Regards the Datura plants :- It could be utilised to make liquid manure by placing in a large container half full of water .Add animal manure and any seed heads of undesirable plants. Stir weekly adding material and water when available. The liquid " tea"can be used as a folier fertiliser, especially good on citrus trees . Keep up the good work. Cheers from Qld 🇦🇺
Your termites are a blessing in an ecosystem . One of the world’s best dead wood recyclers and soil aerators ! But as you know you need lots of dead wood so now you ll be able to feed them and have even more juicy soil ! Keep going . I watch every day xxxx
7 HABITS - No 3; Put first things first. Pigs are very smart. They need some balls and small drums to push around and climb on for muscle tone and a mud waddle to cool and protect their skin. Can't understand why Danou has not made waddles. It's common knowledge that their skin will burn if not protected and they will overheat and stress without mud. The men could easily collect clay chips from the river to make a nice clay waddle.
Well done Emmanuel and family. Keep at it and you'll have a beautiful garden that your neighbours will want to copy, thus being the catalyst for the village becoming a nicer cooler place for your children. Great work guys 💪
Use the Datura as mulch on your walking trails. That is a harmless use, and they likely will not regrow due to foot traffic. Adding grass to both pig and chicken pens will improve the animals habitat, offer them supplemental food, and give you another source of soiled bedding for your worm farm. Syntropy on display. Everyone wins!
Took the words right out of my mouth, I had the same thoughts on the bedding, I think trench composting the datura in the sandy areas to build up and enrich the soil is a good use
Regarding sorghum for pig fodder, I found this article: "The nutritional potential of sorghum as pig feed is really great. First of all, the protein content is two to three per cent higher than corn. In addition, sorghum is poor in tannins, and as you know, tannins reduce the digestibility of protein. So, a crop that is low in tannins, such as sorghum, ensures a higher protein content energetic for the animal. In addition, sorghum has less iodine, linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids, so pigs fed a diet based on sorghum provide meat with firmer fat." What a joyous beginning for 2025, thanks for sharing 👍
Brilliant, my friend. 'Selling' the eight varieties of drought-resistant sorghum compared to water and nutrient-hogging corn is a real bear. The same holds true for chickens. My patience is short. Seems the only crop people plant of their own accord is corn - again today at Emmanuel's. Thank you for the compelling argument.
@@1millionpumpkins542 Good for you! I'm happy you were pleased with last years results. If you time everything just right, you may get a double harvest?! Does that hold for sunflowers too? Time to talk about that manifold rig and a broadfork for Matt 😅
@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 last year, the sorghum had no problem getting cut weekly. I only let the best clumps go to seed. Sunflowers don't like their tops being cut off for the most part. Some plants make a single flower, while others keep sending side flowers all up and down the stalk. 🌻
Wow thank you so much! I really do appreciate it. Please note you do not have to donate to be a part here. Viewing and comenting helps allot! Remember you need to look after yourself first! I hope you have a very blessed day!
LOL, love the house-chickens! We have a few chooks that do not respect fences and free range all the time, they are so curious and will totally invade the house if given the chance. I had the same thought as Steve to drop the Datura on the pathways, hopefully the heat and sun will dry it out and kill the roots so it doesn't re-sprout and you get the benefits associated with mulched pathways. Emanuals property is looking so promising, fingers crossed it works out. Hopefully he and his wife can just trust the process for a couple seasons and reap the rewards.
Great start to the New Year. Hope Simon makes good use of his secateurs. Good that Emmanuels wife is agreeing to this project, will look forward to seeing how it progresses. Did you show her some of the videos of all the green on your land?
@@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 think positively and hope for the best. Do not throw realism out the window, but hope springs eternal. Trying to generate comments. 😊
Steve might be right & people might be sceptical at first but at some point they can’t help but ask well their place is always green & has a constant supply of food. How can I do the same? It might be a slow transition but eventually I think people will start to take notice & want to do the same on their land.
@@gman7329 I wasn't skeptical when the project started 6 months ago and I suggested and helped pay for the gutters - but I am now. I'm open minded until the next disappointment.
Oh wow danou Emmanuel has done really well things are really growing. I can see the difference from your last visit. Iam glad you included his wife. Iam sure once some vegetables are ready to harvest everyone will be so pleased. I will send some buy me a coffee to help with costs for this project. Thx to bsb for the secatears for Simon. I wonder if he is trying some things at his house. Cheeky chooks but they look very healthy hi to camera assistant.
Thank you so much! I think the wife might be the key. Should have done it long time ago. I think as soon as there is food they wil be the talk of town.
Once your own food Forest will be established , and some of your projects for your workers as well. You will have more requests to do some sort of training, education, and even maybe consulting or design works for other namibians which would be next level play. We should be consistent and achieve this state of self-realization
I agree that the wife buying in is key. "Happy wife, happy life" transcends cultural differences. I still think wives could really get into creative mulch covers like basket woven tree rings. 🎉🎉🎉
@@1millionpumpkins542 If I can send you the Trees for the Future "Forest Garden" training manual someday, your mind will be blown by what African women will/can do for their children.
@BESHYSBEES Blessings for sending it to him! I think he can go forth and show "the guys"(peer group) his pruning expertise that earns him money. Enthusiasm will spread 🤩
@@thefoodforestnamibia fantastic, he didn’t seem to understand in the video lol must be strange to have generosity from someone the other side of the world
Termites can be valuable allies in your garden, acting as natural decomposers to break down mulch and enrich the soil. As long as the mulch is kept at a reasonable distance from any structures, these tiny recyclers help accelerate the composting process, turning organic matter into valuable nutrients for your plants while aerating the soil and improving its overall health. They contribute to a thriving ecosystem by participating in the natural cycle of decomposition, ensuring that your garden thrives.
@@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 I’ve explained in layman’s what the “little bastards” do in a few comments on prev vids, they bring wet clay to encapsulate the wood the clay is casting rich in npk so they’re basically trading the cellulose for fertiliser
@@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 There is a type of mushroom which only grows in termite mounds. It's supposedly one of the best tasting and most valuable in the world. Ants Canada talks about it on his vivarium series.
Loving all the progress and work you're doing! Mulch is indeed an essential part of a growing system - have you experimented with any living mulch/ground cover species? Things like shoreline purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum) or ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis), are succulents so could do well in your arid conditions, they have edible leaves, pretty flowers and provide the same physical benefits of mulch by shading the soil and increasing organic matter with their root exudates and leaf litter PLUS they're self perpetuating and green so perform the mulch role 'hands off' and are a little easier on the eye for those who value tidiness :D
As for including wives for in town spreading of permaculture... what about an extended family potluck picnic at your place, Danou? If the wives and children could visit and see how green your land really is, that could be inspiring? Maybe an afternoon of many families seeing the land themselves? Seeing the moisture under the mulch with their own eyes? 😊 RescueLuv commented on including Emanuel's wife being a good plan, which gave me the idea. 😊
@@thefoodforestnamibia Or maybe bring the school class back for their own visit? Same kids? So they see the progress? 😊 Heh when you have time between the 800 great ideas other people have given you? When do you sleep? 😁
If all or most of the butternut survive and they keep them well watered, they are going to have a good amount of butternut to eat and sell. I can't imagine having that much bare ground around me or on my property. When we had a very dry month last year I used shredded cardboard (cut by a crosscut paper shredder in to 2 x 4mm) as a mulch in the yard to cover any spots where the grass had died back. As soon as it rained, the grass greened up, and filled in faster than in my neighbors yards.
It's a good idea to add some carbon to the pig pen. In this one it might not work because the fences aren't tall enough, but in your future design this is an amazing way to have warm bedding for pigs, which quickly turns into amazing compost, and they get to have fun digging around wood chips or straw or any plant matter you put in. Joel Salatin explained this way of keeping pigs in closed areas in many videos.
I totally agree I sometimes need someone to show me how something is done rather than just tell me and I think when neighbours see the progress they will become interested
I'm so happy to see that you are already spreading the methods to your workers and their families! I hope that they succeed so that their neighbours realize how benefical permaculture can be even in small scale. Imagine if majority of the households had a fruit tree and other edible plants in their yards. That would make the whole town green eventually! Having trees will lower the overall temperature and the evaporation that they provide can actually help the local microclimate with more rainfall in the long run.
Totally! In the small village where I grew in Portugal, all of us have fruit trees. When the season comes, we just give to everyone! It's just beautiful ❤️
One "African smile" per household... You could ask and see if any of your viewers would want to sponsor a new household that is interested in trying this out .....I will definitely sponsor one African Smile/zai pit ..... But truly I understand the distinct necessity of making water catchment systems first to be able to water all the plants in a drought
Thanks for the great update on the garden of Emanuel. That's some amazing progress you're making there. Is there a shop where you can buy some sort of shade cloth for both the water tank and for (a piece of) the garden in front? I think the garden will benefit hugely by some extra shade. If possible, please let us know how much coffees you need to buy some of those if available. Or how we can help to get you some. I would love to participate in helping them get their garden into a productive state and I think some shade will give an extra boost to get some plants started and keeping the ground moist. And thanks for all the daily updates anyway. I really enjoy watching them from The Netherlands every night while having dinner or before I go to bed. The rain gave you so much results of all the work done in the last months, it's so cool to see. Already a subscriber, so can't help anymore to get to 5k, but I think you'll get there soon enough. Keep up the updates, we love them! Dankjewel
When you go to buy him coffees, there's a note you can leave. He usually acknowledges them. With them going into summer & dry season, I think shade cloth might be a good investment.
I live in Canada and my parents live in the Philippines. They own land. I managed to convince them to start permaculture after failing in monoculture for years. They agreed but trying to make them understand the principles of permaculture is hard. Their beliefs and practices that has been ingrained in them is so difficult to change. It won't be easy to influence the people around you and that will take some time. Hopefully you will be able to do a lot of water harvesting structures before the rainy season ends so that the dry season won't be as harsh as last year.
@@felle7522 there was a guy in the Philippines who did youtube vids, partly in English but mostly in Tagalog, on permaculture on his farm, showing what to do. Not sure if he's still doing it though.
I've seen a few videos of permaculture in the Philippines. Our farm has a special problem. It's a flat land, clay soil with too much rain. It's been tilled and fertilized for decades. The land has degraded over the years. We are trying to regenerate the land.
You have your land and your videos as a proof of concept which must help when presenting your ideas. This is a really positive video and i bet the neighbours are watching. Great stuff.
10:00 what about using grey water from the showers in a mulching pit? We do that on our farm and are watering some bananas that way. Any grey water can be poured into a pit filled with compostable material, and the composting process will break down any soap and other stuff in the water.
if everyone that views this video could like a few comments & leave at least one comment - even just a thumbs up emoji , it would really help the channel 🤔😎👍👍
Buy or make short gates [like those used for babies and puppies] for the doorways into your house. These will keep the chickens out and you will still have airflow and yur children can hop over them. It is very important that your chickens free-range every day and come home to the coop at twilight. Based on your termite load, you can likely cut your cost of chicken rations to one half. Do you have a rooster? You must have one so you can start raising meat chickens. An essential part of every syntrophic farm. You need a small trailer that you can pull behind your van [unless you plan to buy a truck].
The main problem is you have more good ideas than I have time for! 🤣🤣🤣 I agree with everything you say. We are planning to get a truck. We call it a bakkie. We call those big ones trucks. We don't have a rooster curently and I agree we should get one but only when we have a free range plan or a larger pen. The old rooster did not treat the hens well and I think boredom had somthing to do with it.
@@thefoodforestnamibia I understand things take time. Do not think of anything I write as 'pushing'. They are nothing more than thoughts freely shared. I try to contain my thoughts to what can reasonably be accomplished with your resources. And I never forget that you are working with 6 hectares - a good size for a one family Forest Garden. I try to focus my suggestions on speed, efficiencies, synergy and/or syntropy, and realizing the maximum return on your investment. At the end of the day, that's what it's all about - and that is why I recommend Martin. No wasted effort. He does his own research and makes his own decisions based on his findings. We get along great. Roosters are not hard to find, I imagine. Find a young one and try him out. If he is mean - send him to the stew pot and try another. I strongly suggest you give the chickens free-range time daily, especially because of the termites, and they will be much happier. It is wonderful that they were so well conditioned by your children. Try to spend some time every day with the Forest Garden training manual. That is your best possible Roi.
Regarding free ranging the chickens, who are very human-bonded, why not enlist the children to herd them around where wanted. Joel Salatin speaks about how he guided his children into starting their own mini-operations within the family farm. So perhaps chicken herding could become egg sales for the kids. Would make good content too ❤
Would be a shadecloth in front of his house a good idea ? From the top of his roof over to the wall? This would cut down evaporation so much and cool down everything till it's a bit bigger ? Shouldn't be too expensive as well :)
As you prune thorn tree patches, make certain you identify one strong sprout growing upward that can grow into a shade tree. Start it tied loosely to a pole until it can stand on its own. Then trim the lowest branches as it grows upward until they are above a man's head. Then the thorns will not be a problem to anyone. Continue to harvest all of the suckers at the base f the tree for green manure or forage. I did not see Simone using the loppers for clearing dead brush. What happened? Using the proper tools must become a habit for the best cost-efficient results. The right tool will make his job So much easier. It is up to you to train him, Danou. I am skeptical, but I will believe that both Emmanuel and his wife have bought in when they are harvesting some type of fruit or vegetable from their mulch and worm casting covered gardens and all the trees are growing strong. You can say I am from the "Fool me once..." school of hard knocks.
@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 You have more patience than I do, then. For example, on a light note, I cannot abide cooking shows. They are the ultimate tease. I will never make the recipes, so they just make me jealous. 🤪
It's encouraging that you've got Emmanuel's wife on board. Has she visited your property and seen the results to give her an idea of what she could accomplish?
If not you should show her on your phone so she realizes how much mulch is necessary and the bugs it attracts...explaining to her the necessity of the soil building capacity they provide
The mulch-haters live here in Japan, too. I was out dubbing around in the bamboo "forest" (it's about 5 hectares of severely degraded steep slope) next to my house, and a neighbor on the other side was busily chopping down the bamboo that overhangs his property (the forest is owned by the prefecture, but the only management consists of cutting down trees that might fall in an earthquake or landslide). I asked him what he was going to do with it, and he said "chop it up into small pieces, put it in trash bags (which we pay a bit for), and put it out at the curb." I wouldn't be able to convince him to mulch where he cut the bamboo, so I said "I'll save you the effort: just pass it to me and I'll take it over to my side." He asked what for, and was confused when I said "I don't have any soil on my property (we just built a house), and I'll use it to build soil." "You can make soil with bamboo?!? I've never heard of that." He said. Anyway, I actually used it to cover the ground inside the forest instead of bringing it over to my place.
@ichifish A clumping, NOT running bamboo would be a very handy addition to the leaky weirs in the watercourse . Stabilising the soil , retaining silt and providing an ongoing supply of mulch and building material . The hard part would be selecting and sourcing a bamboo variety suitable to the site . Any bamboo Guru's out there??? Cheers from Qld 🇦🇺
4:50 temporary mobile fencing around termite filled spots... for a day long chicken visit? If the chickens are tame enough, can they be carried and placed into small pens just where you need them, then returned to their save coop each night?
Looking forward to seeing Emanuel's progress as well. I'm curious if the trees in other people's yards are from before the houses were built, do they grow by themselves or was is there some people who plant them for shade. Some of the gardens had smaller and I presume younger trees.
I don’t know much about this kind of termite, but if they tunnel in the ground they will also help water infiltrate into the soil. If this is the case, then they can be though of as micro zai pit makers!
Maybe I am hallucinating but your lands increase in plant biomass is exceptionally fast. Everything is thriving. Your footage is amazing especially the wide shots. Maybe you should make your motto we keep going and growing or the other way around since that pretty much sums it up.
Our soil are very grateful for rain. I see other people say our germination rate is also faster than they are use to. I think this place could be a wonderfull paradise
@@thefoodforestnamibiaCan I give you a trade secret? The videos on the internet that get the most views, all their titles start with how to. Do that and your views would increase ❤ keep going.keep.growing..
The mulberry tree is growing well, and it seems to be partially shaded by the concrete wall. So if you ran wire across the top of his brick walls (giving structural strength) and then tie down white shade cloth across the top of the wires, you could reduce evaporation and stress on the plants. He already has the structure to support it. I do not face the dry conditions you do, and have never experimented with shade cloth but local farmers use it for specific plants (crops) here. This may not be practical for your farm, but he already has the walls.
A little side story... here is California, the big farms cover their entire field in heavy plastic. 🫨 While it knocks down all weeds and keeps in the moisture, plastic is so horrible for our planet... the state of California is asking farmers to stop. The plastic is on the ground and this is fire country. When a field catches fire, all that petroleum based material goes up like a roman candle. 🎉 🔥 pure fuel. 😮
Hi Danou. I'm really enjoying your project, thanks. If you ever have the time in your busy schedule, it would be great if you could draw a plot plan for your property, showing what is currently there and what the overall eventual overall plan may be? It would help us to visualise things when you are working on the property or walking through it and giving us updates. With regards to Emmanuel and the mulch question, I wonder whether the insistence on sweeping the yard is perhaps linked to concern about snakes? I know someone in Windhoek whose neighbour's yard hasn't got a garden at all and who also keeps the earth swept religiously every day. I was told that it was because of the fear of attracting snakes. Not sure if it's the case or not, but it might make sense in a culture where there wasn't traditionally access to anti-venom or hospitals, or vehicles to get to hospital quickly, and so snake bites were potentially fatal due to limited or no treatment options. Not sure what your snake incidence is like there? Similar or worse to SA? Presumably Cape cobra and puffies? Boomslang? Have you encountered any/many?
@@OublietteTight - no, I wouldn't say that the people are inner city. Namibia has one of the least urbanised populations in the world, and the poorer areas are still relatively in contact and touch with nature. Also, I think Namibia itself is something like the second least populated country in the world. People of Africa, especially rural Africa, are acutely attuned to the danger of snakes. We have some deadly ones - cape cobra, rinkals, boomslang, puffadder, black mamba. The neurotoxic ones are lethal, and leave you very little time to get help. Thankfully, though, they are mostly quite shy and usually opt to slither away. The cape cobra is very shy. The rinkals often just plays dead till you leave. The mamba is probably the most dangerous. My understanding is that it is quite aggressive, but I stand to be corrected (fortunately, they're not where I live!). Those are the neurotoxic ones. The puffadder is cytotoxic and very lazy. That makes it dangerous, because it doesn't move out the way. You can often nearly step on them, if you're not aware and vigilant. The boomslang is haemotoxic but, if I remember correctly, it's back-fanged (just checked, yes it is but still can open its mouth 170 degrees!). It is shy and has relatively slow-acting venom, but you still don't want a bite from it, as it affects blood coagulation. My knowledge is not exhaustive, so don't take it as gospel truth, but that is the basic info that most people are aware of in southern Africa. So we have a healthy regard for them, but still go about our lives in a form of conscious coexistence!
I think Emmanuel's mulberry is doing well because of the shade from that wall, perhaps he should plant more along the wall. Also have you thought about trying to grow argan trees in your sandy soils? Idk how easy the seeds are to get hold of, it is only native to Morocco but it has been cultivated in other countries now too
100 comments, you can hot compost the datura, I’ve read a few articles about the pesticide effects of datura and it’s medicinal uses deworming apparently,
@@BESHYSBEES I hot compost everything (leaves, food scraps, grass cuttings and water) in a mulch pile that I turn monthly, and then mulch with the broken down material three times a year give or take. I burn the twigs and sticks and add the ash to the pile. I think all the biomass breaks down faster that way than spreading it out as mulch. It will also tolerates the nitrogen rich coffee grounds and weed seeds that break down. I live on a postage stamp suburban lot. Just adding comments, trying to get to 5000 subscribers. ☺️
There was a lot of seed on the grass you gave to the pigs and chickens. Stripping some of those off would give you more plantable seed. I understand the desire for food plants at Emmanuel's house, but you can't cut corners in the process. You should be looking to establish either a lawn or some other groundcover to start improving the soil and making the ecosystem required to support the fruit trees. It might also be worth looking at a shade covering for the water tank to reduce evaporation, maximising the results from your hard work.
It is so wonderful to share in Emanuel's garden successes - wow - figs already! Are there species of tall vines that grow where you are that he could trellis for fast results for shade before the trees grow up? Re: the sorghum. You might want to look into it a bit. Varieties in the US have been specifically bred for low tannin content which can prevent weight gain in livestock including chickens so it would be good to know what variety you have. Apparently they vary substantially around the world. Chickens eat termites! Maybe it would be possible to have a portable chicken pen you could put down occasionally to keep them in check.
Do you know what the broad leaf plants are int the tin raised beds? Perhaps those could be pruned back and used for mulch. Great to see you helping out the community!
@@thefoodforestnamibia👍👍👍👍👍👍 I'm so happy!!! He should document it too. Or maybe you can do a tour, before he starts, after he builds the structures and than after a year. 😊😊😊😊😊
I think if you can add mulch that looks 'neat', like sifted wood chips or something, people may be more accepting than of something that looks 'messy'.
It surprises me to not see people growing things like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs in small pots or containers. These are things that can easily be grown at home or in small spaces. Is it because seeds are hard to get?
I'm not sure what kind of huge agave style plant that is in his yard but when you clean out the dead leaves look to see if there are small pups growing at the base you can propagate with
I wonder if there is a way to make the mulch decorative. I just think of Emmanuel's wife worry that she may switch back and struggle with shame if people come by and comment. Surely there must be a way of making the mulch decorative, or covering it, decorating the garden with bright or pretty things so that they distract from the mulch. Colourful painted rocks. Mulch which has been cut very fine. If you are going to convince the others in the community it'll be easier if they like the visual aspect of what they see. How about hessian? You could cover the mulch in hessian and stretch it taut, holding it tight with rocks. I understand that the main point is to get the plants to grow and to thrive, but I was thinking about the community perception- of course that will change as they see you succeed! I absolutely loved seeing how well the garden was going, even without the mulch!
I think if danou can help them grow vegetables this will be the winner because fresh food for free would make such a difference to Emmanuels families life. I think it would also get neighbours interested. Fingers crossed but in saying that I’d rather see danou and Emmanuel try that not try.
If only you had the ducks with you when you were opening up your mulch. There were so many termites to eat under the grass mulch you moved specifically.
Hey i'm following you for a few weeks now. Love the stuff you are doing and hear you mention work sometime. Can i ask you what you do for work? Do you have an income next to your permaculture channel?
hi there. I don't remember what video had the termite problem, but have you tried borax and sugar as an termite deterrent? keep up the good work! very inspirational!
The bet ends at 12 o'clock Pacific Time Zone (PT), right? 😁 So there is still what some 11 hours left...
Not only wil I allow this blatant cheating. I wil even pin the comment to give you a fair chance of reaching 5000 subs before tomorrow 😁😁😁
@@thefoodforestnamibia😅
😁😁 @@thefoodforestnamibia
@@tjasasmith1727 Talk abut CRINGE! A paid huckster 😂🤣😂
Regards the Datura plants :- It could be utilised to make liquid manure by placing in a large container half full of water .Add animal manure and any seed heads of undesirable plants. Stir weekly adding material and water when available.
The liquid " tea"can be used as a folier fertiliser, especially good on citrus trees . Keep up the good work. Cheers from Qld 🇦🇺
Your termites are a blessing in an ecosystem . One of the world’s best dead wood recyclers and soil aerators ! But as you know you need lots of dead wood so now you ll be able to feed them and have even more juicy soil ! Keep going . I watch every day xxxx
Loved the happy dance of the piglet for the fresh greens!
😁👍👍👍
7 HABITS - No 3; Put first things first.
Pigs are very smart. They need some balls and small drums to push around and climb on for muscle tone and a mud waddle to cool and protect their skin. Can't understand why Danou has not made waddles. It's common knowledge that their skin will burn if not protected and they will overheat and stress without mud. The men could easily collect clay chips from the river to make a nice clay waddle.
@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 the best way to make a useful statement is to word it in a thoughtful question. One catches way more flies with honey.
Well done Emmanuel and family. Keep at it and you'll have a beautiful garden that your neighbours will want to copy, thus being the catalyst for the village becoming a nicer cooler place for your children. Great work guys 💪
Use the Datura as mulch on your walking trails. That is a harmless use, and they likely will not regrow due to foot traffic.
Adding grass to both pig and chicken pens will improve the animals habitat, offer them supplemental food, and give you another source of soiled bedding for your worm farm. Syntropy on display. Everyone wins!
Took the words right out of my mouth, I had the same thoughts on the bedding, I think trench composting the datura in the sandy areas to build up and enrich the soil is a good use
Regarding sorghum for pig fodder, I found this article:
"The nutritional potential of sorghum as pig feed is really great. First of all, the protein content is two to three per cent higher than corn. In addition, sorghum is poor in tannins, and as you know, tannins reduce the digestibility of protein. So, a crop that is low in tannins, such as sorghum, ensures a higher protein content energetic for the animal. In addition, sorghum has less iodine, linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids, so pigs fed a diet based on sorghum provide meat with firmer fat."
What a joyous beginning for 2025, thanks for sharing 👍
Brilliant, my friend. 'Selling' the eight varieties of drought-resistant sorghum compared to water and nutrient-hogging corn is a real bear. The same holds true for chickens. My patience is short. Seems the only crop people plant of their own accord is corn - again today at Emmanuel's.
Thank you for the compelling argument.
@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 Well, I intend to grow as much of it as I can here for our animals. Hold on tight!
@@1millionpumpkins542 Good for you! I'm happy you were pleased with last years results. If you time everything just right, you may get a double harvest?! Does that hold for sunflowers too?
Time to talk about that manifold rig and a broadfork for Matt 😅
@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 last year, the sorghum had no problem getting cut weekly. I only let the best clumps go to seed.
Sunflowers don't like their tops being cut off for the most part. Some plants make a single flower, while others keep sending side flowers all up and down the stalk. 🌻
@@1millionpumpkins542 Sorry - I miscommunicated 🙃 Sunflowers for seed heads!
I'm broke but I want to be a part of something amazing..Thanks!
Wow thank you so much! I really do appreciate it. Please note you do not have to donate to be a part here. Viewing and comenting helps allot! Remember you need to look after yourself first!
I hope you have a very blessed day!
Thank you again. Please also see tonight's video!
LOL, love the house-chickens! We have a few chooks that do not respect fences and free range all the time, they are so curious and will totally invade the house if given the chance.
I had the same thought as Steve to drop the Datura on the pathways, hopefully the heat and sun will dry it out and kill the roots so it doesn't re-sprout and you get the benefits associated with mulched pathways.
Emanuals property is looking so promising, fingers crossed it works out. Hopefully he and his wife can just trust the process for a couple seasons and reap the rewards.
Emanuel's plot looks promising and it's great that his wife is happy with it all. Meanwhile, how is Lucas doing?
@@FionaGordon-x7m stil sick but seeing the doctor again tomorrow so let's hope for the best?
@@thefoodforestnamibiathank you for the update on Lucas!
Great start to the New Year. Hope Simon makes good use of his secateurs. Good that Emmanuels wife is agreeing to this project, will look forward to seeing how it progresses. Did you show her some of the videos of all the green on your land?
very excited for emanuel's land and becoming a beacon for his local community
I am skeptical.
@@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 think positively and hope for the best. Do not throw realism out the window, but hope springs eternal.
Trying to generate comments. 😊
Steve might be right & people might be sceptical at first but at some point they can’t help but ask well their place is always green & has a constant supply of food. How can I do the same? It might be a slow transition but eventually I think people will start to take notice & want to do the same on their land.
Me too🎉
@@gman7329 I wasn't skeptical when the project started 6 months ago and I suggested and helped pay for the gutters - but I am now. I'm open minded until the next disappointment.
Oh wow danou Emmanuel has done really well things are really growing. I can see the difference from your last visit. Iam glad you included his wife. Iam sure once some vegetables are ready to harvest everyone will be so pleased. I will send some buy me a coffee to help with costs for this project. Thx to bsb for the secatears for Simon. I wonder if he is trying some things at his house. Cheeky chooks but they look very healthy hi to camera assistant.
Thank you so much! I think the wife might be the key. Should have done it long time ago. I think as soon as there is food they wil be the talk of town.
Once your own food Forest will be established , and some of your projects for your workers as well. You will have more requests to do some sort of training, education, and even maybe consulting or design works for other namibians which would be next level play. We should be consistent and achieve this state of self-realization
I agree that the wife buying in is key. "Happy wife, happy life" transcends cultural differences.
I still think wives could really get into creative mulch covers like basket woven tree rings. 🎉🎉🎉
@@1millionpumpkins542 If I can send you the Trees for the Future "Forest Garden" training manual someday, your mind will be blown by what African women will/can do for their children.
@@1millionpumpkins542 Search "The Forest Garden Approach" if you want to see how it works.
I hope Simon likes his gift ❤
@BESHYSBEES Blessings for sending it to him!
I think he can go forth and show "the guys"(peer group) his pruning expertise that earns him money. Enthusiasm will spread 🤩
He does. Very much came afterwards to asked if he understands me correctly, and if it is realy his.
@@thefoodforestnamibia fantastic, he didn’t seem to understand in the video lol must be strange to have generosity from someone the other side of the world
@@BESHYSBEES thankyou for your gift to Simon it certainly seems to have made him happy
What was the gift itself?
Termites can be valuable allies in your garden, acting as natural decomposers to break down mulch and enrich the soil. As long as the mulch is kept at a reasonable distance from any structures, these tiny recyclers help accelerate the composting process, turning organic matter into valuable nutrients for your plants while aerating the soil and improving its overall health. They contribute to a thriving ecosystem by participating in the natural cycle of decomposition, ensuring that your garden thrives.
The termites are a blessing and he should be happy to have them. They will enrich the soil and fatten the chickens.
By visual observation alone - it appears that termite leavings are similar to worm castings. Any entomologists in the community?
@@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 I’ve explained in layman’s what the “little bastards” do in a few comments on prev vids, they bring wet clay to encapsulate the wood the clay is casting rich in npk so they’re basically trading the cellulose for fertiliser
@@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 not an entomologist but I’m into insects
@@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 There is a type of mushroom which only grows in termite mounds. It's supposedly one of the best tasting and most valuable in the world. Ants Canada talks about it on his vivarium series.
This is epic stuf! Spreading the knowledge is the key!
Loving all the progress and work you're doing! Mulch is indeed an essential part of a growing system - have you experimented with any living mulch/ground cover species? Things like shoreline purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum) or ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis), are succulents so could do well in your arid conditions, they have edible leaves, pretty flowers and provide the same physical benefits of mulch by shading the soil and increasing organic matter with their root exudates and leaf litter PLUS they're self perpetuating and green so perform the mulch role 'hands off' and are a little easier on the eye for those who value tidiness :D
As for including wives for in town spreading of permaculture... what about an extended family potluck picnic at your place, Danou? If the wives and children could visit and see how green your land really is, that could be inspiring? Maybe an afternoon of many families seeing the land themselves? Seeing the moisture under the mulch with their own eyes? 😊
RescueLuv commented on including Emanuel's wife being a good plan, which gave me the idea. 😊
@@OublietteTight I like it. Let me think about it a bit
@@thefoodforestnamibia
Or maybe bring the school class back for their own visit? Same kids? So they see the progress? 😊
Heh when you have time between the 800 great ideas other people have given you? When do you sleep? 😁
If all or most of the butternut survive and they keep them well watered, they are going to have a good amount of butternut to eat and sell. I can't imagine having that much bare ground around me or on my property.
When we had a very dry month last year I used shredded cardboard (cut by a crosscut paper shredder in to 2 x 4mm) as a mulch in the yard to cover any spots where the grass had died back. As soon as it rained, the grass greened up, and filled in faster than in my neighbors yards.
It's a good idea to add some carbon to the pig pen. In this one it might not work because the fences aren't tall enough, but in your future design this is an amazing way to have warm bedding for pigs, which quickly turns into amazing compost, and they get to have fun digging around wood chips or straw or any plant matter you put in. Joel Salatin explained this way of keeping pigs in closed areas in many videos.
This is wonderful 🙂
The better way to teach is to show. Maybe slowly the neighbours will copy and use the small improvements slowls.
Greetings, Daniel from Portugal. ❤
The tractor guy from the other day is going to do something similar on his property after seeing the results.
I totally agree I sometimes need someone to show me how something is done rather than just tell me and I think when neighbours see the progress they will become interested
I'm so happy to see that you are already spreading the methods to your workers and their families! I hope that they succeed so that their neighbours realize how benefical permaculture can be even in small scale. Imagine if majority of the households had a fruit tree and other edible plants in their yards. That would make the whole town green eventually! Having trees will lower the overall temperature and the evaporation that they provide can actually help the local microclimate with more rainfall in the long run.
Totally! In the small village where I grew in Portugal, all of us have fruit trees. When the season comes, we just give to everyone! It's just beautiful ❤️
Search "The Forest Garden Approach" if you want to see how it works.
One "African smile" per household... You could ask and see if any of your viewers would want to sponsor a new household that is interested in trying this out .....I will definitely sponsor one African Smile/zai pit ..... But truly I understand the distinct necessity of making water catchment systems first to be able to water all the plants in a drought
Thanks for the great update on the garden of Emanuel. That's some amazing progress you're making there. Is there a shop where you can buy some sort of shade cloth for both the water tank and for (a piece of) the garden in front? I think the garden will benefit hugely by some extra shade. If possible, please let us know how much coffees you need to buy some of those if available. Or how we can help to get you some. I would love to participate in helping them get their garden into a productive state and I think some shade will give an extra boost to get some plants started and keeping the ground moist.
And thanks for all the daily updates anyway. I really enjoy watching them from The Netherlands every night while having dinner or before I go to bed. The rain gave you so much results of all the work done in the last months, it's so cool to see.
Already a subscriber, so can't help anymore to get to 5k, but I think you'll get there soon enough. Keep up the updates, we love them! Dankjewel
When you go to buy him coffees, there's a note you can leave. He usually acknowledges them. With them going into summer & dry season, I think shade cloth might be a good investment.
How did you find Eugene Marais' book, "The Soul of the White Ant"?
All the best from Windhoek.
That is good news that she is willing to have the mulch. Lovely to see the fruit trees are thriving. 🌿💚🌿
I am skeptical.
Bought you some coffee not too long ago. Hope it helps with your water harvesting structures.
Just got it! Thank you so much! It helps more than you know!
I live in Canada and my parents live in the Philippines. They own land. I managed to convince them to start permaculture after failing in monoculture for years. They agreed but trying to make them understand the principles of permaculture is hard. Their beliefs and practices that has been ingrained in them is so difficult to change.
It won't be easy to influence the people around you and that will take some time. Hopefully you will be able to do a lot of water harvesting structures before the rainy season ends so that the dry season won't be as harsh as last year.
@@felle7522 there was a guy in the Philippines who did youtube vids, partly in English but mostly in Tagalog, on permaculture on his farm, showing what to do. Not sure if he's still doing it though.
I've seen a few videos of permaculture in the Philippines. Our farm has a special problem. It's a flat land, clay soil with too much rain. It's been tilled and fertilized for decades. The land has degraded over the years. We are trying to regenerate the land.
@@felle7522 Add the all the organic matter you can find to the soil and raise the level of the dirt so the field drains.
You have your land and your videos as a proof of concept which must help when presenting your ideas.
This is a really positive video and i bet the neighbours are watching. Great stuff.
10:00 what about using grey water from the showers in a mulching pit? We do that on our farm and are watering some bananas that way. Any grey water can be poured into a pit filled with compostable material, and the composting process will break down any soap and other stuff in the water.
You got Simon the shears!! Yes!
One of yt followers bee shy Bee donated the money
I did ❤
@@BESHYSBEESThank you for giving that gift, sweet soul. 😊
love your guys work.
if everyone that views this video could like a few comments & leave at least one comment - even just a thumbs up emoji , it would really help the channel 🤔😎👍👍
👆👆👆👆👌
😊😊
💖
What's in it for you? Are you a paid promoter?
@@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 can't he be just a nice person trying to help out another nice person?
Buy or make short gates [like those used for babies and puppies] for the doorways into your house. These will keep the chickens out and you will still have airflow and yur children can hop over them. It is very important that your chickens free-range every day and come home to the coop at twilight. Based on your termite load, you can likely cut your cost of chicken rations to one half.
Do you have a rooster? You must have one so you can start raising meat chickens. An essential part of every syntrophic farm.
You need a small trailer that you can pull behind your van [unless you plan to buy a truck].
The main problem is you have more good ideas than I have time for! 🤣🤣🤣 I agree with everything you say. We are planning to get a truck. We call it a bakkie. We call those big ones trucks.
We don't have a rooster curently and I agree we should get one but only when we have a free range plan or a larger pen. The old rooster did not treat the hens well and I think boredom had somthing to do with it.
@@thefoodforestnamibia I understand things take time. Do not think of anything I write as 'pushing'. They are nothing more than thoughts freely shared. I try to contain my thoughts to what can reasonably be accomplished with your resources. And I never forget that you are working with 6 hectares - a good size for a one family Forest Garden.
I try to focus my suggestions on speed, efficiencies, synergy and/or syntropy, and realizing the maximum return on your investment. At the end of the day, that's what it's all about - and that is why I recommend Martin. No wasted effort. He does his own research and makes his own decisions based on his findings. We get along great.
Roosters are not hard to find, I imagine. Find a young one and try him out. If he is mean - send him to the stew pot and try another.
I strongly suggest you give the chickens free-range time daily, especially because of the termites, and they will be much happier. It is wonderful that they were so well conditioned by your children.
Try to spend some time every day with the Forest Garden training manual. That is your best possible Roi.
Regarding free ranging the chickens, who are very human-bonded, why not enlist the children to herd them around where wanted. Joel Salatin speaks about how he guided his children into starting their own mini-operations within the family farm. So perhaps chicken herding could become egg sales for the kids. Would make good content too ❤
@@1millionpumpkins542 Great content, too! Thank you friend. You are much smarter than me. Can you help Danou learn how to raise chickens n his farm?
Then it would be better to use a screen door.
Would be a shadecloth in front of his house a good idea ? From the top of his roof over to the wall?
This would cut down evaporation so much and cool down everything till it's a bit bigger ? Shouldn't be too expensive as well :)
Yeah, of the same material as the 'shade house'.
Oh, good idea. 😊
As you prune thorn tree patches, make certain you identify one strong sprout growing upward that can grow into a shade tree. Start it tied loosely to a pole until it can stand on its own. Then trim the lowest branches as it grows upward until they are above a man's head. Then the thorns will not be a problem to anyone.
Continue to harvest all of the suckers at the base f the tree for green manure or forage.
I did not see Simone using the loppers for clearing dead brush. What happened? Using the proper tools must become a habit for the best cost-efficient results. The right tool will make his job So much easier.
It is up to you to train him, Danou.
I am skeptical, but I will believe that both Emmanuel and his wife have bought in when they are harvesting some type of fruit or vegetable from their mulch and worm casting covered gardens and all the trees are growing strong. You can say I am from the "Fool me once..." school of hard knocks.
Tasting is proof? 😊
@@OublietteTight I'm satisfied with seeing 😆
@stevejohnstonbaugh9171
You have more patience than I do, then. For example, on a light note, I cannot abide cooking shows. They are the ultimate tease. I will never make the recipes, so they just make me jealous. 🤪
@@OublietteTight 🤣🤣🤣 Matty Matheson! Babbish! British Bake off!
@stevejohnstonbaugh9171
Haha I need someone like that as a roommate!
Nice :)
Noice!😂
Can we buy some of your worm castings to use at Immz house? A few posts and shade cloth from the house to make a cover over garden
👍😊
It's encouraging that you've got Emmanuel's wife on board. Has she visited your property and seen the results to give her an idea of what she could accomplish?
If not you should show her on your phone so she realizes how much mulch is necessary and the bugs it attracts...explaining to her the necessity of the soil building capacity they provide
The mulch-haters live here in Japan, too. I was out dubbing around in the bamboo "forest" (it's about 5 hectares of severely degraded steep slope) next to my house, and a neighbor on the other side was busily chopping down the bamboo that overhangs his property (the forest is owned by the prefecture, but the only management consists of cutting down trees that might fall in an earthquake or landslide).
I asked him what he was going to do with it, and he said "chop it up into small pieces, put it in trash bags (which we pay a bit for), and put it out at the curb."
I wouldn't be able to convince him to mulch where he cut the bamboo, so I said "I'll save you the effort: just pass it to me and I'll take it over to my side."
He asked what for, and was confused when I said "I don't have any soil on my property (we just built a house), and I'll use it to build soil." "You can make soil with bamboo?!? I've never heard of that." He said.
Anyway, I actually used it to cover the ground inside the forest instead of bringing it over to my place.
Scary he didn't know living things turn back to dirt... but i suppose that's true for a lot of people..
@ichifish A clumping, NOT running bamboo would be a very handy addition to the leaky weirs in the watercourse . Stabilising the soil , retaining silt and providing an ongoing supply of mulch and building material . The hard part would be selecting and sourcing a bamboo variety suitable to the site . Any bamboo Guru's out there???
Cheers from Qld 🇦🇺
Would be cool to get more drone shots of your property as well. Thanks for the video's and the good work
You’re so close to 5000 subs I hope you make your goal.
4:50 temporary mobile fencing around termite filled spots... for a day long chicken visit? If the chickens are tame enough, can they be carried and placed into small pens just where you need them, then returned to their save coop each night?
Looking forward to seeing Emanuel's progress as well. I'm curious if the trees in other people's yards are from before the houses were built, do they grow by themselves or was is there some people who plant them for shade. Some of the gardens had smaller and I presume younger trees.
There’s a map on google Earth and you can turn on history in the layers and go back decades of satellite imagery
Read the video description it has a link to earth
I don’t know much about this kind of termite, but if they tunnel in the ground they will also help water infiltrate into the soil. If this is the case, then they can be though of as micro zai pit makers!
I like it.
Hehe happy pigs
Maybe I am hallucinating but your lands increase in plant biomass is exceptionally fast. Everything is thriving. Your footage is amazing especially the wide shots. Maybe you should make your motto we keep going and growing or the other way around since that pretty much sums it up.
Our soil are very grateful for rain. I see other people say our germination rate is also faster than they are use to. I think this place could be a wonderfull paradise
@@thefoodforestnamibiaCan I give you a trade secret? The videos on the internet that get the most views, all their titles start with how to. Do that and your views would increase ❤ keep going.keep.growing..
Horse manure seems like a benefit most people do not have?
Enjoying the vids keep it up! Grtz from holland
Is it possible that Emmanuel can direct water into his compound from the street outside when it rains?
A little wing dam in the road would do wonders. Great idea!!!
Like Burt Lancaster in Arizona
👍
Amazing to see you try to learn the basics to the locals I do definitely agree that they will need to listen to your advice 😄
4:30 you cover the soil - life immediately moves in. That's why I donated to see as much soil covered on you property.
The mulberry tree is growing well, and it seems to be partially shaded by the concrete wall. So if you ran wire across the top of his brick walls (giving structural strength) and then tie down white shade cloth across the top of the wires, you could reduce evaporation and stress on the plants. He already has the structure to support it.
I do not face the dry conditions you do, and have never experimented with shade cloth but local farmers use it for specific plants (crops) here. This may not be practical for your farm, but he already has the walls.
Rewatching the video, the walls are not the height I first envisioned, but maybe just from the swing set to one wall.
A little side story... here is California, the big farms cover their entire field in heavy plastic. 🫨
While it knocks down all weeds and keeps in the moisture, plastic is so horrible for our planet... the state of California is asking farmers to stop. The plastic is on the ground and this is fire country. When a field catches fire, all that petroleum based material goes up like a roman candle. 🎉 🔥 pure fuel. 😮
First comment
😁😁😁 Thank you!
🤗
Thank you for viewing with me. Where in the world are you?
New Jersey
Central/east Sweden where we have 20-30 cm of snow!
@@thefoodforestnamibia RSA
I reckon a banana tree would do well in the front corner of the garden.
Water consumption and affordability
@@BESHYSBEESgood point.
The day a small city lot can actually sustain bananas is the day a yard is healed? 😊
Mushrooms are a sure sign you’re doing things right.
Hi Danou. I'm really enjoying your project, thanks. If you ever have the time in your busy schedule, it would be great if you could draw a plot plan for your property, showing what is currently there and what the overall eventual overall plan may be? It would help us to visualise things when you are working on the property or walking through it and giving us updates.
With regards to Emmanuel and the mulch question, I wonder whether the insistence on sweeping the yard is perhaps linked to concern about snakes? I know someone in Windhoek whose neighbour's yard hasn't got a garden at all and who also keeps the earth swept religiously every day. I was told that it was because of the fear of attracting snakes. Not sure if it's the case or not, but it might make sense in a culture where there wasn't traditionally access to anti-venom or hospitals, or vehicles to get to hospital quickly, and so snake bites were potentially fatal due to limited or no treatment options. Not sure what your snake incidence is like there? Similar or worse to SA? Presumably Cape cobra and puffies? Boomslang? Have you encountered any/many?
Read the videos description it has a link to earth project with Danou’s farm
@BESHYSBEES thanks, will do. 👍🏻
The snake question is intriguing. This seemed like an inner city lot. Are big / bad snakes an issue?
@@OublietteTight - no, I wouldn't say that the people are inner city. Namibia has one of the least urbanised populations in the world, and the poorer areas are still relatively in contact and touch with nature. Also, I think Namibia itself is something like the second least populated country in the world. People of Africa, especially rural Africa, are acutely attuned to the danger of snakes. We have some deadly ones - cape cobra, rinkals, boomslang, puffadder, black mamba. The neurotoxic ones are lethal, and leave you very little time to get help. Thankfully, though, they are mostly quite shy and usually opt to slither away. The cape cobra is very shy. The rinkals often just plays dead till you leave. The mamba is probably the most dangerous. My understanding is that it is quite aggressive, but I stand to be corrected (fortunately, they're not where I live!). Those are the neurotoxic ones. The puffadder is cytotoxic and very lazy. That makes it dangerous, because it doesn't move out the way. You can often nearly step on them, if you're not aware and vigilant. The boomslang is haemotoxic but, if I remember correctly, it's back-fanged (just checked, yes it is but still can open its mouth 170 degrees!). It is shy and has relatively slow-acting venom, but you still don't want a bite from it, as it affects blood coagulation.
My knowledge is not exhaustive, so don't take it as gospel truth, but that is the basic info that most people are aware of in southern Africa. So we have a healthy regard for them, but still go about our lives in a form of conscious coexistence!
❤
I think Emmanuel's mulberry is doing well because of the shade from that wall, perhaps he should plant more along the wall.
Also have you thought about trying to grow argan trees in your sandy soils? Idk how easy the seeds are to get hold of, it is only native to Morocco but it has been cultivated in other countries now too
100 comments, you can hot compost the datura, I’ve read a few articles about the pesticide effects of datura and it’s medicinal uses deworming apparently,
@@BESHYSBEES I hot compost everything (leaves, food scraps, grass cuttings and water) in a mulch pile that I turn monthly, and then mulch with the broken down material three times a year give or take. I burn the twigs and sticks and add the ash to the pile. I think all the biomass breaks down faster that way than spreading it out as mulch. It will also tolerates the nitrogen rich coffee grounds and weed seeds that break down. I live on a postage stamp suburban lot.
Just adding comments, trying to get to 5000 subscribers. ☺️
@ urine will kick your compost into overdrive don’t need much gets it hot
There was a lot of seed on the grass you gave to the pigs and chickens. Stripping some of those off would give you more plantable seed.
I understand the desire for food plants at Emmanuel's house, but you can't cut corners in the process. You should be looking to establish either a lawn or some other groundcover to start improving the soil and making the ecosystem required to support the fruit trees. It might also be worth looking at a shade covering for the water tank to reduce evaporation, maximising the results from your hard work.
Mushroom forgery is my national "sport" so every time I see one my Polish heart skipped a bit 😅
💚👍
Ben the chicken whisperer is a bit to good at his job 😄
@@tjasasmith1727 🤣🤣🤣
@@stevejohnstonbaugh9171 I guess I can quit my job since you are making all the comments, increasing the engagement on the video 😁😁😁
🌳🌴🎋🥀🌻🥰
Is there any cardboard being recycled in the the township? It makes fantastic mulch/shade for the ground
And food for termites
I just saw flooding in Namibia. You ok my friend?
It literally rained everywhere but where he lives.
Namibia is big country he is in Otjiwarango
@@tjasasmith1727 What a shame his river didn’t fill again. Glad it didn’t flood though
would it make sense to put something like plastic floating shade balls in the water collection tank? To reduce evaporation.
It does make sence. Think for now maybe a shade net..
That would definitely help
AMAZING
It is so wonderful to share in Emanuel's garden successes - wow - figs already! Are there species of tall vines that grow where you are that he could trellis for fast results for shade before the trees grow up?
Re: the sorghum. You might want to look into it a bit. Varieties in the US have been specifically bred for low tannin content which can prevent weight gain in livestock including chickens so it would be good to know what variety you have. Apparently they vary substantially around the world.
Chickens eat termites! Maybe it would be possible to have a portable chicken pen you could put down occasionally to keep them in check.
good work
120 to go!
Chickens also like termites.
can chickens do some pest control on thermites?
Or the ducks you mentioned?
So nice you are passing the knowledge to your workers,also a little help to kick start.Hopefully their neighbors also follow up.
Feed the termites to the chickens!:)
Longer videos would be nice - that was a fast 10 minutes!
But like I keep saying to the wife, it's not the length that counts, but what you do with it.......
@@garryhancock-the-OG same buddy, same 🤣🤣🤣
Do you know what the broad leaf plants are int the tin raised beds? Perhaps those could be pruned back and used for mulch. Great to see you helping out the community!
Did the tractor guy from the other day have a look around your property? Does he like the idea of the water harvesting structures?
He said he is going to do the same and took some of my seed mix. He is about 2km away from me so we could really start somthing
@@thefoodforestnamibia that's great!
@@thefoodforestnamibia👍👍👍👍👍👍 I'm so happy!!! He should document it too. Or maybe you can do a tour, before he starts, after he builds the structures and than after a year. 😊😊😊😊😊
@@thefoodforestnamibiacollaborating with him could be a good thing, how much did it cost for 2hrs? The bottom boundary around the arena next time
ABOUT 80USD. I also think the bottom would be good. Going through the comments to see what Steve is talking about. Do you think it is this?
I think if you can add mulch that looks 'neat', like sifted wood chips or something, people may be more accepting than of something that looks 'messy'.
It surprises me to not see people growing things like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs in small pots or containers. These are things that can easily be grown at home or in small spaces. Is it because seeds are hard to get?
Chickens like blackjack weeds and they are very nutritious for them.
Do the termites eat the Datura? If then "Feed" them by laying the Branchen to them. If Not you can use Datura to Block the termites
if you chop down the glass to shorter pieces, the chicken will likely eat it. It is too long for them.
the grass
Chickens are quite capable of cutting grass 🤙
The long strands can choke them so yes chop it smaller
Awesome project 😃
I'm not sure what kind of huge agave style plant that is in his yard but when you clean out the dead leaves look to see if there are small pups growing at the base you can propagate with
Century plant I think
Let the chickens eat the termites?
That is my plan. Just don't want them to eat the young trees
Great idea to help your workers.I really hope this works out and the neighbors copy too. You do such great content 👍
I wonder if there is a way to make the mulch decorative. I just think of Emmanuel's wife worry that she may switch back and struggle with shame if people come by and comment. Surely there must be a way of making the mulch decorative, or covering it, decorating the garden with bright or pretty things so that they distract from the mulch. Colourful painted rocks. Mulch which has been cut very fine. If you are going to convince the others in the community it'll be easier if they like the visual aspect of what they see. How about hessian? You could cover the mulch in hessian and stretch it taut, holding it tight with rocks. I understand that the main point is to get the plants to grow and to thrive, but I was thinking about the community perception- of course that will change as they see you succeed!
I absolutely loved seeing how well the garden was going, even without the mulch!
I think if danou can help them grow vegetables this will be the winner because fresh food for free would make such a difference to Emmanuels families life. I think it would also get neighbours interested. Fingers crossed but in saying that I’d rather see danou and Emmanuel try that not try.
maybe mats of loosely woven leaves or bamboo shoots
Real social justice starts with the soil. Nice work.
If only you had the ducks with you when you were opening up your mulch. There were so many termites to eat under the grass mulch you moved specifically.
When your friends water their butternuts etc, if lacking anything better, place cardboard down as a free mulch to help avoid evaporation.
Would Not a Cover for the Water drum a göod Idea?Reduces the evaporation.
Keep going back to read the newest comments
Hey i'm following you for a few weeks now. Love the stuff you are doing and hear you mention work sometime. Can i ask you what you do for work? Do you have an income next to your permaculture channel?
He runs a realestate business in town and has a small tool hire business too if I’m not mistaken
Hi, is underground water good for irrigation?
Aren’t termites good for retaining moisture in the soil?
I believe so. I believe the tunnels takes moisture away from surface and away from evaporation
hi there. I don't remember what video had the termite problem, but have you tried borax and sugar as an termite deterrent? keep up the good work! very inspirational!
And if you "hide" the mulch under a few centimeters of the red soil? That would still work, right?
Only 10 to go!
110
@@BESHYSBEES Ah... You are right. Looks like I should had my coffee first. 😁
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