Brick fuel from Manure

Brick fuel  from Manure

In an economy on which fuel like gasoline and LPG is on a constant rise alternatives should be considered.

Most countries are now into alternative energy like  solar power, wind mill, hydropower and biogas.

In our country we could use manure of cattle and carabao as a source of energy.

What do you need for this investigatory project?

  1. Fresh carabao or cattle manure
  2. Rice hull
  3. Saw dust
  4. Molder

Get 300 grams of fresh cow or carabao manure then mix it thoroughly with 300 grams of saw dust  and 300 grams of rice hull. Be sure that you have an even mix. The cattle or carabao manure will serve as the binder, uneven mixing will make your brick unstable/crumble. After mixing you need to put it in a molder. A molder could be a simple square box,  kawayan (cut into half) or halves (cut into half). Put the mix in the molder and sun dry it for 3-5 days. After sun drying you could use it now as “Panggatong” or alternative for  uling or gasul.

How to Make A Compost

How to Make A Compost

 

1. Make the soil firm, and dig a trench around for excess water to flow into.

2. Stack up about six(6) inches high: grass; do not compress.

3. Put over the grass about 1-2 inches thick of animal manure. Urea or ammonium sulfate, about 1-2 kilos may also be used if available.

4. Put one-inch thick of rich soil mixed with wood ashes, lime over the pile.

5. Repeat the process over the pile until about 1 1/2 meters high.

6. Water the pile to make it moist.

7. Thrust a pipe(s) or bamboo pole(s) with holes to allow air to penetrate the bottom of the pile.

8. After three weeks, turn the compost over with the aid of a garden fork. This is easily done by transferring into another pile so that the bottom layer will now be on top, etc.

9. Turn the compost again bottom up after 5 weeks. Wait for 4 weeks more to allow complete composting.

10. In hot weather, the compost must be watered. In rainy days, cover the compost with banana leaves.

11. The pile of compost will be hot. This means that the bacteria in it are working.

12. Composting can also be hastened with a chemical for this purpose.

 

From: Philippine Farmer’s Journal Supplement

Helping Solve the Energy Crisis with Waste By-products

Helping Solve the Energy Crisis with Waste By-products

 

An intrepid agriculturist and inventor plans to start a national incentive program to build at least 5000 family-type digester all over the country.

 

By Didi Guanzon-Lucindo

 

When Gerry Baron returned to the Philippines for good after 17 years in North America, our country was not in dire straits, nor was anyone able to predict that the price of crude oil would exceed 60 dollars a barrel.

            Baron, an agriculturist at heart decided to move his family straight from the province of Tarlac where his parents and siblings have various agro ventures. Since their business of layer farms is running well, the La Salle-trained engineer- who had worked on GE locomotives while in Canada- decided to get into other agricultural ventures.

            Although he was not sure which one, Baron wanted to work on something that would not involve importing raw materials that would be environmentally sustainable and would be a foreign currency earner. He also felt that the venture should somehow address the plight of most Filipino households that subsist on so little a day.

 

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