TRAINING

ECHO’s STUDY PROGRAM:
A Chance to Learn about Plants & Techniques
for the Tropical Subsistence Farm in Fort Myers, Florida

ABOUT ECHO:

ECHO is a non-profit, Christian organization that serves missionaries and development workers affiliated with hundreds of organizations in 180 countries around the world. We provide them with a networking technical bulletin (ECHO Development Notes), answer their specific agricultural questions, link them with other resource people and organizations, provide learning opportunities, and give them access to a wide variety of germplasm for plants which have proven useful under tropical growing conditions.

In southwest Florida, ECHO operates something akin to a botanical garden (though not nearly as formal) of plants that are important to small-scale farmers and gardeners in Third World countries. It also includes demonstrations of other components important on the small farm, e.g., small animals and appropriate technologies.

However, ECHO is not a farm in the common sense of having large fields of crops and herds of animals. The "farm" serves as a learning tool for interns, as a demonstration farm for missionaries and students, as an educational tool for public tours, and as a production farm for seeds and nursery plants.

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DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS:

Our programs are designed to meet the needs of a number of groups.

Internships

The first group includes residents of North American who are interested in overseas service. Our 15-month internship and this self-directed student program acquaint participants with some of the techniques, problems, and resources for the small farmer or urban gardener struggling to make a living under marginal conditions. We intend that this experience will give the person an understanding of Third World agricultural development as a career opportunity.

• Tropical Agriculture Internship
• Public Relations/Development Internship

Independent Study

The second group includes missionaries, nationals, and others already working overseas doing development work. ECHO provides a self-study opportunity to allow them to research topics of concern and to introduce them to useful resources. ECHO welcomes visitors to work and study with us. These “students” are given the opportunity to work on the farm (with our underexploited plants, semi-organic gardening, rooftop gardening, care for small animals, weeding, etc.), make use of the resources in our library, and interact with ECHO staff.

Students generally spend half of each day working with ECHO interns at various tasks, depending on the season and needs at the time. We encourage students to value this time of work because it is a time of learning in a hands-on setting.Work can involve some combination of six main areas: working with plants, working on weeding, working on general maintenance, working with animals, working with appropriate technologies and working with people. In each case, emphasis is on Third World settings and plant and animal species that are appropriate for the tropics or subtropics.

The remaining half-day usually is spent in study. ECHO staff provides students with an explanation of how to use our library and other resources, a listing of topics and key books, and some limited interaction to assist students in refining their study program. A weekly intern or staff seminar gives exposure to a variety of topics. Students also have the opportunity to interact with missionary guests who might visit ECHO during their time of study.

College Courses

ECHO currently hosts two college courses through Gordon College and the AuSable Institute. ECHO partners with these universities by providing the resources for these classes to take place, such as the farm, housing, and staff to speak on occassion. However, credit for these courses are given by the mentioned institutions, ECHO simply hosts these courses.

To learn more about these courses, visit the links below:

ECHO's Agricultural Conference

Every November, individuals from all over the world meet in Fort Myers, Florida for ECHO's Annual Agricultural Conference. The conference is a 4 day event, where missionaries, development workers, college students, and individuals interested in working overseas gather to attend workshops, listen to speakers, gather resources from the Bookstore and Library, and troubleshoot agricultural problems by networking with each other. Although this is not a formal study program, many conference delegates have affirmed that the conference is indeed an amazing time to gather information, ideas, training in specific topics, and seeds. ECHO encourages anyone working overseas, preparing to work overseas, or thinking about working overseas in agriculture to attend.

For more information about ECHO's Agricultural Conference, click here.

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STUDY OPTIONS:

The For Credit Option. In the past, college students have received credit for study visits at ECHO through independent study courses, college internships, and special topic courses. Each student desiring credit needs to make arrangements with a sponsoring college before arriving. Students at Christian colleges that utilize the AuSable Institute can also register to receive credit for study at ECHO through AuSable.

Often the professor responsible for monitoring the student’s experience will require completion of one or more of these activities:

If the faculty person at the sponsoring college will be assigning a grade, he/she should base it on written assignments. ECHO staff will not provide exams nor assign grades, but they will be glad to answer questions by telephone to help the faculty member arrive at a grade.

ECHO is located beyond the reach of public transportation and a mile from even a convenience store, so it is best if students have their own car available. If this is not possible students can take the initiative to arrange to accompany interns and other students to the store, church, etc. ECHO will not provide students with a vehicle .

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PROGRAM COSTS:

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REQUIREMENTS:

We are interested only in mature students with a serious desire to learn, and an expressed interest in development work. Though no specific Christian beliefs are required, high moral standards and a life-style consistent with the Christian faith are required. Remember, ECHO's primary mandate is to strengthen the work of those already working in agricultural development in the name of Christ, we are not a formal training center.

If you have questions about the study program, please contact Greta Haustein, ECHO's Intern & Study Program Coordinator, at (239) 543-3246 extension 221 or ghaustein@echonet.org.

If you are interested in studying at ECHO, please send a completed study application to:

Study Program, 17391 Durrance Road, North Ft. Myers , FL 33917

We review applications for the student program periodically. To maximize your chance of being accepted for the study program at ECHO, apply as early as possible. [Those who want to spend a week or less at ECHO do not need to complete an application for the study program, but should call Greta Haustein to discuss the arrangements.]

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Other Training Options:

ECHO's primary mandate is to provide technical assistance to overseas workers; our study program is a secondary ministry. However, there are groups that specialize in formal technical training programs appropriate for those preparing for development projects overseas. These are some of those programs:

SIFAT (Southern Institute of Appropriate Technology)
Rt. 1 Box D 14
Lineville, AL 36266
Phone (205) 396-2017

HEART Program (Hunger Elimination Action and Resource Training)
5301 US Highway 27 South
Lake Wales, FL 33853;
Phone (863) 638-1188, Fax (863) 638-1472

The Appropriate Technology Institute
P.O. Box 250,
Union Mills, NC 28167
Phone (704) 738-3891, Fax (704) 287-0580

Study Program Application in PDF Format