h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

just watching the local news and saw a bit on a cane farmer who is now producing cane for juicing, might be something to look into for the farmers in the area, he was saying they will need 10 times what he is producing so it might be the way for some of them to go

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2005/s1430198.htm

I just saw this thread on the 20-most-recent list, and thought "I must tell Helly about that"...

heheheheheh
great minds think alike

Good stuff Hel I'll try to find out a bit more about him, although come to think of it, I think I saw a stall at the Childers multicultural festival squeezing cane

It sounds good to me, touristy stuff could be explored with this as well, strwberries seem to be able to grow anywhere, this bloke grows his own to go with the juice

There's also the local history implications. 'Sugar Cane World' might be a bit naff, but if that's the only way to maintain the presence of sugar in what was once sugar territory, well...

Actually, come to think of it - I seem to recall a snippet on Landline, a few years back, that talked about making paper from cane waste. I don't know how viable that is, or how good the paper would be.

paper made from bagasse, (cane pupl) is done but I don't think it is done here, mostly in india, but it could be a viable alternative to cane, as is hemp, which is grown here in bundy,I will go find some links

links to hemp grown in bundy

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/hemp/16239.html
http://www.agrifibre.com.au/news/articles.htm

environmentally friendly too

Bagasse Good thought... especially around here where we're all incredibly ethnicy

As for hemp: I came up with that one too, but apparently it's a non-starter because we're too close to big population centres and similar plants (not hemp, but which look almost the same ) might be grown - undetected - amongst the hemp

Bamboo is something else that's been mooted today

Keep on thinking folks

Bamboo! Yes, someone could start a Rustic Furniture Industry.

Odd thoughts about pick-your-own-chairs farms are going through my mind; I blame it on having to go to a meeting in a minute.

m cane is bamboo maybe they are looking for a stronger variety.....

*fresh chairs, just harvested, fresh chairs here..come and get it*

PYO bamboo

has anyone thought of grapes, several wine varieties are grown here in bundy on ex cane land, I will do a serch on it tomorrow for more info, the farmer here is starting to win awards for both his wine and his tourism stuff

I've asked about grapes. Apparently the climate here's not good for them. Too humid? Too hot? Not sure, but no good

bugger, would have been a good alternative,
never mind I will keep seaching

It would be the humidity I think. Grapes are prone to fungal infestations in damp weather.

mmm kiwifruit would do well in acidic soil, about 7.5pH they like, the capital costs though, would be big, as they need trellis' to grow on and wind protection.... and it takes a few years for a decent crop, also they might be a bit water hungry...mmmm on seconds thoughts, maybe not