permaculture

[John Irwin <jwirwin@permaculture.net>]

June -

This appeared amidst a discussion about whether Permaculture can
produce the kind of yields which encourage funding.   I include his
previous post listed many countries he visited in Africa.

bob jacobs wrote:

> >Hey all,
> >
> >Sorry I have been conspicuously absent from a debate I was pretty involved
> >in--been busy.  A few points--
> >Examples like the project in India (with Dr.Venkat) is a shining example.
> >I am aware of it only from the global gardener video, and I often refer to
> >it.  It is an impressive example of one of the right on ways that aid can
> >be a good thing.  I am excited by the people who want to collect all this
> >information and develop it into a website or publicity materials.  This is
> >spot-on.
> >
> >So in keeping with that,  I would like to mention Zimbabwe.  Zimbabwe
> >(ZIM) is a great countly for permaculture.  There's the Fambidzanai
> >(staple food) edu. center that teaches permaculture, dryland cropping,
> >brick making, beekeeping, etc.  on about 40 acres of land near Harare.  I
> >spend 3 weeks there and watched about 50 rural farmers come (free of
> >charge for them as they were sponsored) to get training.  Most of them
> >were women, which is one of the first good examples of gender recognition
> >in African Ag. I have seen.  The project is going strong, but facing
> >potential problems as the land and farming issue heats up in imbabwe, lots
> >of donors are pulling out.  Still, they have, through education and seekd
> >distribution, touched the lives of thousands, and improved them.
> >
> >The same for Zim's Natural farming network, that works as an umbrella to
> >promote organic ag. and PC to NGO's.  They now support a Zimbabwe
> >Institute of Permaculture, a participatory land use planning group, a PC
> >in schools group, etc.
> >
> >Again, the country is full of positive examples.
> >
> >As for yield research, I am about to return to post graduate school
> >studing sustainable Ag, and Int. Development.  I will be doing my field
> >study on the nutritional and land use impact of PC systems in "developing"
> >countries.  This is years away, but I will glsdly contribute all my data
> >to any publicity to help prove the worth of PC.
> >
> >Anyhow, gotta run. keep up the positive work.
> >Tim
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________________________________________
> >_
> >
> >The perfumed flowers are our sisters;
> >the deer, thr horse, the great eagle,
> >these are our brothers.
> >The Rocky crests,
> >the juices of meadows,
> >the body heat of the pony and the man----
> >
> >All belong to the same family.
> >                               ------Chief Seattle
> >___________________________________________

===================================================

First Post

> bob jacobs <soilfirst@tao.ca> [He's from Canada]
>
> This is exciting. I just traveled across africa and visited permaculture
> projects in about 10 countries (well, mosty were permaculture.)
>
> here's a list of them, and I can supply contact info and general info on
> them all.
>
> DEVELOPMENT GROUPS I HAVE VISITED CONTACT WITH IN AFRICA:
>
> ETHIOPIA:
> 1. The Integrated Biofarm Enterprise-- Biointensive/ PC demo farm
> 2. The International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology--promotes 
> Biofarm
> 3. The BioGas Production team of the DED (German Development service)
> 4. LUPO, The Lower Oromo Land Use planning team (Governmental)-- organic ag
> and agroforestry
> 5. FARM Africa--agroforestry
> 6. The United Nations High Commission on Refugees
>
> KENYA:
> 1. The National Organization of Women and the Greenbelt Movement--tree 
> planting
>
> TANZANIA:
> 1. Tanzanian Promoters of Permaculture Farming-- in Dar es Salam
> 2. Varied Seaweed export projects on Zanzibar Island.
>
> RWANDA:
> 1.An agroforestry Project of the DED (German Development service)
>
> MALAWI:
> 1. Lukwe Permaculture Educational Farm
> 2. The US Peace Corps Permaculture and Nutrition Team
> 3. The Paper Making Education Trust (by-hand recycling project),  related
> to OXFAM
> 4. There are various other Pc promoters
>
> ZIMBABWE:
> 1. The Fambidzanai Permaculture Center
> 2. The Natural Farming Network
> 3. The Zimbabwean Institute of Permaculture
> 4. The Permaculture in Schools Program
>
> SOUTH AFRICA:
> 1. Food and Trees for Africa-PC planning and PC inschools
> 2. Rustler's Valley Permaculture Educational Center
> 3. Oudmouden Community Organic Farm (employs mentally handicapped 
> individuals)
>