#vetivergrasssystem

[thevetiverfarmer]

If I Can, Will You? I started my Vetiver farm in Spain while living in the Netherlands and having a low paying job.

[vetivergrassfarming-blog]

Agriculture is not crop production as popular belief holds - it's the production of food and fiber from the world's land and waters. Without agriculture it is not possible to have a city, stock market, banks, university, church or army. Agriculture is the foundation of civilization and any stable economy.

[vetivergrassfarming-blog]

SLOPE STABILIZATION ADVANTAGES WITH THE VETIVER SYSTEM!

The major advantage of Vetiver System over conventional engineering measures is its low cost. 

Secondly, as with other bio-engineering technologies, Vetiver System provides a natural and environment friendly method of erosion control and land stabilization which ‘softens’ the harsh look often associated with conventional engineering measures such as concrete and rock structures. This is particularly important in urban and semi rural areas where the visual degradation of the environment caused by infrastructure development is often a major concern of local population. 

Thirdly, Vetiver Systems maintenance costs are low in the long term. In contrast with conventional engineering structures, the efficiency of bioengineering technology improves with time as the vegetative cover matures. Vetiver System requires a good maintenance program in the first 1-2 years but once established it is virtually maintenance free in the long term.

[vetivergrassfarming-blog]

How to make money as a vetiver Farmer?

Easy! By splitting mature plants to produce bare root slips and sell the slips online or local!. .Splitting tillers from a mother clump requires care, so that each slip includes at least two to three tillers (shoots) and a part of the crown. After separation, the slips should be cut back to 20 cm length. The resulting bare root slips can be dipped in various treatments, including rooting hormones, manure slurry (cow or horse tea), clay mud, or simple shallow water pools, until new roots appear. For faster growth the slips should be kept in wet and sunny conditions until planting out.

[vetivergrassfarming-blog]

Vetiver used as a mulch to improve soil moisture?

Vetiver grass (mainly hedges for soil conservation) planted between fruit trees, tea trees and other crop lines must be pruned several times every year. The first pruning occurs at the end of February when the dead leaves and stems that dried out during the winter are removed. Then, from the middle or latter part of June to the middle part of September another 3-4 prunings must take place. 

The pruned leaves and stems are usually used in mulch materials to help resist drought or cold injury to fruit trees, tea bushes and other crops. The mulch is usually placed at the base of the tree, bush or crop or buried in the soil while fertilizing. Farmers have adopted this practice to increase yields as it helps retain soil moisture, lowers soil temperature and resists drought in the summer, while facilitating resistance to cold in the winter.

[vetivergrassfarming-blog]

Advantages and disadvantages of polybags and planting strips!

#Advantages Plants are hardy and unaffected by exposure to high temperature and low moisture. Lower irrigation frequency after planting. Faster establishment and growth after planting. Can remain on site for longer before being planted. Recommended for harsh and hostile conditions. 

#Disadvantages More expensive to produce. Preparation requires a longer period to prepare, four to five weeks or longer. Transporting large volume and increased weight is expensive. Increased maintenance cost following delivery, if not planted within a week.

[vetivergrassfarming-blog]

Utilization of Harvested Vetiver Plants?

As applied to vetiver, this involves the utilization of dried, partly dried, or even freshly harvested leaves and culms, and roots of the vetiver plant, either with no processing at all, or with some degrees of processing. These include the production of: 

#nonprocessed products, e.g. roof thatch, compost, mulch, mushroom medium, animal fodder, bouquet. 

#semiprocessed products, e.g. handicraft, some industrial products, botanical pesticides, pots, low-cost silo, furniture. 

#fullyprocessed products, e.g. essential oil and its derived products, herbal medicine, pulp and paper, fiber board, pozzalan cement, and industrial products.

[thevetiverfarmer]

Do you think the so called miracle grass also known as vetiver grass can prevent or reverse desertification

[thevetiverfarmer]

Ultimately, the only wealth that can sustain any community, economy or nation is derived from the photosynthetic process - green plants growing on regenerating soil.

[thevetiverfarmer]

If I Can, Will You? I started my Vetiver farm in Spain while living in the Netherlands and having a low paying job.