July 2003 newsletter
–== Live from Al Joffah, Jordan in The Dead Sea Valley! ==–
Welcome to first Permaculture Research Institute newsletter coming to you live from one of the front lines of permaculture activism Al Joffah in The Dead Sea Valley in Jordan, the lowest place on earth (400m below sea level)!
In fact, just a few kilometres from the border of the Palestinian-occupied territory of the West Bank — one of the world’s most tense conflict zones — is where you’ll find the Permaculture Research Institute working on demonstration projects, consulting, designing and teaching courses for over 3 years now. These valuable actions have all help contribute to more sustainable future not only for Jordan but the Middle East region and set examples for arid land systems world wide.
Just recently, a concentrated effort has been made to demonstrate productive home gardening techniques with workshops on fast compost making using the 18 day berkley method, and some extremely hot piles have been constructed using goat and pigeon manure mixed with garden leaf litter and pruning material that would normally have been burnt. Many of our permaculture design course graduates now have exceptionally good and productive home gardens and some are now taking on teaching their own small groups in a mentoring program.