[Terrapreta] SEED BALLS

[lou gold]

Hi Everyone,

I would like to toss in my 2 cents here with 2 cultural observations:

1) Brazilian culture is supremely about cordiality (building and maintaining
relationships) and equally committed to conversation (talk, talk, talk).
These cultural traits quickly entered the realms of Internet social
networking. For example, ORKUT was almost instantly taken over by
Brasileiros who now account for almost 80% of its traffic. When I first
arrived in Brazil, I was ambivalent toward this cultural trait, liking the
outreach and inclusion that I was receiving but also challenged by what
seemed like an inefficiency of endless talk ("can't we please stay
on-topic?"). But now I see that Brazilian culture is all about networking at
it's deepest essence. This is why Brazil is quickly emerging as a world
leader in the open source and peeracy (no, not piracy) movements which are
offering an alternative to the proprietary and hierachical control of
creativity. The kernel of creativity is conversation. I must admit that I
have become a convert shifting from my more anglo ways (if in doubt, be
quiet) to a more luso way (if in doubt, talk about it). Those who have
observed my behavior on this form surely know that I love conversation and
corditiality and I use the very Brazilian common way of signing off from
conversation -- "hugs". Indeed, a big part of the current global challenge
results from the wounds caused by the separation of humans and nature. What
we are trying to do is to re-weave the relationship. Cordiality,
conversation and hugs are a big part of both creativity and nurture. I would
hope that these qualities can find a good home on this forum.

2) My second cultural observation is global. We have entered the Information
Age. As the new networks challenge EVERYTHING, we will constantly be pushed
to discover new mixes of chaos and order, of Apollo and Dionysius. This an
ecological shift -- digitally, territorially and mentally. James Boyle, the
current director of Creative Commons (the alternative copyright movement)
offered a marvelous discussion of the challenges at the recent Zeitgeist
Conference -- my apologies to those w/o broadband --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzsjRuRO9As

OK, that's my 2 (off-topic?) cents.

hugs,

lou








On Sun, May 25, 2008 at 10:42 AM, Richard Haard <richrd at nas.com> wrote:

> I strongly do not agree. I see no reason to single out this posting with
> everything else that comes through.
> This is directly relatated to design of research using charcoal powder. I
> would rather have innovations using charcoal discussed in open forums and
> put into general use than dealing with trade secret and patent protected
> before we can use the application.
>
> What better way to put charcoal in contact with plants. We can move from
> tons per acre to ounces per acre needed for a tp nova situation.
>
>
> Rich
>
> On May 24, 2008, at 7:54 PM, Michael Bailes wrote:
>
> Benjamin this is all very interesting but this list is about Terra preta
> and issues relating to that.
> Could you please restrict your posts to that topic or at least show how
> what you are posting is relevant to the topic.
> Thank you
> Michael Bailes
> TP List Moderator
>
> 2008/5/25 Benjamin Domingo Bof <benjaminbof at yahoo.com.ar>:
>
>> On Seedballs
>>
>> Seedballs are seeds wrapped in a mixture of red clay and fine compost and
>> rolled into balls about one-half inch in diameter or smaller.
>>
>> They can be an effective way to provide broadcast sown seeds with
>> protection from birds, insects and other creatures.
>>
>> They can be useful in broadcast sowing food crops, and also for ecosystem
>> modifications such as restoring native plants or regenerating plants in
>> damaged or other plant-deficient areas.
>>
>> The words "can be" are used because they don't always work the way one
>> hopes. Their effectiveness depends upon environmental conditions and timing.
>> It takes rain or irrigation to dissolve the clay and release the seeds to
>> germination, and even if the seeds are released the resulting seedlings
>> could be overwhelmed and suppressed by existing vegetation.
>>
>> The most commonly used basic formula for making seedballs is to take one
>> part of seeds (by volume), three parts of relatively dry and sifted compost,
>> and five parts of dry powdered red clay. Mix the seeds into the compost to
>> partially coat the seeds with the compost, and then mix the powdered clay in
>> to coat the seeds/compost. Then start adding water sparingly until you have
>> a somewhat thick mud pile. Break off a small chunk (about the size of a
>> marble) of this mud pile with your fingers or a small spoon and then roll
>> the chunk in the palms of your hands until it feels firm. Set aside to dry,
>> break off another chunk, and keep repeating until the mud pile is gone.
>>
>> Some people add microorganism inoculants to the mixture. Some add powdered
>> hot red pepper to increase repulsion of creatures that might otherwise feed
>> on the seeds.
>>
>> Some people mass produce seedballs by putting the seeds/compost/clay
>> mixture into a large rotating drum, such as a cement or mortar mixer with
>> smooth interior walls, adding water, and extracting the seedballs as they
>> are formed to the right size by the revolving action of the mixer.
>>
>> Before you start making and using seedballs it is important to do some
>> research and do a little thinking about what you might unleash if your
>> seedballs work. There is an inherent danger in their use - the introduction
>> of plants into an ecosystem that become invasive and destructive to existing
>> desirable vegetation.
>>
>> An excellent place to start your research is at the seedballs.comwebsite. There are several articles about how to make and use seedballs, how
>> they have been used to modify ecosystems in a beneficial way, and about what
>> you really need to think about before you start making and using them.
>>
>> *-- Lawrence Haftl <support at fukuokafarmingol.info> *
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Tarjeta de crédito Yahoo! de Banco Supervielle. Solicitá tu nueva Tarjeta
>> de crédito. De tu PC directo a tu casa.
>> Visitá www.tuprimeratarjeta.com.ar
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Michael the Archangel
> "Politicians will never solve The Problem;
> because they don't realise they are The Problem.".
> -Robert ( Bob ) Parsons 1995
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