our show farm
Our 'show' farm, on a half-hectare block, is a great example of permaculture at work.
Our cows and fish work together to cycle nutrients. Our swales, ponds and rich organic matter assist in the management of rainfall and irrigation run-off. Our ducks, biodigester, food forest and playground all contribute to the system. There are cycles throughout. There are relationships everywhere.
We have researched, selected and modified solutions to match the local farming culture. We have largely incorporated locally-taught techniques and have combined these with the knowledge and international experience of our volunteers and designers.
Although nothing replaces seeing this project first-hand and experiencing all the interactions, here is an outline of some of the basic interactions on this farm:
- Our livestock sheds are located at the top of the cyclic system.
- The manure from these feeds our biodigesters that produces methane that will be used in our kitchen for cooking.
- The organic slurry from the biodigester is then either composted with other farm material, or is directed down a series of swales to apply natural fertiliser to our farm on it’s way to our fish ponds.
- Our swales are planted with perennial plants that provide nutrients and protection to our organic garden beds.
- Once in the fish ponds, the nutrients within the composted slurry provides a source of fish food.
- Any nutrients and soil that is carried off our gardens with rainfall ends up in our fish ponds, where it is captured, or converted into food by our fish and aquatic plants. Although there’ll obviously be a certain volume of overflow from our ponds and off down the catchment, we aim to let as few nutrients and soil as possible leave our land.
- From the fish ponds, soil, water and nutrients can easily be transferred back to the top of the system as livestock fodder, food for our residents or through irrigation.
These cyclic systems are supported in their work by:
- Ducks that share the fish pond
- Food forests that productively manage the use of the biodigesters slurry
- Chicken tractors that are used to reduce the labour requirement of pest control and turning the soil
- Agroforestry that provides an alternative cooking fuel and the replacement of the timber used to construct the Kesho Leo buildings.