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Peace Corps PermagardensGrowing Family Empowerment and Resilience
Helping families meet their evolving needs in these times of great global challenges
PermagardensGrowing Family Nutritional and Economic Security
In the face of mounting global challenges:
• HIV/AIDS• Hunger/Food Insecurity
• Climate Change• Dwindling Water and Land Resources
• Economic Collapse
Gardens of ControlWater, Soil, Plants, People
No control of rain or weeds or yield. Rainwater now moves into permanent beds along permanent paths
where water catchment holes and beds hold the promise of high, farm-like yields close to home.
Gardens of Accomplishment400% yield increases in the first year alone.
PCV and Counterpart in shallow tilled maize without compost or contour water retention ridges.
Same day, different field. Deeply dug, compost added field maize with water retention ridges.
Gardens of HopePermaculture and Bio-Intensive for the future
• Families can now look to the future with nutritional security right at home.
• Simple method with local tools means it is easily learned and easily taught to others.
• Caregivers have reason to hope for their loved ones and themselves.
• Environmentally sound, economically viable and socially acceptable means there is hope for family food security to be a sustainable idea.
The Three Legged Stool
Go FoodsGrow FoodsGlow Foods
Environmentally SoundEconomically ViableSocially Acceptable
Take one leg away and the stool is useless.
Balanced Nutrition for a Better Life
Control…..Accomplishment…..Hope for the Future
Current Meal Malnutrition - focused on energy alone
Monoculture cropping leads to
High inputs
High risk of crop failure
High risk of food insecurity
Detrimental to soil / environment
Better Meal Balanced Nutrition - focused on all nutrients
Diversified Planting
Increased Food Security
Fewer inputs
Increased chance of yields
Better for soil / environment
C ur r ent Meal
Minerals (very little
iron & calcium)
Vitamins (very little A, B & E)
Fiber (10 grams)
Protein (10 grams)
Carbohydrates (300 grams)
Fats (3 grams)
Bet t er Meal
Minerals (half iron,calcium)
Vitamins (All C,E half A,B)
Fiber (20 grams)
Protein (20 grams)
Carbohydrates (500 grams)
Fats (14 grams)
The NutrientHome
Fats
Protein
Minerals
Vitamins
Carbohydrates
Water
Fiber
Dodoma, TanzaniaNovember, 2008
Home Based Care Volunteer Training
Water Capture and Control
Five Hours Later : Real Change
Two Months Later
Before: No Water Control = Low Yield
2 Groups and 4 training days later: Control and Hope for High Yields
Clear Space Near Home
Make Compost for Sustainable Soil Health
Create Perennial Borders
Create water holding berms
Double Dig
Break up the compacted layer. Then add charcoal and manure to improve it.
Amend with local resources only.
ManureChar
Wood Ash
Hands - on Learning for Empowerment
Plant Bio-Intensive BedsPlant bio-intensive beds
Three Weeks Later3 weeks later
8:00 am
2:00 pm
10 Weeks
PCV Outreach to PLWHA and Caregivers
Break up compacted soil to allow water and roots to go deep
Two Hours Later
One year – and many harvests later…
Poor soil and no control.November 2010
Doable Actions with Immediate Results = Behavior Change
Two Months Later
Peace Corps Training
2-day intensive during PST
Control the water
Learn to plant correctly.
After 3 weeks another training group has learned the same techniques.
Any space – no matter how poor
Can be managed well
To help people feel Empowered for Life
Where small changes….
Can make a huge difference in people’s lives.
Permagardens:A Centerpiece for the PCV Experience -
Helping Families Achieve Resilience and Food Security
Permanent Control Structures High Yield Potential Very Quickly
Close and Easy to Manage Opportunity for Year Round Diet
and Bio Diversity Opportunity for Income Generation
Gardens for Better Living
Peace Corps Permagardens
Growing Resilient Families and Communities
Peace Corps Permagardens
Feeding the World One Family at a Time
PermaGardensGrow Big … and Stay Home
Healthy Soils = Healthy Plants = Healthy People = Strong
Communities
For Further Information
Peter JensenPermaculture Specialist
Peace Corps [email protected][email protected]
