Protein Sources at E.C.H.O.

One of the things we learned about at E.C.H.O. was the three sources of protein from the lake. In the lake there were blue talapia that ate the grass that was fertilized by the droppings of the ducks held in the cage above the lake. When the interns drained the lake, they would get the three sources of protein: Blue talapia, ducks, and on a day to day basis, the eggs laid by the ducks.

Another source of protein from the farm are rabbits and goats. Goats are good for 5 M’s: meat, milk, money, manure, and muscle. The manure from both is used to fertilize the plants. The manure is also used in some poorer countries to make mud cookies. The mothers mix manure, mud and water together and let it dry. Once the mixture dries, they feed it to their children at night so they won’t cry from hunger. Although their bellies are temporarily full, this is very dangerous because of the bacteria in the animal waste and because it has no nutritional value.