Harry Paulino (GSSP Cebu Seed Production Coordinator), two of our Cebu Seed Savers partner farmers, Reinario Cabico and Dito Jancinal, and 20 other participants joined together at Alhibe Farm, Carmen Cebu, Philippines for a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) from February 2-11, 2023. This course was facilitated by Bert Peeters, former President of Philippine Permaculture Association (PPA) and Joel Lee of Car-Car, Cebu, who is also one of the first permaculturists in the Philippines. The PDC was a collaboration between PPA and Alhibe Farm.
During the 10-day activity, participants learned permaculture principles. They also learned a variety of fundamental practices in permaculture, for example, applying permaculture practices from scratch, and creating permaculture designs in different terrains. The participants also had a first-hand experience of bamboo modeling of structures as part of the design exercises. They also learned how to use nature as inspiration for the permaculture design process, as well as discover how to apply the Permaculture Assessment Approach.
We are thrilled that our staff and Cebu partner farmers got the opportunity to learn more about permaculture farm design and apply these practices within their own farm!
Here are two of the most important quotes and reflections shared by Harry:
1. Plan, Plan, Plan, and Plant.
2. Permaculture for me serves as the backbone of regenerative, sustainable agriculture tools and systems. It is beyond systems thinking, farm designing, implementation, etc. It requires a conscious daily activity of reflecting about how our actions affect nature and ecosystems. It is about re-aligning and re-designing our choices and lifestyle so that they are harmony with what nature generously gives and provides to us.
As permaculture systems are inherently about developing sustainable and self-sufficient agricultural eco-systems. Our hope is that by learning permaculture, our farmers will gain a deeper appreciation for the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. We also hope that by learning to design spaces according to nature’s patterns, our farmers will be able to develop farms that are resilient to climate change and disasters.
We believe that permaculture practices will help us achieve our vision of “hunger-free and healthy communities with access to sustainable, farmer-produced seeds and food”. We also believe that the path towards food sovereignty must include farming practices that work coincide with the earth in the most sustainable and holistic way.
See more photos taken during the Permaculture Design Course
