Chelo teaching producers from Honduras to make organic fungicide
If we want more farmers to be able to practice agreocological methods, then we need to be able to address real problems that can impact a farmer's harvest-- like fungus and pests. Small-scale farmers often live day to day and depend on their harvest, and changing their farming methods is a risk that can impact their livelihood and income. Therefore, it's important to share organic methods to treat different problems (like pest and disease) and assist farmers through this transition away from chemical pesticides.
A group of campesinos from Honduras representing the organization COPINH, (The Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras) came to visit the Ranch today. COPINH is an organization dedicated to the defense of indigenous people and the environment in Honduras. One of their most well known struggles is for justice for Berta Cáceres, an indigenous Honduran activist who was assassinated for defending land rights against a hydroelectric dam project. The group visiting us today came as a brigade to get training in agroecology and start to implement agroecological practices in rural communities in Honduras. Chelo gave them workshops about different agroecological practices like these natural pest repellents and fungicides that we will see now!
Organic Insecticides and Fungicides
1. Wood Ash Tea- Té o Caldo de Ceniza/ Agua de Vidrio
We began with the simplest and most natural option. Wood Ash Tea is made with ash from natural wood. The wood can't have any varnish or paint, which could damage you plants! Wood ash is high in phosphorous, potassium, calcium, and magnesium-- lots of minerals and nutrients that your plants need to thrive. It makes plants stronger and more resistant and is a natural pesticide and fungicide.
To make it, Chelo measured 50 grams of lime and 200 grams of wood ash, and mixed these dry ingredients together. Then she added them to a bucket of 2 liters of boiling water and stirred. After it was well stirred, then she added 3 liters of room temperature water. When this cools down, it can added to the plants' leaves. It can be applied every 8 days. I have also seen wood ash tea recipes that only include wood ash without the lime, so that can also be an option.
2. Bordeaux mixture- Caldo Bordeles
Chelo and I made this Bordeaux mixture for our tomato transplants. Tomatoes are a delicate plant and Chelo is determined to get a good tomato harvest this time! The previous batches of tomato plants at the Ranch have had some pest and fungus problems. Chelo thinks it's because of the live fence of tall, luscious trees and shrubs outside the greenhouse don't allow good airflow. Therefore, we are giving them this special treatment of organic fungicide.
The Bordeaux mixture consists of copper sulfate (the bright blue stuff), lime, and water. First we measured 100 grams of lime and 100 grams of copper sulfate. Then we diluted the lime in one bucket with 5 liters of water and we diluted the copper sulfate in another bucket with 5 liters of water as well. Then you pour the copper sulfate mixture into the lime mixture. Chelo emphasized not to pour the lime into the copper sulfate because some type of reaction could occur!
Then we used a manual spray pump to add the organic fungicide to the tomato plants! See the pictures below. While copper sulfate is widely accepted in organic farming, this is probably the least truly organic of the three options.
3. Lime-sulfur- Azufre Sulfocálcico
To make lime-sulfur, we mixed together two dry ingredients: 1 kilo of lime and 2 kilos of sulfur (we made a small portion just for practice). We brought 10 liters of water to boil on a wood fire stove. We slowly poured the dry mixture into the water-- don't dump it all in at once! Then we stirred it for almost an hour, keeping it at a boil the whole time (our arms were getting sore!). When it's ready it turns a reddish color and it smells like rotten eggs.
When it cools down, you can store it and it can be kept more over a year. Lime-sulfur (Azufre Sulfocálcico) should be used preventatively but can also be applied to leaves to treat pests and funguses. It is applied diluted with water.
Chelo also reminded us NOT to use these products while plants are flowering. For plants that flower before giving fruit-- like tomato, squash, cucumber, melon, etc., these should only be applied before they flower. They should also not be applied to any plants near the time of harvesting. They can be applied every 8 days.
The visitors from Honduras asked a lot of questions. Part of the commitment of their visit is to return to Honduras and implement these practices in communities. They picked Chelo's brain and she always generously shares all of the wealth of information she knows. It's nice to see a female agroecologist like Chelo who has so much practical experience. I always say, "I want to be like Chelo when I grow up!" She is a great role model.
And we will definitely be following the organization COPINH to see how they make progress with their agroecological formation process and their continual work in the protection indigenous land rights.
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