permaculture

[Toby Hemenway <hemenway@jeffnet.org>]

Title: update from Marsha Hanzi

(Marsha Hanzi asked me to forward this; for those of you who don't know her, she's a well-established permaculturist who's been in Brazil for a number of years.
--Toby)

 
I have bought a piece of land in the drylands, where I and colleagues are designing a community/dryland polyculture project. It is deep summer now, but in March we will be able to start our planting, a cashew-based agroforest...As of June or so we will be in a position to start receiving trinees, if all goes according to plan.
 
The drylands polyculture project is taking off.  Last year there were 49 plots.  This year there will be 200 ( just waiting for the rains to come...)Although the focus itself is on the agricultural model per se ( it´s actually an agroforest model) , in the monthly meeting with the farmers, many other themes are developed including planning, budgeting, nutrition, marketing, etc. , with a certificate at the end of the year.  As many of these farmers ar illiterate, this access to professional training is having a big impact on their lives ( several have revealed themselves to be excellent teachers of the model and are being trained as "multipliers").
 
As I am usually on the road these days, if anyone wants to get in contact with  me, he/she can via 
mhanzi@yahoo.com
 
Best wishes to all!
 
Marsha Hanzi
Instituto de Permacultura da Bahia
Brazil