ECHO Blog

ECHO Trees at CCMI Bear Fruit

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

It is amazing to think of the longevity of ECHO's ministry! More than 30 years ago ECHO started networking with development workers and missionaries overseas. Many of them received free packets of seeds that are now not even rare in the areas where they were working! This makes us smile! Here is another local and more recent example of the impact of a few trees.

Background: Community Cooperative Ministries Incorporated (CCMI) manages a number ofservices helping the poor in our community. Soup kitchens, food pantries, meals-on-wheels and their montessori preschool are only a few of the ways that they impact our community. When the opportunity came to make a lasting impact on their ministry, the answer was an easy "Yes!"

Fast forward three years, and Cindy Venezia, montessori director, has this to say:

"Three years ago you donated and planted 10 fruit trees at our preschool. With the exception of two that were lost to the frost, we are proud to say the rest produced their first big batch of fruit this month! The children have taken such good care of the trees which is surprising seeing how the branches are hanging at their eye level (they are ages 2-5!). Thank you so much for this gift that is going to give and give!

I’m not sure if you heard that shortly after the trees and garden were added to our school we started a “business”. Beelicious Foods. We eat the food, cook with it, let the children take it home, donate it to our choice market (food pantry) or sell it to visitors. Fifty percent of the money that is earned from the sale of the food and crafts is donated to a local charity. We have given to United Way and ACT. Again, we truly appreciate all that you did for us!"

ECHO wants to thank everyone who supports our ministry so that we can be part of incredible programs like this!

To learn more about CCMI visit www.CCMILeeCounty.com

ECHO Asia Agriculture and Community Development Conference

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Welcome! Months of preparation have come together and the ECHO Asia Agriculture and Community Development Conference 2011 has arrived!

The ECHO Asia Regional Impact Center staff have been hard at work, delegates have arrived, and the excitement is building! Monday's registration was a bustling time. Many delegates had not seen one another since the last ECHO Asia conference in 2009 and the sounds of greeting filled the hotel lobby.

Tuesday morning marked the official beginning of the conference. The day started with opening remarks by ECHO Asia Regional Director Rick Burnette, followed by Worship, and Devotion led by ECHO President/CEO Stan Doerr. Plenary sessions were 1) The Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration Domino Effect by Tony Rinaudo, 2) Natural Farming by Local Agricultural Input for Small and Medium-scale Farmers by Arnat Tancho, Ph. D. and 3) Overview of Tropical Aquaculture Species and Systems by Randall Bevis.

Coffee breaks offered time for delegates to meet and connect with one another. Be on the lookout for the next post for pictures of Registraion and Conference Day 1.

Thanks for your support of and interest in ECHO Asia Conference! We can't wait to share more with you as the conference continues...

ECHO Asia Agriculture and Community Development Conference 2

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Resources for the Field - June 2011

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

This is the newest series on the ECHO Blog, "Resources for the Field." We are excited to share with you updates from our agricultural ministry both here in Florida and around the world! Hope you enjoy!

TRU highlights for May 2011

Your first question is probably “What is a TRU?” Good question!

“Technical Requests” is the term we use for questions we get from our "network". They look to ECHO
to help provide answers and information as they work with small-scale farmers and urban gardeners.
Responding to these requests is an important part of our ministry, and our “Technical Request Unit
(TRU)” spends time each week researching answers.

Here is a good example from last month:

Hello Echo folks

On July 20th a team of us will fly from Houston, TX to Nairobi, Kenya. We will be working at orphanage
farm not too far from the Nairobi airport. We will be working with the staff on the farm in the
mornings and then have Kids Farm Club with the orphans in the afternoon and teach them about
gardening and livestock.

The orphanage has a few acres with a drip irrigation system and a good well. They also have chickens
and rabbits. They have a herder for a few dairy cows, sheep and goats. However, Nairobi is growing out
to the orphanage and their grazing range to herd the livestock is diminishing. They will have to "zero-
graze" the livestock soon. The fertilizer slurry from the livestock barn is being used on napier grass.

The orphanage is growing with close to 200 orphans and they are very concerned with increasing food
production. The orphan's mothers all died of AIDs and the children are HIV positive.

We really need some help and advice! We also would like to take seeds over when we go. Could you
please help us figure out what seeds to take and help us get them? …

I’m most anxious for your response and sincerely hope you can help us.

Thank you for your time

We sent them information on where to get good seeds in Kenya and also recommended Amaranth,
Tropical Pumpkins and Moringa. ECHO sent them sample packets of those three crops. We also provided
them with our Technical Note on Amaranth.

In their response to our reply they mentioned they wanted to start a school garden and also needed
more information about feeding dairy animals. Since we have received similar questions over the years
we have been able to identify some good resources available from the web. So links were sent for
excellent material developed by several international organizations. (the World Agroforestry Center,
the International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and the FAO).

I was also able to modify a farm planning document from Iowa State for their situation to help them
evaluate the costs involved in developing dairy cows or goats.

After several exchanges of e-mails, questions and information we received this note:

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You have given me more than enough materials to make a very
productive visit. Jeri is making great use of the school garden manual you've sent us.

The farm has a new person in charge and I’ve not been able to visit for a couple of years. I’m excited to
be a part of J's Farm Club and the see the adult interaction. Depending on … expertise and J's timing I’ll
highlight the ILRI manual. My ruminant anatomy and balancing rations highlight will be a good spring
board for a quick introduction of the protein fodders. Then depending on response to this introduction I
can review the spreadsheet with adults.”

It is our belief that their Kenyan staff and the children they serve are the greatest resource. But it is fun
to also be able to provide them with some helpful tools for the work there.

Also, 10 days into June and we had questions and seed requests from 10 countries, three continents (N. America -- US, Haiti, Panama; Asia -- Timor Leste, India; Africa -- Five countries). Included are requests from five Peace Corps volunteers, one of which is a former intern (Laura Havenga). Two seed requests were from research institutions in the US (UF and Penn State).

CRWRC Job Opening in Sudan

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Country Director/Program Manager, Sudan

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), an agency of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has a one year opening, with possibility of extension, for a Country Director/Program Manager in southern Sudan. The position will serve as CRWRC’s chief representative in southern Sudan and provide leadership to and manage the agency’s rehabilitation programs and staff. Please visit our website at www.crcna.org or www.crwrc.org for more information or to apply. Application deadline is July 4, 2011.

Leaving an Inheritance, ECHO Planned Giving Services

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

As parents, our natural inclination is to take care of our children. We are concerned about being fair. But in reality, when it comes to leaving an inheritance, it can be challenging to balance fairness and stewardship.

We are called to be prudent and thoughtful in our decisions to leave an inheritance for the next generation. Many expert sources conclude the average inheritance is spent in 14 to 18 months. This problem is addressed in Proverbs 20:21, “An inheritance gained hastily, in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.”

In anticipation of any future wealth transfer, the first step is to communicate with your spouse. It is critical that you and your spouse answer some tough questions.

1. Do your children possess the same financial security? How do you decide between fiscal responsibility and fairness between beneficiaries?

2. How will your children’s spouses react to an inheritance? What influence will the grandchildren have?

3. If you have a blended family, what is your strategy?

The additional strategies below should be considered as you decide how you will leave your inheritance to your family and if you desire to leave more than money to your children.

Lump-sum inheritance versus ongoing income.
Your children may each have a different skill set in dealing with finances. Good or bad, these habits are already established and evident. If a person is wise in handling finances, he or she will probably be wise in handling a lump sum. If not, receiving a lump sum would likely multiply poor decisions. It may be more practical to consider an income stream that can be a source of retirement income for your children.

Continuing support of ministry.
There are planned giving strategies available that can accomplish sustained giving for years to come. Both a donor Advised Fund (DAF) an Endowment or charitable trust allow you to provide future income for ministries of your choice at levels directed by you or an advisor. These strategies can help teach stewardship to the next generation, allowing your children to participate as advisors. While your estate provides the finances, your children can
determine and allocate funds using stewardship skills. This may be the ultimate inheritance – instilling the generosity of giving to the next generation.

Whatever your decision, it is critical to communicate it to your family. You may want to consult with your children – or choose to simply communicate your wishes after the decision has been made. Remember that above all else, it is your choice and your lasting legacy.

To learn more about planned giving strategies visit our website at www.echonet.org , call our Planned Giving Services at 239-567-3343 or email ologelin@echonet.org.

Wind Energy

Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Wind Energy, by guest blogger Michael McDonald, a graduate of the Florida Gulf Coast University

Modern society today calls for newer ways to produce energy in an environmentally sustainable way. As the price of foreign oil increases, there is a greater need for energy which is not only cost-effective, but also good for the environment. America is a land mass with several opportunities for clean energy. One such form of clean energy that is abundant is wind energy.

Wind energy has been used for centuries, though until recent years, it has been used on a much larger scale. In 2009, wind energy generated 1.9 percent of America’s electricity. The percentages rise every year. The specific states with the highest wind potential are New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Wind energy is produced by the utilization of wind farms, areas of land where several large structures are assembled. The structures contain one titanic shaft complete with two or three large blades. Wind blows through these blades, causing them to spin, rotating generators to create electricity. These generators are connected into various power grids, providing electricity to cities.

Wind on earth is created because of the uneven heating of the sun, which is mostly due to the seasons and cloud cover. The uneven heating in addition to the earth’s rotation causes warmer air to move toward cooler air. This process creates wind. Wind resources are abundant across three regions of the country: west, Midwest, and the northeast.

The benefits of wind energy are numerous. Wind energy is clean, releasing zero emissions because the process does not require any combustion. The use of wind turbines creates less smog, less acid rain, and fewer greenhouse gases. In the United States, power plants are the largest stationary source of air pollution, which releases large amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide each year.

In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that the warming of the climate system is unequivocal and the most observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid twentieth century. There is a healthy debate as to the direct cause of global warming. Some argue that it is part of the natural process, while others claim it is due to human activity, like automobiles, and the burning of fossil fuels. Regardless of individual arguments, the earth’s temperature is rising, which should be a concern for all. Wind energy can help curb the burning of fossil fuels, resulting in lower amounts of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. As with all things, using wind energy does have a small financial investment, like maintaining the wind farms. In more arid parts of the country, the blades have to be sprayed with water to expel any dirt or dead insects that flew into the blades. Having dirty blades can have a negative effect on the overall performance. In order for the blades to function optimally, the blades must be clean in order for the aerodynamics to work.

Aside from the benefits to wind energy, there are also some challenges to using wind. The first challenge is the money involved. Wind farms often require a higher start up investment as compared to creating fossil-fueled generators. Local governments may be less likely to investment money into a wind farm due to the uncertainty of the economical return. Another challenge is the placement of wind farms. The highest producing wind farms are in isolated areas, away from cities. In order to provide electricity to cities, power lines need to be built, which can be costly. This is yet another example of the additional costs that are associated with creating wind farms.

Competition is also another factor that determines if a wind farm is erected. There are some locations that can be competitive in regard to land use. A final challenge for wind farms is the noise and appearance of the farms. People who live close by to these farms complain of the appearance of the structures as well as the noise associated with the turning blades.

Wind farms do not always have to take up land space. In fact, wind farms can be built offshore. One company in America that utilizes offshore wind farms is the Cape Wind Company, which has offices in Boston and North Falmouth, MA. Cape Wind Energy prides itself on producing clean energy from the wind. Through the use of wind farms, electricity is provided to Cape Cod and the surrounding islands. The electricity produced by CWE also offsets the need for electricity for the rest of New England.

Wind is simply one of the many sources of energy in the United States. There are pros and cons to wind energy, as with anything else. Wind energy, in my opinion, is not a viable option in regards to powering the entire nation, due to the sheer size of the country. The Cape Wind Company has proven that wind energy can prove to be a reliable source of energy for small, but moderately populated areas. Wind energy could be a valuable asset to smaller cities, like parts of the Midwest or other parts the Northeast. The United States needs to draw upon all of its resources from coast to coast to help create a more independent America.

Rare Fruit Tree Sale - May 15

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Rare Fruit Tree Sale!

The Manatee Rare Fruit Council’s Twenty Third Annual Rare Fruit Tree sale will be

held at the Manatee Civic Center in Palmetto. Sale hours are from 10 am to 4 pm.

More than 3000 plants of all varieties and sizes will be offered at reasonable prices.

Many additional plant related items will also be sold, including the Council's specially

formulated Fruitilizer plant food. Nurserymen from all parts of Florida will offer best

varieties of every kind of fruit tree at this once-a-year event. Free admission, free parking, free expert advice and assistance are available.

The Manatee Rare Fruit Council, a chapter of Rare Fruit Council International, is a non-

profit group working to introduce, propagate and distribute the many rare tropical and

sub –tropical fruits that thrive in our unique Southwest Florida climate. A portion of the

proceeds from the Tree Sale is dedicated to the Manatee Rare Fruit Council Fruit Tree

Display Area which the Club is currently developing at Palma Sola Botanical Park. The

monthly meeting is held at the Manatee Fairgrounds on the 2nd Monday of each month

at 7 PM. Visitors and guest are welcome and encouraged. Visit the Club's website at

www.mrfc.org for more info, including a searchable archive of data on fruit propagation

Nuclear Energy: Good or Bad

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700

by Guest Blogger Michael McDonald, a Senior at Florida Gulf Coast University

The topic of nuclear energy has been an exhausted topic debated within the United States. The potential dangers of nuclear power plants leave many people hesitant to explore further into nuclear agendas and science. Those in favor of nuclear power often are staunch supporters of aggressive nuclear ambitions. The subject of nuclear energy is not a new idea, at least not as new as solar, geothermal, or wind energy. Most of the nuclear power plants in operation today were built in the 1970s. Despite the potential dangers of nuclear power plants, nuclear energy is clean energy.

The science of nuclear energy is composed of a chain reaction which produces a clean, environmentally safe way to produce electricity. The process begins with nuclear fission. During this process, the nucleus of an atom is split, creating massive amounts of heat. Water is used to convert the energy into steam, which propels a generator, creating electricity.

There are numerous benefits to nuclear energy. The first of which is the impact on the environment. Nuclear power plants do not release any harmful gases into the atmosphere, since the gas that emerges from the exhaust towers is just evaporated water in the form of steam. This is quite a difference to coal powered plants, which create electricity in a similar way, but release fossil fuels into the air that not only damage the atmosphere, but the overall health of people, especially a person’s lung. Aside from being a form of clean energy, nuclear power plants are reliable, providing electricity for nearly forty years, sometimes longer. Nuclear power is also used in the military, since many submarines are powered by nuclear means.

Despite the benefits of nuclear power, there are plenty of disadvantages. The biggest factor that leaves many uneasy about nuclear power plants is an event that happened on April 26, 1986, in Russia, in the western part of the country. Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station was built adjacent to the town of Pirpyat. Pirpyat was a relatively new town with great opportunities. It was a town of promise and a better life. One catastrophic event would change the town forever.

During the night, an explosion occurred at Chernobyl. One of the reactors ruptured, spewing radioactive matter into the atmosphere contaminating large areas of Europe. The town of Pirpyat was destroyed. The remained intact, but the levels of radiation were so high that it had to be abandoned. The disaster at Chernobyl was what scientists call a meltdown. The reactor core overheated. This led to the melting of the fuel rods which contained the pellets which encapsulate the uranium. With the explosion, the pellets melted, releasing the radioactive material from within.

The Chernobyl accident was a global disaster. The accident halted nuclear ambitions in America. Chernoybal was not an example of the unreliability of nuclear power, but revealed the brevity that came with using nuclear power. The accident occurred because safety precautions were not taken and the plant was not properly maintained. Another reason for the accident was the design of the plant. The reactors were not housed in concrete area, so when the reactor blew, nothing prevented the radioactive matter from entering the atmosphere.

In America, nuclear power plants are built differently. Each reactor is built within a concrete container, so in the event of a meltdown, the radioactive matter would not be released into the atmosphere like Chernobyl. One example of how America prevented a disaster was the accident at Three Mile Island in Middletown, Pennsylvania. The accident happened at four in the morning on March 28, 1979. A mechanical failure prevented water from cooling the reactor, which prevented the steam from removing the heat. The pressure and heat caused the reactor to rupture. The pellets began to melt. Due to quick reactions, the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) took swift action, managing to restore water flow and cool down the reactors. The accident was the most dangerous nuclear disaster in US history, but despite the circumstance, there were no deaths or injuries to plant workers and the surrounding community.

The accident at Three Mile Island brought immediate, comprehensive changes to the nuclear industry. Changes like emergency response planning, reactor operation planning, human factors engineering, radiation protection, and other areas. It caused the USNRC to tighten and heighten its oversight.

The dangers of nuclear power are also a national security issue. Any nation that can produce nuclear energy can produce nuclear weapons. This led to the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, where it was said that Russia supplied Cuba with nuclear weapons to fire at the United States in the 1960s. Terror organizations can also have access to nuclear weapons through nations like Iran and North Korea, nations which have been encouraged to tone down their respective nuclear programs due to concerns regarding nuclear proliferation, and the illegal sale of nuclear weapons.

Another danger associated with using nuclear energy is the removal of nuclear waste. Used nuclear waste is highly radioactive. The waste is biodegradable, but would take centuries to become non-radioactive. One example of the dangers of nuclear waste is Lake Karachay, adjacent to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Plant workers dumped the nuclear waste into the lake. Today, Lake Karachay is the most radioactive site in the world. Facts provided by government agencies report that a person can absorb a lethal amount of radiation in less than an hour just by standing on the shore. In the United States, the location to permanently store spent nuclear fuel will have to be decided in the next twenty years. An idea has been suggested to store the waste in the Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The idea has faced staunch opposition from residents of Nevada.

The recent accident in Japan at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant is fast becoming the next Chernobyl. The accident in Japan was triggered by an underwater earthquake, which created a Tsunami that crashed into Japan. This differs from the accidnet at Chernobyl, which was the result of an explosion from within the power plant. The comparasion between Chernobyl and Fukushima stems from the similar level of radioactive matter.

In Japan, the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.5, knocking out power to the plant. During the Chernobyl accidnet, there was a system malfunction, resulting in a breakdown in the cooling system. Water was not able to cool the reactor core, casuing it to rupture. Radioactive matter was released into the atmosphere, spreading as far as California. While there were no fataliies due to the result of the power plant accident, the area within fifty miles had to be evacuated and the levels of radation remain high.

After the nuclear accident, specualtion arose regarding what happened exactly and what kind of damamge was incurred. The Naples News reported that seventy percent of the fuel rods were severely damaged. Japanese officials desperately tried to manually cool down the reactors by dumping gallons of water overhead, but the radiation levels prevented them from flying at low altitudes, forcing pilots to dump water higher up, compromising the accuracy of the water dump. Warships were ordered to the area and modified military planes were sent to fly over the country, collecting data for radiation levels. CNBC reported that due to the increasing levels of radiation, Navy ships left the immediate region away from the power plant, though they still remained off the coast of Japan to assist in relief efforts for earthquake victims.

The accident at Fukushima was caused by a natural event. The complications after the earthquake were a result of human error. Warnings had been given about the safety of the plant, but were ignored. As a result, Japan is desperately trying to avoid another Chernobyl. Traces of radiation have been found in food and water supplies. The levels increase and decrease daily. If it was suggested that an earthquake, a tsunami, and a nuclear disaster were to happen at the same time, people would probably dismiss the idea. But it happened.

After the event, the USNRC identified numerous US nuclear power plants on fault lines, especially in the state of California, which has several nuclear power plants on fault lines. This is a concern for some. President Barack Obama ordered a list to be drawn out on the ten most problem-prone power plants in the nation. He also delegated the responsibility to the secretary of energy to follow-up and lead efforts to update equipment and decommission those deemed unsafe.

Today, many nations use nuclear energy to power cities. The country of France draws seventy-five percent of its electricity from nuclear energy. Slovakia comes in second, Belgium third, and the Ukraine fourth. These facts come from the March 24, 2011 edition of the USA Today newspaper. There are great benefits to nuclear energy, and there are disastrous consequences of the use of nuclear energy. The best thing nations can do is take the right steps to manage their nuclear supplies and work together to keep nuclear energy safe.

The Silk Road

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700

On Friday, March 10^th, filmmaker and world traveler Marlin Darrah spoke before an audience of over one hundred and fifty people at Broadway Palm Dinner Theater for the annual ECHO film series. Darrah presented his documentary “Silk Road”, about the historical trade route that stretched across Asia and parts of Europe nearly two thousand years ago. Darrah blazed a trail across the continent of Asia, following in the footsteps of those who traveled on the Silk Road. Beginning in Western China, Darrah took his viewers from China into Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Turkey. Throughout his travels, Darrah chronicles the cultures of the countries he visits, learning more about the famous trail from an insider’s perspective. The film series is a fundraiser for ECHO, since the proceeds help fund the many interns that receive training through the mission of ECHO. The film series is advertised using local media outlets in hopes of not only sharing the mission of ECHO, but of educating the public on the many parts of the world.

Darrah began his journey in Western China, in the city of Urumqi. Darrah described Urumqi as a modern city. Even today, Urumqi is regarded as an important destination on the northern route of the Silk Road. While traveling across Western China, Darrah saw the remains of one of the Chinese lost civilizations. Seeing Darrah walk through the cracked stone structures created a sense of wonder and deep thought, reflecting on how life was for these early civilizations. The photography taken by Darrah captured most the sections of the ruins of the lost civilization, giving viewers a closer look on experiencing the ruins as if they were there themselves.

After traveling through China, Darrah traveled to Kyrgyzstan, a nation which attracts approximately 500 US travelers a year. Viewers were shown picturesque images of Lake Issyk-Kul, which is referred to as the “Pearl of Kyrgyzstan.” The lake is surrounded by the majestic Tian Shan Mountains. Lake Issyk-Kul resembles California’s-Nevada’s Lake Tahoe, just on a much larger scale. While in Kyrgyzstan, Darrah took viewers into the capital city of Bishkek, the largest city in the country.

The next country for Darrah was Uzbekistan. While in the city of Tashkent, Darrah learned of the cotton industry. The cotton is referred to as “white gold.” Within the culture of Uzbekistan, Darrah reported that during the school year, students take one month off to work in the cotton field. Due to the abundant supply of cotton, much help is needed. The Kara Kum desert offered scenery that is usually found in Hollywood films featuring camel caravans and breathtaking scenery from the Asian desert. Darrah continued on into Turkmenistan, where he visited the Tolkuchk Bazaar, in the city of Tolkuchk. It is here where merchants display their goods and crafts. One of these crafts is silk rugs, which can, depending on the size, cost thousands of dollars. These rugs can take up to six months to make.

The final stop on Darrah’s journey brought him to the European country of Turkey, which was the end of the Silk Road. Darrah showed viewers the city of Istanbul, which is ground zero for the cultural, economic, and financial districts in Turkey. Viewers were taken to the Blue Mosque, an elaborate Islamic place of worship that rivals Mecca itself, located in Saudi Arabia. Another destination in Turkey that Darrah visited was Ephesus, which was at one time the second largest city in the Holy Roman Empire. Today, the amphitheater at Ephesus still stands intact, and holds concerts every year.

The film did a masterful job of taking viewers onto the Silk Road, which is a fundamental part of world history. One of the messages expressed in Darrah’s documentary was that anyone could travel to the Far East and travel either on the Silk Road itself, or individual destinations. Darrah was enthustic about sharing his memories and expertise on the region to those who attended, talking to numerous people afterward on the parts of his trip that made it memorable, not just for a job, but for a traveler.