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Submission: Thomas Syverud
My trip was a follow-up to previous volunteer assignments that introduced and promoted composting and the use of the square meter garden techniques. I wanted to identify the major disease and insect problems in vegetable gardens, to learn about organic solutions that can be made in the home and that are currently in use, and to develop and present the Plagas program. The Plagas program addresses the following issues: providing additional information on composting techniques, how nutrients are supplied by compost or manure, and successful seeding during dry weather.
There is a high level of interest in the Square Meter Gardening Project. I saw active, productive gardens in the communities of Las Lagunes, Juigalpa, Los Cedros, and Buenos Aires. Many individuals mentioned garden projects undertaken because of previous work done by volunteers. A range of vegetables, flowers, and other plants were being grown. Since February and March are the middle of the dry season, not as many gardens were in production as could be. Although water is currently the major concern, pest problems are less prevalent during this dry period. Disease and insect problems mainly occur in May and June, corresponding to the raining season and the traditional time of garden planting. Lesser problems occur in July and August. Materials are readily available for making compost, which when utilized reduces the impact of dry weather. However, keeping the compost pile moist during the dry season is difficult; some gardeners were covering the pile to conserve moisture.
During this time, major garden pest problems were identified and several homemade organic control recipes were collected with the aid of Martin Urbina Chavarria, Noel Gonzales, and others. A program, "Plagas," was developed that described the nutrients needed by crops, the steps in making compost, how nutrients are supplied by compost or manure, ways to improve seeding success, and homemade organic control products as well as included pictures of the main disease and insect problems with background information and tips for control. Five days were also spent at the Escuela Catolica de Agricultura y Ganaderia de Estelí. A total of eight "Plagas" presentations were made to 240 individuals.
I traveled to Learning Centers in seven communities to meet coordinators, present workshops, visit gardens, and talk with people about additional pest and garden problems and control options. Seven "Plagas" presentations were made to 149 individuals.
At the Mendoza farm, I assisted in completing an irrigation system for a plantain planting and in making a compost pile for the afternoon "charla" about gardening and pest problems.
The number one request was for help in the control of "zompopos," leaf-cutter ants, preferably an organic control method. Every agency and person that I contacted mentioned it as the worst pest problem in the home, field, or garden. Other pest problems include butterfly larva that consume garden plants and fungus diseases. During this dry period, I observed early and late blight in tomatoes and potatoes, cercospora leaf spot in peppers, and previous cabbageworm damage. These issues could be addressed by the development of a series of fact sheets in Spanish, with photos and descriptions of the various pest problems, organic control recommendations, and step by step procedures in specific gardening techniques. These could be laminated and combined in a three-ring binder and left with primary community contacts to be shared and used with the others in the community. I also believe that the concept of year-round planting in the square meter garden needs to be reinforced. This would allow for crops to be produced during the dry season when the pest pressure is lower.
I observed the various areas of production at the College with Rafael Rodriguez, Production Manager for Escuela Catolica de Agricultura y Ganaderia de Estelí, and looked at alternative fruits, trees for various uses, potato production, fish farming, dairy, vermicomposting, tomato production, and student project areas.
At the college in Juigalpa, I was able to observe the tomato production area, horticulture flower and plant production area for export, and an organic vegetable farm.
Perhaps information on dried flower production could be provided in future gardening volunteer assignments. Dried flowers could be raised and sold throughout the year and in conjunction with other craft items.
Several communities that were enthusiastic square meter gardeners because of previous visits by volunteers were Las Lagunas, Juigalpa, and the Mendoza farm, which was the most advanced.
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