Abuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play an important role in plant health by improving nutrient (especially phosphorus) and water uptake by their host plant and providing protection against soil-borne pathogens. In return, the fungi receive carbohydrates (sugars) and growth factors from the host plant. Other benefits include: increased resistance to foliar-feeding insects (Gange and West, 1994), improved drought resistance and increased tolerance of salinity and heavy metals. Increased uptake of macronutrients other than P, including N, K and Mg has also been measured as well as increased uptake of some micronutrients maintaining soil aggregate stability. Many agricultural practices including use of fertilizers and biocides, tillage, monocultures and the growing of non-mycorrhizal crops are detrimental to AM fungus communities.
Mycorrhizal fungi is one of the most important fungi known to man which must be given room to grow and establish in any mycorrhizal plants to promote its beneficial symbiotic relationship with about 82% plant species.
We have recently introduced spores of this fungi into our vegetable and grass fields.The fungi that comes in powder form has been supplied by Biocult S.A.in a 200g packet that can cover a hectare of vegetables.

Progress of the field trial,planting of desimodium green leaf.

We planted the napier grass on the 21st- 25th of October.
Desimodium green leaf was planted on the 2nd of November, we intend to plant our sorghum three weeks later to allow the push and pull agents( desimodium and Napier grass)to establish.

Ox training 2

yoking them is now less difficult and less dangerous.we engaged the load but they kept on jumping and rotating around,next step must be to train them walk forward with the load.Nothing works better than a painful wip at this stage.Tuesday,,,,.

THE FIRST STEP

We had taken one of the most important action on our initiative - ox training .

Training oxen for ploughing is hard, dramatic and needs a lot of patience. Today we managed to do the first step successfully. Tying the two together leading them outside the kraal,putting the yoke on(spanning) and moving them around.All went well however we failed to reach where the load was as the animals kept on turning and escaping into the bushes.Its a lesson that the load have to be somewhere just outside the kraal,when not pulling anything untrained animals never walk but run.The whole job was difficult and dangerous, i found myself twice between the fence and the mad oxen with the yoke across.The first step is to get them yoked and we did it!!.Second step on Monday pulling a load!

animal power

Moving towards one of our GOALS!!
Preparations for animal draft power at forestvale.

our worm farm

We acquired a worm farm!!


Vermicompost is the practice of using worms to turn organic waste into nutrient-laden fertilizer. It is nutritionally more beneficial than plant compost due to the addition of worm excrement, called worm casting.

Vermicomposting is less labor-intensive than traditional plant composting because the worms do almost all of the work. All compost mixes microorganisms, organic matter and nutrients.Worm castings hold beneficial microorganisms longer then traditional compost. Worms can eat up to half of their body weight per day and--under optimal conditions--reproduce quickly, making vermiculture a self-sustaining business. Plus, worms are fun to watch for both kids and

In the United Kingdom, worms are used for vermification, or treating sewage. Unlike traditional sewage treatment plants, worms do not produce biohazardous waste products and save money. Worms studied by Dr. Rajiv Sinha in India and Australia have been shown to remove heavy metals from soil, which he termed vermiremediation.

Besides housing beneficial microorganisms, worm castings protect your plants. Root diseases are reduced; due to the diversity of organisms present, none of them become populous enough to cause damage.

Our worm farm comes in form of three tiered black plastic bins

The middle bin is lined with chicken wire and shredded paper, and a layer of organic waste.The bottom bin is mainly for collecting the "worm wee" and a tape is fitted to it for easy collection of the liquid.we use the top bin when harvesting the "castings" and it also works as a cover for the middle bin with the worms.

We are feeding them most of the kitchen waste except onions,citrus fruits,tomatoes and chillies.We had recently started to add old cow dung as their feed(advised by Nolitha skenjana-Duhne agric research centre Entomologist)

we add 2lt of water 3 times per week into the bin which collects into the bottom of the bin and harvested as "worm wee"-great liquid fertilizer!.We then dillute it to the colour of weak tea and water it to our plants directly.

We are looking forward to have one of the best wormery/vermiculture in the country.

The MEDICINAL importance of Moringa

The possible role of Moringa oleifera in HIV/AIDS supportive treatment.
Burger DJ, Fuglie L, Herzig JW; International Conference on AIDS. Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. F12423.
University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Aims: To present Moringa powder supplementation as an immune stimulant for HIV+ people, particularly those who cannot afford good nutrition and medicines in Africa. Introduction: 70% of all HIV positive people live in sub-Saharan Africa where malnutrition is rife. The collapse of the immune system in an HIV+ individual results in the symptoms of AIDS. It is known that certain elements and vitamins (For example Vit C,E,A elements Zinc, Iron ) can stimulate the immune system and thereby improve the health and lifestyle of an individual for many years. ISSUE: Dried leaf powder from the Moringa oleifera is an excellent nutrient source and can easily supplement basic food intake of African people. Moringa is exceptionally rich in Vit A/[beta] carotene, Vit C, E and key elements including selenium, but also contains almost a full RDA of other nutrients required for a healthy lifestyle. Literature reports support a synergism between Nutrition Acquired Immunodeficiency and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. This suggests that enhanced nutrition (such as that which can be achieved via Moringa) could benefit a person with AIDS. The effects of Moringa powder supplementation are currently under investigation in a phase 1 clinical trial of HIV patients at the Medical Faculty, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. RECOMMENDATION: Moringa dry leaf powder may be a valuable nutrient for the poor communities of Africa by boosting the immune system to fight infections and thereby enhancing the well-being of HIV+ persons.Publication Types:

volunteer programme at Forestvale

comming soon!

forestvale tick-eating dog!!

our dog is somehow permanantly disabled, it can't open its mouth despite several attempts to get experts to help.Tessa's jaws are locked how and why we dont know,only what we know is She has a strange behaviour that goes along with her strange deformity.Tessa understands the logic of ecological interdependence more than most five sensed people.
whenever the Horse comes close to her she moved herself carefully under its belly and with great care tries hard with her lips and front teeth to get every present tick into her mouth.The horse has nothing to worry about as it had discoverd that Tessa can't bite and after all the scretching of her belly and thighs is the best massege and leisure a horse can get on earth.
Vet doctors have advised not to breed Tessa becouse of her deformities and her unclear pedgree but how about having a generation of nonbiting tick eating dogs on organic farms.

hill plouging and rain water harvesting techniq

for maxmum rain water harvesting and soil water conservation in hilly land one can consider the method below.on a slope that decrease 1 in every 4,5 we had decided an managed to produce a contour-farrow like surface throughout the whole field.these closely packed ridges will stop runoff,maxmise infiltration,reduce erosion and enhance easy root penetration.we are still modifying the idea and comments and suggestions are wellcome.crops will planted just on the slope othe ridge and the cover crop may also occupy the flat surface between the ridge.