STOP USING JAMAICAN BAT GUANO

[VerdantGreen]

I does not mather if the bad guano comes from Jamica or another part of the world.....bad guana is allways not eco/-friendly...even most seabird guano isn't it,

whilst it would be convenient to be able to generalize about all bat guano not being eco friendly, it is not true.

in UK there is a brand from indonesia called cavemans and not only is it harvested sustainably, it is also harvested by indigenous tribes who have been exploiting it in the same way for generations. it is even sold in the UK by Oxfam as part of their fairtrade sustainable range.

but guano users should definitely be checking their products and trying to find sustainable alternatives if necessary - and more importantly they should be applying the same standard to their daily lives too. the biggest single thing someone can do to reduce their carbon footprint is to stop eating meat - so i hope you all become vegetairians tomorrow if you truly care - i have been for 20 years

VG

 

[EZlistener]

heard guano is a load of shit (old,i know)

 

[SecretGardener]

heard guano is a load of shit (old,i know)

No shit?

 

[chef]

shit on shit x haze = more shit

 

[Lazyman]

Farm manures like cow, chicken, goat, horse, etc are available in large amounts for little to no cost.

Just have to locate, load, transport it.

Also growing or finding crops like alfalfa, buckwheat, clovers, etc will help in positive changes.

Agreed, I would encourage folks to stop using fish meals as well, the oceans are so depleted of fish it's causing starvation of many dependent species. Don't contribute to it! In my opinion it's about as bad as dumping diesel in a river.

 

[DARC MIND]

this goes back to my post #37 and cheeze capt. response.
overfishing, decline of our oceans life is a big/huge issue
but we cant stop the world from eating fish, what we can do is ask a few harmless questions to the fish meal pushers. ask if the fish meal was from sustainable sources and or when buying to eat, caught using responsible methods.
the end of the line documentary really opens the eyes on the impact we have caused to our great oceans but more importanly on how we can still change our ways to safe the ocean!
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/the-end-of-the-line-documentary.php
the fact that we wont stop eating fish and fish meal is a by-product of human fish production & fish oil production makes fish waste important to both agriculture and animal/fish feed.
what we need to try and do is not buy fish meal thats from specific fish (herring, menhaden, pollack to name a few) fished just for fish meal. buy fish by products from aquaculture farms who are using responsible sustainable methods.
like what ther doing with Kona Kampachi and Barramundi
synthetic petroleum base ferts and our irresponsible addiction to oil has done enough damage to our ocean, land our mother the earth.
lets try and be more responsible, educate others on the companies that are doing it right!
at least for the love our favorite plant~one love

 

[midgethorse]

Quadracer

"Incorrect. See opensecrets.org for a more in depth analysis of BP's contributions to candidates.

Here's the breakdown Dem: $1,799,107 Rep: $4,404,129. Also see this for some additional distinctions."


I stand corrected to a degree and forgive me for blurting out facts I was not educated on .

But to be clear...

"while Obama received $71,051 in BP-linked contributions during his presidential campaign -- more BP money than any other candidate received -- all of that money came from BP employees"-mediamatters.org

I think your figure of around $1500 for the dems came from bp Pac money.
Not to provoke an argument , my figures initally being way off(thanks palin)
I did not post links because tons can be found on this subject with google search.
So , obama has recived more money from "bp employees" than other canidates.
Again I stand corrected.
midget

 

[blwd67]

the biggest single thing someone can do to reduce their carbon footprint is to stop eating meat

Cn you explain this a little more VG? Not contradicting you, just interested in how my carbon footprint can be reduced

I like the fish/seaweed mix, does anyone have any thoughts on the sustainability on seaweed, or kelp for that matter? It is my understanding that these plants grow incredibly fast, so harvesting (over harvesting) isnt as much of a problem as with seabird and bat guano.

I also agree with whoever it was that cautioned to always verify the source of manures. Inhuman treatment of animals as well as the antibiotics (pretty much the opposite of what we want) are both very good reasons to check and double check your sources.

 

[VerdantGreen]

here you go blwd - lots more articles out there. one i read argues that eating meat was much worse than driving an SUV
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/food.foodanddrink.

but the bigger issue here is just that, the big picture. im not judging anyone, but it's not much good picking on one issue unless you are looking at everything, the way you live your whole life. and in your garden How efficiently are you using the light and power? are you driving miles to a hydro shop on a regular basis? that kind of thing

VG

 

[blwd67]

I read the article, but I will hold off on further discussion until I have read more. I would like to say, though, that while I had gathered much of the negative impact the meat industry causes was from processing and shipping I had not really thought of the large amounts of methane a herd of cattle can produce. One cow or steer isnt a huge deal but when we start talking about herds of tens of thousands all that gas can really add up hah. This, I think, is where the meat industry differs from the grain, fruit, and vegitable industries.

 

[headband 707]

Although I totally agree if your going to go out and rape the sea for the plant "no" that is not right .. But there is a recycling program availible from the sea for things that that are not used from the market such as heads /tails etc and sea weed from lakes that have been washed up naturally. This can be made into a liquid fert that can last up to 6 months if kept in a cool place and it's very stinky LOL LOL LOL LOL.. and very effective...Don't ever over use this fert in your grow either during the winter months lol peace out Headband707

 

[Microbeman]

I believe my old friend Albert Einstein said that the number one thing which could be done to save the Earth is for everyone to become vegetarian. Not only do cows fart a lot but fast food giants have accelerated the clear cutting of the South American forests for cattle grazing. There goes the world's natural purification plant for both air and water.

I don't think Albert forsaw the enormous human appetite for air travel, otherwise he might have altered his statement slightly. That people need to be on the opposite side of the country or world instantly for business and pleasure is sickening and ridiculous. 100 SUVs driving 50 miles to the hydro store for a year is a drop in the bucket compared to one trans-Atlantic passenger jet flight. I'm not saying we should not ditch the car and stop eating so much meat but there are other areas which are overlooked because they are oh so convenient or so much fun.

 

[Green lung]

I read this whole thread and there isn't anything on why Guano is bad for the enviroment ect.

 

[Green lung]

Interesting post

We have voiced the issue of the environmental impact that growers using guano generate before now... and so it's good to see others getting behind this emotive subject

Few questions...

-Please can you give an example of the areas within Jamaica that are being exploited?

-Is there evidence to suggest that the guano in these areas is being heavily harvested wholesale , rather than lightly harvested via layering systems, which is common practise and does not totally destroy the ecosystem and the bats habitat.

- How has it destroyed the sea caves?

- Who owns the caves in question? Why aren't they National Heritage sites or places of specific scientific observation?

- Please can you name some brands of Jamaican guano or guano that sources guano from Jamaican origin?

Then we can investigate this further...

Let's remember than the mindful harvesting of guano (digging and barrowing) is often conducted by local ppl; which directly provides local communities with seasonal employment.

Thanks for refreshing this subject!

Peace out
DocLeaf


P.S. We have relatives of friends pon island that grow our seeds out over there... so we'll ask them for a low-down on what go-on with the caves in their region next time we catch up with them

Note: we dont see that the moral-ethic of using guano has anything to do with 'Rastas' or 'Bob Marley' ,, at least we never knew that it was a prerequisite

anybody care to answer these?

 

[headband 707]

anybody care to answer these?

It is not so much the cave although you should NEVER go into a bat cave you can and will DIE!!! from the fumes... that is how dangerous their fumes are.

The problem working with any bat shit is the shit itself is very toxic to humans and full of pathogens. I am surprised that this info was not put out years ago as it was put out here in Canada in the Univercities many years ago but obviously ignored. Please do not work with any animal shit . You would not work with your own shit why would you work with animal shit??? LOL peace out Headband707

PS it's all good now because just like the bee's the bats are all dying now and we won't be able to take from them either!!!

 

[blwd67]

manuers are fine to use as long as you are careful. You dont fuck with human shit or dog/cat shit because they can carry very dangerous neuroparisites. Cow/horse/rabbit/guinea pig etc is fine as long as you wash your hands and dont breath in the dried particles. Dont use in confined spaces with no air flow, etc. Common sense stuff. The benifits outweigh the risks.

 

[headband 707]

Histoplasmosis in Bat Guano

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just heard about this on Billy the Exterminator....not a panic issue, but good to keep out of reach of kids and pets and yourself...Bags of Bat Guano....

http://www.getbatsout.com/histoplasmosis.htm

Is Guano (Bat Droppings) Dangerous?



Ask nearly anyone, and you'll hear that bats (although beneficial in insect control) can be dangerous because they carry rabies. But a lesser known danger, and one that is not as easy to avoid, is histoplasmosis.
What is histoplasmosis?
It is an infectious disease caught by inhaling the spores of the histoplasmosis capsulation fungus. While it is not contagious, the disease can affect a wide variety of the population who may not even be aware they are at risk.

Should I be concerned about getting histoplasmosis?
Anyone can get histoplasmosis. There are, however, certain people whose occupations make the risk of exposure greater than others. Included in that group are chimney cleaners, construction workers, gardeners, HVAC installers or repair people, roofers, and, of course spelunkers (cave explorers). In reality, however, anyone who comes across the fungus can get histoplasmosis.

But I’ve never touched or been bitten by a bat. So how could I get it?
It's easier than you might think. Bats become infected with histoplasmosis, and their feces contain the histoplasmosis fungus. This fungus grows in the soil where the droppings land, or in the droppings found in an attic occupied by bats. The fungus then continues to grow, just waiting for you or me to come along to clean out the old barn, the attic, or other place where the spores now lie.
Or sometimes, we disturb the dirt (cleaning up the garden, sweeping out the empty building, or doing other seemingly harmless dirty work), causing the spores to become airborne. When we breathe that air, we then become infected with the histoplasmosis fungus and the real trouble begins.

I don’t do that kind of work. I shouldn’t have to worry about that, right?
Not really. In fact, in 1970, several hundred middle school students developed histoplasmosis, simply because they breathed the spores through their school ventilation system over the few days following a "clean up" of the school's courtyard as an Earth Day project. Even those children who were not present at the clean up were exposed to the spores over the next few days and came down with histoplasmosis. It was later determined that the spores were spread through the school’s ventilation system.
And there are cases where people have been exposed when working in a city near construction sites where soil containing the histoplasmosis spores was disturbed when the site was excavated. The spores became airborne, and the office workers then breathed the spores through their office ventilation system. Anyone can get histoplasmosis.

How do I know if I have it?
The disease first affects the lungs, and often those with the disease have no or very mild symptoms within the first few days. On an average, around 10 days after exposure, many sufferers complain of flu-like symptoms: fever, chest pain, loss of appetite, dry cough, headache, shortness of breath, impaired vision, and possibly joint and muscle pains. Because of the vague symptoms, you may have been exposed to the disease and not know it.
In many cases, the disease may run its course, and you will think you’ve simply had a case of the flu. Some cases, however, are more serious, leading to long-term illness, often resembling tuberculosis in nature. And some cases, if not treated, are fatal.
If you have a weakened immune system (are undergoing chemotherapy, have AIDS, etc.) or are a heavy smoker, you may be more susceptible to getting histoplasmosis. And if you’ve had it in the past, you are subject to a re-infection or reactivation of the disease after another exposure. This is especially true for the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, and the very young.

there is more on the link...

 

[NUG-JUG]

How do I know if I have it?
The disease first affects the lungs, and often those with the disease have no or very mild symptoms within the first few days. On an average, around 10 days after exposure, many sufferers complain of flu-like symptoms: fever, chest pain, loss of appetite, dry cough, headache, shortness of breath, impaired vision, and possibly joint and muscle pains. Because of the vague symptoms, you may have been exposed to the disease and not know it.

Wow man I mixed a bunch of soil a few months ago then got what I thought was the "flu" right after. So did the person I mixed the soil with. I felt like crap with all the symptoms you described. It definitely wasn't flu season and I almost never get sick. We used every damn type of guano there is indo, peru, mexi, jamaican....Histoplasmosis could have been it.

 

[guest2012y]

Wear those dust masks kids....mix your stuff outside if you can.

 

[NUG-JUG]

Wear those dust masks kids....mix your stuff outside if you can.

definitely. I was masked but didn't follow the second tip. Got bat shart sickness...