biological farming information
Expanding the opportunities for fruit and vegetable production on Christmas Island
Christmas Island Phosphates has commissioned consultants SGS Economics and Planning and Trust Nature Pty Ltd to investigate the feasibility of establishing a sustainable horticultural industry in the Indian Ocean Territories.
As you would be aware, for many years much of the on-island food supplies have relied predominantly on importation either via air or sea freight. There are high costs and both economic and social impacts due to this reliance, and the result can be that fruit and vegetables are high in price and in some cases less than optimal in terms of quality.
The Australian Government has made an investment in the project, with joint funding provided by the Attorney-General’s Department’s IOT Economic Development Fund and Christmas Island Phosphates.
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Introduction to Biological Farming
Our Biological Farming introduction is based on ancient wisdom, our personal education and farming experience, Permaculture principles and the teachings of Dr Elaine Ingham.
We begin with understanding issues at hand: Nutrient supply, water supply, bio-diversity, weed control, pest control, the need to improve quality of production, the need to improve soil fertility, the need to reduce input costs while maintaining production and the need to establish fair marketing.
What we is teach the practical side of biological farming so that it can be applied and understood on the farm.
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Making Backyard Inoculum Compost
Our easy to follow, 5 step guide to making inoculum compost in your own garden.
In this guide we take you through the simple steps of making compost. From cleaning up the yard to inoculum compost of the quality required to make "compost tea" and all in under 8 weeks!
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The Soil Foodweb and it's Importance
The structure and function of the soil foodweb has been suggested as a prime indicator of ecosystem health.
Measurement of disrupted soil processes, decreased bacterial or fungal activity, decreased fungal or bacterial biomass, changes in the ratio of fungal to bacterial biomass relative to expected ratios for particular ecosystems, decreases in the number or diversity of protozoa, and a change in nematode numbers, nematode community structure or maturity index, can serve to indicate a problem long before the natural vegetation is lost or human health problems occur.
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Compost Tea
Compost Tea benefits and understanding as taught by Dr. Elaine Ingham
Understanding beneficial soil inoculum as “compost tea” and its role in establishing a healthy foodweb.
Compost tea is used for two reasons: To inoculate highly diverse beneficial species of microbial life into the soil or onto the foliage of plants, and to add soluble nutrients to the foliage or to the soil in order to feed the organisms and the plants present.
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Creating Topsoil
Several centimeters of topsoil per year can form under favorable conditions, which good management can create.
"The nation that destroys it's soil destroys itself" (Roosevelt 1937) - The future for Australia depends on the future of our soil.
The most meaningful indicator for the health of the land, and the long-term wealth of a nation, is whether soil is being formed or lost. If soil is being lost, so too is the economic and ecological foundation on which production and conservation are based.
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