The use of compost tea to lower production costs: |
| The grower, Jako Pieterse illustrates how he lowers fertilizer and pesticide costs with the use of compost tea. Text in Afrikaans. “Kompostee is `n ekstrak van kompos wat gemaak word deur kompos in water te gooi en lug deur te borrel. … My bemestingsprogram vervang net wat deur die oes verwyder word. … `n Vermindering in kalanders, aalwurm, vrugtevlieg en bloedluis is waargeneem.” (05 Jul 2005) |
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Aerated Compost Tea: |
| Aerated Compost Tea (ACT) can be defined as being a water extract of the mineral and nutrient components of good quality compost and any supplementary foodstuffs which may have been added, and which has been aerated in order to maintain the necessary aerobic conditions for the multiplication of the beneficial microorganisms that are resident on such compost. – Mike Benton (05 Jul 2005) |
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Components of spray machines and their effect on micro-organisms: |
| Mike Heath explains how one can limit the damage done to micro-organisms when applied by a spray machine. (05 Jul 2005) |
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Effective Micro-organisms(EM): |
| EM is a multifunctional medium that consists of over 80 different natural and beneficial strains of micro-organisms e.g. Photosynthetic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, fungi and Actinomycetes. - Michael Fell (05 Jul 2005) |
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Mycorrhiza: |
| Dr. Marianne Venter discusses the advantages of innoculating soils with Mycorrhiza. “Mycorrhiza treated trees had significant lower nematodes than the non – treated trees. Mycorrhiza enhanced growth significantly even in the presence of nematodes. It increased Nitrogen (N) Phosphate (P) Potassium (K) Sodium (Na) and Iron (Fe) contents of apple and pear plants even in the presence of nematodes.” (05 Jul 2005) |
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Spray options for conventional, sustainable and organic FRUIT growers – A comparison: |
| A comprehensive table of substitutes for conventional products (05 Jul 2005) |
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Spray options for conventional, sustainable and organic VINE growers – A comparison: |
| A comprehensive table of substitutes for conventional products (05 Jul 2005) |
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Cover crops in vineyards and fruit orchards - Loubser Wille (Agricol) |
| A general recommendation about cover crop options suitable for different soils. (03 Aug 2005) |
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Holistic Management by Jozua Lambrechts |
| The success and sustainability of any situation is determined by making the right decisions at the right time. In fact, our decision-making drives everything we do – from the simplest decisions made almost unconsciously, to the bigger decisions we ponder deeply. Every time we choose, or choose not, to do something this affects the world around us. (09 Nov 2005) |
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THE PRODUCTION AND USES OF VERMICOMPOST
Presented by Nick Bartlett
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| OBJECTIVES OF THIS PRESENTATION
– To impart the enthusiasm for and rewards of vermiculture.
– To provide sufficient information on the requirements of earthworms.
– To look at some possibilities on harvesting techniques,
– To discuss the various uses of vermicompost.
(05 Dec 2005) |
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Soil Biology presented by P.J. Raath, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University |
| The health of the rhizosphere determines to a large extent the health of the vine, particularly its roots system. Many chemicals affect it and as a result, soil conditions that contributes to the rapid restoration of the rihzosphere ecosystem benefits the health and performance of the vine. A high microbial activity in the soil, maintained by the presence of organic matter, is the crucial aspect. (28 May 2006) |
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Soil Fertility by Dr. Jan Jacobs |
| This lecture aims to serve as an introduction to all aspects important to soil fertility (15 Jul 2006) |
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Calsium - The Master Mineral by Rosemary Oosthuizen
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| In this article you will find everything you need or would want to know about calcium. It is a brilliant, fascinating and very valuable exposition on the vital role calcium plays in soil fertility and plant production (12 Jun 2007) |
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The Albrecht method of chemical balancing by Rosemary Oosthuizen |
| Rosemary compares the Albrecht method to normal soil analysis (12 Jun 2007) |
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Is global climate change becoming a regional issue? Perspectives for fruit production in the Western Cape
By Stephanie J.E. Wand, Dept of Horticultural Science, University of Stellenbosch
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| The evidence for a changing global climate is now beyond reasonable doubt, and regional warming temperature trends are evident in South Africa, and perceptibly so in the Western Cape. This article explores the implications of the confirmed international science consensus, the projections for climate change over the Western Cape Province up to the 2030s, and elaborates some implications for fruit production in the region. If effective adaptation strategies are implemented progressively over the next few years at both farm and provincial planning level, there is a good chance that negative effects on the agricultural economy can to a large degree be controlled over this time period. (13 Jul 2007) |
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Biochar - Eddie Vienings – Project Engineer for Sustainable Business at Colors Fruit |
| (08 Dec 2009) |
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Backsberg en koolstofneutraliteit |
| Michael is die derde generasie Back op Backsberg en is hoofsaaklik ‘n wynboer, maar boer ook met spesialiteitsvrugte op ‘n kleiner skaal. Ongeveer 5-6 jaar gelede het hy baie gelees oor klimaatsverandering en begin nadink oor die toestand van sy plaas en wat hy aan sy seun kan nalaat. (14 Jan 2010) |
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Boidynamic Farming |
| Biodynamc Farming concept explained (21 May 2010) |
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Erdwurmkompos - Willem Joubert |
| Hy kom oorspronklik van ‘n piesangplaas in Hazeyview waar hy ‘n plaasaanval oorleef het en ook op ‘n stadium die plaas verloor het weens ‘n grondeis. Sy betrokkenheid by essensiële olies (“Australian Tee Tree”) het hom in die erdwurms geïnterresseerd gekry. Sy opleiding is in die Mikrobiologie en Biochemie. Vermo Technologies is 11 jaar gelede gebore. Hulle maak erdwurmkompos op groot skaal in windrye uit rou mis en strooi. (14 Jun 2010) |
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Permaculture Workshop 6 May 2011 |
| (20 May 2011) |
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PERMACULTURE |
| Hazel and Andrew had been involved in permaculture for at least five years. It all started when she obtained a small farm in the Stilbaai area. The main “crops” at that stage were devil thorn and rooikrans. The rest of the soil was barren and really hard and rock-like. Hazel was faced with a multitude of problems: How to make a living from this bare and seemingly barren soil without labour. She decided against the advice of chemicals, chemicals and once more chemicals – which she couldn’t afford in any case. (20 May 2011) |
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| (10 Aug 2011) |
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Organic paradigm |
| Commercial agriculuture is product driven with the farmer as a pawn in the hands of big industries. Organic agriculture (agro-ecosystems and many other names) is systems driven. With a healthy soil and healthy plants, only water and sunlight should be added. (10 Aug 2011) |
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Biodynamic farming explained |
| This approach to farming is based on the work done mostly by Dr. Rudolph Steiner in the 1920’s.
The farm is seen as part of the whole cosmos. Farm is part of the region, region is part of the province, and province is part of the country, etc. etc.
(10 Aug 2011) |
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