[Stoves] VermiChar eco-fertilizers, A DIY concept for, subsistence agriculture

[Kobus Venter]

Crispin, Rob and JEd,

Thank you for the comments.  Stove sales was only tried to get a sense 
of what the average retailer or stove agent needs to go through to be 
successful.  Its hard and I take my hat off to all the others in the 
real world, including Adrian in Durban.

Definitely open to suggestions for more vermichar mixes.  So apart from 
Joshua's nice summary I also picked up that producing enough vermicast 
for continuous usage is key.  It was also pointed out to me that the 
focus should be on the subsistence farmer and it is a way he can improve 
his crops and soil, break the chemical fertiliser loop, and produce a 
high value product merely by using his crop residuals. The goal is to 
move them up to being a sustainable farmer.

Regards

Kobus

Please keep voting till 15 October: 
http://www.blog.fnb.co.za/ideas-can-help/view-idea/?id=3231&d=7011807846665






On 2013/08/12 04:30 PM, stoves-request at lists.bioenergylists.org wrote:
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 07:30:39 -0700
> From: "Joshua Guinto" <jed.building.bridges at gmail.com>
> To: "'Discussion of biomass cooking stoves'"
> 	<stoves at lists.bioenergylists.org>
> Subject: Re: [Stoves] VermiChar eco-fertilizers,	A DIY concept for
> 	subsistence agriculture
> Message-ID: <00a701ce9768$851f5860$8f5e0920$@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi Kobus
>
>   
>
> Attached are the trials i did with biochar from rice husks and vermicast. I
> mixed the two together and filled the containers to become my garden.
>
>   
>
> Some of the lessons i learned
>
>   
>
> 1. vermicast is highly water soluble and quick releasing than compost.
> Therefore i had to sprinkle  a scoop of the vermicast once every week.
>
>   
>
> 2. The vermi cast - biochar mix need a curing time before it can support the
> plants. Beneficial microorganisms can help cure the mix.
>
>   
>
> 3. The earthworms take up a considerable amount of nutrients from the
> compost to become their body tissues.
>
>   
>
> And then do you think we can use the biochar-vermicast mix into the floating
> gardens? They are much lighter.
>
>   
>
> Good luck with your project.
>
>   
>
> JEd
>