Strawberries and officalto organic growing govt departments

[Guest guest]

> What seems to be the symptoms of the strawberries demise?

 

We picked up the strawberries from the Govt supplier, who had just dug up

the runners, and it appears clipped the roots somewhat. Each plant had about

2 to 4 leaves.

 

We got 100 at first 50 each of two varieties, tiobelle, and tioga. We

planted the first 100, in composted beds. They never took off, and appeared

to rot at the stems. Maybe we planted them too deep, and the weather was

very wet for many days. The compost was in clumps, cow manure compost, and

it was completely soggy and soaked. I noticed some bugs on the rotting

stems, but I think they were compost type bugs that were going for the

rotted vegetable matter, as opposed to the cause of the problem.

 

We got more strawberries, and planted them without adding compost. We were

also careful not to plant them too deep. These survived much better, but are

not really growing much due to lack of food. We later mulched around them

with compost. They seem to be doing better. Out of the original 100, about 4

or 5 survived.

 

Thanks for the other advice, I will definitely get some rabbits, and also I

am planning on making a chicken tractor.

 

Just today we finally got the guys with the big backhoes who are working

near us, to dig out a pond in the forest for our irrigation source. They dug

a hole about 8 feet square, and I was happy to see that it cut into several

underground water channels which started to fill it up.

 

Next we will erect the windpump!

 

I was asked by the Govt to participate in a working group to formulate

recommendations for them so they can develop an infrastructure for organic

farmers here. Even though I don't know much about organic farming, I have at

least grasped the main ideas, and have the drive to push for it, and I sure

know that we need help. I was thinking that it would be good if the local

agriculture ministry could build links to govt agriculture departments in

places like California, where organic farming is becoming mainstream. We

need help and advice from farmers in warm growing areas. The North of the

country is quite arid, so California techniques might be good for them.

Florida might be able to give advice on humid area farming. I don't know if

organic growing is big in Hawaii, but island climates are similar, and

Hawaii sounds like it has parallels with us. We have 74 climatic zones in

this country, based on altitude, prevailing winds, and topography.

 

Can anyone give me any other ideas, as to who might be best placed in

Governmental terms to advice a newcomer country on organic farming,

certification etc.? They also want to find out about Govt legislation in

this area.

 

Your servant

Samba das