On July 1-13 2019, IDEP held Permaculture Design Course. Quite different from what is usual, this course was initiated with the concept of collaboration. Typically, a similar course is held by IDEP involving only trainers from IDEP. The course venue was also only centered on IDEP. Instead, IDEP collaborated with three permaculture-based organizations at once, including Tri Hita Karana Bali, Emas Hitam Indonesia Foundation, and Kw Kreasi. In this collaboration, the trainers were the representatives of each organization. The course venue was also mobile from one organization to another.
Previously, this collaboration was successfully tested in last year’s Introduction to Permaculture Training. By applying this, participants tend to always get a different learning experience with different trainers and venues. The learning atmosphere also becomes fresher and not boring. Besides, the rich experience of the different trainers also broadened and sharpened the discussion process.
The trainers involved this time were Sayu Komang and Wayan Suartana (IDEP), Chakra Widia (Tri Hita Karana Bali), Kadek Suardika and Silvina Miguel (Emas Hitam Indonesia Foundation), and Krisna Waworuntu (Kw Kreasi). As the trainers come from diverse background, their participants were so. There are farmers, cattlemen, and community organizers. The seven come from Paiton (East Java) and Wonosobo (Central Java). After the training, they are expected to be able to help communities in their respective villages to apply permaculture as an agricultural system and an environmentally friendly yet sustainable way of life.
The First Week
In the first week, the course material focused on introducing permaculture and its foundation components, including the principles and ethics of permaculture with its application in daily life. Starting from there, the participants were then invited to understand the importance of design in permaculture. This was done by mapping the zone of management and utilization based on needs, both for humans and for the environment. There are five zones mapped in permaculture. It starts from the household to a larger zone like a wild forest.
Furthermore, participants were invited to learn other components such as soil rehabilitation, composting, house design, water management, and waste management. These are all mutually integrated parts to realize an agricultural system and an environmentally friendly yet sustainable way of life. The first week was then concluded with material and practice on seed sovereignty. Seed sovereignty includes the seed saving process that self-sufficiently produces healthy and quality seeds, seed bank maintenance, and seeds documentation. By doing this, the participants and their community will be able to produce healthy food sustainably.
The Second Week
In the second week, participants were invited to learn the implementation of a sustainable agricultural system that is integrated, environmentally friendly and has a good socio-economic function. This includes the nursery and maintaining plants, garden design, integrated pest management, agroforestry management, livestock system that is integrated with gardens and households, beekeeping, and the application of appropriate technology to support household needs without destroying the environment.
At the end of the course, participants were asked to make 3D mockups for the permaculture design they wanted to apply in their respective villages. The 3D mockups were then presented and discussed together. By doing so, participants are expected to have a more concrete plan for implementing permaculture back in their communities. (Fit / Ed)
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