IDEA OF THE DAY! Social Infrastructure!

The increase building on the former Caroni (1975) Ltd. properties will have some significant impacts on communities as well as on the environment. People as a species do not deal well with changes when there is not control over it. 

As part of the development and planning process, and in order to improve public support, enhance the environment and make the area more livable, why not build in social infrastructure projects?

It does not need to be a huge investment, or even particularly expensive. By giving people a place to gather, to socialize and play creates a wonderful sense of community and strengthens communities. It gives a safe place for children to learn to be healthy and move and gives parents a place to enjoy too. 

One only needs to look across the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain any afternoon, or weekend or evening to see the social benefits of such social infrastructure. It's a gift left for us to enjoy from earlier generations. 

What are we leaving the Trinidad's children to enjoy tomorrow?

Idea of the Day! The Edible School Yard

One key concern people have voiced is the younger generation's the lack of interest in agriculture.

A woman in California has been doing some very interesting work with a program called the Edible School Yard.

For a nice video on it click here.

So many kids get excited about growing things when they have a way to do it, and to be part of it. 

Idea of the Day! Bamboo!

In the US and Europe in the past decade there has been a major drive to use sustainably harvested wood, and renewable fibers. Bamboo has been the leader and even bamboo clothing has become quite popular. 

While I realize that different cultivars of bamboo have different uses, this may be a very sustainable and very lucrative crop, especially in areas which are more flood prone.

Additionally, a benefit of bamboo is the amount of Carbon is sequesters (captures) because carbon sequestration is bound to be a big issue in the coming months and years.

For more information on bamboo as a crop for use see EcoDesignz and Sustainable Flooring

Idea of the Day! Retention Ponds!

We are playing a bit of catch up here today folks - not because there is a lack of ideas, but rather because the ideas are now coming in fast and furious!

A key issue for the newly developing agricultural sector will be the need for water for irrigation. Cane can rely on being rainfed, but new food crops will need water.

The full water system in Trinidad will not be immediately able to address these needs, so other alternatives should be considered. The over all rainfall for T&T is quite high, and with Climate Change predictions of more rainfall, but with increasing intensity, there are significant concerns about erosion and how the rain can be harvested.

We've addressed this earlier, however, for agriculture, retention ponds, with over flow areas and trees planted to reduce wind and sun based evaporation could be real solution!!

The soil in the Caroni lands with the heavy clay soil are excellent for retention ponds and can provide some much needed havens for beneficial wildlife as well. It's a win-win situation!

Idea of the Day! Grow Organic

There has been a recent movement in Trinidad and Tobago to build an organic production and certification coalition.

SEA Agroeconomist, Glenroy Ennis has recently attended a meeting in Port of Spain with proponents of this movement who are linking with the Organic Initiative for a Sustainable Caribbean, the organization responsible for getting Jamaican organic farmers certified.

Certified Organic give consumers assurances that the products are produced sustainably. AND it increases the asking price for fresh and processed produce, especially in the export markets!
(For local markets it may be another issue - especially if demand can be assessed!)

Idea of the Day! Double Digging a Garden Bed for better crops!

Today we had a very informative and productive meeting with some of the great folks down in Caroni (1975) Ltd. HQ in Couva. The meeting today was to go over baseline data. Kudos to the team for collecting some great data and for some very productive brainstorming!

Sugar as a carbon sink, climate change and goats for clearing lands were all fodder for discussions. A lot of great ideas came out of it and we are looking into them.

One idea that came up on the drive home is the technique called "double digging" a garden. It helps root crops thrive and also is great for soil remediation. One example is here, and another how to is here.

The soils here have some challenges. This technique could definitely be a way to over come some of the challenges, improve soil quality, and produce hardier crops!

Idea of the Day! Dig a Swale

The rainy dry season is inspirational around here. 

Water rushing down channels isn't getting into the aquifers and instead everything every where is paved... or at least it seems that way.

When putting in new developments, for agriculture, housing, industry, or other building sites, why not put in swales. Swales capture surface run off and send it into the aquifers, both nourishing soils and reducing erosion. The berms make great fertile planting beds too!

They cost almost nothing and can have a big impact on the potable water availability throughout the country.

For more information on how to do this see wikihow's How to dig a swale

Idea of the Day! 12 Simple Things

Today's Idea of the Day comes from UNDP

Climate change issues are significant and as we have a huge downpour here in Maraval it seems that the dry season is not so dry this year. Yes, it keeps bush fires down this year, but whether it is epic flooding or disastrous droughts, freak snow storms or blistering heat waves we are seeing a change in our climate. 

As a friend in Canada once said to me "It used to be that people talked about the weather. Now people talk about how the weather used to be."

There is a great article in the New York Times this week by Daniel Friedman about "Nature's Dow" about how we are in a global environmental crisis as well as a global economic crisis. Read the article here.

And because we need to look at solutions, see the UNDP's 12 Simple Things. Small changes can have big results IF enough people will join in. 

Are you willing to part of the solution?

Idea of the Day! COCOA!

We spent a great day at the Coffee an Cocoa Research Center as part of the Roundtable for Sustainable Cocoa Economy meeting. At the field trip we learned about how cocoa is grown, different varieties, how it is processed, graded and some of the challenges that impact cocoa. (Witches broom = bad)

Our field trip was informative and gave each of the team a chance to get a feel for what is needed for cocoa cultivation. Trinidad produces very high grade "fine" cocoa which was described in symphonic terms by one of the experts from the Roundtable.  And it draws much higher prices on the market than bulk cocoas. 

From our informal interviews with the experts from the Roundtable, cocoa as a cash crop for Trinidad has a promising future. Demand remains steady throughout economic ups and downs, and is due to increase as chocolate becomes more broadly consumed in China and India.

Environmentally, cocoa requires a good deal of water, but because it can be intercropped with other sustenance crops, and produces a lot of good mulching materials it can be a good crop and potentially quite lucrative. 

Thanks to the Roundtable for a Sustainable Cocoa Economy, and the organizers for a great day!!

 

Idea of the Day! Bee Keeping

The increase in food crops, including vegetables, fruits and nuts will need pollinators!!

Bee keeping may be an option for some who want to provide support to the increased in food security.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources has a registration site and a potential for agro-tourism!

Idea of the Day! RAIN BARRELS!

Today's great idea came from a Friend of the SEA who suggested that rain barrels should be distributed to households with guttering to capture rainwater. 

Used throughout the Caribbean to capture rainwater in areas with less rainfall or brackish groundwater, rain barrels can play and important role in providing water during the dry season to water household gardens, wash cars, wash clothes, and used for toilet water. It's also great for washing your hair with!

You can watch a video on how to make a rain barrel system here.

And of course wikipedia has a lot to say here.

Simple, easy to install, and if enough people would use them, flooding could be reduced and valuable water resources could be conserved!!

Do you have an idea of the day? Please send to dr.mary.matthews@gmail.com

Idea of the Day!

For the Idea of the Day, some stakeholders have suggested that there is a need to improve the image of eating locally produced foods!

A social marketing campaign may be an ideal way to do this, as more variety of fresh, sustainably grown crops come on the market. 

Social marketing can be used to change behavior for the public good, as well as for individual benefits. It is used in public health campaigns to stop smoking, to reduce the spread of some diseases, to improve environmental conditions, and to raise over all awareness. The focus is on helping people to make a small change for an overall larger benefit. (Think recycling, or anti-littering campaigns). 

Stay tuned for tomorrow's idea of the day!!

Idea of the Day!

In order to stimulate our collective thinking, we are launching the "Idea of the Day" segment!

Your contributions are welcome!!

For today, we start with Vermicomposting - using worms to break down organic matter and create GREAT SOIL.

Some articles worth exploring are: 

From the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service

and  a comprehensive article from Wikipedia

Please send us your ideas and we'll add them too!