Seeds Carry Hope from ECHO Florida

This year, the ECHO-Florida Seed Bank alone produced 50 different accessions of seed, sent out 44 pounds of bulk seed, and distributed 4,146 trial packets of appropriate seeds to people working in 76 countries. When asked about her personal role in ECHO’s mission, Holly Sobetski responded, “As the seed bank manager I help support those in ECHO’s worldwide network who are on the front lines. I believe we are sharing hope with many through seeds and training about seed saving”.

Participating in Regional seed swaps in Florida and Latin America, ECHO Florida’s Seed Bank shared seeds and gained knowledge about indigenous seed varieties that will help our entire network. Pictured above, seeds are cleaned and sorted before being packed and shipped around the world.

Pedaling from Virginia to Wyoming & 100 Friendly Honks!

Well, it’s time to update you all on the status of the Honk-O-Meter. In case you missed the previous blog post, the Honk-O-Meter is our count of the number of friendly car/truck/motorcycle honks people have given us on our adventure. Well, as we were approaching Rawlins, WY, a couple of days ago, we received our 100th honk! So, how will we celebrate? We’ve used much of the sentiment of your suggestions and have come up with two different things. First, we plan to donate $100 to ECHO. Each honk is an audible expression of kindness and support for our journey. Since we are partnering with ECHO on this journey, it seems fitting to channel that support to encourage their work to help stop worldwide hunger. If you feel so inclined, please join us- and others who have already donated- to show your support, too. The other thing that we plan to do is each eat a 100 Grand candy bar! (Someone had suggested eating 100 m&ms, but we already do that every day since they are such a great sweet treat that pack well in our things.)

Interested in how we plan to wrap up our trip? We have decided that our journey’s final destination will be in Jackson Hole, WY, among the Grand Tetons. That is where our biking will end, but our adventure will continue as we make a detour home (via plane) by stopping by the ECHO farm in Fort Myers, FL. We are looking forward to having a tour of the farm and becoming acquainted with some of the folks who make ECHO a reality! Then, we arrive back in Richmond on Aug. 26. 

Meet the New ECHO Interns: Will and Noelle

By: Maddie Christy

On June 25th, ECHO Florida welcomed two new interns! Will and Noelle will begin their 14 month internship with a month of orientation and introductions before easing into their specific areas on the farm. Even as they are still getting to know who ECHO is and what our mission is about we can already tell that are valuable additions to our organization. Help us in welcoming our two newest faces, and read the Q&A below to learn a little bit about who they are and why they chose to come to ECHO!

Will is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He attended Clemson University and graduated with a B.S. in Biosystems Engineering. He will be the new intern in Appropriate Technology.

Noelle is from upstate New York. She first graduated with her Associates degree in Applied Science and then went on to graduate with her Bachelor’s in International Development. She will be the new Rainforest Intern.

What led you to be passionate about agriculture and missions?

Will:

The way God has wired me is very much about resource recovery. I have learned to see the world as an abundance of resources, that if stewarded well could benefit everyone involved. I don’t think people have to go hungry or go without. So that’s kind of how I approached my degree in biosystems engineering. There are many different applications of that degree and agriculture is definitely one of them. It’s just so practical in my mind. It makes sense to me that we can feed someone through teaching proper ag techniques and training.

I’ve encountered small scale farmers in East Africa and seen the need for help. Personally, Jesus has transformed my life and I want people to know him. So, I want to connect people to all of the agricultural knowledge available and to the God who has given all of these resources so that they may taste and see that the Lord is good and take the step into relationship with Him.

Noelle:

When I went into college to study agriculture I knew it was something I wanted to do with my life. I have always loved animals and nature. And I knew there had to be a way I could use it to reach out to people. But I had no specific vision of what that looked like and I didn’t know anything at that point about agricultural development or international development. I began to have a burden for overseas missions and I also began to learn about agricultural missions. I really felt I had to use my knowledge and my skills to work against environmental destruction and work towards restoration. Essentially, I want to help feed families in rural areas of developing countries and also share God’s love and Gospel.

“I know God has begun to put the pieces together in my life and is directing me towards a destiny. As I have been discovering him and the desires that he’s put in me, I know that ECHO has a part in that.”

How did you hear about ECHO?

Will:

I first heard of ECHO on a phone call with a missionary in Kenya about a year and a half ago. I was inquiring about how I could pursue an internship or volunteer alongside him. Long story short it wasn’t going to be a good time so it wouldn’t work out. But we just ended up talking life and he shared about ECHO because he had been an intern back in the 90s and that had really set the trajectory for his life. That was the first time I learned of ECHO and I was really impressed. I casually looked it up online and checked it out. I was mostly excited that this existed and that it was blessing people. But it didn’t really cross my mind that I would get involved with it.

Following that initial introduction the Lord placed a couple who had been interns in the early 2000s at the small church plant I attended in Clemson, I got to know another student who had ECHO connections, and I found out I had family members who were friends of ECHO.

It just kept going. The more I looked into it and initiated the application process I just knew in my spirit that this was something that God had set up for me for a long time. I kept taking steps towards it and he’s opened every door along the way.

Noelle:

I heard about ECHO about three years ago from a professor who had worked in Haiti. And then when I was traveling around doing veterinary work it kept coming up in conversation with people. Everyone was asking me if I had heard about ECHO. Then last year I spent time working on the Beer-Sheba Project in Senegal which is pretty closely connected with ECHO. There are a few graduate interns there who highly recommended that I come to ECHO. I considered it but wasn’t planning to apply until another one of my professors got an email from Brian Flanagan. He sent it on to me asked that I consider it. I sat down right there and filled out the application and had the feeling that I knew this is where I would end up.

What are you most looking forward to in your 14 months here?

Will:

I am realizing I need to have a purpose and direction in being here because this internship is designed to propel us into some sort of lifelong endeavor. I know God has begun to put the pieces together in my life and is directing me towards a destiny. As I have been discovering him and the desires that he’s put in me, I know that ECHO has a part in that. I know that he is going to continue to confirm things and give me more specific direction. I think I am excited to more and more uncover God’s desire and intent for my life and then intentionally take steps towards that. I hope it’s not just getting through the 14 months and enjoying it, but really thinking five to twenty years beyond this. I hope this is a place for dreaming about what the Lord has for my future.

Noelle:

I am looking forward to everything I am going to learn. Specifically, about agriculture. I am looking forward to all the techniques and technical knowledge that I can gain here. I am excited about knowing and seeing examples of how this information can be applied practically. I am also excited about diving into how agriculture can be our spiritual teacher especially in terms of God’s character and love. I want to glean as much as I can here so that I can take it to people and share it.

Both:

Also, eating a lot of really awesome food. And hanging out with all the amazing people here. This place is rich with conversations, and connections!

“I began to have a burden for overseas missions and I also began to learn about agricultural missions. I really felt I had to use my knowledge and my skills to work against environmental destruction and work towards restoration.”

What has been your favorite experience so far?

Both:

Well, we are learning that Lee County is really prone to lighting strikes. Recently lighting struck a tree about 50 feet from where we. It just happened right in front of our eyes. So, that was certainly a memorable experience. Our ears were ringing and our hearts were beating really fast for like 10 minutes after. So we’ve certainly had some cool experiences with the weather thus far.

Also all the times that we are walking around the farm and people pull things off trees left and right for us to try. Being able to walk around and pluck tropical fruit from all the trees is so cool. So that’s been a constant favorite recurring experience.

What are you hoping your time at ECHO is preparing you for? What do you think is next?

Will:

I have a desire to live in certain parts of the Arab world. For me, I have a passion for East Africa and regions in the horn of Africa and people groups there who haven’t heard the good news of Jesus and who have struggled through political issue, wars, and famine. So, my desire is to live and work in that part of the world for potentially the rest of my life.

Noelle:

I too would like to go overseas long-term if God wills. I have a heart for Muslims, Arabs, Arabic language, and Arabic culture. To me they are a beautiful people. I would like to work with rural agricultural communities and help them with facing issues of daily farming and daily life as well as keeping healthy livestock.

I would love to take my skills into areas where foreigners and missionaries never go, where it is frankly very difficult for them to go. I have had a little taste of that and I absolutely loved it. My dream is to go to the Muslim world and make that my home. From there if my work and connections take me other places, I am fine with that but I think my heart will always be at home in that part of the world. But that’s just my hope, who knows how God might change my plans.

“We’re not just learning agricultural or technical skills, but we’re getting an investment spiritually and relationally.”

Any fun facts?

Will:

I will tell you some fun facts about Noelle. She is extremely gifted. She decided to raise dairy goats in high school. She just read up on it and did it herself. She has a gift for language. She determined to teach herself Arabic and succeeded with much prayer and helpful intervention of others along the way. She plays guitar, sings, and plays the harp. She is the real deal.

Noelle:

Well, Will. He has traveled all over. He intentionally extends layovers so he can explore other countries. To date, he has been to 18 countries. Which is a lot for a 23-year-old. He is 6’ 4’’ish. He is very good at sports. He played basketball and soccer. He also likes to fish. And he loves to read. Ultimately, he wants to live a life of faith, knowing that it will be difficult but difficult for the sake of living by faith. And thus being close to the lord and thus knowing God’s power in his life. He is ready to leave what is comfortable to him to live that kind of life and serve others. I think that is remarkable, and not something I often hear from young people.

Any last thoughts about ECHO?

Both:

One of the most beautiful thing about ECHO is that people here have a heart for God’s work globally. And so we’re not just learning agricultural or technical skills, but we’re getting an investment spiritually and relationally. I believe it’s really valuable and we wouldn’t be able to find this kind of opportunity many other places. It’s invaluable for young people to come and do an internship like this.

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This interview has been edited and condensed. Some content has been censored at the request of our interns who hope to keep their options open in future career choices around the world.

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ECHO’s internship is a paid, 14-month long program. ECHO is looking for college graduates interested in international community development and small-scale tropical agriculture or appropriate technologies. Click here for more information.

Maddie Christy

// Maddie is one of two 5-week storytelling interns at ECHO, and a student at Bethel University's Johnson School of Journalism. Follow the ECHO blog and ECHO News magazine for more of her work! 

What Do Bitter Gourd, Naranjilla and Cranberry Hibiscus Have in Common?

Answer: All of these tropical crops are underutilized!

Come join us to explore the wealth of fascinating tropical crops that could enrich your farm, garden, or development project. 

Introduction to Tropical and Underutilized Crops

Course date: September 10 - 14, 2018

Join us at ECHO for a week of tropical immersion at our Global Farm! In our Introduction to Tropical and Underutilized Crops class, participants can expect to receive an overview of appropriate crop options for challenging climates and environments. This course will cover a wealth of lesser-known crops, an introduction to their propagation, care and practical uses including cooking and tasting many of these plants.

Curious about Underutilized Crops? Read more about these high-potential plants in our Tech Note.

Growing a green thumb

by Jasmine Johnson

The only farming experience I had prior to my internship at ECHO was a few failed attempts in my family’s backyard. We planted watermelon and pumpkin seeds too close to the woods, so the deer munched off all of the produce before we got the chance to collect anything.

Urban Garden Intern Gabe LePage invited a few new ECHO members to start our own garden. He wanted to try a new technique while also teaching us in the process.

When we met up after work one evening, Gabe had already set up some cement parking blocks in a small square area with layered mulch and manure compost filling the space. We were then able to dump the soil in right away.

Once everything was packed down, we used branches, logs and cinder blocks to fill in any gaps or cracks along the edges of the space. Gabe explained that he did not want the soil to wash away during heavy rainstorms.

Using the cinder blocks to preserve the soil also allowed for further gardening space. We used the same layering pattern of manure, mulch and soil in the blocks’ holes to grow additional plants.

We then walked over to the seed bank and each picked out some flowers and herbs to include. When looking at the variety of options, we made sure to choose plants that would thrive in extended sun exposure and not smother any neighboring sprouts.

Although this cement enclosure is one way to garden, there are many other options demonstrated around the urban and community garden spaces at ECHO.

While retrieving more soil for the garden bed, Gabe asked me where I would garden at home. I thought of an area in our backyard next to our rabbit’s cage that would work very well. Since Gabe uses rabbit manure for the urban garden at ECHO, this could also be applied to my future garden in Minnesota.

After arriving at home and catching up with my family, I discovered that my dad had already planted a few different vegetables in the exact spot I had mentioned to Gabe! I cannot wait to join my dad in caring for the plants and continue growing my green thumb.

Gardening is just one of the many things I have observed and learned during my time at ECHO. Many of these agricultural lessons were not as complicated as I originally thought they would be.

When starting up any garden, Gabe told us to remember four important things: abundant sunlight, fertile soil, a water source, and the plants themselves.

Anyone can grow a garden, no matter the climate or location. Whoever you are and whatever your story may be, do not be afraid to dive into the beauty of God’s creation and observe the physical fruits (or vegetables) of your labor!

If you would like to learn more about the multitude of gardening options, consider taking a tour at ECHO’s Global Farm to learn more about the gardening methods that interest you. While you are there, stop by the bookstore to pick up some seeds to try at home!

What do you want to grow?

Jasmine Johnson

//Jasmine is one of two 5-week storytelling interns at ECHO, and a student at Bethel University's Johnson School of Journalism. Follow the ECHO blog and ECHO News magazine for more of her work!