permaculture

["HS" <wal@pc.jaring.my>]

Hi, I am new to this group and am from Malaysia.  We should look at PC also
from the reduction in input to achieve a certain output, less labour, less
costs for the purchase of chemical fertilisers, etc.  One perspective seldom
looked at is that sometimes PC allows us to escape the "mass market" price
trap by opening up opportunities for niche marketing.  Example, I bought a
durian orchard planted and managed the traditional way.  I started to put
into practice PC principles gradually.  The key changes are the use of
compost and mulching, planting of bushes and plants that attract birds for
control of insects, retaining weeds and bushes on slopes for prevention of
soil erosion, etc.  Recently the market price for durians dropped because of
over-production from farms using chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Prices dropped to about RM 1.50 per kilo.  But I still managed to market my
fruits at RM 5.00 per kilo to customers that prefer chemical free products
(but not necessarily organic which tends to be beyond the reach of most
customers in terms of affordability). At RM 5.00 per kilo, the market was
still large enough to absorb the production of my 1,000 trees.

Regards

HS

Find out about sustainable living at my site:
www.sustainablelivingcentre.com
Learn about the most important chicken in the world:
www.junglefowl.org

----- Original Message -----
From: <permed@nor.com.au>
To: permaculture <permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2002 6:21 PM
Subject: Re: Give me an example of PC that is working (was Pc slammed in


> Been watching this thread with interest - the 'scientific proof' issue as
> stated by many is difficult, especially when trying to quanitify a system
> where 'the whole is greater than the sum of parts' and the pressure is to
> justify just one of those parts (crop yeild).
> Pc needs to be assessed on so many levels, household, property,
> neighbourhood, bioregion and beyond; also environmental, ecological,
> social and economic; and then there's all the other personal layers of
> self reliance, quality of life, enjoyment, satisfaction, health,
> wellbeing etc.
>
> Jarlanbah Pc Community was part of a grazing property - the 55 acres only
> yielded the farmer $1200 worth of beef per year. Now there are numerous
> half acre private gardens on that same piece of land that harvest well
> over $1200 worth of vegetables, fruit and eggs per year each from their
> half acre. Plus there's the reduced energy consumption (compared to
> average rural residential household), rainwater collection, composting
> toilets etc etc. Then there's the 33 acres of community land with
> rainforest regeneration along the gully, increased wildlife habitat,
> populations and diversity, the woodlots planted with fuel and cabinet
> timbers, the organic market garden that supplies our local village stores
> and on and on.
>
> Here at Djanbung Gardens (was part of the same grazing property as
> Jarlanbah) the 5 acres is providing 60% of my food and food for courses
> (estimated value $4000), and earns approx $5000 through value-adding
> (conserves & herbal products, and casual canteen food sales) and sale of
> tropical tubers, vegetative propagules and surplus veg. If the 55 acres
> of Jarlanbah yeilded the farmer only $1200, then my 5 acres was probably
> only worth around $110 a year. Plus there's the educational income of all
> the visitors who come here to see a working permaculture system,and
> there's the numerous other products harvested, the increase in
> biodiversity & wildlife etc etc.
> Could add sooooo much more and cite numerous examples of pc successes if
> I only had the time...
> I get constant feedback from former students thanking me and describing
> their systems, how much pleasure and production they derive from their
> permacultures.
>
> Robyn
>
>
> Djanbung Gardens Permaculture Education Centre
> home to:
> Permaculture Education
> ERDA Institute Trust
> Nimbin Eco-Village Project Office
> Robyn Francis - permaculture designer & educator
> PO Box 379, Nimbin NSW 2480 Australia
> Ph 02-6689 1755 Fax 02-6689 1225
> permed@nor.com.au  www.earthwise.org.au
>
>
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