PRI Needs a Cook
Project Positions — by Craig Mackintosh March 11, 2010
If you live local to The Channon, NSW, we’re on the lookout for a good, organised cook. The position would be for seven hours per day, Monday to Friday. You’d be cooking for PRI staff and interns (about ten) on a continual basis and this number will spike to around 35 as our regular courses come and go. With a steady stream of WWOOFers (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) coming through, you would have help from a range of unqualified, albeit keen and interesting helpers who travel here from all over the world.
Experience cooking for mixed groups of meat eaters and vegetarian would be a distinct advantage. You would be utilising fresh, seasonal, organic food grown on the farm.
The Permaculture Research Institute has a very homely, friendly environment in beautiful natural settings. We get a constant stream of interesting people from every place you can imagine.
Please email education (at) permaculture.org.au with your details and expression of interest in the first instance. Be sure to send us your telephone number.
Comments (0)My Experience of Permaculture in Guatemala
Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, Food Forests, Food Plants - Annual, Food Plants - Perennial, Plant Systems, Project Positions, Rehabilitation, Trees, Water Harvesting — by Kevin Mascarenhas February 7, 2010
The Ijatz cooperative is possibly the best demonstration of the transformative power of permaculture in Guatemala. The site, in San Lucas Toliman near Lake Atitlan, was purchased at low cost since the parish council considered the land to be of low value. Previously, it was a swampy bog inundated with refuse and flood water from the surrounding hills.
In classic permaculture style, within the problem lay the seeds of the solution. The deforestation due to conventional agriculture in these surrounding hills has caused soil erosion and during the rainy season much of this rich volcanic black top soil is washed downstream. This annual bounty has been redirected through the Ijatz site using a sequence of channels and sink holes, which in turn slows the water flow enabling the nutrient rich humus to be captured and stored on site. The earth has been moulded to create slopes, edges and contours essential for increased growing opportunity.
Comments (15)Permaculture Master Plan: Planting up the Global Garden
Aid Projects, Bio-regional Organisations, Commercial Farm Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Development & Property Trusts, Eco-Villages, Economics, Education Centres, Ethical Investment, Networking Sites, People Systems, Project Positions, Society, Urban Projects, Village Development — by Andy Homer January 20, 2010
You’re trying to say that you can live in the modern way and continue to think in the traditional way. That’s not true. The way you live affects the way you think. – Danny Billie, Traditional Seminole
I’d like to recount here my impressions of the PRI, and how different it is from many other organizations. We (Tribal Networks) first came across them when looking for solutions to problems we found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where we were starting a project to bring in a school and an internet / community centre. Searching for "dry land permaculture" soon found Geoff’s "Greening the Desert" clip, and things progressed from there.
How to Repair the World
Aid Projects, Deforestation, Demonstration Sites, Developments, Eco-Villages, Education Centres, Food Forests, Food Plants - Perennial, Food Shortages, Land, News, Plant Systems, Project Positions, Rehabilitation, Trees, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh December 9, 2009
The video embedded in this page spotlights the excellent work of Willie Smits I profiled a little while ago, where rainforest restoration in Borneo not only restored biodiversity and gave increased livelihood opportunities to local people, but it also increased cloud cover and rainfall as well. It’s well worth a watch:
We’re pleased to announce that we’re partnering with the makers of the video above, WeForest, to help establish self-replicating permaculture reforestation demonstration sites in accordance with our Permaculture Master Plan, in several worldwide locations – starting in Zambia in the first instance. Our Geoff Lawton has just agreed to be on their advisory board, and we’ll be working to supply guidance, knowhow and staff to pioneer these projects.
This is just one example of the many encouraging collaborative results we get as people boil current events down to their only logical conclusion – discovering we need to quit battling nature and get busy harnessing biological synergies to repair the earth and rebuild sustainable community interactions.
Comments (4)PRI Needs a Cook
Project Positions — by Nadia Lawton October 28, 2009
If you live local to The Channon, NSW, we’re on the lookout for a good, organised cook. At first we need someone to cover our next PDC course (November 15 to 28, with a day off on Sunday, November 22). You’d be cooking for PRI staff (about eight), and around twenty five or so students. Experience cooking for mixed groups of meat eaters and vegetarian would be a distinct advantage.
The Permaculture Research Institute has a very homely, friendly environment in beautiful natural settings. We get a constant stream of interesting and interested people from every place you can imagine. If you’re happy with the work and arrangement, and vice versa, we would also invite you to continue with us on a full-time trial basis from January, when we start our new internship program.
Please Note: This position has now been filled – we are now fully catered with two top cooks. Thank you for your interest.
Comments (1)Desk Top Publishing and Book Designer Position
Project Positions — by Tagari September 8, 2009
Tagari Publications & The Permaculture Institute are seeking someone to fill the following role:
Desk Top Publishing and Book Designer
Job Description
This position is all about creativity and the love of producing something of quality and value with Tagari Publications and the Permaculture Institute.
Sounds interesting? Well, if you love attention to detail and seeing your work through to completion then this may be the job for you. If you have great time management, computer program efficiency and a down-to-earth attitude this position will give you the opportunity to flex your already proficient skills and provide you the opportunity to further develop your talents.
Located in the beautiful hills of Sisters Creek, Tasmania, with a stunning backdrop of dams, hills and animals to admire, the location is only one part of this company’s offering. Tagari is home to the founding father of Permaculture and with that comes an exciting workplace with great stories and an office experience only a limited few have access to.
Comments (0)Project Positions in Vietnam – Through AYAD
Aid Projects, Project Positions — by Craig Mackintosh September 1, 2009
Australia Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) have listed the following two positions that may pique your interest. You’d be working with the Social Policy Ecology Research Institute (SPERI), a Vietnamese NGO we’ve been assisting for a few years. If you have the requisite experience, are an Australian citizen between 18 and 30 years old, are of good health and looking to broaden your experience while giving a little of yourself to poor communities, then this might be a great opportunity for you.
Click on the following links to learn more about the positions, and click here to learn more about the AYAD program itself.
As with any work in ‘developing‘ countries (I hate using that word), you need to consider well your suitability before applying, but, if you feel you’re up to the challenge, successful applicants are fully funded by AYAD to fill these positons – including travel, insurance, etc.
Related Reading:
- Letters from Vietnam: The Road to Na Sai
- Letters from Vietnam: The Hmong People – Reclaiming Lost Skills
- Letters from Vietnam: Ke Village
Permaculture Volunteer Sought for Uganda Project
Aid Projects, Project Positions — by Clive Mullett July 2, 2009
Would you like to volunteer at a Permaculture Food Security Project at a Primary School and Boarding House in rural Uganda?
Comments (0)Volunteer Eco-Builder/Handyman Sought for Ethiopia Permalodge Project
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, Project Positions — by Alex McCausland May 7, 2009
Strawberry Fields Eco Lodge in the Konso Special Woreda, Southern Ethiopia seeks volunteer sustainable builder/handy-man to assist with maintenance and minor construction tasks as well as some training and supervision of project staff and local workers. Food, accommodation and pocket money provided (and possibly internet access too)!
Strawberry Fields Eco Lodge is a community oriented business operating in rural south Ethiopia in Konso Woreda, an area noted for its unique local culture and indigenous agricultural system, but suffering from repeated food insecurity due to re-occurring droughts in the last 50 years. SFEL promotes community well-being through Permaculture design training and consultancy services delivered to local schools, as well as though developing community based tourism activities to generate alternative income for the community grass-roots. The project combines a lodge, farm, organic restaurant and Permaculture school as well as organising off-site trekking and cultural activities.
Comments (2)Assistance/Consultations for Establishment of New Permaculture Projects
Aid Projects, Commercial Farm Projects, Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Developments, Education Centres, Project Positions, Urban Projects — by Craig Mackintosh April 22, 2009
Because of increasing interest and demand for help in setting up new Permaculture projects worldwide, we’ve just added a couple of new documents to the site that will help get your started thinking at a practical level, and that will help us to engage in meaningful conversation with you as you seek to establish your own project.
- Advice and/or Resources: If you’re seeking help for your site, please complete our project questionnaire and email it to info (at) permaculture.org.au in the first instance. This is designed to gather information about potential projects before you make contact so that our initial conversations can be more situation specific.
- Timeline: You are also encouraged to read our timeline for project establishment as it will help focus your thought and energy on a practical, logical progression for establishment.
Although this post will slide down out of view – links to these documents can always be found via our Contact Us page. Also, these documents will likely get fleshed out more over time.
Comments (0)Calling for Volunteers for IPC9 and the Permaculture Centre, Malawi, Africa
Conferences, Courses/Workshops, Developments, News, Presentations/Demonstrations, Project Positions, Social Gatherings — by Craig Mackintosh April 17, 2009
The ninth International Permaculture Conference (IPC) and Convergence is inching closer. Previous conferences have been held in Australia, USA, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Nepal, Croatia and Brazil. This time it will run from November 2-6 in Malawi, Africa (Kumbali Village, Lilongwe), and will include site tours of Permaculture projects in Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The theme for IPC9 is "Plan Africa – Food & Empowerment".
There are a few volunteer positions for this event that need filling. If you’ll be free during this period and would like to help make the IPC9 a success for the people of Africa and the wider international community by getting constructively involved in this exciting work, please click here (PDF) to read about these interesting posts and to find out how to apply.
Comments (2)Developing Permaculture Aid Project Skills
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, Project Positions — by Sakina Grome February 5, 2009
There are as many people holding different skills as there are species, and this diversity of skills is required to build permaculture projects around the world. As the world heads towards peak oil, peak soil, and peak water, the demand for permaculture education continues to grow, and at the forefront of this demand are people in developing countries who are dependent upon being able to grow their own food and whose livelihood depends on the health of the local soil.
The first Permaculture Project Aid Worker Course conducted by the Permaculture Research Institute was held in November at Zaytuna Farm in NSW, Australia. Geoff Lawton and Rosemary Morrow led the six-day course, which was attended by twenty-three students in total. Lawton established the course as a response to keeping up with the demand for skilled aid workers on overseas projects, as well as a vision to establish a network of permaculture education centres around the world.
Comments (1)Reality Check one two…one two
Aid Projects, Building, Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Developments, Education Centres, Energy Systems, Ethical Investment, Land, Project Positions, Village Development — by Eric Seider January 26, 2009
If you were to get up and walk to the sink and turn on the faucet, there is a pretty damn good chance that water will come out. And if it didn’t you’d be surprised to say the least, more likely pissed off and annoyed at the inconvenience. You’d then wonder who is to blame for this unacceptable turn of events. I mean it is your god given right as a human being to expect water to come out of the tap when you need it….right?
Well…..Salaam Alaykum. Welcome to Jordan.
Beduoin Camp, Dead Sea Valley, Jordan
It doesn’t work like that here.
Comments (6)Volunteer Permaculturist Required for Ugandan AIDS Clinic
Aid Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, Project Positions — by Brett Bell November 14, 2008
With an acre of land to work with, could you develop a sustainable demonstration garden for a health centre to teach its HIV positive clients about nutrition and gardening practices to maximize their land’s potential?
Comments (0)Letters from Vietnam – Ke Village
Aid Projects, Building, Community Projects, Project Positions, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh October 21, 2008
The trip to meet the Ma Lieng people at Ke Village, Vietnam, was a bit like a chapter out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. For starters, to reach the village I had to get ferried across a chocolate river in something resembling a dugout canoe. And, when I got there, I was met with a tribe of villagers who were almost supernaturally tiny.
The river’s chocolate hue was due to heavy rains flushing the nation’s soil to the sea – also making the river abnormally swollen and swift. Carrying expensive camera equipment in a very suspect-looking vessel, with a freeboard of only a few inches, was disconcerting to say the least – every person’s slightest movement rang alarm bells, and I had to work hard not to overcompensate in our bid to keep the canoe upright.
We made it to the other side, though, our gear dry, albeit with our nerves a little jangled.
Entryway to the Ke Village, home to the Ma Lieng people
So, whew, welcome to the Ke Village. This visit was in stark contrast to our trip to see the Black Thai, at Na Sai, only a few days earlier, as you shall see.
Comments (6)
