Sustainable+Farming



By Lilliana and Larry

The report by HQ has shown that the island has lush tropic weather that is suitable for a wide variety of faming. Where possible it would be wonderful to keep growing the vegetation that already grows over the island sustainably to minimise the environmental effect of introducing new flora and fauna.

When doing this we need to look at what grows at the moment, where and how much? To see what population numbers can be supported with the current flora and fauna, how accessible and easy to collect these food sources are and if they can sustain a population year round. If we do want to introduce new food sources for farming such as wheat, we need to look at what impact this may have on the environment.

In order to answer the above questions we first need to know where the following flora and fauna grow on the island and in what quantity they have in each location. Furthermore the maturity and health of these plants is also desired to get a greater understanding of the life cycle and production potential for sustainable living.

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 * papaya – Good food (Fruit – aids in digestion (medical)
 * banana – Good food (could be good for trade – high energy food)
 * yam – Good staple food (like a sweet potato)
 * breadfruit – Good staple food
 * Breadfruit** (**//Artocarpus altilis//**) is a species of [|flowering] [|tree] in the [|mulberry] family, [|Moraceae]. Breadfruit tree has a potato-like flavor, similar to fresh-baked bread. Breadfruit has been used as a replacement for rice. (source – wikipedia – 9/8/11)
 * a variety of vines or lianas – Maybe good for making ropes
 * cassava (good for depression- see other medical uses below, good for trade)

The cassava root is long and tapered, with a firm, homogeneous flesh encased in a detachable rind, about 1mm thick, rough and brown on the outside. Cassava roots are very rich in [|starch], and contain significant amounts of calcium (50 mg/100g), phosphorus (40 mg/100g) and vitamin C (25 mg/100g). Cassava leaves are a good source of protein, and are rich in the [|amino acid] [|lysine], though deficient in [|methionine] and possibly [|tryptophan]. (source – wikipedia – 9/8/11)


 * hibiscus – good for insects – especially butterflies and bees. Can be used to create herbal teas, jams and paper.
 * frangipani (nice flower)
 * bromeliads (Pineapples??? – Great food source – trade??)
 * many species of epihpytes (plant that grows on another plant, important for some species, eg frogs)
 * many species of saprophytes (fungi?? What types are there?)
 * red berry (//Coprosma rapensis)// (salt resistant bush)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">tapau //(strong timber tree)// (how long does it take to regrow these trees)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">red cedar (//Toona ciliate//) (beautiful wood source, takes a long time to grow)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Brown Pine (//Podocarpus grayae//) (fastish growing tree? – faster than cedar)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Black Pine (//Sundacarpus amara//), (fastish growing tree? – faster than cedar)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Milky Pine (//Alstonia acholaris//) (fastish growing tree? – faster than cedar)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Damson (//Terminalia sericocarpa//), (Plum - wine, jellies, jam – Good for export as wine)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Black Walnut (//Endiandra palmerstonii//) – (nut – can be used alone or as an addition to food. High in unsaturated fats and protein. The sap can be drank in spring or turned into a syrup or sugar. Lighter than oak the wood is also a valuable building source.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Brown Tulip Oak (//Argyrodendron) (a nice looking tree//).
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Silver maple (//Flindersia acuminate//) (Wood and maple syrup – Export?)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Candlenut (//Aleurites rockhinghamensis//) (Eaten with vegies and rice. Medical – is used as a laxative, hair <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">stimulant, tumours, headache, fevers, [|ulcers], swollen joints, and [|gonorrhea] . In [|Java] , the bark is used for bloody [|diarrhea] or [|dysentery] . The oil can also be used for lamps. Good for trade).
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Rusty Fig (//Ficus destruens//) (fruit eaten by birds. Toxicology needs be assessed)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Banan Fig (//Ficus pleurocarpa//) (eaten by animals. Maybe ok to eat?)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Septic Fig (//Ficus septic//) (may have medicinal properties)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">White Fig (//Ficus virens//) (may be good for cancer. Good for export)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Fig (//Ficus virgata//) (as above – maybe some fruit to eat)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">pandanus - (round pineapple fruit. All of tree is usable from materials for housing, to clothing and textiles, food, medication, decorations, fishing and religious uses)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">a variety of ferns including the giant nehe fern (unsure)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">flax – important source of oil and health – possible bio oil. Can increase burn time of wood.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">cotton – clothing and textiles
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">kapok – same as cotton
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Reeds – weaving, ropes, textiles. May also be good area for processing human waste.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Coconut palms – Good for fruit and oil. Possible bio oil. Good for the crabs for us to eat.