Permacultureworkshopmarch2010

From DFoundation

Permaculture workshop March 2010

As we all know that the whole world is suffering from soil erosion, bare soil, soil degradation by synthetic fertilizers, the problems of gene-pool loss by using GM and hybrid seeds. It affects the land's fertility and there may be a loss of nutritive quality and vitamin in their productivity. Everywhere scientists and farmers are engaged in trying to find solutions to stop the soil erosion and secure its fertility forever. Without food: no work, no progress, no productivity. Everyone depends on food autonomy, so we have to seriously think about that.

Permaculture may have solutions to all these problems according to the experience of John Button of over 30 years, and reflected by the more conventional experience of more than 15 years by agronomist Francesca Simonetti. It is based on recycling of the energy specifically within our immediate environment.

The demonstration of Permaculture has been done by John and Francesca under the DF agriculture project with the support of the Vikas as a translator of the English into Hindi at Varma Temple in Sarnath on Sunday. There were 20 to 30 people attending the workshop, including the Kiran Centers Group.

The workshop started with the introduction of the D-Foundation. The programme was arranged in three phases: Theory and explanation; slide show; and finally practical. During the programme a lot of questioning on the themes of worm composting and bio-gas were raised by the participants. Everybody was listening carefully and enjoying the slide show. The basic knowledge also explained of how to plant a tree , how to provide the structure, how to arrange all the elements needed by a family or farm according to suitable zones, so that all needs of each element are supplied by their relationship with other elements placed nearby.

In theory phase:

1) Introduction about the Permaculture: “Permaculture” is derived from Permanent + agriculture. It proposes that we have to respect the nature and follows the way of natural succession. It is based on the attitude that energy required to cultivate should be less than the energy achieved from eating the cultivated product!

2) Worm compost: - how to make worm compost, what do you need, how many days are required? How to find earth worms?

3) How to create a bio-gas unit? And its utilization in many ways.

4) Advantages of bio-diversity

5) Natural succession

6) Use of 'sponge' (a structure which maximises fertility use and maintenance with minimum water required) / mulch instead of burning the leaves or organic waste materials.

Presentation shows included:

Diverse changes and works done in the area of reforestation are shown; different places where nothing could be grown, yet with the use of Permaculture techniques there was an abundance of plants and crops within little more than one years difference. It seemed quite miraculous. This was the sacred mountain Arunachala in Tamil Nadu, where people used to fire the whole mountain but when changes of reforestation were made they saw the benefit in terms of fuel wood and medicinal herbs resulting, and the huge waste of energy from burning the vegetation. Bali, where a barren island was transformed rapidly into a young forest. All these were practical examples of the application of Permaculture work done by John.

At the end, John and Francesca planted the trees and accompanying vegetables according to such factors as the sun light and excess or lack of water in each micro-zone, and they showed where you can find and attract the worms. Also, they demonstrated the 'sponge' technique. All was great !

So, it seems very necessary to spread the Permaculture all over the world, to apply it according to the local culture and environmental conditions. It is clear that we all have the capacity to improve our world ecologically, while improving the production of the resources we need for our good living. Abundance for all!

For more details: contact Francesca and John (johnnaturedesigns@yahoo.com – simonetti.francesca@tiscali.it)or visit their website at www.johnbutton-permaculture.net If you want the Permaculture slide show, please contact us.

Thank you

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