Permaculture & Water Protection in Peru
The problem:
In the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru, the largely indigenous population is threatened by landslides and flooding (two floods in 2010 alone). This is due to global warming-induced glacial melting, as well as erosion made worse by deforestation and depleted, chemically fertilized soils. Indigenous people who have farmed for hundreds of years at high altitudes now spend days traveling to harvest scarce firewood for cooking, as well as burning dried animal dung or dried sod. Scientists predict that in ten years the glaciers will be gone, with no source of irrigation during the long dry season. Much of the agriculture is now done with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the soil is becoming exhausted. Streams and rivers are increasingly polluted with human & animal waste and agricultural chemical runoff; wild trout and frogs are gone. These tragic trends can be reversed. The Sacred River needs to be restored!
Permaculture solutions:
1. Trash such as plastic bottles can be kept out of the river and landscape with an improved recycling program.
2. Compost and natural fertilizers can help the transition to organic agriculture. An estimated 80% of farmers in the Sacred Valley rely on chemicals, but some of the small family organic farms are also successful and sell to hotels and restaurants as well as locals.
3. Cover-crops can stabilize and rebuild damaged soils, as well as assist in capturing rainwater.
4. Earthworks such as swales planted with native or fruit trees can stabilize soil and capture rainwater right where it is used by the trees.
5. Biogas digesters, which generate methane from animal, human, and crop wastes, can provide a renewable non-wood source of cooking fuel. 30 million are in use in rural China, reducing deforestation, while producing a superior and safer fertilizer for crops. Surface waters have less pathogenic bacteria, health and economic wellbeing of the inhabitants has improved, and women have more free hours for income-production as less time is spent gathering fuelwood. Lung problems in women and children from smoky kitchens have dropped. It is apparently possible to convert a septic tank to a biogas digester, and at least one hotel owner is interested.
2. Compost and natural fertilizers can help the transition to organic agriculture. An estimated 80% of farmers in the Sacred Valley rely on chemicals, but some of the small family organic farms are also successful and sell to hotels and restaurants as well as locals.
3. Cover-crops can stabilize and rebuild damaged soils, as well as assist in capturing rainwater.
4. Earthworks such as swales planted with native or fruit trees can stabilize soil and capture rainwater right where it is used by the trees.
5. Biogas digesters, which generate methane from animal, human, and crop wastes, can provide a renewable non-wood source of cooking fuel. 30 million are in use in rural China, reducing deforestation, while producing a superior and safer fertilizer for crops. Surface waters have less pathogenic bacteria, health and economic wellbeing of the inhabitants has improved, and women have more free hours for income-production as less time is spent gathering fuelwood. Lung problems in women and children from smoky kitchens have dropped. It is apparently possible to convert a septic tank to a biogas digester, and at least one hotel owner is interested.
Agropecuario High School students building a compost pile
using organic waste from the market, guinea pig manure
brought from home, corn stalks and straw and cow manure
from the farm.
using organic waste from the market, guinea pig manure
brought from home, corn stalks and straw and cow manure
from the farm.
Strategies:
1. Build alliances with existing groups and permaculturists in the Sacred Valley. (Current organizational allies: Sustainable Urubamba Valley, Anay Pachamama.)
2. Bring in teachers/project leaders in permaculture methods, to work with local people and international volunteers to build prototypes and implement solutions. We just completed hands-on classes in organic agriculture at the AgroPecuario High School with the help of a local man whose family has an organic farm. Students made compost and organic fertilizers to avoid the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and to rebuild the soil, and then used them on the crops and fruit trees. We ended with a brief skit for the younger students on "La Vida del Suelo" (The Life of the Soil).
3. Enlist stakeholders such as hotel owners with riverfront property, rafting companies, and the municipal government, to assist with a cleanup project for the river.
4. Initiate small green enterprises involving management of municipal solid waste, including safer disposal of used batteries, motor oil, and plastic.
2. Bring in teachers/project leaders in permaculture methods, to work with local people and international volunteers to build prototypes and implement solutions. We just completed hands-on classes in organic agriculture at the AgroPecuario High School with the help of a local man whose family has an organic farm. Students made compost and organic fertilizers to avoid the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and to rebuild the soil, and then used them on the crops and fruit trees. We ended with a brief skit for the younger students on "La Vida del Suelo" (The Life of the Soil).
3. Enlist stakeholders such as hotel owners with riverfront property, rafting companies, and the municipal government, to assist with a cleanup project for the river.
4. Initiate small green enterprises involving management of municipal solid waste, including safer disposal of used batteries, motor oil, and plastic.
Seeking volunteers and donations! Please visit the volunteer page.
Volunteers to assist in teaching organic agriculture/permaculture to high school students, March 2012 through October 2012.
Volunteers with internet skills to aid in setting up an internet forum tapping international expertise in wastewater and drinking water management.
People with experience in solid waste or wastewater management strategies are especially needed!
For more information, please write: [email protected].
For updates, please visit my blog: www.cathyholt.wordpress.com
TO DONATE: To make a tax deductible donation to Peru Permaculture, please go to www.riverlink.org and click the DONATE button at the top right on their home page, then CLICK & PLEDGE. Please be sure to fill out the box where you're asked "Is your donation in honor of someone?" with the words Peru Permaculture to ensure that your donation goes to us. THANK YOU!
An example of how your donation will be spent: paying a salary to a young man whose family has a small organic farm, so he can teach students about organic agriculture methods at the AgroPecuario high school; purchasing materials for the class.
Volunteers to assist in teaching organic agriculture/permaculture to high school students, March 2012 through October 2012.
Volunteers with internet skills to aid in setting up an internet forum tapping international expertise in wastewater and drinking water management.
People with experience in solid waste or wastewater management strategies are especially needed!
For more information, please write: [email protected].
For updates, please visit my blog: www.cathyholt.wordpress.com
TO DONATE: To make a tax deductible donation to Peru Permaculture, please go to www.riverlink.org and click the DONATE button at the top right on their home page, then CLICK & PLEDGE. Please be sure to fill out the box where you're asked "Is your donation in honor of someone?" with the words Peru Permaculture to ensure that your donation goes to us. THANK YOU!
An example of how your donation will be spent: paying a salary to a young man whose family has a small organic farm, so he can teach students about organic agriculture methods at the AgroPecuario high school; purchasing materials for the class.