Capture carbon through regenerative agriculture and halt climate change - climate gardens now

 

Mitigate climate change by capturing carbon through regenerative agriculture - Start an organic climate garden now

 

Do you feel hopeless about climate change and the damage we are doing to our planet?  I did, but then I found a new way to look at the problem, which made the solution so obvious and so within reach. A solution that's right under our feet. Yes, the solution to climate change is right under our feet. It is the soil. Carbon can be farmed into the soil if only we start by regenerating our soil organisms to restore soil health.  Yes, Carbon farming is the solution to climate change. Come follow us let’s check it out.

Climate change is all about too much carbon in our atmosphere. Carbon is not our enemy, it's the building block of life. Everything alive is made of it. even us.  The problem and the solution are simply a matter of balance. Let's step back and look at the five pools where carbon is stored on planet Earth. Starting about 500 million years ago, when plants appeared on land, carbon began to cycle in an amazing balance. A balance that allowed for life as we know it to evolve.  Then one life form, us, figured out how to extract carbon from the fossil pool, then we burned it for energy, putting it into play and disrupting that balance. The way we manage land and do agriculture is moving even more carbon from the soil and biosphere into the atmosphere. Specifically, we've moved 880 Gigatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which is heating up the planet and destabilizing our climate. Now the oceans have absorbed a lot of this excess carbon which is resulting in ocean acidification and accelerating a mass extinction of sea life.

How to save lives?

In order to save lives, we have to stop releasing fossil carbon into the atmosphere. Then look for ways to capture the excess carbon that is already in the atmosphere to get this cycle back into balance. You'll remember when I said that the solution to climate change is healthy soils. Plants use sunlight and water to perform photosynthesis. They pull in carbon from the air and turn it into carbohydrates sugars. Then they pump some of those sugars down through their roots to feed microorganisms who use that carbon to build soil. Bingo. Carbon can move - plants pump it in and the soil stores it. Nature's living technology is amazing. Scientists have recently discovered that applying a thin layer of compost, sets off an ongoing positive feedback loop that brings more and more carbon into the soil each year. In concert with other regenerative practices like reducing soil tillage, planting trees, cover crops and planned grazing, we can build and retain Giga-tons of soil carbon. This is carbon farming. This is regenerative agriculture and there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.

More carbon in the atmosphere is bad for us, while more carbon in the ground is good for us. It makes healthy soil that is nutrient-rich full of life and holds way more water. This means more nutritious food and crops that are more resilient in the face of drought. That's good news for farmers, families, communities, nations and everyone that eats.

Remember, the way we grow our food, fiber, and fuel either puts carbon up into the atmosphere or it pulls it down into the ground. The regeneration of soil is the task of our generation. Our health, the health of our soils and the health of our planet, are one and the same

 What happens to captured carbon in the Rhizosphere?

The secret of bio-sequestration is in the Rhizosphere. The Rhizosphere is the area around the plant roots that is inhabited by micro-organisms. Plant's roots are working symbiotically with these micro-organisms. They are a very important population in the soil that makes it healthy for plants to grow such as bacterial, fungi, nematodes, protozoa amongst others.

Soil microbes in the Rhizosphere

Bacterial act like food storage banks for your plants. They are the earth’s primary decomposer of organic matter, locking up nutrients close to the plant’s roots which may otherwise be leached.  When the bacterial dies, those nutrients are released to feed the plants.

Mycorrhizae are beneficial fungi living symbiotically with the roots. The roots provide the carbon that the fungus needs to grow and the fungus transport water and nutrients to the roots. What a wonderful win-win situation.

Most of the time we see only the fungus that appears above the soil like mushrooms, but there are millions of fungi, bacterial, amoeba, etc under the soil that makes the soil fertile. Plants depend on a network of tiny fungi for water and other nutrients. Let dive below the soil to take a closer look. There is a network of living fungal threads called hyphy. Ants help to maintain soil health by aerating the earth, circulating water and nutrients. Tiny moss may dine on tiny nematodes. Nematodes consume single-cell amoebas which are very small that we can’t see. Amoeba devours thinner bacterial. Fungus and bacteria decompose death materials. In nature, nothing is wasted.

Let's enjoy the wonders of nature as we explore deeper. Nature's living technology is amazing. The hyphy spreads and keeps traveling until it reaches plants roots. The fungus wrapped around the root tip. The hyphy pushes itself into the space between the tree cells where a chemical exchange takes place. The fungi provide the plants with essential minerals while the plants supply the fungus with energy-rich sugars. Win-win nutrients - energy exchange.

It gives me hope to know that Plant, People and Planet health are interconnected. But we keep destroying our soil with external chemicals and I wonder why. The application of pesticide, insecticide and herbicide; the use of heavy machinery and the practice of leaving soil bare without cover crops have left us with little or no soil life population. The ground surrounding residential areas and commercial properties a particularly lacking in soil life.

It is the duty of this generation to get the earth back to the garden of Eden that it was, by farming carbon. Let’s bring back biodiversity to a place that was devastated. Planting a garden has the power to change the world and even you can do it. Regenerative gardening actually helps us to reverse climate change by building healthy living soil. Even a small garden has the potential to impact the global crisis of climate change. Start your regenerative climate garden now and grow organic.

• Stay away from chemicals. If you don’t want it in your body, don’t put it in your food.
• Practice minimal tillage and keep the soil covered at all times. Any plant is better than no plant. They protect and build the soil
• Encourage biodiversity for more resilience.
• Grow food. Food from your backyard means fewer food miles and food shipped all the way to your grocery store.
• Composts – make it and use it. It's a probiotic regenerative source for your soil life.

We can all participate by establishing Climate Gardens that build healthier soil and help reverse climate change. Help share the good news: Go tell it on the mountains that we can rebuild soil and regenerate the land and heal the planet. We can restore soil fertility, improve water cycles, and sequester carbon in the soil. Be the change and start planting today. Let the microbes, bacterial, fungus, amoeba do the job that nature has bestowed on them. The world needs your voice now. Mother earth needs you to take action and start growing organic food. Be that change and reverse climate change through planting trees, crops, vegetables, flowers…. Just plant something today. Any plant is better than no plant. So plant your Climate Garden and share your stories with us.

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Advantages of organic cocoa and/or coffee agroforestry

Organic cocoa or coffee production

Organic cocoa and/or coffee production is based on a sustainable socio-economic and environmental agroforestry system, where trees are grown in combination with taller shades and food/fertilizer trees. Cocoa/coffee trees are integrated into existing forest structure to retain multi-storey canopy and minimize environmental impacts. In case of no trees on site, other trees should be planted to provide shade and create the multi-storey agroforestry effect. 

Diverse tree species with cocoa/coffee as under-storey

These diversify trees species provide the following benefits

1.     Help to control pests;
2.     Provide shades for the cocoa/coffee tree;
3.     Enhance soil fertility;
4.     Improve cocoa/coffee yields;
5.      Provide food, folders and medicine;
6.      Retain habitats for birds, small animals, insects and other pollinators;
7.     Create environmental and micro climate buffering;
8.     Provide multiple revenue streams to alleviate poverty;
9.     Better nutrition from diverse food sources;
10.     Enhance community resilient to food security.

Incorporating crop successions is very important as it improves soil fertility, growth of cocoa/coffee tree, mitigate effects of climate change and provides continues food and farm income. Plants like banana, plantains, papaya, pineapples, avocado, citrus fruits, mangoes, cocoyam and yams can be incorporated into cocoa farms. This mixed cropping system improves farmers’ livelihoods by generating multiple income streams from different crops and enhancing nutrition.

Zero use of pesticide, herbicide and insecticide as they upset the ecosystem by killing pest predators, poisoning animals and humans as well as polluting the water systems and causing further damages to aquatic life. Only biological and traditional methods which are non-toxic, less costly and environmentally friendly should be used. Such as removing and burying cocoa pods affected by black pods diseases amongst other.

Zero use of fertilizer to preserve the soil biota, halt eutrophication of water bodies, reduce cost and farmers dependent on agro-chemical companies.  Improvement of soil health through increase in organic matters, compost, vermicomposting and planting of fertilizers trees is practiced to avert chemical risk. Here there is a switch from external inputs (chemical fertilizers) to internal inputs - compost & manure produced on the farm within its diversified agroforestry system.

Fruit trees and plantains incorporated into cocoa/coffee agroforestry

Increase in organic material through pruning and mulching from a stratified, diverse and densely planted agroforestry is sufficient for an economically viable production. All cocoa shells should be evenly spread out to rot and recycle soil nutrients. Palms can be incorporated into plantations to provide phosphorus; which is an essential nutrient to increase yield and plant health; and reduce heavy metal in cocoa/coffee beans content. Through symbiosis with mycorrhiza, palms are capable of breaking down phosphorous and also bind heavy metals in soils. Leguminous trees such as Albiza Zygia should also be planted to fix atmospheric nitrogen and make it available to plants around them, and also improves pH in acidic soil. It has a high potential for ameliorating degraded cocoa/coffee soils and reducing soil erosion. Nitrogen is essential in plant health and cocoa/coffee productivity.

Good practices and care such as tree pruning and Phyto-hygiene should be carried out to control pests and diseases. The use of chemical is avoided as organic production rely on alternative solution to soil fertility, pest management and quality assurance that are not detrimental to humans and the environment.

Advantages of organic cocoa and/or coffee production

·         Reduce production cost – The cost of production is greatly reduced as the use of expensive external inputs such as pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers are eliminated. Local seeds are used instead of expensive hybrid seeds. Compost and manure are used rather than expensive fertilizers. Thereby, making farmer’s less dependent on expensive inputs from agro-chemical companies and input cost.

·         Increase income – Organic cocoa beans are more expensive than conventional cocoa at the international market. The increase price of organic coca beans and low input cost results to higher farm income.

Dr. Nvenakeng Suzanne at Suzy-farms, Buea, Cameroon

        Environmental and health benefit – There is reduction of environmental and health risks as pollution is avoided and there is increase in biodiversity within a multi-storey agroforestry system. The health of farmers is also protected by avoiding hazardous chemicals such as pesticide, herbicides and insecticides.

       Increase in farmer’s sovereignty - Intercropping other food crops and fruit trees in cocoa and/or coffee agroforestry provides farmers with additional food and income. Farmers becomes independents with multiple sources of food to improve nutrition and income streams to alleviate poverty.

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Polyculture for pest control, high yield & food diversity

 Polyculture - alley, strip, cover, inter, mixed or three sister cropping systems

Polyculture is an agricultural system were multiple crops are planted on the same piece of land to provide crop diversity which mimic the diversity of natural ecosystems. This does not only provide food, but sustain life as a whole. As opposed to raising single crop/animal (monoculture), polyculture is raising more than one species of plants or animals at the same time and place. Polyculture is an old system of farming which is still carried out in sub-Sahara Africa and has regained popularity today because of its environment and health benefits. It is a sustainable form of agriculture because of its ability to control pests, weed and diseases without major chemical inputs. There are different types of polyculture systems such as intercropping, cover-cropping and alley cropping. The type of polyculture carried out depends on the types of plants grown, the spatial distribution and the time they spend growing together. The type of plants or animals that can be raised in a polyculture system has no limit.

Three sister crops (Maize, beans and pumpkin)

Intercropping or mixed cropping – This occurs when two or more crops are planted together e.g legumes and cereals mixtures. The legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soils at its root noddle in a process called nitrogen fixation. This soil nitrogen acts as fertilizer for the other plants and therefore eliminates the need for man-made fertilizers. A typical example is the ‘three sister crop’ system of planting maize, beans and squash (e.g pumpkin) in a group to provide mutual benefits to each other. The maize provides support for the beans to grow on, the beans provide nitrogen to fertilize all the plants while the squash suppresses the weeds. These crops thus sustain each other with little or no human intervention.

Cover cropping: - This is when a crop is grown alongside another plants that is not a crop e. grass & legumes. Cover crops can help to prevent erosion, suppress weeds, improve water retention or fix nitrogen. It can also be called weedy culture if the non-crop element is a weed.

Strip or alley cropping

Strip or alley cropping: - This involves growing different crops in alternating rows. Though it doesn’t involve a complete mix of the plants, it also prevent soil erosion and aid nutrient cycling. 

Permaculture: - This is a polyculture of perennial plants such as cocoa, coffee, timber, fruit trees etc. This system increases soil fertility, decreases soil erosion, conserve soil nutrient and increase soil organism and water retention. Agroforestry is a popular form of permaculture where trees and crops are grown together. The trees provide shade and organic nutrients when they share off their leaves and also provide extra commodities like timber, medicine, firewood etc. Shade loving crops like coffee and cocoa are well suited within such a system.

Advantages of polyculture

Pest and disease control: - Pest are less predominant in polyculture due to crop diversity. Specialized pest that prefers a concentration of a single crop type often gets confused as they find it difficult to locate a favorable host in a polyculture. Common general pest moves from one plant to another within a polyculture system to the surrounding environment because they look alike, thereby reducing the effect on a particular crop. This diversity of plants attracts natural enemies or predators which help to further suppress pest population without causing harm to the plants. Different plants are susceptible to different diseases so the spread of diseases can be contained in polyculture.

Weed control: - the high density of plants reduces available space, sunlight, water and nutrients for weed to develop as resources are fully utilized by crops. The few that do grow can host arthropods (pest enemies) that are beneficial to other crops.

 Sustainability: -

A bunch of plantains at Suzy-Farms

A polyculture system doesn’t depend on pesticide, but can be boosted with minimal use of organic fertilizers as diverse plants are planted together. This greatly reduce eutrophication of fresh water, hence good health and wellbeing. Reduce tillage conserves microbes and soil nutrients. This saves money as farmers can grow multiple crops and animals on same piece of land with little or no machinery. It increases local biodiversity which attract different pollinators, hence increase pollination and fruits harvest. Polyculture addresses human subsistence needs because food security doesn't just depends on quantity, but on diversity and quality of available food. Polyculture is diverse in nature and provides both nutritional and economic resilience  because if one plant fails, the other crops may support the household with food and income.

Polyculture is more effective when the diverse plant species have distinct biological needs such as absorbing different nutrients and requiring different amount of sunlight (no competition). Our modern lifestyle is negatively impacting our land and ecosystems. Restoring these systems will lead to food abundance to support human life and culture as well as restore the ecosystems. It is our duty to secure a rich permaculture for future generation. So let’s do it...

NB: Leave a comment below so I know you were here...

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Companion plants for fruit trees/plants

Companion planting for disease resistant and increase harvest 

A fruit tree guild is a technique of supporting a central element (fruit tree) with a group of plants that are highly useful and multifunctional, with mutual beneficial synergies to ensure a disease-resistant fruit tree with maximum harvest and use of space. Guilds provide a roadmap for developing interconnected ecosystems to reduce labor, cost and increase harvest. This companion planting is a holistic approach and an integral part of permaculture which allows 2 or more crops to be planted together in order to maximize productivity (yield per unit area), nutrients intake, support, space usage, pest control, pollination, biodiversity or attract beneficial insects and/or organisms. Companion planting is a traditional practical planting method covering various strategies that increase plants' biodiversity in the soil and the ecosystem. Plants diversity increases insect diversity and decreases the number of pest in the farm. Most large scale farmers practice a single crops planting system called mono-cropping. This may looks easier to water and care for, but it will need lots of chemicals to control the pests. For example, if you plant only tomatoes, hornworms will be attracted to the farm. But if you plant lettuce along with tomatoes, the tomatoes will provide shade to the lettuce while the lettuce will repel the tomato pests. Bingo!!!  

Daffodils as companion plant for fruit tree

Pollination is a very essential element for fruit formation. All fruits trees should have some pollinator plants growing close to the fruit trees such as flowers and herbs that attract insects to aid pollination. An increase in pollination results to an increase in fruits harvest. Below is a list of some of our favorite companion plants for fruit trees/plants: 

1. Nitrogen fixing plants such as groundnuts, beans, cowpeas and soya beans are beneficial to all fruits plants/trees because they fertilizes the soil and could be planted close to any fruits tree/plant. 

 2. Comfrey is also a wonderful companion to fruits trees/plants because it accumulates calcium, phosphorous and potassium that fertilize plants/trees. It is also a good compost activator.  

 3. Chive repels worms, flies, aphids, mites and nematodes.

4. Lemon balm is a great companion plants because it draws bees that help with pollination and consequently increase yield of fruits. 

5. Stinging nettle sprays are rich in silica and calcium that is use to stimulate growth in plants/trees. 

6. Mint and marigold are very good to repel undesirable pests. Plant at the edge where you can control it as it can become invasive.

7. Marjoram is easy to grow and helps to improve the flavor of many fruits.

8. Lemon grass is good as a border crop to frame vegetables and herbs. 

9. Alfalfa improves nitrogen, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium which are beneficial to enrich soils around fruit trees/plants.

10. Red acalypha and Tithonia plants repel nematodes  commonly known as 'panama' in plantains/banana. 

11. Basil improves fruits flavor and repels bugs especially mosquitoes. 

12. Pumpkin keeps away harmful pest.

13. Daffodil or garlic repels wildlife and fruit tree borer.

14. White clover is a good source of nitrogen which is essential for healthy fruit production.

15. Calendula is useful in repelling undesirable insect, but attract beneficial ones. It also protects and enrich soil nutrients.

Melon and Calendula plants 

Below are some few fruits trees that could be planted close to other plants to provide mutual beneficial synergies: 

Fruits trees - Good companions and bad companions 

1. Avocado (African pear):- Soya beans, cowpeas, groundnuts, comfrey
2. Banana or Plantains:- Beans, legumes, papaya, sweet potatoes, legumes, comfrey, flowers. Avoid cassava competition for potassium
3. Citrus e.g orange, tangerine, lemon: - Beans, basil, oregano, clover, peas. Avoid maize, sweet potatoes, cowpea, sorghum
4. Papaya (pawpaw):- Comfrey, beans, flowers, banana sweet potatoes
5. Passion fruits: - Irish potatoes, beets, carrots, spinach, strawberries, onions, leeks, lettuce. Avoid corn, sorghum, okro, cowpea
6. Melon:- Corn, pumpkin, oregano. Avoid peas and beans
7. Apples:- Garlic, leeks, marigold, comfrey, daffodils. Avoid tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, eggplant
8. Mangoes:- Marigold, comfrey, lemon balm, dandelions, daffodils. Avoid fungal prune plants
9. African butter (Plums):- Marigold, comfrey, lemon balm, dandelions, daffodils
10. Grapes:- Basil, beans, oregano, clover, peas. Avoid garlic and cabbage
11. Pomegranate:- Basil, thyme and flowers. Avoid fennel, celery, eggplant
12. Apricot:- Chives, garlic, leeks, comfrey, basil, daffodils. Avoid pepper, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant
13. Coffee / cocoa:- Potatoes, kale, beans, coconuts. Avoid pumpkin, carrots, cucumber
14. Kolanut / Guava:-  Beans, peas, marigold
15. Kiwi:- Carrots, spinach. Avoid eggplant
16. Figs:- Dandelions, marigold, lemon balm. Avoid eggplant
17. Pineapples:- Daffodils, clover, chives, garlic
18. Tea:- Beans, potatoes, peas. Avoid walnut

Typical fruit tree guild

Companion planting saves cost on pesticides and fertilizers because pests are greatly reduced and the soil is fertilized. I grew up harvesting tons of food from the farm without fertilizers, herbicides nor pesticide applications and I wonder what happens now!!! Have you ever wonder why maize harvested from a maize/beans farm is tastier than that harvested from only maize farm? Try companion cropping and experience harvesting healthier fruits at very low cost. Let’s embrace traditional planting methods and save our soil, water systems and our health. We live just ones, don’t mess it up with unhealthy food. 

Follow this links to learn more about improving the biodiversity of your farm, reducing maintenance, and increasing yield through permaculture. If you wish to live the change, then click here

Learn more about pollinators here

Remember to try your own experiments and share your experience with us. Create your own fruit tree guilds even in your garden or backyard and feedback. Let’s know what works for you. Let’s do it…!

1. Make a list of what you need in your own garden 

2. List out all the elements you’ll need to meet the above needs.

3. Brainstorm the needs and benefits of each element, and note down how they can benefit from each other.

4. Place the elements in a way that maximize the beneficial relationships among them.

5. Share your experiences with us, we would love to hear from you.

Do you have any question about companion planting?

Write them out in the comment section, because I’d love to answer them below....

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Agroecology through Permaculture and agroforestry

 Permaculture - incorporating indigenous knowledge & culture into socio-ecological landscape farming systems

 Welcome to our world of multi-storey mixed integrated organic farming. Suzy-farms adopts a flourishing natural ecosystem model which includes people, animals, birds, insects, fishes, trees, crops, vegetables, fruits, nuts, tubers, medicinal herbs, land and water resources through mutually beneficial synergies – no waste and close loop systems. We incorporate social aspects; culture of the people and indigenous knowledge; to re-construct a modern multi-storey integrated mixed organic farming system as practiced in the 19th century by our ancestors. The farm is managed as an integrated whole of a mixed diversified canopies of trees and crops underneath. Here we work alongside with nature, observing and planting according to the weather conditions (two crop seasons per year) and valuing plants and animals in all their inter-related functions rather than treating any element as a single product system. We try to get a better understanding of the landscape, functions and species assemblies to enable us identify where each element should be place so they can provide maximum mutual benefit to each other and the environment. Our focus is not on an individual element, but rather the relationship among them - where the whole system becomes better than its individual elements. A sustainable system that minimizes waste, pollution, human labour, energy input and maximizes benefits through synergy.

Permaculture

Our principles

Here are some farming principles practiced by Suzy-Farms

1. ·        We do not farm on virgin forest, but rather rehabilitate degraded land by planting long standing fruit trees and crops to sequester carbon dioxide and halt further timber exploitation.
2. ·        We observe and interact with the landscape to design a solution that is suitable for the particular area.
3. ·        We self-regulate and accept feedback to re-strategies toward appropriate activities that lead to project sustainability.
4. ·        We make use of and value nature’s abundance resources thereby reducing our dependence on fertilizers, chemicals and non-renewable resources.
5. ·        We produce no waste as all resources are employed or recycle.
6. ·        We observe natural patterns and society to design our projects.
7. ·        We integrate the natural relationships between elements in our design and align them to benefit each other and enhance yield per unit area.
8. ·        We make use of best available techniques which are less costly, easier to maintain and produce more sustainable outcomes.
9. ·        We incorporate indigenous knowledge and practices.
10.        We enhance biodiversity to reduce system vulnerability to climate change threats and restore ecosystems.
11. ·        We observe the natural ecosystem closely, so we can prepare ourselves for any unpredictable challenges with a timely intervention.

Dr. Nvenakeng Suzanne at the farm, Buea- Cameroon

Multi-storey layers

In our 200ha of land, we have design a sustainable ecosystem model of eight layers with many relationships between its constituent parts – timber, fruit trees, cash crops, crops, climbers, tubers, animals and soil organisms. Diverse community of animals, birds and insects occupies different layers.

• 1.     The first canopy are large timber trees with large canopies, typically 2-3 trees per ha for wood biomass and conservation purpose.
• 2.     The second layer is occupied by large fruit trees such as mangoes, plums, avocado, casa mango, bush mango and cherry planted with a triangular spacing distance of 8m*12m. Then coconuts and palms to demarcate, section each 2ha of planting space (for better management) and provide shade on roads (8m wide) within the farm.
• 3.     The third layer consist of fruit trees like oranges, apples, kiwi, guavas - planted at 8m*9m spacing. Then plantains planted at 3m*5m triangular spacing to shade coffee and cocoa.
• 4.     We have coffee (3m*2m) and cocoa (3m*4m) as under-storey because they can flourish under canopy. Then plantains 
• 5.     Next is the shrub or herbaceous layer with plants such as hibiscus, bitter leaves, scent leaves, culinary and medicinal herbs.
• 6.     The ground cover includes plants that grow close to the ground like pineapples, agave sisalana, pepper, vegetables, egusi, melon, flowers and cover crops. They fill bare patches, help to retain soil moisture, reduce erosion and add nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
• 7.     The rhizosphere includes the soil, soil organisms, plant roots, tubers, fungi, insects, worms, etc.
• 8.     The vertical layer include vines like vanilla, black pepper, beans, passion fruits etc.

  Guild concept

We use the guild concept to carefully bring together compatible animals, insects and plants that form symbiotic relationships which results to healthier plants, ecosystems and resources for humans. Some plants are grown to produce food, fertilize the soil (legumes), attract beneficial insects (flowers for bees to aids pollination) or repel undesirable pest (Red acalypha, marigold and Tithonia plants).

Our mutual support guild group include sister or companion crops that complement, support and provide mutual benefits to each other. Examples include planting maize and beans together, where the root nodes of the beans fix nitrogen for the maize plant and the maize support the vines of the bean. Lady beetles are introduce as predators for aphids, mites, caterpillars, and scale insect. Wasps are introduce to control aphids, worms, caterpillars, borers, bugs, weevils and flies. Other predators that are commonly used to control pest are dragon flies and praying mantids. Flowers are planted to attract insects that act as pollinators. Coconuts and cocoa are good examples of resource partitioning guild group because coconuts has a shallow root system while cocoa is a tap-rooted plant, so they can draw nutrient from different levels.

People and culture

Indigenous people are very much bonded to their soil and landscape, so much that their health and mental wellbeing depend on maintaining these ties with their local home site. Preserving indigenous knowledge and plant species may create an environment for enhancing community welfare and inclusiveness – the Ubuntu mindset.

We are using a holistic approach to life and work to create a land management approach; that depends on cultural values, local knowledge and indigenous species; which enhances the socio-economic and environmental aspects of the landscape - people, planet and profit. A blend of modern and indigenous knowledge can make people and local communities to be self-reliant and resilient to threats. We are taking local actions in solving global issues like climate change, food security, employment, poverty alleviation, hunger, pollution, biodiversity and species preservation amongst others.

Practices

Earth worms

 We are relying on the benefits from combining timber, fruit trees, shrubs, crops, livestock and fishes through agroforestry and permaculture to create a more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable ecosystem. We incorporate indigenous knowledge, processes and relationships that are valuable in landscape ecosystems. Our multi-storey model helps to maximize space for food production and effective use of resources like sunlight and nutrients. Dead leaves, shrubs and woods are buried to increase soil water retention. This local technique enable us to practice only rain feed farming as the shrubs and woods absorbs water to sustain crops during the dry season. Thus nutrient are naturally being recycle in wood, leaves and shrubs as they decompose. This leads to high water holding capacity of organic matter which enhance the soil structure and drainage systems. Our zero burning practice preserves soil organism and earthworms - which break up green and dead leaves to produce nutrients and worm castings respectively. These castings fertilize the soil, increase plant growth, decrease heavy metals, aerate the soil and improve water retention.

Our houses are built from locally available natural materials (lime mortared stem walls, thatch, wood, sticks etc.) that produce healthy living environment and better air qualities without jeopardizing human comfort, health and wellbeing.  Rain water is harvested and use for livestock, fish farming, drinking and irrigation of vegetables.

Animal husbandry

Animals are a critical component of Suzy-Farms. We rear goats, sheep, chicken, ducks, rabbits, geese, pigs, snails and fishes. They forage to recycle nutrient, eat fallen fruits and left-over crops and in return produce waste that are used as manure to fertilize the farm. Animal waste can also be used for biogas production. Water from our fish ponds are used to irrigate and fertilize vegetables. We use dry grass and leaves to mulch. Mulching absorbs rainfall, reduces evaporation, provides nutrient, increases soil organic matter, creates favorable habitat for soil organism, suppresses weed growth and reduces erosion. Thereby generating a more low maintenance, healthy, efficient and productive ecosystems. Let’s all cooperate with nature to care for the earth and its people.

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