I was just informed I broke another rule by “deleting” my own post and using people for their answers (whatever that means).
Even though I didn’t delete my post (as it is still here), I simply edited it thanking people for their suggestions. If this is against the rules, maybe make it so new users cannot edit their own post (no need to link me Forumosa’s rules for the 100th time as it seems those rules only apply to people outside the inner circle).
So here is the question I asked. Sorry for using all of you to get suggestions.
One, I would change the title of this thread so people know what it is. I never would have guessed it was a request for help.
Two, I would contact Okami (if he has been banned then find him on Michael Turton’s The View From Taiwan blog (Okami posts comments a lot). Okami was looking at setting himself up as a farmer here so he would be the ideal person to ask.
Third, I have been told the mushroom farmers along the North Cross Island use soil imported from Sweden or Finland. I have no other info than that sorry.
You may run into a LOT of trouble trying to import soils. Soil is one of those things that countries can be very reluctant to let in because of pests, etc. I’ve had all sorts of problems recently trying to ship small bags of river sand (scientific samples) between China, Taiwan and the US because they’re often considered soil. The post office in Taiwan wouldn’t even let me send sand out of the country because supposedly you’re not allowed to send soil at all via parcel post.
It would probably be the same for fertilizers as well.
Oh well, I will stick to my permaculture ways. [/quote]
Don’t give up! At least not without talking to someone who actually knows what they’re talking about
I don’t mean to say that it can’t be done - if the mushroom guys use foreign soil, it must be possible. It will just likely at least involve extra permits. I know that to import soil into the US, you need to have a permit, and to get a permit you need to have a facility (that will get inspected) where you can deal with the pest risk of the soil (I think usually by sterilizing it somehow). I have no idea what Taiwan’s rules are.
I think pretty much anything organic is likely to face extra restrictions, you just have to find out if they’ll be manageable or not
Check out Taiwan Review magazine as well. They’ve had a lot of articles on organic growing these past couple years and the writers always have their emails at the bottom. Contact some and see who they can put you in touch with.
My advice is to contact a logistics company with a dedicated import department. One example I have used is nicb.com.tw/
You can ask them to quote from pre-clearance/licensing through to port clearance and local delivery. I
If they can’t do it they will know someone who can. I have imported all sorts of weird stuff over the years and I’ve yet to find something that the agents can’t get through.
I used to be stubborn and tried to work out how to get specialist items through customs myself but this is one of those times where you should just stump up the cash and let a professional do it.
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