permaculture

[loren luyendyk <loren@sborganics.com>]

Douglas-

You may also consider what types of crops you are studying/comparing, for 
example- row crops, forestry systems, and pasture, as often these systems are 
not totally integrated.  There would likely be different parameters measured 
for different systems.  I have been thinking how to compare monculture 
organic to food forest systems and will be creating a metric to measure the 
amount of calories in and out on our new research farm here in Southern 
California in the next few years.

One interesting metric to measure is soil organic carbon (SOC), in relation 
to all these systems.  By measuring the %SOC we can actually show how soils 
are improving in tilth and also SEQUESTERING atmospheric carbon dioxide and 
depositing it in the soil.  This is a direct solution to "global 
warming/climate change" whatever you want to call it, and governments are 
looking at including carbon sequestration/SOC in the carbon credit scheme... 
http://www.soilcarboncredits.blogspot.com/

I was looking into this in NZ for a client with the idea to take a baseline 
measurement of SOC based on conventional pasture management and then compare 
it to the RegenAg HM/pasture cropping/keyline/compost tea treatments after a 
few years and try and figure out how much CO2 per acre was being taken out of 
the atmosphere just by shifting our management regime.

Peter Donavan (has some pretty simple but profound ways to look at pasture 
health and I think the Carbon Farmers of America and Abe Collins can answer 
more questions about actually measuring SOC as it is pretty tech and takes 
some special equipment.
http://www.managingwholes.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uXJeEVrc-A
Loren Luyendyk
805-452-8249
Permaculture Design and Education
ISA Certified Arborist #WE-7805A
www.sborganics.com
www.globalpermaculture.com
www.surferswithoutborders.com


> Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2013 21:14:28 -0600
> From: cedecor@gmx.net
> To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: Re: [permaculture] TESTS & EQUIPMENT required for a functional 
> SUSTAINABLE AG LAB?
> 
> On 03/03/2013 03:25 PM, Chris Carnevale wrote:
> > Hi Douglas,
> >
> > I'm not sure about what kind of equipment you would need, but certainly
> > soil testing would be important.
> 
> Particularly to quantify the presence of nutritional elements and the 
> microorganisms that constitute the soil food web.
> 
> I would also like to be able to identify the substances being created by 
> those organisms, the activity of each substance and define the 
> conditions required for the production of same.
> 
> > If seed regulation is something you want to do, you might want the 
> > capacity
> > to test the viability of batches of seeds.
> 
> Good idea.
> 
> > A germplasm repository would be very helpful (similar to the
> > University of California germplasm repository).
> 
> Another good idea. (A friend of mine is in charge of the germ-plasm bank 
> of the National Forestry Institute located in this city, so I should be 
> able to calculate what that would take. Also, when coordinating with an 
> existing external facility is advisable we can outsource that part of 
> our labors).
> > If you want to conduct research at the laboratory, a breeding 
> > program/variety trials for your
> > locale would be valuable.
> 
> We are in an urban setting but the University (a partner in this 
> venture) has it's own experimental farms.
> 
> Thanks for the ideas, Chris.
> 
> Douglas Hinds
> Guadalajara
> 
> > Chris Carnevale
> > Charleston, South Carolina
> >
> > On Sun, Mar 3, 2013 at 10:17 AM, Douglas Hinds <cedecor@gmx.net> wrote:
> >
> >> Farmers, Academics and Rural Development Specialists:
> >>
> >> The Alliance for Social and Environmental Responsibility in Development
> >> (formed by the State Biological and Agricultural Science Faculty, the
> >> two major Collective, Independent and Indigenous Farm Organizations and
> >> the Center for Community and Rural Development), have decided to
> >> collaborate and reopen lab facilities closed a few years ago by Mexico's
> >> worst ex-Secretary of Agriculture and increase the services offered, to
> >> support the needs of Permaculture, Organic and Fair Trade Farmers.
> >>
> >> To that end, I am soliciting opinions regarding the Tests and Equipment
> >> required to perform an optimally useful and comprehensive service in
> >> support of a Sustainable, Equitable and Integral Society, in which both
> >> farmers and consumers have access to the information they need to be
> >> aware of what the food they consume actually contains.
> >>
> >> Identifying the variables present in the Environment food is grown in
> >> (soil, water, beneficial and pathogenic organisms present, the
> >> substances those organisms produce and the conditions they require to do
> >> their work) are valuable adjuncts to farming and help assure desireable
> >> results.
> >>
> >> The studies performed should also be able to determine whether
> >> transgenic genes and / or toxic chemicals are present in tissue, soil or
> >> water samples, as well as appraise the soils fertility and determine
> >> which (if any) nutritional elements are lacking for optimal as well as
> >> any other factors relevant to granting or denying organic certification.
> >>
> >> In conclusion:
> >>
> >> Which kinds of analsysis should be offerred by a competent Agricultural
> >> Laboratory in support of Organic, Biologically Integrated, and / or
> >> Sustainable Farming Systems?
> >>
> >> And
> >>
> >> What equipment is best suited for carrying out that purpose?
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance for your creative and / or constructive suggestions.
> >>
> >> Douglas Hinds
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> 
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