Organic farmer.qxp
11/16/2005
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The Organic Farmer Dear farmers,
Farmers lose a lot due to poor storage.
(Photo courtesy of ICIPE)
Early harvesting and good storage can reduce losses and increase earnings for farmers. The Organic Farmer
Early harvesting is the answer
In this issue Working for African Farmers Page 2 Importance of Nitrogen Page 3 Associated plants Page 8
See page 3
This is the last issue of the The Organic Farmer this year. In the last 12 months, many of you have faced a number of challenges in your efforts to increase agricultural production, both for food selfsufficiency and for sale. Despite it being the festive season, many farmers are already engaged in harvesting maize and related food crops. That's why we have given additional tips on maize storage. It will be most unfortunate if farmers lose their precious crop after working so hard during the last 12 months. Now the year is coming to an end. What does it mean to you? First of all it is helpful and always important that farmers take stock of failures and achievements. This gives you an opportunity to evaluate yourself so as to perform even better in the coming year to avoid the same mistakes. The decisions you make today will have consequences tomorrow. After selling farm produce, farmers need to focus sharply on the tasks ahead. A lot of financial requirements will be waiting for you, such as land preparation, farm inputs and even paying school fees in the month of January. You may also have various debts that need to be settled. All these obligations mean that you have to plan properly in order to meet all these responsibilities. Everyyear farmerswho do not prepare their activities carefully are caught up in a vicious cycle of problems. Planning is an important step to avoid troubles later in the year. Careful choice of what to plant and where to plant is essential; not all plants like each other, as you can see on page 8. If a particular crop has not done well this year, the farmer has to find out the reason for the failure and make the necessary changes - of course not forgetting what the market demands. We arelookingforward to a fruitfuland rewarding relationship with you in the coming year. We should not forget that agriculture is the backbone of this country's economy. Let us work togetherto increase production in a sustainable way that uplifts the living standards of our people. We wish all our readers and their families a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
Organic farmer.qxp
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The Organic Farmer
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MY OPINION
By John Miriti
Whenever I introduce myself as a farmer to other people, the reaction I get is that of somebody who is way down the career ladder. This is despite the fact that we farmers play a very important role in Kenya's economy. We should be proud of our occupation and let other people know this fact. It is from the work of our hands that millions of our people get something to eat. Otherwise they would not survive. Farmers are hardworking and self-employed. It is so satisfying to work on the land. It is what makes me to be proud as a farmer.
John Miriti is farmer in Meru.
The Organic Farmer Nr. 8, December 2005 The Organic Farmer is an independent newspaper for the Kenyan farming community. It promotes organic farming and supports discussions on all aspects of sustainable development. The Organic Farmer is published monthly by ICIPE and distributed free to farmers. The reports of The Organic Farmer do not necessarily reflect the views of ICIPE. The Organic Farmer is sponsored by BioVision, a Swiss based foundation for the promotion of sustainable development. www.biovision.ch Publisher International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) P.O.Box 30772, 00100 Nairobi KENYA Tel. +254 20 863 2000 e-mail: icipe@icipe.org homepage: http://www.icipe.org Editors Peter Kamau, Peter Baumgartner Secretariat Lucy W. Macharia Advisory Board Dr. Bernhard Lรถhr, ICIPE Dr. Nguya Maniania, ICIPE Dr. Fritz Schulthess, ICIPE Address The Organic Farmer P.O.Box 14352, 00800 Nairobi KENYA Tel. 020 445 03 98 e-mail : info@organickenya.com Layout: In-A-Vision Systems(k)
+%+2' CUUKUVKPI #HTKECP HCTOGTU ICIPE will strengthen the cooperation with African universities to promote agriculture in Africa. The Organic farmer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
Dr. Christian Borgemeister IQQF CPF VJG DGPGHKV QH VJG RGQRNG KP #HTKEC CPF GURGEKCNN[ HQT VJG #HTKECP HCTOGTU 6JCV KU YJ[ &T $QTIGOGKUVGT CVVTKDWVGU C ITGCV XCNWG VQ VJG PGYURCRGT The Organic Farmer RWDNKUJGF D[ +%+2' 5EKGPVKUVU ECP UJCTG VJGKT MPQYNGFIG YKVJ VJG HCTOGTU CPF VJG HCTOGTU ECP UGG VJG EQOOKVOGPV QH VJG UEKGPVKUVU YJGP VJG[ CTG VT[KPI VQ UQNXG VJG HCTOGTlU RTQDNGOU Fight against malaria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lU OKUUKQP KU VQ JGNR CNNGXKCVG RQXGTV[ GPUWTG HQQF UGEWTKV[ CPF KORTQXG VJG QXGTCNN JGCNVJ UVCVWU QH RGQRNGU QH VJG VTQRKEU D[ FGXGNQRKPI CPF GZVGPFKPI OCPCIGOGPV VQQNU CPF UVTCVGIKGU HQT JCTOHWN CPF WUGHWN CTVJTQRQFU YJKNG RTGUGTXKPI VJG PCVWTCN TGUQWTEG DCUG VJTQWIJ TGUGCTEJ CPF ECRCEKV[ DWKNFKPI 6JQUG CTG EJCNNGPIKPI IQCNU UC[U &T $QTIGOGKUVGT GURGEKCNN[ YJGP YG NQQM CV CNN QH VJGO VQIGVJGT $WV VJG GHHQTV KU YQTVJYJKNG
Organic farmer.qxp
11/16/2005
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The Organic Farmer
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(CTOGTU ECP GCUKN[ TGFWEG UVQTCIG NQUUGU With simple storage measures farmers can keep away pests and can avoid the destruction of their precious harvest . By The Organic Farmer *CTXGUVKPI CV VJG TKIJV VKOG CPF WUKPI VJG CRRTQRTKCVG UVQTCIG OGVJQFU ECP ITGCVN[ TGFWEG NQUUGU FWG VQ KPUGEV RGUVU TQFGPVU CPF FGXGNQROGPV QH OQWNF 6JGUG CTG VJG DKIIGUV VJTGCVU VQ HCTOGTU KP VJGKT GHHQTVU VQ IGV C IQQF JCTXGUV #U YG YTQVG QP RCIG HCTOGTU UJQWNF GPUWTG OCK\G KU JCTXGUVGF KOOGFKCVGN[ KV OCVWTGU 9JCV GNUG ECP VJG[ FQ VQ UCXG VJGKT OCK\G! Careful preparation Sorting: 6JG ETQR UJQWNF DG UQTVGF VQ TGOQXG VJG EQDU VJCV JCXG CNTGCF[ DGGP FCOCIGF D[ KPUGEVU CPF OKNFGY
OQWNF 5VWFKGU JCXG UJQYP VJCV UQTVKPI JGNRU VQ TGFWEG VJG COQWPV QH FCOCIG D[ WR VQ RGTEGPV Drying: +V KU CNYC[U IQQF VQ FT[ OCK\G DGHQTG KV KU UVQTGF /CK\G EQDU UJQWNF DG NGHV VQ FT[ KP VJG UWP HQT CV NGCUV QPG QT VYQ FC[U Shelling: #PQVJGT UVGR VQ RTQVGEV OCK\G KU VQ UJGNN KV 5JGNNKPI KU VJG DGUV YC[ VQ EJGEM RGUV FCOCIG 2GUVU RTGHGT OCK\G YJKNG KV KU UVKNN QP VJG EQD DGECWUG KV KU GCUKGT HQT VJGO VQ OQXG CTQWPF VJG EQDU +H C HCTOGT JCU VQ CRRN[ RGUVKEKFGU KV KU OQTG GHHGEVKXG KP UJGNNGF OCK\G #HVGT UJGNNKPI OCK\G UJQWNF DG FTKGF KP VJG UWP HQT VQ FC[U 6JKU UJQWNF DTKPI VJG OQKUVWTG EQPVGPV VQ RGTEGPV YJKEJ KU VJG DGUV OQKUVWTG NGXGN HQT NQPI VGTO UVQTCIG Storage: +H [QW JCXG VQ DWKNF C UVQTG KV UJQWNF JCXG CFGSWCVG URCEG HQT CKT EKTEWNCVKQP CV VJG NQYGT GPF CPF GXGP OQTG URCEG KP VJG WRRGT RCTV +PFGGF VJG UVQTG UJQWNF JCXG CV NGCUV VQ RGTEGPV QRGP URCEG HQT VJG UVQTGF EGTGCNU VQ FT[ RTQRGTN[ 6JG UVQTG RNCVHQTO UJQWNF DG TCKUGF WR VQ QT HGGV QT OGVTG QHH VJG ITQWPF VQ CNNQY HQT CKT EKTEWNCVKQP &Q PQV HQTIGV VJCV CKT EKTEWNCVKQP FKUEQWTCIGU RGUVU YJKEJ NKMG C YCTO GPXKTQPOGPV +H [QW WUG C UVQTG YJKEJ KU CNTGCF[ DWKNV VJQTQWIJ ENGCPKPI KU TGEQOOGPFGF 6JKU YKNN GPUWTG VJCV CNN TGOCKPU QH VJG RTGXKQWU JCTXGUV YJKEJ EQWNF DG KPHGUVGF D[ YGGXKNU CTG TGOQXGF CPF FGUVTQ[GF 9GGXKNU TGUKFG KP ETCEMU KP VJG YQQF KP VJG UVQTG 6JG[ ECP UWTXKXG VJGTG WPVKN VJG PGZV JCTXGUV CPF VJGTGHQTG PGGF VQ DG TGOQXGF DGHQTG HTGUJ ITCKP KU UVQTGF Fumigation: (CTOGTU CTG CFXKUGF VQ
This type of maize storage encourages pests HWOKICVG VJG UVQTGU DGHQTG UVQTCIG
HWOKICVKQP KU VJG WUG QH EJGOKECN HWOGU VQ MKNN RGUVU (WOKICVKQP VCDNGVU CTG CXCKNCDNG KP CITQ XGVGTKPCT[ UVQTGU Methods of pest control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
Photo courtesy of Helvitas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
SWCPVKVKGU KP 5QWVJ #HTKEC CPF -GP[C XGT[ HGY #HTKECP HCTOGTU WUG KV HQT RGUV EQPVTQN Application (CTOGTU ECP CRRN[ MI QH VJG FWUV VQ VQPPG QH OCK\G DCTNG[ YJGCV QCVU TKEG QT UQTIJWO FKTGEVN[ KPVQ VJG UVQTGF ITCKP CPF OKZ + YKVJ C UJQXGN 6JG QWVGT UWTHCEG QH VJG ITCKP KU EQXGTGF YKVJ VJG FWUV YKVJ VJG EQORQWPF CV VJG VKOG QH UVQTCIG VQ GTCFKECVG QT UVQR CP[ RGUVU HTQO FCOCIKPI VJG ITCKPU +P -GP[C &KCVQOKVG KU OKPGF CV VJG #HTKECP &KCVQOKVG +PFWUVTKGU CV -CTKCPFWUK KP )KNIKN CPF KU UQNF WPFGT VJG DTCPF PCOG -GPUKN ( 6JG EQUV KU CDQWV -UJ MI +PVGTGUVGF HCTOGTU ECP IGV KP VQWEJ YKVJ VJG EQORCP[ CV VJG CFFTGUU DGNQY #HTKECP &KCVQOKVG +PFWUVTKGU 2 1 $QZ )KNIKN 6GN TOF
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The Organic Farmer
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(CTOGTU DGPGHKV HTQO ITQYVJ CEVKXCVQT The activator is helping farmers get better results and strengthen plants to withstand diseases and even pests. By Peter Kamau, Kangema +H CP[ QPG YGTG VQ ENCKO VJCV QTICPKE KPRWVU UWEJ CU EQORQUV CTG UNQY KP RTQOQVKPI RNCPV ITQYVJ EQORCTGF VQ EJGOKECN HGTVKNK\GTU [GCT QNF 4QUGOCT[ 0[CODWTC YQWNF NCWIJ KV QHH 6JG OQVJGT QH UKZ EJKNFTGP KU COQPI JWPFTGFU QH HCTOGTU KP EGPVTCN RTQXKPEG CPF VJG TGUV QH VJG EQWPVT[ YJQ JCXG FKUEQXGTGF VJG WUG QH 'HHGEVKXG /KETQQTICPKUOU '/ C UQNWVKQP QH DGPGHKEKCN DCEVGTKC VJCV JGNR VQ URGGF WR VJG FGEQORQUKVKQP QH QTICPKE OCVVGT YJKNG TGNGCUKPI GUUGPVKCN PWVTKGPVU HQT WUG D[ RNCPVU 6JG '/ VGEJPQNQI[ KU EJCPIKPI HQTVWPGU HQT OCP[ HCTOGTU YJQ CTG PQY WUKPI KV HQT OCP[ RWTRQUGU QP VJG HCTO VQ KPETGCUG RTQFWEVKQP Compost decays faster $GHQTG O[ EQORQUV WUGF VQ VCMG VQ OQPVJU VQ FGEQORQUG YJGP + CRRN[ '/ KV VCMGU QPN[ OQPVJ /[ ETQRU CTG JGCNVJKGT CPF VJG [KGNF JCU KPETGCUGF EQPUKFGTCDN[ UC[U 0[CODWTC 6QIGVJGT YKVJ QVJGT OGODGTU QH VJG 0IQGKPK -CP[GP[CKPK 0IQMC 5GNH *GNR )TQWR 0[CODWTC JCF DGGP KPVTQFWEGF VQ WUKPI QTICPKE OQFG QH RTQFWEVKQP DCEM KP 6JGP VJG ITQWR YCU ITQYKPI #TCDKEWO HNQYGTU QTICPKECNN[ YKVJ HCTO[CTF OCPWTG 5JG NCVGT CDCPFQPGF HNQYGT ITQYKPI FWG VQ VJG RQQT RTKEGU QHHGTGF D[ OKFFNGOGP +V YCU VJGP VJCV C DWUKPGUUOCP HTQO -KTKCKPK OCTMGV VCWIJV VJGO JQY VQ WUG '/ 5JG CVVGPFGF UGXGTCN VTCKPKPI UGUUKQPU WPVKN UJG DGECOG EQPXGTUCPV YKVJ EQORQUV OCMKPI CPF RTGRCTCVKQP QH (GTOGPVGF 2NCPV 'ZVTCEVU (2' WUKPI VJG CEVKXCVQT Yield has increased (TQO VJGP HCTOKPI JCU PGXGT DGGP VJG UCOG CICKP HQT 0[CODWTC 6QFC[
Dear farmers, 5Q OCP[ HCTOGTU CTG ECNNKPI YKVJ GPSWKTKGU QP YJGTG VJG[ ECP DW[ QTICPKE HGTVKNK\GTU CPF ITQYVJ CEVKXCVQTU UWEJ CU RJ[OKZ DKQ CNIGPG PGGO CPF '/ CU YGNN $GIKPPKPI ,CPWCT[ The Organic Farmer YKNN ECTT[ C UGTKGU QH CTVKENGU IKXKPI FGVCKNU KPENWFKPI KPUVTWEVKQPU QP VJGKT RTQRGT WUCIG +H [QW JCXG CP[ SWGUVKQPU RNGCUG HQTYCTF VJGO VQ WU CPF YG YKNN VT[ VQ TGURQPF
Rosemary Nyambura shows her healthy passion fruits. (Photo TOF) UJG KU QPG QH VJG OQUV UWEEGUUHWN HWVWTG RWTEJCUGU HCTOGTU KP -CPIGOC FKXKUKQP QH 6JG IQQF VJKPI YKVJ QTICPKE /WTCPIC FKUVTKEV 6JG ETQRU KP JGT HCTOKPI KU VJCV + WUG OCVGTKCN YJKEJ KU CETG HCTO UJQY YJCV VJG CEVKXCVQT ECP TGCFKN[ CXCKNCDNG QP VJG HCTO 6JG FQ VQ ETQRU KH KV KU RTQRGTN[ WUGF *GT RTQDNGO YKVJ OCP[ HCTOGTU YJQ WUG CETG OCTMGV ICTFGP KU KPVGTETQRRGF EJGOKECN HGTVKNK\GTU CPF RGUVKEKFGU KU YKVJ JGCNVJ[ RCUUKQP HTWKVU QPKQPU VJCV VJG[ FQ PQV UKV FQYP VQ HKPF QWV VWTPKRU EQWTIGVVGU ECDDCIGU VJG EQUV QH VJGUG KPRWVU +H VJG[ FKF UWMWOCYKMK ECRUKEWOU CPF KORTQXGF VJG[ YQWNF FKUEQXGT VJCV EQPXGPVKQPCN RWORMKPU # JCNH CETG KU TGUGTXGF HQT CITKEWNVWTG KU OWEJ OQTG GZRGPUKXG OCK\G YJKNG VJG WRRGT UGEVKQP KU C UJG UC[U ECVVNG UJGF YKVJ FCKT[ EQYU VJCV Marketing organics a big problem RTQXKFG HCTO[CTF OCPWTG YJKNG VJG 0QY VJG OCKP JCPFKECR HQT VJG ITQWR TGOCKPKPI CETGU CTG WPFGT VGC KU HKPFKPI OCTMGV HQT VJGKT XGIGVCDNGU 5JG JCU UGGP C ITGCV KORTQXGOGPV #NVJQWIJ VJG[ JCXG RTQFWEGF SWCNKV[ QP VJG RTQFWEVKXKV[ QH VJG XCTKQWU XGIGVCDNGU CPF HTWKVU HQT VJG NCUV HKXG ETQRU QP VJG HCTO + WUGF VQ JCTXGUV [GCTU PQV C UKPING DW[GT JCU GZRTGUUGF QPN[ DCIU QH OCK\G NCUV [GCT + IQV CP KPVGTGUV KP VJGO #U C TGUWNV VJG[ CTG DCIU QP VJG UCOG RKGEG QH NCPF /[ HQTEGF VQ EQORGVG YKVJ EQPXGPVKQPCNN[ ECDDCIGU PQY YGKIJ CP CXGTCIG QH ITQYP UWDUVKVWVGU MI CRKGEG 6JG OQUV KPVGTGUVKPI VJKPI Need for certification YKVJ QTICPKE HCTOKPI KU VJCV VJG [KGNF )GQHHTG[ -KTCIW CPQVJGT OGODGT MGGRU QP KPETGCUKPI GXGT[ [GCT $[ UC[U VJCV YKVJ VJG PGY OGVJQF QH GCVKPI QTICPKE HQQFU O[ JGCNVJ JCU QTICPKE RTQFWEVKQP VJG ITQWR KU CDNG KORTQXGF VQQ UJG UC[U VQ UWRRN[ CP[ SWCPVKV[ QH QTICPKECNN[ 9KVJ VJG GZVTCEV UJG JCU OCPCIGF VQ ITQYP KVGOU *G UCKF VJG[ JCF EQPVTQN OCP[ RGUVU CPF FKUGCUGU VJCV TGURQPFGF VQ CP CFXGTVKUGOGPV KP The YGTG FKHHKEWNV VQ EQPVTQN GXGP YKVJ Organic Farmer D[ 5W -CJWODW VJG EJGOKECNU #PQVJGT DKI CFXCPVCIG UJG HCTOGT HTQO .KOWTW YJQ ITQYU CPF JCU FKUEQXGTGF YKVJ VJG WUG QH '/ KU UWRRNKGU QTICPKE XGIGVCDNGU VQ NQECN VJCV ETQR TGUKFWGU URTC[GF YKVJ VJG UWRGTOCTMGVU 5JG CNUQ CPUYGTU UQNWVKQP FGEQORQUG HCUV 6JG TGUKFWG HCTOGTU SWGUVKQPU QP RCIG KU TGCFKN[ EQPXGTVGF KPVQ SWCNKV[ -CJWODW JCF CFXKUGF VJGO VJCV HQT EQORQUV VJCV ECPPQV VTCPUHGT FKUGCUGU VJGKT RTQFWEVU VQ DG CEEGRVGF CU HTQO QPG ETQR VQ VJG PGZV 5JG JCU QTICPKE VJGKT HCTOU JCXG VQ DG CNUQ TGFWEGF VJG PWODGT QH ETQR KPURGEVGF D[ SWCNKHKGF QTICPKE HCTOKPI TQVCVKQP E[ENGU KP GCEJ RQTVKQP QH NCPF GZRGTVU YJQ YQWNF VJGP IKXG VJGO C 6JKU KU DGECWUG VJG UQKN HGTVKNKV[ KU EGTVKHKECVG VQ UJQY VJCV VJGKT OGVJQFU OCKPVCKPGF CPF GPJCPEGF YJKNG QH RTQFWEVKQP OGGV VJG TGSWKTGF FKUGCUGU CPF RGUVU CTG EQPVTQNNGF KPVGTPCVKQPCN UVCPFCTFU HQT QTICPKE Local material HQQFU $WV -KTCIW UC[U VJG[ FQ PQV 6JG OGODGTU EQNNGEV OQPG[ CPF WPFGTUVCPF VJG RTQEGFWTGU KPXQNXGF QT DW[ VJG '/ LQKPVN[ C NKVTG EQUVU -UJ VJG RGQRNG YJQ RTQXKFG EGTVKHKECVKQP VJG[ VJGP RTGRCTG VJG (2' CU C UGTXKEGU ITQWR CPF WUG KV KP VJGKT KPFKXKFWCN 1WT RTQDNGO KU LWUV VJG OCTMGV 9G HCTOU 6JG TGOCKPKPI ECUJ KU JQRG VJCV QPG FC[ YG YKNN DG CDNG VQ FGRQUKVGF KP VJG ITQWRlU CEEQWPV HQT UGNN NQECNN[ CPF GXGP GZRQTV JG CFFU
Organic farmer.qxp
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The Organic Farmer
9J[ PKVTQIGP KU IQQF HQT OCK\G
Maize planted in soil with high nitrogen UEKGPVKUVU FKUEQXGTGF VJCV OCK\G KP VJG does not only grow better, it is TQVCVKQP U[UVGO KK JCF VKOGU more resistant against the stemborer. OQTG UVGODQTGTU RGT RNCPV EQORCTGF
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
K YJGTG OCK\G JCU DGGP RNCPVGF JCV UGCUQP VJG UQKN IQV OWEJ OQTG EQPVKPWQWUN[ [GCT CHVGT [GCT PKVTQIGP YJKEJ EQWNF HGGF VJG RNCPVU
KK YJGTG OCK\G YCU RNCPVGF KP HKGNFU DGVVGT 6JG KPETGCUGF PWVTKVKQPCN UVCVWU YJGTG C ITCKP NGIWOG UWEJ CU EQYRGC QH VJG RNCPVU NGCF VQ CP KPETGCUG KP QT UQ[C DGCP JCF DGGP RNCPVGF VJG UVGODQTGT CVVCEMU CV VJG GCTN[ UVCIG QH RTGXKQWU UGCUQP TQVCVKQP ITQYVJ DWV CNUQ VQ KORTQXGF
KKK YJGTG OCK\G YCU KPVGTETQRRGF RNCPV RNCPV XKIQWT UVTGPIVJ TGUWNVKPI YKVJ RKIGQP RGC XGNXGV DGCP DQVJ HKPCNN[ KP C PGV DGPGHKV HQT VJG RNCPV NGIWOGU CPF JKIJGT ITCKP [KGNF 6JG JKIJGUV
KX YJGTG OCK\G YCU RNCPVGF KP C HKGNF OCK\G [KGNFU YGTG QDVCKPGF YJGP VJCV YCU NGHV VQ DWUJ HCNNQY PQ ETQRU OCK\G YCU KPVGTETQRRGF YKVJ C NGIWOG VJG RTGXKQWU UGCUQP ITQWPF EQXGT KKK %QORCTGF VQ VJG EQPVKPWQWU OCK\G Nitrogen the decisive factor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lU CDKNKV[ VQ EQORGPUCVG HQT DQTGT FCOCIG ;KGNF NQUU YCU NGUU YKVJ CP KPETGCUG KP PKVTQIGP CRRNKECVKQP 6JGTG YCU PQV C DKI FKHHGTGPEG DGVYGGP VJG HKGNF YJGTG RGUVKEKFGU YGTG WUGF CPF VJG QPG YKVJQWV RGUVKEKFGU KP VGTOU QH [KGNF 6JG CPCN[UKU QH VJG GEQPQOKE DGPGHKVU QH CRRN[KPI HGTVKNK\GT CPF KPUGEVKEKFG VTGCVOGPV UJQYU VJG HQNNQYKPI 7UKPI KPUGEVKEKFGU KU PQV RTQHKVCDNG YJGP VJG UQKN SWCNKV[ KU XGT[ RQQT UC[U +%+2' UEKGPVKUV &T (TKV\ Beans provide maize with nitrogen. (TOF) 5EJWNVJGUU 6JG UQKN SWCNKV[ CPF VJG By Felix Mbitu Murimi
0T &GEGODGT
0KVTQIGP HCEVQTKGU QH VJG RNCPV YQTNF
6JG ITQYVJ QH CNN QTICPKUOU FGRGPFU QP VJG CXCKNCDKNKV[ QH OKPGTCN PWVTKGPVU 0KVTQIGP KU JG OQUV KORQTVCPV GNGOGPV 6JGTG KU C RNGPVKHWN UWRRN[ QH PKVTQIGP KP VJG GCTVJl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
UWEJ CU DGCPU QT RGCU VJG TQQVU OC[ FKG TGNGCUKPI HWTVJGT PKVTQIGP #NVJQWIJ NGIWOGU CTG PQV VJG QPN[ ITQWR QH RNCPVU VJCV HQTO C TGNCVKQPUJKR YKVJ PKVTQIGP HKZKPI UQKN DCEVGTKC VJG[ CTG RTQDCDN[ VJG OQUV KORQTVCPV HQT CITKEWNVWTG VQ KORTQXG UQKN HGTVKNKV[ 6JG ETKUKU KP UQKN JGCNVJ KP #HTKEC KU C SWKGV ECVCUVTQRJG 1XGT VJG FGECFGU #HTKEClU UOCNNUECNG HCTOGTU JCXG TGOQXGF NCTIG SWCPVKVKGU QH PWVTKGPVU HTQO VJGKT UQKNU YKVJQWV TGVWTPKPI VJGO KP UWHHKEKGPV SWCPVKVKGU KP VJG HQTO QH OCPWTG QT HGTVKNK\GT 6JGUG RTCEVKEGU JCXG TGUWNVGF KP C XGT[ JKIJ CXGTCIG CPPWCN NQUU QH MI QH PKVTQIGP MI QH RJQURJQTWU CPF MI QH RQVCUUKWO RGT JGEVCTG QH EWNVKXCVGF NCPF GCEJ [GCT QXGT VJG RCUV [GCTU CEEQTFKPI VQ TGUGCTEJ EQPFWEVGF KP #HTKECP EQWPVTKGU 6JKU CPPWCN NQUU KU GSWKXCNGPV VQ 75 DKNNKQP KP HGTVKNK\GT fmm PKVTQIGP EQPVGPV QH VJG UQKN CTG VJG FGEKUKXG HCEVQT KP IGVVKPI C JKIJGT [KGNF 6Q TGRNGPKUJ UQKN HGTVKNKV[ KU GXGP OQTG KORQTVCPV VJCP WUKPI KORTQXGF ETQR XCTKGVKGU 6JGTGHQTG VJG EJGCRGUV YC[ VQ CFF PKVTQIGP VQ VJG UQKN KU TQVCVKPI OCK\G YKVJ C NGIWOKPQWU EQXGT QT ITCKP ETQR QT WUKPI C PKVTQIGP HGTVKNK\GT +P CTGCU YJGTG UVTKIC KU C RTQDNGO KPVGTETQRRKPI OCK\G YKVJ FGUOQFKWO KU TGEQOOGPFGF
5
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The Organic Farmer
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0T &GEGODGT
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he Organic Farmer TGCFGTU 5WDWMKC 6JKU KPFKECVGU ETQUU UJCTKPI QH KPHQTOCVKQP DGVYGGP UQOG HCTOGTU QWV VJGTG YJKEJ KU LWUV HCPVCUVKE VQ MPQY %QPITCVWNCVKQPU VQ [QW 5JCTKPI QH
5W U CPUYGTU
MPQYNGFIG GURGEKCNN[ KP VJG QTICPKE YQTNF KU PGEGUUCT[ +V KU VJG TGNKIKQP QH QWT RNCPGV CPF KH YG CTG VQ KORTQXG QWT JGCNVJ CPF VJCV QH QWT RNCPGV YG OWUV DG UGNHNGUU KP UJCTKPI CPF ECTKPI 9JKNUV CMPQYNGFIKPI VJGKT HCOG CPF GZRGTKGPEG KP VQOCVQ CPF ECDDCIG ITQYKPI VJGUG HCTOGTU HGGN JCPFKECRRGF KP TGCNK\KPI OCZKOWO [KGNFU DGECWUG NCEM QH RTQRGT MPQYNGFIG QP RTGRCTCVKQP QH PWTUGTKGU TGUWNVKPI KP HCKNWTG QH UGGF IGTOKPCVKQP Fragile condition of seed )TGCV CVVGPVKQP OWUV DG IKXGP VQ VJG RTGRCTCVKQP CPF OCKPVGPCPEG QH QWT PWTUGTKGU QT UGGF DGFU KH YG FGUKTG JGCNVJ[ UGGFNKPIU %QOOQP UGPUG CPF NQIKE IQ CNQPI YC[ YJGP YG VJKPM CDQWV VJG HTCIKNG EQPFKVKQP QH UGGF CPF UGGFNKPIU 5QKN OWUV DG NKIJV CPF ETWODN[ VQ CNNQY VJG [QWPI UGGFNKPIU CP GCU[ LQWTPG[ HTQO VJGKT UGGF ECUKPIU CPF OQKUVWTG OWUV CNYC[U DG RTGUGPV VQ CXQKF FT[KPI QWV VJWU UVTGUU VQ VJG [QWPI RNCPV 7RQP GOGTIGPEG
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UGGFNKPIU NKMG [QWPI EJKNFTGP TGSWKTG VGPFGT ECTG YJKNG KP VJG PWTUGT[ 0WVTKVKQP OWUV DG GCUKN[ CEEGUUKDNG CPF KU DGUV RTQXKFGF VJTQWIJ OCVWTG EQORQUV EQODKPGF KP VJG UGGF DGF YKVJ VJG UQKN Watch the soil... #U VJGTG CTG OCP[ V[RGU QH UQKNU CPF FKHHGTGPEGU KP HGTVKNKV[ YKVJKP VJG UCOG QPG OWUV LWFIG VJG COQWPV QH EQORQUV D[ VJG HGGN UOGNN CPF EQNQWT QH VJG UQKN 1PG CKOU VQ ETGCVG C FCTM JGCNVJ[ UGGF DGF UQKN YKVJ JKIJ QTICPKE EQPVGPV ETWODN[ VGZVWTG CPF IQQF YCVGT JQNFKPI ECRCEKV[ 6JG HKPCN OKZVWTG QH UQKN CPF EQORQUV OWUV UOGNN XGT[ GCTVJ[ 1HHGPUKXG QFQWTU UWIIGUV EQORQUV VJCV JCU PQV HWNN[ TQVVGF CPF YKNN ETGCVG RTQDNGOU KP VJG UGGF DGF 5GGF DGFU OWUV PGXGT FT[ QWV EQORNGVGN[ CPF OC[ DGPGHKV HTQO UNKIJV OWNEJKPI WPVKN VJG GOGTIGPEG QH VJG [QWPI RNCPVU (GGFKPI QH UGGFNKPIU KU PQV PGEGUUCT[ KH UGGFNKPIU CTG VQ DG VTCPURNCPVGF DGVYGGP VQ FC[U *QYGXGT YGGMN[ HGGFKPI XKC C OKNF NKSWKF EQORQUV VGC KU PGEGUUCT[ HQT UGGFNKPIU CPF EWVVKPIU QH HTWKV VTGGU VTGGU GVE VJCV TGSWKTG C NQPIGT UVC[ KP VJG PWTUGT[ ...and watch the seedlings carefully .QECVKQP QH PWTUGTKGU KU XGT[ KORQTVCPV +FGCNN[ VJG[ UJQWNF DG NQECVGF KP C EQQN CTGC CU ENQUG CU RQUUKDNG VQ C YCVGT UQWTEG +H RQUUKDNG VJG[ UJQWNF CNUQ DG RTQVGEVGF HTQO VJG GNGOGPVU D[ C NQY HGPEKPI CPF RQUUKDN[ C VJCVEJ QT PGV EQXGTKPI (QT UQOG QFF TGCUQP O[ FQIU IKXGP VJG EJCPEG WUG UGGF DGFU VQ FKI CPF RNC[ KP 1PG CTGC OQUV QXGTNQQMGF KP HCTOKPI KU VJG VKOG QH VTCPURNCPVKPI 5GGFNKPIU NGHV KP VJG UGGF DGF HQT VQQ NQPI OC[ NQQM JGCNVJ[ CPF UVTQPI JQYGXGT VJG[ YKNN DCVVNG OQUV YJGP VTCPURNCPVGF /CMG UWTG VQ FCVG [QWT UGGF DGFU UQ VJCV [QW TGOGODGT YJGP VQ VTCPURNCPV VJG UGGFNKPIU # YGGM QH FGNC[ KU CEEGRVCDNG CP[ NQPIGT CPF [QW CNTGCF[ JCXG C EQORTQOKUGF RNCPV VJCV YKNN UVTWIING VQ TGCEJ KVlU HWNN RQVGPVKCN #PQVJGT OWEJ QXGT NQQMGF RTQDNGO YJKEJ QTKIKPCVGU KP VJG UGGF DGF KU VJCV
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The Organic Farmer
.GVVGTU VQ VJG GFKVQT Please send us some more copies %QPITCVWNCVKQPU HQT VJG IQQF LQD QH 6JG 1TICPKE (CTOGT GFKVQTKCN VGCO 6Q VJG DGUV QH O[ MPQYNGFIG KVl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
Interested in organic farming + JGTGD[ YKUJ VQ UWDUETKDG VQ [QWT OCIC\KPG + JCXG C PCVWTCN KPVGTGUV KP PCVWTG CPF PCVWTCN HQQFU + CO CNUQ CYCTG QH VJG FCPIGT QH HQQF ETQRU ITQYP WPFGT EJGOKECN EQPFKVKQPU + CO CNUQ IKXKPI CYCTGPGUU QH VJG UCOG VQ O[ HGNNQY OGODGTU QH VJG ITQWR 6JCPMU KP CFXCPEG &CXKF 5VGXG 1UKCMQ 7OQLC (QTGUV )TQWR 2 1 $QZ -GUQIQP
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RNCPV QPN[ UVTQPI JGCNVJ[ UGGFNKPIU #PF HKPCNN[ FQ PQV QXGT YCVGT UGGF DGFU WPNGUU [QWT RNCPVU CTG CSWCVKE VJG[ FQ PQV PGGF VQ DG RGTOCPGPVN[ YGV 6JKU KPJKDKVU ICUGQWU GZEJCPIG CV VJG TQQV JCKTU CPF TGUWNVU KP TQVVKPI TQQVU CPF VJWU FGCVJ VQ VJG RNCPVU Rotate in the seed-bed 9JGP C UGGF DGF KU GORVKGF KV ECP DG WUGF CICKP SWKVG UQQP CHVGTYCTFU CU NQPI CU YG TG KPVTQFWEG UQOG YGNN TQVVGF OCPWTG CPF FKI VJG DGF NKIJVN[ HQT CGTCVKQP +V KU CFXKUCDNG VQ TQVCVG VJG UGGF KP VJG DGFU UQ CU VQ CXQKF DWKNF WR CPF URTGCF QH RTQDNGOU YKVJKP VJG UCOG RNCPV HCOKN[ ITQWRU 1J CPF HKPCNN[ CICKP OCMG UWTG [QW CTG RNCPVKPI HTGUJ JGCNVJ[ UGGF YJGVJGT [QWT QYP QT RWTEJCUGF 1NF UGGF YKNN PQV FQ YGNN KP VJG DGUV QH UGGF DGFU The answers to aphids and cutworms questions could not get space in this column we will bring them in the January 2006 issue.
ITGCV JGNR 9G NQQM HQTYCTF VQ EQPVTKDWVG VQ [QWT PGYURCRGT VJG GZRGTKGPEG QP VJG ITQWPF CU YG CNUQ CFXQECVG HQT UWUVCKPCDNG CITKEWNVWTG KP VJG EQOOWPKV[ 6JCPMKPI [QW KP CFXCPEG 2GVGT 1 1MYCP[ #ITKEWNVWTCN 5GEVQT *GCF 2*%& 1TVWO Dear Mr. Okwany, Thank you for writing to us. So many farmers are making the same request. This is our dilemma. We print 12,000 copies,which are not enough to go round because of the huge demand. While we consider your request, we encourage farmers, who receive copies, to share with those who do not. If we continue this way, the message will reach as many farmers as possible.
Complaints We are receiving complaints from farmers who cannot get their monthly copy of The Organic Farmer. It appears some chairmen of farmer groups do not pass the copies to their members. Others who own rental boxes used by farmers do not take the parcels to their owners. This is very bad. How can we promote farming when we have to deal with people who do not want farmers acquire the right information? We hope they will change. We also advise farmers who do not receive their monthly copies to get in touch with us or change their addresses. Organic farming is productive 9G VJG ,QJPUQPlU HCOKN[ KPENWFKPI QVJGT RGQRNG KP QWT HCTOKPI EQOOWPKV[ JCXG ICKPGF C NQV HTQO [QWT PGYURCRGT 9G JCXG DGGP TGEGKXKPI EQRKGU DWV YG CTG TGSWGUVKPI HQT OQTG UQ CU VQ KORTQXG QWT HCTOKPI RTCEVKEGU 9G CTG TGSWGUVKPI HQT OQTG UWRRQTV HTQO [QW VQ UJQY VJCV HCTOKPI KU KORQTVCPV GXGP VQ VJG WPGORNQ[GF 9G JCXG HQWPF QWV VJCV QTICPKE HCTOKPI KU OQTG RTQFWEVKXG CPF YG ECP RTQXG KV VQ QVJGT HCTOGTU 9G JQRG [QW YKNN UWRRQTV WU YKVJ VJG TKIJV KPHQTOCVKQP 6JCPM [QW /TU 0FWTW -CTQ )TQWR 2 1 $QZ 0[GTK
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We want to increase production + VCMG VJKU QRRQTVWPKV[ VQ UCNWVG VJG GFKVQTKCN EQOOKVVGG QH VJG QTICPKE HCTOGT HQT RWDNKUJKPI VJKU OQUV GFWECVKXG OCIC\KPG + UJCNN DG OQUV VJCPMHWN KH [QW YKNN DG UGPFKPI VQ -QPICUKU 2[TGVJTWO )TQYGTU 5GNH *GNR )TQWR CV NGCUV QPG EQR[ 6JKU UGNH JGNR ITQWR KU PQV QPN[ KPVGTGUVGF KP ITQYKPI R[TGVJTWO DWV KV CNUQ ECTTKGU QWV QVJGT HCTOKPI CEVKXKVKGU CPF KVU OGODGTU CTG KPVGTGUVGF KP KORTQXKPI CITKEWNVWTCN RTQFWEVKXKV[ 6JCPMU KP CFXCPEG 'NKLCJ - # -KUKCTC -QPICUKU )TQWR 2 1 $QZ .QPFKCPK
Starting Bee keeping + CO C RGTUQP YJQ JCU ITGCV KPVGTGUV KP HCTOKPI OQTG UQ HQT EQOOGTEKCN RWTRQUGU + JCXG IQPG VJTQWIJ [QWT 5GRVGODGT 1EVQDGT KUUWG CPF HQWPF KV VQ DG XGT[ KPHQTOCVKXG + NKXG QP C CETG RKGEG QH NCPF CPF YQWNF XGT[ OWEJ YKUJ VQ JCXG CP CRKCT[ + TGCNN[ YQWNF YCPV VQ RTQFWEG O[ QYP JQPG[ HQT EQOOGTEKCN RWTRQUGU D[ WUKPI .CPIUVTQVJ DGGJKXGU *QYGXGT + HGCT VJG UK\G QH O[ RNQV EQWNF DG C NKOKVKPI HCEVQT 2NGCUG CFXKEG + YQWNF CNUQ YKUJ VQ DG HWTPKUJGF YKVJ VGEJPKECN CFXKEG QP OQFGTP OGVJQFU QH DGG OCPCIGOGPV + NQQM HQTYCTF VQ JGCTKPI HTQO [QW 6JCPM [QW 5COO[ - 0IKIK 2 1 $QZ 'ODW Dear Mr. Ngigi, We refer you to Mr. Charles Kimani of Box 1388 Kikuyu Tel: 0721-382-556. He is practising bee keeping on a small piece of land like yours and would share the experience with you. Alternatively you can buy the Bee Farming Handbook from the National Beekeeping Station P.O Box 34188 Tel. 020 564-302, Nairobi. Many farmers would like to know more. We will feature this in one of the future issues.
Students want newspaper
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Not all plants like each other. However, if you choose the right companion, your garden will benefit a lot. By The Organic Farmer /C[DG [QW FKF PQV MPQY KV DWV VJG CUUQEKCVKQP DGVYGGP EGTVCKP RNCPVU IKXGU GZEGNNGPV TGUWNVU PQV QPN[ HQT VJG XGT[ RNCPVU VJGOUGNXGU DWV CNUQ HQT VJG RTQFWEGT 'XGT[ RNCPV HTQO VJG TQQVU VQ VJG NGCXGU RTQFWEG UOGNNU QFQWTU CPF GZRGNU UWDUVCPEGU VJCV OKIJV DG DGPGHKEKCN QT HCVCN VQ QVJGT RNCPVU CPF KPUGEVU (QT KPUVCPEG FKF [QW MPQY VJCV EGNGT[ DGECWUG QH KVU UOGNN FTKXGU CYC[ VJG RKGTKF DWVVGTHN[ RGUV HTQO ECDDCIG! #U C TGUWNV KV YKNN DG GPQWIJ VQ CUUQEKCVG EGNGT[ CPF ECDDCIG CU EQORCPKQP ETQRU KP VJG HKGNF VQ FTKXG CYC[ VJKU KPUGEV VJCV JCU VJG PCUV[ JCDKV QH NC[KPI JGT GIIU DGVYGGP VJG NGCXGU QH VJG WPHQTVWPCVG XGIGVCDNG 2GC DGGVNG OC[ CNUQ FKUVWTD ECDDCIG +P VJKU ECUG VQ TGRGN VJG RGUV KV YKNN DG CFXKUCDNG VQ RWV C DTCPEJ QH VJWLC QP VJG ECDDCIG +P VJG UCOG YC[ RNCEKPI UVTCYDGTT[ RNCPVU PGZV VQ ICTNKE QT QPKQPU PGZV VQ NGGMU YKNN JGNR GPUWTG IGPGTCN RTQVGEVKQP CICKPUV PGOCVQFGU KP VJG UQKN 2NCPVU ECP VJGTGHQTG KP EGTVCKP ECUGU DG CU GHHGEVKXG CU KPUGEVKEKFGU DWV JCXG CP CFXCPVCIG DGECWUG VJG[ YKNN PQV MKNN VJG KPUGEVU PQT RQKUQP JWOCP DGKPIU 6JKU KU PQV CNN $[ CUUQEKCVKPI ENKODKPI DGCPU CPF OCK\G DQVJ ETQRU YKNN IKXG IQQF QWVRWV Managing the space .... *QYGXGT YG UJQWNF PQV CUUQEKCVG XGIGVCDNGU VQIGVJGT QPN[ HQT RNCPV JGCNVJ TGCUQPU 9G UJQWNF CNUQ WUG VJG URCEG YG JCXG HQT RNCPVKPI GHHKEKGPVN[ +PFGGF KV KU QHVGP KPVGTGUVKPI VQ OCMG WUG QH VJG CUUQEKCVKQP KP VJG TQQV U[UVGOU 6JG OQUV V[RKECN CPF RTQHKVCDNG GZCORNG KU VJCV QH ECTTQVU CPF NGGMU 6JG HKTUV ETQR JCU XGT[ FGGR TQQVU VJCV GZVTCEV PWVTKGPVU FGGR KP VJG UQKN YJGTGCU NGGMU JCXG GZVTGOGN[ UWRGTHKEKCN TQQVU YJKEJ JGNR VJG ETQR HGGF QP PWVTKGPVU PGCT VJG UQKN UWTHCEG /QTGQXGT ECTTQVU ECP FTKXG CYC[ YQTOU HTQO NGGMU YJKNG NGGMU ECP FTKXG CYC[ HNKGU HTQO VJG ECTTQVU 6QOCVQGU CPF TCFKUJ QT DGVVGT UVKNN DGCPU YKVJ EWEWODGTU CTG QVJGT V[RKECN GZCORNGU QH VJKU JGNRHWN TGNCVKQPUJKR +P CFFKVKQP VQ VJG SWGUVKQP QH URCEG VJGTG KU CNUQ VJG RTQDNGO QH TGUQNXKPI VJG UGNHKUJPGUU QH EGTVCKP RNCPVU %CDDCIG HQT GZCORNG EQPUWOGU YCVGT CPF PWVTKGPVU ITGGFKN[ CPF ECPPQV TGCUQPCDN[ DG RNCPVGF CNQPIUKFG QVJGT XGIGVCDNGU VJCV CTG LWUV CU FGOCPFKPI
+V KU GXGP DGVVGT VQ KUQNCVG ECDDCIG QT CUUQEKCVG KV YKVJ UOCNN RNCPVU UWEJ CU RGCU YJKEJ CTG UCVKUHKGF YKVJ XGT[ UOCNN SWCPVKVKGU QH PWVTKGPVU ... and managing time 6KOG KU CNUQ CP KORQTVCPV HCEVQT KP VJKU OGVJQF QH CUUQEKCVKQPU QH XGIGVCDNGU /KZKPI NQPI E[ENG URGEKGU YKVJ UJQTV E[ENG URGEKGU ECP QRVKOK\G VJG PCVWTCN RTQFWEVKXKV[ QH VJG ITQWPF YJKNG CUUWTKPI C EQPUVCPV EQXGTCIG QH VJG UQKN CPF JGNRKPI HKIJV CICKPUV VJG KPXCUKQP QH YGGFU 4CFKUJ HQT GZCORNG QPEG KV KU UQYGF IGTOKPCVGU SWKEMN[ CPF QEEWRKGU VJG UQKN YJKNG ECTTQV VCMGU C NQPIGT VKOG VQ IGTOKPCVG 5QYKPI TCFKUJ CPF NGVVWEG VQIGVJGT CPF RQUUKDN[ VTCPURNCPVKPI UQOG UGGFNKPIU QH NGVVWEG PGCT VJGO YQWNF CNNQY JCTXGUVKPI QH ETQRU ITCFWCNN[ QP VJG UCOG RCTEGN QH NCPF TCFKUJ CPF NGVVWEGU YQWNF DG TGCF[ HQT JCTXGUV YJGP VJG ECTTQV KU PQV [GV OCVWTG (KPCNN[ KV KU PGEGUUCT[ VQ MPQY VJCV NGIWOGU WUG NCTIG SWCPVKVKGU QH PKVTQIGP HTQO VJG CKT CPF TGUVQTG VJGO VQ VJG UQKN CPF VJCV OCP[ QVJGT RNCPVU VCMG CFXCPVCIG QH VJKU PWVTKGPV UWRRN[ /KZKPI OCK\G CPF DGCPU KU PQV QPN[ IQQF CU githeri KV ECP CNUQ JGNR CP KPHQTOGF HCTOGT KORTQXG QP VJGKT QWVRWV #PQVJGT UOCNN FGVCKN KV KU PGEGUUCT[ VQ PQVG VJCV VJGTG CTG OCP[ HCVCN CUUQEKCVKQPU QH XGIGVCDNGU CU YGNN CU VJG RTQHKVCDNG CUUQEKCVKQPU FGUETKDGF CDQXG 6JG CUUQEKCVKQP QH RGC CPF ICTNKE HQT KPUVCPEG CNYC[U GPFU WR XGT[ DCFN[ +V KU VJGTGHQTG KORQTVCPV VQ CNYC[U MGGR YCVEJ KP QWT ICTFGPU Some good associations of plants )CTNKE DGGV ECTTQV RQVCVQ CPF VQOCVQ %CTTQV ICTNKE FYCTH DGCP NGVVWEG QPKQP RCTUPKR NGGM UOCNN RGCU RGC OCPIG VQWV UPQY RGCU TCFKUJ VQOCVQ
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lU NGVVWEG QPKQP EJKEQT[ GPFKXG UEQT\QPGTC VQOCVQ 6QOCVQ ICTNKE CURCTCIWU ECTTQV EGNGT[ ECDDCIG ECWNKHNQYGT URKPCEJ FYCTH DGCP NGVVWEG OCK\G OKPV QPKQP RCTUNG[ NGGM TCFKUJ
The Organic Farmer KP ,CPWCT[ 9JGTG ECP HCTOGTU UGNN QTICPKECNN[ RTQFWEGF XGIGVCDNGU!