Sustainability - Gardening / Farming:

The main focus of YFT is self-sustainability through farming / gardening, specifically organic farming.YFT is committed to bringing the best and most nutritious food source to those in need.

Many world health organizations are recognizing the many benefits on a global perspective through gardening solutions in Third World countries.

To learn more about why a farming and gardening approach is used to support sustainability, see the link at the bottom of this page for an excellent report written by Tim LaSalle, CEO of Rodale Institute.

Our goal is to provide an abundant, nutritious and broad variety of foods using organic procedures as much as possible. Although certifying organics may be a stretch for most areas in the Third World and developing countries, a high level of commitment exists to avoid the use of pesticides, herbicides and commercial fertilizer.

It is very clear to us that the life that proliferates in soil microbiology supported by compost, clean water, live soil cultures, and non-invasive amendments has proven to be the turning point in the desperate battle to provide food to combat starvation.

By introducing these practices in the village of Yogo, arid, heavy, hard, dirt became the living, breathing soil needed to sustain crop production. Yields have increased ten-fold and this is only a small step in the potential that can be grown.

Yogo has 365 growing degree days which, with proper farming practices and irrigation, can ensure continual and complete maturity of all crops put in the soil.

Farming techniques that have been introduced include:

a. Subterraneous irrigation drip lines that moisten the soil from underneath ensures a requirement of 70 percent less water than traditional spraying. This is particularly valuable so that fresh clean water can be to conserved during dry seasons.

b. Raised beds have proven to withstand the seasonal heavy rains when placed perpendicular to slope contour.

c. Compost. Based on the organic void in the soil, it has become very clear that our challenge is about introducing compost to the soil to act as a sponge for moisture in any given desert-like ecosystem. A solution is to use the waste from livestock, poultry, and fish to provide this life in the soil. Our best estimate is that the waste from 40 dairy/beef cows, 20 goats, 20 sheep, 500 chickens, and 2,000 tilapia fish, all confined and fed hydroponically, will create enough waste to compost enough garden to feed 300 men, women and children.

Such an operation will bring to market an abundant, consistent food supply and create employment for 30 people.

Link to excerpt from article "The Organic Green Revolution” by Tim LaSalle, CEO Rodale Institute.