permaculture

[nola <nola@islandnet.com>]

SEEKING INTERESTED PERMACULTURALISTS....
>
>I am writing to put the idea of a project on the permaculture grapevine to
>anyone who might be interested or know fo someone who would be...
>I am currently working in El Salvador for an organisation called CESTA (the
>Spanish acronym for: El Salvadoran Centre for Appropriate Technology).
>This group works in a broad spectrum of projects around the country - from
>reforesting, to nutrition, to pedal powered tools, any everything in
>between.  One of their projects is to develop
>a permaculture centre, though this one is just in its very initial stages.
>The intent is explained somewhat in the excerpt from an article below, but
>in short CESTA would like to get permaculture practices going here in El
>Salvador with their Ecocentro as the starting point.  This group is  an
>amazing vehicle to transfer ideas as they already work with communities and
>have so many incredible projects underway.  Unfortunately, there is some
>lack of communication between all the ideas, and all the work would benefit
>from being brought under the same umbrella.  
>
>To bring the projects together, and to help bring permaculture to the
>devasted lands across the country, CESTA needs a permaculture instructor
>who wants to put some time in here to run courses at Ecocentro for the
>workers of CESTA and for local farmers, so some of these ideas and
>inspirations can be spread around the country.  There have been some
>Australians here in the past as well as volunteers from other countries who
>have helped get some projects underway, but at the moment there is no one
>here who is trained in permaculture.  There is no money to pay such a
>person from here, but it is likely possible to be funded through another
>group to come and work here on this project.  CESTA has received
>international reknown for many of its undertakings and is truly an
>incredible force in bettering the environment here.  In my short 5 month
>stay here I have been moved and inspired, educated and welcomed wherever I
>have gone.  The experience of working here would be incredible for anyone
>who wanted to take it on.  I am just putting out in the world the
>information that there is this need here, and anyone with any ideas on how
>to fill it, or if you would just like more information on what is going on
>here, please respond.  Also if you are  an interested person, but do not
>know how you could be funded, we might be able to help find sources for
>you.... 
>
>This excerpt from an article on Ecocentro offers a little more information
>on the vision for this project.
>
>
>THE TRUE 'GREEN REVOLUTION'
>
>Tucked between rows of cornfields in the El Salvadoran countryside, lies a
>26 hectare oasis of organic gardens and primary and secondary forest.
>While neither large nor, as yet, well known, this terrain may well be one
>of the most important pieces of agricultural land in the country.  It is
>the site of a project undertaken by the organisation CESTA (El Salvadoran
>Centre for Appropriate Technology).  Founded in 1980, CESTA has been
>working on a variety of projects throughout the country in an aim to create
>an environment of thriving communities and healthy ecosystems.  This
>particular undertaking, Ecocentro Cojutepeque, is a permaculture school and
>centre for: research and experimentation with landscape designs, viable
>agricultural alternatives and appropriate technology; production of organic
>foods, medicines, and seeds; and a place for natural regeneration and
>protection of the native ecology.
>
>The volcanic soils of El Salvador have long been used for food production,
>and today  80% of its roughly 13,000 km2, is given over to food production.
> Unfortunately, the fertility of the past has been diminished by
>monoculture plantations for both export and local markets, poor
>agricultural practices influenced by poverty or industry, loss of forests,
>changing climatic patterns, and the wake of devastation following the 12
>years of civil war. Productive, sustainable practices, coupled with careful
>land-use planning are therefore of prime importance in such a country,
>whose large population, and whose economy, rely so heavily on its soils.
>
>As a demonstration, research, and training centre for alternative ideas and
>practices, Ecocentro has the potential to initiate a land-use and
>agriculture revolution in El Salvador.  In order for these ideas to fully
>take root, they need to be accessible to farmers and communities across the
>country.  To meet this end, there is Ecomuna, the community outreach
>portion of CESTA.  CESTA already does much community outreach work, and as
>such they are in direct contact many communities.  Their plan is to use
>Ecocentro to train the outreach workers as well as local farmers, and these
>people can then go and sow permaculture ideas across the country.
>
>As food production touches directly on so many other environmental and
>social issues, this one small area of land has great potential to yield
>positive changes in the environment of El Salvador.  The agricultural
>systems initiated will not contaminate the soil and the water, will provide
>healthier food and a higher quality market product, and will have increased
>productivity and lower land requirements; thereby leaving space for forests
>and other landscapes to regenerate.  The attainability of such improvements
>can in turn allow local farmers a greater degree of self-sufficiency.  In
>short, these ideas hold the promise for a sustainable El Salvador.
>Although there are many hurdles to overcome on the path to permaculture, in
>Ecocentro Cojutepeque the seed has been planted for a truly green revolution.
>
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