Direct Solar Dryers: A simple, cheap option for solar food drying
Echoes from Our Network: In-Field Grafted Avocado and Fertility Ditches with Elephant Grass and/or Bananas
From ECHO’s Seed Bank: Moth Bean Vigna aconitifolia, a Multipurpose Legume for Arid Climates
Books, Websites, and Other Resources: New Book Release - Community Seed Bank Options
Articles
Direct Solar Dryers
James Dontje
Drying food with the help of the sun for prolonged storage and preservation is a long-time practice. The ECHO East Africa Impact Center is developing a direct solar food dryer design with the goals of minimizing cost and relying on locally available materials and tools.
In-Field Grafted Avocado
Michael Martin
Avocados produce valuable fruit and have huge potential for mountain farmers in Haiti. We struggled for several years, trying to plant grafted avocado trees that we bought from nurseries. My technicians have learned the method and are teaching other farmers. They directly seed local avocadoes into their fields.
Fertility Ditches with Elephant Grass and/or Bananas
Michael Martin and Brian Moser
Network members Mike Martin and Brian Moser share farmer systems of using ditches to generate compost in the field to either retain for in-field soil health management or take and use elsewhere on-farm.
Moth Bean Vigna aconitifolia, a Multipurpose Legume for Arid Climates
Robert Walle
V. aconitifolia is a multipurpose legume crop that you can use for green manure, food, fodder, and feed. Its versatility makes it a practical option for productive fallow for small-scale farmers.