Developing Partnerships

I dream of the day when our Jatropha farm in Burundi, Africa is planted and produces the first crop. We are now less than two months away from planting. God willing, a year from now we will be harvesting seed, although it will take up to five years to reach full yields. It’s all about patience and prayer – plenty of prayer.

The photo below is from the Costa Rica Seed Company farm in Tarcoles where I will be getting my first batch of cuttings. They will ship out in mid-June. Note the small Papaya plant in the foreground. Intercropping other plants is common and is something we plan to do as well.

 

I believe that strong partnerships are critical to the success of a venture such as this. That is why I continually search for organizations to partner with. Recently I discovered an organization called Destiny Florida. They are located not far from central Florida. Billed as America’s first Eco-Sustainable City, they would make a good partner for sharing technology and ideas. Next week I have a telecon with them to discuss their progress to date. I hope to visit them in the near future.

Soil Analysis

Last week I spoke with an agronomist to get a better idea of what to look for in the soil analysis. He gave me the following information:

1. Determine your soil type (sand, loam, clay or a mix). This will help determine irrigation time.

2. Determine the pH of the soil. Jatropha grows best in soil that has a pH of about 6.8. However, it is best to measure the pH where other Jatropha is growing naturally and use the data for comparison.

3. Test the soil for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels. You can also test for micronutrients, although this is not essential.

Armed with this information, we will begin soil testing soon and use this data to help determine fertilization and irrigation requirements.

- John

Mark 11:23-24

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