Greenhouse Effect
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Village Development — by Allison Ford
As The world warms, the dry areas of the globe are growing even drier. in Jordan, some villages are already working on what to do when the rain stops coming. Words by Allison Ford. Photography by Josh Estey/CARE. Originally published in Jo Magazine.
The last time rain fell in Bayoudeh was February 10. The land has only gotten dryer since then. People in and out of Jordan like to talk about how water poor the country really is, but 2008 arrived to prove it with a vengeance.
Um Mubarak increases the yeild of her trees with
mulch, and grows cactuses with gray water.
Posted on: January 14, 2009
Please Help the Palestinian People in a Time of Tragedy
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Developments, Education Centres, Village Development — by Nichole Ross
The Jordan Valley Project site is the triangular section in foreground
As Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip escalate, more and more Palestinian civilians are being displaced by damage or destruction to their homes. The need for refugee shelter has become critical. Geoff and Nadia Lawton are currently working on a PRI project in a Palestinian refugee village in Jordan. The project, known as the Jordan Valley Permaculture Project, is an effort to set up a Permaculture demonstration and education center. Due to the increased influx of refugees that will need food and shelter, this project is essential for survival for these people fleeing to the very arid Dead Sea Valley. Geoff, Nadia and others are working at full speed to get this center established as soon as possible so they can train refugees and impoverished locals to set up similar sustainable systems (food, water, shelter).
Comments (3)Posted on: January 12, 2009
Volunteer Permaculturist Required for Ugandan AIDS Clinic
Aid Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, Project Positions — by Brett Bell
With an acre of land to work with, could you develop a sustainable demonstration garden for a health centre to teach its HIV positive clients about nutrition and gardening practices to maximize their land’s potential?
Comments (0)Posted on: November 14, 2008
Letters from Vietnam: The Hmong People - Reclaiming Lost Skills
Aid Projects, Community Projects, People Systems, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh
The Future of the Hmong People
Photos: Craig Mackintosh
It took a few moments for my eyes to adapt to the light. There was a single, clear incandescent bulb hanging just millimetres above my head - hanging from somewhere high in the blackness of the ceiling, from a cable so weathered it looked more like a vine than an electrical cord. But it wasn’t turned on. After all, it was daytime. Below my muddied boots was the hard, earth floor; cool to the touch, with just a hint of dampness. The lady of the house swept dirt outside, which, while necessary, almost seemed nonsensical, since the floor was dirt. The walls were thick, and windowless - also made with packed earth. And unlike most other minority tribes in Vietnam, who normally build their houses on poles, this one was built directly onto the ground.
This home was about as ‘earthy’ as they get.
Comments (6)Posted on: November 6, 2008
Letters from Vietnam - Ke Village
Aid Projects, Building, Community Projects, Project Positions, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh
The trip to meet the Ma Lieng people at Ke Village, Vietnam, was a bit like a chapter out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. For starters, to reach the village I had to get ferried across a chocolate river in something resembling a dugout canoe. And, when I got there, I was met with a tribe of villagers who were almost supernaturally tiny.
The river’s chocolate hue was due to heavy rains flushing the nation’s soil to the sea - also making the river abnormally swollen and swift. Carrying expensive camera equipment in a very suspect-looking vessel, with a freeboard of only a few inches, was disconcerting to say the least - every person’s slightest movement rang alarm bells, and I had to work hard not to overcompensate in our bid to keep the canoe upright.
We made it to the other side, though, our gear dry, albeit with our nerves a little jangled.
Entryway to the Ke Village, home to the Ma Lieng people
So, whew, welcome to the Ke Village. This visit was in stark contrast to our trip to see the Black Thai, at Na Sai, only a few days earlier, as you shall see.
Comments (6)Posted on: October 21, 2008
Transforming Landscapes, While Transforming Ourselves - Our Story in Jordan
Aid Projects, Demonstration Sites, Land, Project Positions, Swales — by Tanya Lemieux
This is a story of how permaculture transformed the lives of two young Canadians…
At the beginning of November 2006, my partner Jesse left our home in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on a three month journey to the homeland of permaculture - Australia. Inspired by the teaching styles of Geoff Lawton and Bill Mollison, Jesse returned home determined to make permaculture our full time occupation.
During the next year we implemented permaculture design and dug up lawns for any friend or neighbor brave enough to set us loose in their yard. Encouraged with the results, we were always on the lookout for possible long-term land access, as feeding ourselves from our own garden became ever more important.
Comments (4)Posted on: October 16, 2008
Letters from Vietnam - The Road to Na Sai
Aid Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, People Systems, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh
We catch a rare glimpse of an ancient and beautiful culture - the Black Thai people - and applaud the work of a modern day NGO who is working to help improve the lives of these noble people whilst retaining their unique identity - just as a new road threatens their natural, low-carbon existence.
Black Thai Villager in Rice Fields, Na Sai Village, Vietnam
Photos: Craig Mackintosh
A few days ago I had the profound privilege of spending two days in a ‘lost village’ - a tiny community hidden away in one of Vietnam’s border regions. I invite you to share in this rare opportunity by way of the text and images below.
The topography of the landscape, and its remoteness, has isolated the Na Sai village, separating it from modern influences and modern ‘development’. Being here in Vietnam, whilst the world faces a potential "systemic" financial meltdown, is rather ironic, particularly as I compare the vulnerabilities of the outside world with a community like this - a community for whom industrialised society is a seeming universe apart in terms of culture and socioeconomic dependencies.
In many ways, from my observations, if the rest of the world were to sink into the ocean this community would barely notice.
Comments (13)Posted on: October 14, 2008
Letters from Vietnam - Arriving to HEPA
Aid Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres — by Craig Mackintosh
Hanoi, Vietnam
Photos: Craig Mackintosh
Greetings from Vietnam. Geoff and Nadia and other PRI team members (including yours truly) landed here five days ago - aiming to continue to help develop the work of SPERI (Social Policy Ecology Research Institute), a Vietnamese NGO and sister organisation to PRI.
Comments (1)Posted on: October 10, 2008
Permaculture Volunteer Sought for Uganda
Aid Projects, Project Positions, Village Development — by Janice Smart
Can you imagine yourself preparing a small-scale intensive garden whilst enjoying Ugandan songs, smiles and sweet bananas? If so, this permaculture volunteer position may be for you!
The Network for Holistic Community Development (NEFHCOD) is a small, non-government organisation established in 2005 in the Rakai District, Southern Uganda. NEFHCOD works to empower communities and the needy for sustainable economic development and works predominantly with those living with and affected by HIV/Aids, orphans, invalids and the elderly. Our work encompasses health, education, the environment and community capacity building.
Comments (0)Posted on: September 30, 2008
The Development of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration
Aid Projects, Animal Forage, Plant Systems, Trees — by Tony Rinaudo
Editor’s Note: Arguably one of the most successful land regeneration projects in the world, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneraton (FMNR), beginning in Niger during the 1980s, has revegetated three million hectares of arid land in that country alone - bringing back biodiversity in flora and fauna, increasing soil humus (and thus carbon) content, improving water retention and microclimates, and dramatically improving the health and viability of local communities. It is now practiced on over 30,000 km² of land in the Niger Republic as well as Chad, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Mali. It has been written about in many noteworthy publications (the NY Times, for example), and below we hear about its original development from the man who first discovered the ‘underground forest’. In short, trees have returned to Niger, and they’re bringing prosperity with them.
by Tony Rinaudo,
Natural Resource Management Advisor, Integration Team,
World Vision Australia. Originally published on Leisa
 Children helping to source firewood Photo: Author |
Conventional methods of reforestation in Africa have often failed. Even community-based projects with individual or community nurseries struggle to keep up the momentum once project funding ends. The obstacles working against reforestation are enormous. But a new method of reforestation called Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) could change this situation. It has already done so in the Republic of Niger, one of the world’s poorest nations, where more than 3 million hectares have been re-vegetated using this method. Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration involves selecting and pruning stems regenerating from stumps of previously felled, but still living trees. Sustainability is a key feature of the programme which requires very little investment by either government or NGOs to keep it going. The story in Niger can offer valuable insights and lessons for other nations.
Comments (2)Posted on: September 24, 2008
PRI Update - September 12, 2008
Aid Projects, Courses/Workshops, Developments, Education Centres, News — by Craig Mackintosh
Every now and again we’ll try to keep you all in the loop as to progress and activity with our work here in the little village of PRI. As always, there is a lot going on, and a lot more in the pipeline. Some of you may well wish to get involved yourself!
Here goes:
Comments (3)Posted on: September 12, 2008
Permaculturist Wanted - for Uganda
Aid Projects, Project Positions — by Rowe Morrow
A great opportunity for growing food and teaching permaculture alongside about 300 children’s big smiles, songs and dances in south-western Uganda
Are you planning to travel to Africa? And do you like a challenge? If so, then we would welcome you for six to twelve months as ‘permie in residence’ at our Sabina Children’s Home.
Here’s a taste of what we offer:
Rakai Primary School and Home for Children has just completed a ‘toe-in-the-water’ four day intro permaculture course (facilitated by Rosemary Morrow and Dan Palmer) with local officials, primary school teachers, and staff from the home.
We wanted to see if there was enough interest to commit to permaculture and go forward with a full PDC and site development.
Comments (1)Posted on: July 19, 2008
The Permaculture Research Institute Signs MoU with Muslim Aid Australia
Aid Projects — by Craig Mackintosh
 Geoff Lawton and Iman S.I. Partoredjosigning the MoU at the historically significant location of Botany Bay |
As yet another sign of the growing recognition of permaculture’s crucial role in helping restore health and sustainability to both land and communities, the Permaculture Research Institute is pleased to announce we have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Muslim Aid Australia, with the intention of pooling resources and knowledge to further the shared goals and commitment of each organisation - to reach the broad ideal of a peaceful and sustainable world.
The full MoU can be downloaded here (PDF). This was signed at the historically significant location of Sydney’s Botany Bay on June 23, 2008.
We look forward to working with Muslim Aid Australia in bringing long term solutions to people within their network.
Comments (2)Posted on: July 9, 2008
The Permaculture Master Plan - Permaculture Centres Worldwide
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres — by Craig Mackintosh
Imagine a world of peace, health and low-carbon prosperity. Well, we’re going beyond imagination, and are working on full implementation. It’s our aim. Watch (and share) the clip below to get an idea of what we mean.
Comments (14)
Posted on: June 26, 2008
Permaculture Design Course In Liberia - a Resounding Success
Aid Projects, Courses/Workshops, News — by Warren Brush
by Warren Brush, Co-Founder of Quail Springs Learning Oasis
The first graduates of a Permaculture Design |
Back in March we celebrated the first graduating class of a Permaculture Design Course in Liberia’s history. Liberia had been in the throws of a brutal civil war since the late 80’s when the Permaculture movement was making its way around the world and was unable to get into Liberia until now, four years after the cease fire and peace building ensued.
We had 19 official graduates of the course which took nearly a month to complete as we had to translate into the local Lorma language. There were six other attendees who completed 3/4 of the course and who will complete it at a later date which will bring the graduating class to a total of 25. Many of the graduates shared how this was a historical moment for Liberia as Permaculture is seeding new ways of agriculture and living into their part of the world and deeply into their world-views.
Comments (0)
