Rice seedlings just after they were planted in June. A single seedling is transplanted at an even spacing of 25cm x25cm and at just 2 weeks after the seed is planted in a seedling bed. This is a few of the basic principles of planting rice in a method called the System of Rice Intensification aka SRI. With SRI you also water the rice and keep the ground moist but not flooded and it also requires more weeding, since it is not flooded and the water can't keep the weeds down.

With this method Farmers around the world are increasing their yields substantially. Scientist are still debating whether it is the actual method or just that the farmers are taking better care of their rice as to the reason for the increase in yield.

This is the same paddy as it is growing. We have two replications of 8 different varieties planted here.

The rice as it is ready to harvest.

Just before harvest.

Me in the partially harvested paddy. We had to harvest each replication of each variety separate and only the inside of each block leaving the guard rows for later, so we can evaluate how well each of the varieties produced.

OK so I am finally updating my blog again.

This is an example of building a raised bed & transplanting sweet potatoes.

Michelle helped me build and plant this bed in August.

We started with this weedy broken down bed and set strings at the proper width for the bed and then placed the dirt outside the string back on top of the bed.

Then you spread the dirt, pack it down and the you end up with this beautiful bed.

To plant the sweet potato we took cuttings from the terminal ends of the sweet potato vines and stuck them in the ground.

Last but not least we put down new paper and mulch to keep the weeds down.

Here are our cuttings a couple of weeks later. Now they have filled the bed and are spilling over into the beds on either side of them.

El Salvador

We went to El Salvador for an agricultural conference and on our last day there we got to climb a volcano!

Carlos (yellow shirt) was our ride to the volcano and Beth (the intern coordinator)

Danny and Keith

Phoebe & Jason

Danny at the top

Church in the town square of Suchitoto 

Heidi riding in the back of a pick up truck on the way to the volcano

Heidi & Phobe

Volcanic crater lake

Phoebe and I making candy, a micro-enterprise of a couple of local ladies.

80's Night

Debbie and I in our 80's outfits at an 80's theme party to say good bye to the Fishes.

Joanna and Nathaniel

Nathaniel Fish

Randy and Amy Fish

Rhoda, Debbie, Joanna,Phoebe

Phoebe & Debbie

Eric looks a bit creepy as and 80's Dude

Hot Chicks

Heidi should do 80's more often it suits her.

Jason and Jenna the happy couple stuck in the 80's

A Bit of This Month on the Farm

One of our Rabbits with a cheesy smile

Debbie out standing in her Field

We have had two work teams this month and we have accomplished a lot of work.

Here is John Hanson, Rachael and myself replacing the very rotten roof on the rabbit hutch.

Rachael and I are thinking of going into the roofing business together.

Mike Stuart, John Hanson, and Rachael tearing the roof off.

A couple of workteamers sifting compost.

This was a study afternoon in which the interns were learning about different methods of grinding grain with affordable technology. This is  a stone grinder.

Weekend with the Birds

I had a great weekend with a family from my home church, the Birds, about 3 weeks ago. They were vacationing in Cape Canaveral and I was able to drive over and spend some time with them. 

John and Becca

Joseph is ready to go to the Beach!

Sean playing catch with Hannah

John being mischievous at the library

Playing shuffle board

Betsy at the Beach

Lydia

Hannah

Miriam