Trip to ECHO, Ft. Myers

  ECHO stands for Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization. They are a non-profit organization in Ft. Myers, Fl. Their mission is to improve the lives of the poor, and reduce hunger, by teaching them how to utilize natural resources for farming. The idea behind it can be extrapolated from an old Chinese proverb by Lau Tzu which reads,

"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime"

Instead of simply giving poor people food, it is far better to teach them and equip them with the knowledge they need to sustain themselves for lifetimes.
  This was not my first trip ECHO but it was my first time taking a tour of the farm. When I had volunteered here last year I had a chance to help with the annual Farm Day, harvest the fields, work in the seed bank, and remodel an old house which would house interns. There are many different types of crops growing on the farm and their seeds are being collected in a seed bank. When I worked in the seed bank I was cleaning and sorting seeds that were going to be shipped to Africa. The seeds that are collected are an assortment of rare seeds that happen to thrive in harsh growing conditions. It is hoped that by introducing the seeds into areas where agriculture is difficult that it will diminish hunger as well as improve the soil. Of all the seed banks, ECHO's collection are one of largest in the world. In the event of a disaster, these seeds will come in handy.

  ECHO is basically a huge research farm where studies are being conducted on crops in order to gain a thorough understanding of the best farming methods. Everywhere you look you will find something different, from bamboo trees to rice.

Bamboo trees

The guide told us that bamboo trees do great in hot climates and that they have multi-uses and are very valuable. They also grow very quickly, up to about 16 inches daily.

Wet Low Lands Rice

The "Wet Low Lands Area" is where the system of rice is growing. This is actually part of a two year study in multiple locations that has been evaluating whether rice grows best in a flooded area, or a not so flooded area. Their research has determined that although it has been tradition to grow rice in floods in order to keep the weeds from growing, that you can actually produce more rice by growing in an area that is not so flooded. The right side of the rice is where it was growing in the wet land, and the left side of the rice is where it had been growing without as much water.



me at duck & talapia pond



After you pass through the bamboo trees you arrive at the duck & talapia pond. This is an area where the duck, fish, & water exist symbiotically. This means that everything living here depend on each other for survival. It is a system that is sustained all on its own and which is perfect for tropical climates.



ducks at the pond



another view of the pond



 As I had mentioned before, there are animals present on this farm such as goats, rabbits, ducks, and even worms. They act as helpers by providing manure for crops to grow and as tillers. The manure from worms can be turned into a tea to water plants as compost. The chickens will naturally dig and till out areas around crops. This lessens the need for techonology and electric power.



Goats at the goat house























The guide said that whenever they use irrigation pumps to deliver water without the use of electricity, it is an example of what they call, "appropriate technology." This basically means that you should use what you have in order to make what you need.

Irrigation pumps

Another technique is called drip irrigation which is a technique for irrigating crops that conserves water and reduces weed pressure.



The Miracle Tree: Moringa























Aside from learning about appropriate technology, we also got to learn about and taste several different plants. We were told that the leaves of the Moringa tree are highly nutritious.

Since the people living in poor countries are typically malnourished, a Moringa tree would be of great benefit to them. Virtually all parts of this tree can be used to aid in nutrition, which is why it is called the "Miracle Tree."

Another one of nature's miracles is the Neem. Neem seeds have both medicinal and non-medicinal uses.
Disclaimer: None of the claims contained herein have been evaluated by the FDA nor have the claims been documented by medical research. The information here is not intended to replace the care of a licensed physician. Please seek a medical professional regarding your medical decisions and health needs.

In the bookstore at Echo you will find Neem products for sale. Neem has been used to make creams, lotions, oils, insect repellant, soap, and toothpaste. One of the plants that the guide allowed us to taste was called Katuk. It didn't have a distinct taste, in fact, it reminded me of tasting a pea pod.

  It was a beautiful day to visit ECHO today and I learned a lot of different techniques for farming in all kinds of areas and conditions. Even in an urban environment one can grow crops. Plants don't always need to grow in the ground in soil. They can be grown in tires, in plastic bins, even in plastic bags and growing tables.

Photo of a "working" chicken.