India Permaculture Projects Program
This tour focuses on providing direct hands-on experience with designing and installing several different life systems that are part of Permaculture and sustainably living on our planet. The tour encompasses three different sites with a different focus at each one that is grounded in the realities of India. Throughout we will be engaging with India in a more intimate and authentic exchange of ideas and energy.
COD FENCE
Private Land 2 weeks Wetland Restoration Project
Designer & Project Lead: aManda Greene
Project: Lower well overflow and build cob fence in place of barbed wire and twigs. The purpose of the fence is to protect well water from domesticated animals that graze the region. All materials from this cob fence were harvested on-site. The clay was harvested from the pond’s excavation, the grass was the saved top layer of the pre-pond site, and all rocks were harvested locally and by hand. The bamboo was grown taken from nearby cultivated land.
WETLAND “Kopi Keré” Hampi Karnataka, India
Private Land 2 week Wetland Restoration Project
Designers & Project Leads: Rico Zook and aManda Greene
Project: Design and implementation of quarter-acre wetland habitat in Hampi, Karnataka India.
The project was implemented on an abandoned rice paddy. The land, which this area resides, is a valley that connects two national reserves. The land was strategically purchased by an individual with the aim to protect the area and create a corridor connecting the two reserves. The primary purpose of this preservation is to protect the diversity of animals that rely on that habitat. Some of these animals include; the sloth bear, monkeys, hyenas, peacocks, porcupines, coyotes, land and water turtles, leopards, and a diversity of birds. Observations were made by the landowner that the water level was high. Joining with project leads, Rico Zook and aManda Greene, a wetland restoration project was developed. The team researched, designed, and actualized the project as part of the “South India Permaculture Tour” in January of 2008. After the initial stage of research and design, a two-week period was spent on-site as they lead a group of 4 internationals and about a 30-man local work crew.In the first days of breaking ground, a noticeable amount of dragonflies and frogs came to the area.
SPIRAL
“Kopi Keré”-Frog Pond
“IndiaSong House” Organic Vegetarian Restaurant and Art Gallery. Mysore, Karnataka India 2008
2 day Intro to Urban Permaculture Course
Designers & Project Leads: Rico Zook, aManda Greene and Joao IndiaSong
The herbal Spiral is one of the poster projects of any Permaculture course. It is quick, fun, functional, interchangeable in its’ materials, and demonstrates at least 3 principles. This project was unique, however, due to the site owner (João’s) desire to make the dimension of the spiral in the ratio of the golden spiral.
BANANA FLOWER
“Punavasu” Adamaru Karnataka, India 2008
Week-long Permaculture Farmstay
Designers & Project Leads: Rico Zook and aManda Greene
At Paranavasu the banana leaves had become of higher economic value due to the banana’s low fruit productivity. Using high quantities of water and producing little economic return, the family was considering eliminating the crop from their 2-acre farm. Inspired by the banana circle the project began by creating a mulch pit and grouping the rows of bananas. Once we began bunding from the excavated soil the flower form presented itself as the logical shape. Aside from conserving space and facilitating walking between groups it naturally formed keyhole beds in which to harvest from. Aside from conserving water and creating rich soil for the bananas, we planted a diversity of seeds on the bunds creating tropical guilds