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From Permagarden to Farmers Field Peter Jensen Permaculture Specialist Peace Corps Tanzania Control Accomplishment Hope Overall Goal: To help people improve the quality of their own lives Livelihood Security through improved ecosystems, greater availability and access to food, health promotion, disease prevention and overall empowerment to develop greater family and individual resiliency in the face of mounting global challenges of market and climate instabilities. Enabling the base to develop and grow sustainably. Poor Yields in the Lowlands = Ruined Hillsides Higher Sustainable Yields = Protected Hillsides From Slash and Burn to Cover and Protect Livelihood and Food Security Ecosystem Protection Watershed Management Family Resiliency Empowerment It starts in the garden – the family Classroom for Food Security Before – no control of erosion or yield After – control and better yield in just 2 hours The Permagarden close to home After two days of work – digging and planting After three weeks of management Key Elements: close; small; local seeds and tools; double digging; compost; cover crops; green manures; ash and char; spacing; weeds; water; permanent; doable; sustainable. Soil Quality Before Conservation Agriculture After Conservation Agriculture Density, OM, CEC/fertility, Temperature, Porosity ALL IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY IN JUST 4 MONTHS Then brought to the field Land clearing and saving of residue to hold moisture Planting vetiver grass to improve erosion control The initial double dig with better seed spacing After 3 months – harvest and residue return Double digging breaks subsoil compaction allowing closer spacing, higher plant density, higher moisture. Residue return after harvest to add organic matter, nutrients and keep weeds away. Let Growth and Yield speak for itself Maize with Lablab bean Yield from 2 stalks of maize comparison between two 1x5m beds Double Dug with Manure and Compost Single Dug with Manure Only Seeds = 45 Seeds = 40 1 seed/35 cm 4 seeds/meter Producing Plants = 40 Producing Plants = 20 Ears/Plant = 2 Ears/Plant = 1 Total Ears = 80 Total Ears = 20 Kernels/Ear = 500 Kernels/Ear = 250 Total Yield = 40,000 Total Yield = 5000 or or 8 times the yield per unit area! 20 kg 2.5 kg What this means to the family Maize Yield = 4kg/sqm and 1.5kg/sqm dry cob 10m x 12 m plot = 120 square meters 120 x 4kg = 480 kg maize grain 120 x 1.5kg = 180 kg dry cob (= 50 kg biochar) 25-30 kg cowpea plus green leaves throughout Second crop using 3 month maize varieties allows the family to grow an additional 480kg on the same space. TOTAL: 960 kg maize, 60kg cowpea + 100 kg biochar Family Food Security = 1000kg maize/year Biochar…so what?? CEC, porosity, carbon, air and water dynamics, microbes Improve the agriculture to protect the environment Higher yield on less land means more land for others… And less need to farm within fragile ecosystems. Healthy Plants = Healthy People June 2009 March 2010 Creates Healthy Communities Protects and stabilizes Landscapes Watersheds and ecosystems Take Home Lessons Local Tools Local People Local Needs Maize as the “hook” to inspire further adoption Small Doable Actions with Immediate Visible Results Easy to learn, easy to do… easy to teach Conclusion: Improved Livelihood Security and Environmental Conservation happens via Conservation Agriculture Permagardening Conservation Agriculture Nutrition Education Harvest and Storage IGA Small Enterprise Development Health Promotion Disease Prevention Environmental Conservation Family Resiliency and Empowerment Inawezikana PermaGardens They’re not just for kitchens anymore For Further Information Peter Jensen Permaculture Specialist Peace Corps Tanzania [email protected] [email protected] Healthy Soils = Healthy Plants = Healthy People = Strong Communities