also make tea with the leaf powder in a traditional coffee maker. If you have enough leaf, you can dry it and make it into moringa powder, like we do, and use it ‘s concentrated nutrition to balance your diet for increased energy and sense of well being. The possibilities are endless."

- Sesbania grandiflora, known in the Philippines as katuray is also a member of the leguminous family can be used as fodder for cattle and goats.

- The banaba or Lagerstroemia speciosa is member of the family of Lythraceae and one of th few deciduous tree of the tropics. Banaba is a well known medicinal plant widely used in the Philippines to treat diabetes and urinary problems and even malaria.

- and the Kamatsile ( Pithecellobium dulce or Manila tamarind) another leguminous. Sometimes, from July to August, along the roads, kids sale the fruits containing an acid or sweet pulp. Many other uses are known for this tree coming from South America.

The next row is the one of tall trees. We selected:

- Artocarpus blancoi, the breadfruit easily recognised with its large leaves until 80cm long and 50 cm large and with fruits consumed as fruit, vegetable, fermented or dried.

- Artocarpus heterophyllus, the jackfruit, so economically important in South-East Asia. And so big fruits also: until 1m long, 50 cm diameter and 50kg!

-Sandoricum koetjape, the santol (see picture of santol growing under coconut) which can grow as high as 45m has been introduced in the Philippines.

- Swietenia macrophylla or mahogany of which everybody knows the high value wood.

- Shorea contorta or white lauan, endemic to the Philippines and depleted due to logging and kaingin-making.

The next row is the one of medium size fruit trees:

- Syzigium cuminii, locally named as duhat. The fruit can be eaten fresh or used for jam, juice and wine. It is also a great medicinal plant.

- Persea americana or avocado already cultivated by the Aztecs 7500 years BC.

- Antidesma bunius or bignay (picture of the fruits) commercially used now to produce wine in the Philippines.

- Artocarpus odoratissimus or marang not exported because of the low yields and conservation.

Neem tree, mahogani, white lauan, duhat, avocado and bignay were bought to Negros forest and ecological foundation, Inc. and the other seedlings from our nursery.

300 hundred trees and 700 hundreds shrubs are now planted as windbreaks. By the way, this banaba is the 1000 th plant planted in the school farm!

Step 8: The rice - part 1: from land preparation to transplantation

2008-11-05T13:51:00.024+08:00

Rice is the staple food in the Philippines. In a few months, when will arrive the staff and the first students of the school, around 30 hungry filipino stomachs will ask after their daily portions of rice! Even if we wish to diversify and equilibrate the diet with vegetables and fruits, we have to produce our rice and, of course, it will be organic rice. Following the advices of the Department of Agriculture of the City of Sagay, we choose to use for this first non chemical production in that place, the AG-5 variety of MASIPAG rice. MASIPAG means: Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para sa Pag-unlad Agrikultura we can translate by: Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development.

Why this choice? Because now, more than ever, high yielding varieties of rice have also high needs of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, high production costs and are not well adapted to

small filipino farmers. The MASIPAG technology is an alternative solution for farmers who choose the

organic way of farming, with a choice of dozens of traditional varieties of rice. These rices grow with organic fertilizers and are less sensitive to pests and diseases, especially because of rotation between the different varieties of rice.

Note: as we have not yet any building built, it is difficult to prepare the concoction and to apply the natural farming technique for rice. We consider this first production as a non-chemical step and we will measure the difference of yield when NF technique will be fully applied later.

Preparing the rice field is the first step and means harrowing, leveling and planing, repairing

the dykes, cleaning the canal, etc. :

Harrowing of the rice field mixes the rice straw with the mud. It will be rapidly transformed in organic matter. The carabao is the faithful friend of the farmer during this hard work.

The cleaning of the canal helps to evacuate the excess of water after a big rain. Anyway, in case of big flood the crick becomes a river and

there is no large enough canal to evacuate the excess of water and the young plantations can be rooted up.

The palay is first soaked inside bags submerged in the river during 48 hours, the time to start germination.

At the same time, in a quiet place, a bed is prepared with soil to elevate the bed over the level of the water and covered with old bags before sowing the germinated palay. The seedlings are covered with rice straw and coconut leaves during a few days.

The control of the level of water is essential to not flood the seedlings. A simple half bamboo regulates the level, evacuating the excess of water to the canal.

At day 3, the rice becomes a little green and the cover of rice hull and coconut leaves will be soon taken off for hardening.

At day 8 after sowing, the rice gets his typical luminous green color. A first spraying of an extraction of Makabuhay (Tinospora rumphii) acts as excellent organic insecticide and repellent for snails.

Note: Soon, we will talk about the organic products which replace pesticides.

It is time to level the rice field with the suyod, sort of big rake to push the excess of mud (the suyod is down) in one place to a place where the mud is missing (the suyod is up). One more time man and carabao are working together. This step requires practice and skills from the couple of workers.

Another tool, the planer, sort of suyod without teeth, allows the farmer to finish the planing of the rice field. At the end of this step the level must be the same everywhere and the mixing mud and water homogeneous.

As basal fertilizer, we use temporarily vermicompost made with the organic waste of the market of Sagay City and prepared by the EEMO (Economic Enterprise Management Office) under supervising of Engr. Manuel A. Lopez.

Last step of this episode is the transplanting of the seedlings. Some blades of rice are rapidly planted every 20-25cm. Here at day 21 after sowing.

Step 7: Some news from our recent residents

2008-11-05T13:14:00.007+08:00

A short pause to see how are our few plantations. Along the fence, the Calliandra begin to acclimate (picture: 16 days after transplanting) but we can observe they really don't like excess of water. We needed to improvise a drainage before replacing dead plants. In other places, the recovery of the seedlings is near 100% showing the good quality of the production of the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation, Inc. of Bacolod.

The Kadyos also thrive on the bank of the rice field. 26 days after transplanting many leaves appeared and the fight against weeds is won ... for today only!

Life is more difficult for the Madre de Cacao, but even after flood in the rice field, some of them resist and show the opening of new buds, here 29 days after planting of the cutting.

And the great surprise is the bamboo: after only 13 days, buds have grown and even small leaves appeared.

Step 6: The bamboo propagation

2008-10-23T14:00:00.020+08:00

Is it possible to imagine a philippine farm without bamboo? Of course, the answer is: no! From touthpick to construction, the bamboo is useful for all. As we have only three small clumps of bamboos, we need to propagate this king of the family of the poaceae.The Bambusa spinosa we have is the most common bamboo in the Philippines, also called Kawayan (Kauayan) tinik. It can be used inside the windbreaks. For this first trial, we choose the culm cutting-1 node technique. After selecting the culm, it is cut at 2.50m from the soil: the middle third of the culm bears the best nodes for the cuttings. So the top of the culm is also discarded.

The longer branches should be cut at the second node and the secondary branches are discarded.

At the nursery, a medium is prepared with sand and vermicompost (1:1) and used to fill large strong polyethylene bags.

It is now time to cut the bamboo. It is important to have a very clean cutting and the saw for pruning is a better tool than the machete.

The cutting is then buried in the bag with an angle.

Last steps as usual: watering, mulching and spraying of microorganisms.

Our cuttings need now around 7 months of care (watering everyday, spraying,...) before replanting the news rhizomes with new shoots.

Step 5: The coconut clumps

2008-10-13T17:54:00.005+08:00

There are a few coconut trees in the farm, not enough to quench the thirst of many students! If we want 40 to 50 coconut trees in a classic pattern (7.5mx7.5m) we will need 2800 m². It is a too much big area. The clump technique (from Bill Mollison, Permaculture, A Designer'Manual, Tagari publication, Second edition, 2002) consists to group 10-12 coconut trees in a circle 5m diameter. The used space is reduced to 80 m² for 4 clumps of 11 coconut trees each.

In other terms 1 ha of conventional coconut tree plantation can accept 177 palms and very few place for intercropping. The clump technique increases the number of palm to 266 per hectare and 8000 m² are available for intercropping.

As the coconut trees are very closed, they will compete for the light and grow in direction of the exterior of the circle. Another advantage is the center of the circle will be filled with the husk, dead leaves and provide to the trees an excellent mulching and fertilizer. The area can stay clean without too much work.

We have now 44 coconut trees planted (4 clumps of 11 coconut trees) and .... a few years to wait before we can taste our bukos!

Step 4: Continuing the living fence

2008-10-13T15:18:00.022+08:00

The boundary of the west side is in the middle of a crick used as ricefield. The barbed wire is really horrible in the middle of the rice and we wish to hide it as soon as possible. But what plant can accept these conditions of life? With Davoy, from Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation, we expect that the Madre de Cacao or Kakawate (Gliricidia sepium) can accept the challenge. If it grows, it will also provide free nitrogen to the rice and food for livestock.

So we deliver long cuttings we reduce to small pieces of 40 cm with a slant cut each side. Then, the bark downside is peeled a few centimeters. It avoids also to plant the cutting upside-down.

A carabao of the village delivers the 880 cuttings along the ricefield. Everybody is happy to have finished the manual sawing!

A hole is made in the dyke, vermicompost is added and the cutting planted.

Result in a few week!

In fact, this row of Madre de Cacao is not really included in the windbreak and we have to start it from the bank of the ricefield. This place is very sensitive to erosion. A leguminous plant is choosen as usual. This time it is Cajanus cajan or Pidgeon pea or, locally, Kadyos. Use of Kadyos are multiple: food, fodder, apiculture, fuel, fibre, timber, medicine and even host for silkworm. It controls erosion and we need to protect the fragil crick bank. It fixes nitrogen and improves the soil.

Direct seeding is possible but its slow early growth during 2-3

months can be a problem of competition. That is why we used the germination in plastic tray, transplantation at 25-30 days, vermicompost, protection with banana bracts and mulching. The time life of this plant is 5 years.

The first 100 (on the 250 needed) Kadios planted along the ricefield will fix the the bank with their roots longer than 2m.

Step 3: Beginning of the windbreaks

2008-09-27T16:50:00.030+08:00

The multipurpose windbreak we started to plant this month will protect the crops from wind. Of course it will not stop typhoons but the negative effects of strong winds until 50 km/h are drastically reduced. This benefic effect improves the production, protects the soil and conserves water. It will also increase the biodiversity and provide farm products.Its design must be considered very seriously: in the worst case, a bad windbreak increases the destructive effect of the wind! The orientation, the density, the number of rows, the height of the trees is not the fruit of the hazard.

The trees or bushes we chose are the result of a hard selection: the tree should show good qualities when used as windbreak, it must be available in Negros Island, thrive on clay-loamy soil and show at least one useful property like nitrogen fixer, erosion control, fruit, nut or food, bee or bird forage or food, resistance to dryness or water logging, good growth rate, mulching, medicine. Thanks to Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation, Inc. in Bacolod ( http://www.negrosforests.org ) especially to his Chairman Gerardo L. Ledesma and David "Davoy" Castor who helped me in the choice of species of trees and provided a great number of seedlings.

The first flower of a cutting of Hibiscus

in our nursery will be a component of

the living fence

We decided to install 7 rows:

- the first one is along the barbed wire and will establish a living fence supposed to replace the bamboo posts and the barbed wire when they will be destroyed in 3 to 5 years. Most percent of the plants are leguminous and will be used as forage for the lifestock. This row starts to deflect the wind.

- The second row is made with medium size trees (as neem tree), first real rampart to protect from the wind.

- The third row is the place of tall trees (as white lauan) which will deflect the wind high over the crops on about 10 times the height of the tallest tree.

- The forth row is again medium tree but exclusively fruit trees (as cachew or avocado).

- the 3 next rows are leguminous plants used for cut and carry method to feed the livestock.

Today we will see only the first row: the living fence. This row is the first you will see when you arrive at the school farm. It must be nice to see, that is why you will find Bougainvillea spectabilis so beautiful and much more efficient than barbed wire to keep bad people outside! And Tecoma stans, Duranta plumieri, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Caesalpinia pulcherrima will color and become more attractive the limit of the lot. A farm should also look like a garden!

Caesalpinia pulcherrima, a beautiful leguminous plant of Asia!

But it is also a farm and the living fence should also be productive and we will plant Cajanus cajan, the pidgeon pea, Calliandra calothyrsus, Sesbania sesban the egyptian pea and Gliricidia sepium the marvellous and multipurpose Madre de Cacao.

Let see the plantation of the 500 first Calliandra. The seedlings are planted every 50 cm to have a good windbreak effect. As always in a windbreak we give preference to the efficience as windbreak, not to the productivity. As rule of thumb, 500 Calliandra are enough to feed 1 cow or 4 to 5 goats.

Here the 9 steps:

Cleaning of the roots of sugar cane

Sticking

Holing

Adding compost

Mixing of the compost

Planting

Protecting from the wind

Spraying of microorganisms

Mulching with bagasse

Step Two: The fencing

2008-09-02T14:39:00.007+08:00

A little cleaning is necessary to build the fencing on a plane soil. A bulldozer solves the problem in a few hours.

The fencing is very simple: bamboo posts every 3m, five rows of barbed and planned wire. We only want a protection for our plantations against the appetite of goats and carabaos. As soon as possible a living fence will be planted and will cover and replace this ugly barbed wire fence.

Seven species of plants constitute this living fence: Bougainvillea spectabilis, Cajanus cajan (Kadyos), Calliandra calothyrsus, Desmantus virgatus (Cow pea) , Sesbania grandiflora (Katuray) and Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Bulaklak ng paraiso). These plants are also selected because of their great value in a windbreak and the living fence is the first row of the windbreak. Of course they participate to the increasing of biodiversity and embellishe the limits of the lot.

In our temporary nursery we start seedlings of some of these species. Here are our first seedlings of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, one of the most beautiful flower of Asia.

Step One: The survey

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After the administrative work and official ceremonies, it is time now to discover each square meter of the lot. With the help of a GPS it is easy to make a fast survey with basic informations about position and altitude. It is essential to position the windmill, the tanks, the buildings and the crops at the good altitude. As some differences appeared between the old maps and the reality, the City decides to proceed a new survey with theodolite and technical description of 1918.

The City solve also some problems of squatters who use the lot for their own cultures. The City will relocate them.

We can now edit the use of the lot as we see it in a near future and allocate the areas for each crop and buildings, for the livestock and its forage, for the water net from the windmill to irrigation, tanks and wetland. Now there is more or less only sugar cane, but we are at the step one, doesn't it?

13th of June 2008: Groundbreaking and signing of the MoA

2008-07-24T14:20:00.006+08:00

On 13th of June 2008, took place in Sagay (Negros occidental) a ceremony which was an important step in the story of the school farm. It marks the end of the research of a place to set up the school farm and the beginning of the real visible starting of this project. After feasability studies in Mati (Davao Oriental), Boys town in Manila and Capas near Tarlac, the final location of the school farm will be the Barangay General Luna in the City of Sagay. This agreement between the City of Sagay and Virlanie Foundation Inc. is not a result of hasard. The Mayor Alfredo G. Maranon Jr as many decision makers and politicians have understood since a long time the advantages and the necessity to prepare the future of farming and reorient it to organic and natural farming. Negros is not only the sugar island of the Philippines but also the most advanced island in organic farming.
Mayor Maranon invited Dominique Lemay and Daniel Collot, the project manager of the school farm to the location of the future farm which is, at the present time covered, of course, of sugar cane. It was the occasion to introduce Virlanie to the barangay authorities, the Captain Barangay, Brenda Benedicto and the detachment of 80 soldiers who protect the place.
After usual but pleasant speeches, the memorandum of agreement was officially signed. Then the document was rolled, placed in plastic tube with a little rice and money, buried in the soil and covered with concrete. Everybody hope this practice will attract good production of the cultures, chance and profits. As of now, Virlanie is the tenant of 9.2 hectares of land and the new step for the project is to consolidate the financing of the project already supported by Air France, the Conseil regional Midi Pyrenees and as soon as possible... other sponsors!

Presentation of the school farm project

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THE EDUCATIONAL SUSTAINABLE (NATURAL) FARMING AND PROFIT CENTER PROJECT consists to create an agricultural boarding school in natural farming for young disadvantaged adults. They will receive practical and theoretical courses in fruits, vegetables, forage and animals farming management, processing and marketing during one year. This particular school will be integrated in the national educational system of the Philippines (TESDA).

Another aspect of the project is it will be self-financed three years after the beginning of the production.

Focus on the main aspects of the project:

- Social aspect :

The beneficiaries are disadvantaged teenagers, young adults from Virlanie foundation Inc. and from the City of Sagay, and even young farmers in difficulties recommended by NISARD (Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development Foundation, Inc.). The educational natural farming project may also offer an appropriate structure to accompany the teenagers to consolidate their self-confidence as well as developing their autonomy and initiatives aiming to their social and professional integration.

This social goal could be summarized in one central idea: Make the youth autonomous and responsible citizens and give them sufficient skills to have a job to earn decently their life. This project, as an integrated educational program, will help ensure that no children or youth will be in streets of city making begging and mendicancy as a way of living.

Through education young adults will get a formation. The target of the school is first of all to give them access to the labor world. The final objective is to form young people in farm manager and not in farm worker.

- Educational aspect :

The students will learn how to make a feasibility study, and how to produce, how to process and how to sell numerous of products. That is the basic trilogy. All the products, animal and vegetal, will be labeled “organic products” because of sustainable (natural) farming.

With other words, the orientation of the educational project is the presentation and practical realization of numerous quality examples of production among which the students can choose one or many to start their own unit production.

At the end of the school year the best students will receive a diploma nationwide recognized. Our goal is also to help them to create their own “profit center”. For that we need the cooperation of agricultural administrations and private owners of large farms.

- Environmental aspect:

The fundamentals of sustainable natural farming are: proper crop rotation, legume usage, companion planting, insect habitat, microbial management, cover cropping, green fertilizers, minimal tillage, mulching, animal integration and composting. Moreover, of course, no chemicals!

This modern technique based on the use of microorganisms is particularly adapted to the rehabilitation of lands spoiled by chemicals, former monoculture lands or new upland area with lower fertility. It is also well adapted to the climatic and economic reality of tropical areas. In this project, the sustainable farming is more a way to succeed the global project and respect environment than a philosophy. It is the common denominator of all the vegetal or animal productions. It is also the way to maximize the land (increasing of fertility, intercropping…), to increase biodiversity and finally enjoy farming.

Daniel Collot – Project manager of the school farm

Presentation of Sagay

2008-05-17T14:38:00.005+08:00

"Founded in 1860 by Teniente Francisco Rodriguez and Basilio Cordova in the mouth of the river known today as Bulanon River, this place was called Arguelles. Later, by the order of the Spanish Governor, the town proper was transferred to the Old Sagay site known as Pueblo de Magallanes.

In 1906, during the administration of the second President Quintin Katalbas, the name of the town was officially changed to Sagay. The name was taken from the semi-spherical shell called “sigay.”

After World War II, the seat of government was transferred to the present site, Dalusan, because of its accessibility to land transportation.

In 1995, the Hon. Congressman of the 2nd District Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. authored House Bill No. 6543- An Act Converting the Municipality of Sagay in the Province of Negros Occidental into a component City to be known as the City of Sagay. In June 11, 1996, His Excellency Pres. Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Republic Act 8192, which gave birth to the City of Sagay..."

Continue: http://www.sagay-city.com.ph/about.htm

Presentation of Virlanie

2008-05-17T14:06:00.001+08:00

Virlanie is one of the largest, private, non-sectarian child caring institutions in Metro Manila. The Foundation includes 12 residential homes where it welcomes street children, as well as outreach and support programs for the children and families in Manila's poorest neighborhoods.  

These programs aim to reintegrate the children into community life and to help them to become self-reliant, self-confident and productive. In the long term, Virlanie's vision is to empower these street children with hope for a brighter future.

Since its establishment in 1992, VFI has transformed the lives of thousands of children who have been victims of various forms of abuse and exploitation in the street, in jail, from prostitution and syndicates and even from their own families and relatives. With its innovative approach of community reintegration and mainstreaming, as embodied in the family structure of all the homes and its family reunification and outreach programs, VFI achieves its vision of empowered children with hope for a brighter future.

The foundation is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is duly licensed and recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It is also a member of the Philippine National Council Against Child Prostitution and of the Working Party On Children’s Rights working with the Department of Justice.