ECHO Development Notes (EDN)
At the center of our work is ECHO Development Notes (EDN), which we send quarterly to thousands of people in over 160 countries in three languages (English, French, and Spanish). In EDN we share the most helpful, practical information that we come across about growing food under difficult circumstances.
Within each issue you'll find featured techniques, practices, information and experience to help guide your work in tropical and subtropical agricultural development. Also in EDN are "Echoes from Our Network," "From ECHO's Seed Bank," and more. Issues #1-51 were compiled in the 1990s into the Amaranth to Zai Holes book, which or you may read it online here. Also, Agricultural Options for Small Scale Farmers, expanded on the foundation from Amaranth to Zai Holes by covering EDN 52 through 100, with articles from outside contributors. Agricultural Options for Small Scale Farmers is available for purchase from the ECHO Bookstore and Amazon.
If you would like to browse EDNs via our Index, please click here.
176 Issues in this Publication (Showing issues 37 - 28) Previous | Next
EDN Issue #37 - 19/06/1992
Cashew Growing Observations
Cashew Fruit Drying in Honduras
Training in Infrastructure for Developing Countries
When You Send Seed to ECHO
Cooking Oil Spray for Home Gardens
Short Term Heating Kills Cowpea Weevils
Effectiveness of a Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract in Treating a Skin Infection
Squash Catsup?
How Can I Get My Own Seed Import Permit?
Recipes for Velvet Beans -- and a Caution!
EDN Issue #36 - 01/04/1992
Moringa Stenopetala
Salt Tolerance in Leucaena?
Keeping Moneys Out of the Garden
A Living Fence That Might be Deadly
Oral Vaccine for Typhoid
Gardening in Volcanic Ash
Devastating Disease of Neem Trees in West Africa
EDN Issue #35 - 19/12/1991
We Are Beginning Our Second Decade!
Sudanese Experience With Neem To Control Pests
Some Helpful Facts About Salinity
Caution About Using Moringa Tree Roots As A Horseradish Substitute
Guidelines For Farmers Near Volcanos Who Must Now Plant In Fresh Volcanic Ash
Use Of Partially Buried Flower Pots Or Tin Cans Can Make A Big Difference In Watering Plants
Echos From Our Network
EDN Issue #34 - 19/10/1991
Use Of Gliricidia Sepium (Mother Of Cacao, Mata Raton, Rat Killer) To Control Rats
The Jaboticaba Tree, Myrciaria Cauliflora
Mushroom Cultivation In The Tropics
Saving Your Own Lettuce Seed
Echos From Our Network
The Simplest Way Yet To Control Bean Beetles
EDN Issue #33 - 19/06/1991
Reports On Experience With Rabbits In St. Kitts
Muscovy Ducks And Fly Control
Seed For Marama Bean, Tylosema Esculentum
Neem Seed As A Feed Ingredient
Echos From Our Network
EDN Issue #32 - 19/03/1991
Wood Ash To Preserve Tomatoes For Months
Some Other "Gems" From My Conversation With Dr. Lamb
An Unexpected Reason For Increased Soil Fertility Under Trees
Can A "Pesticide Tree" Such As Neem Have Serious Insect Pests?
Cashew Would Seem To Be A Great Cash Crop. Is It As Good As It Appears?
Echo's From Our Network
Seed For Moringa Stenopetala
Seed For A New "Bird Resistant" Grain Sorghum
How To Make A Fish Emulsion Fertilizer
EDN Issue #31 - 19/12/1990
Fresh Seed For The "Beta Iii" (High Carotene) Carrot
How To Produce Carrot Seed Where Winters Are Not Cold
Update On Apples For The Highland Tropics
Echos From Our Network
Some Reflections
How To Make A Rope And Washer Pump
Can You Help Us?
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
