Matthew Meehan, educator from Furnace Brook Middle
School Marshfield, MA presented a live class on Natural
Composting to increase production of the Malawian
Family Farm.
Participants from Malawi were mainly heads of
households with family farms caring for orphans and
vulnerable children. Many of these farmers were using
animal waste to fertilize their farms. This practice can be
dangerous if not done properly increasing disease such
as cholera and diarrhea, contaminating water supplies,
and breed disease carrying pests such as flies, lice and
roaches.
Mr. Meehan displayed a PowerPoint presentation on a
screen in his US classroom, web casting it to the group
in Malawi. The focus of the instruction was natural
composting using non animal waste. Mr. Meehan
informed the farmers that all vegetable and fruit waste
can be composted. Examples were corn stock, eggplant
skin, melon skin, banana peel, orange skin, cassava
skin, any rotted fruit or vegetable, and leaves from fruit
and vegetables trees and plants. Also, ash from
cooking fires and egg shells can be used for
composting. Mr. Meehan had examples of composted
materials in various stages of decay.
HOW TO COMPOST?
Farmers will dig two deep holes side by side. One hole
is for composting while the other is a well to extract the
composted materials from the bottom of the compost.
Fill the composting hole will all non-animal waste and
cover at night to keep out animals. Heat from the sun
will achieve the composting process. Continue to add
non-animal waste to the composting hole.
The big question from the farmers: How long does it
take to compose before material is ready for use in the
farms?
Answer from Mr. Meehan: In the Malawian climate, 2
weeks will yield composted materials.
Canterio International will assist in the implementation
of non-animal waste composing through outreach
education.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Top right pic:
Matthew Meehan, educator from Furnace Brook Middle
School Marshfield, MA
|
|
|
 |
|
|
