Peace Corps Permagardens Growing Family Empowerment and Resilience Helping families meet their evolving needs in these times of great global challenges

Permagardens Growing Family Nutritional and Economic Security In the face of mounting global challenges: HIV/AIDS Hunger/Food Insecurity Climate Change Dwindling Water and Land Resources Economic Collapse

Gardens of Control Water, Soil, Plants, People No control of rain or weeds or yield.Rainwater now moves into permanent beds along permanent paths where water catchment holes and beds hold the promise of high, farm-like yields close to home.

Gardens of Accomplishment 400% yield increases in the first year alone. PCV and Counterpart in shallow tilled maize without compost or contour water retention ridges. Same day, different field. Deeply dug, compost added field maize with water retention ridges.

Gardens of Hope Permaculture and Bio-Intensive for the future Families can now look to the future with nutritional security right at home. Simple method with local tools means it is easily learned and easily taught to others. Caregivers have reason to hope for their loved ones and themselves. Environmentally sound, economically viable and socially acceptable means there is hope for family food security to be a sustainable idea.

The Three Legged Stool Go Foods Grow Foods Glow Foods Environmentally Sound Economically Viable Socially Acceptable Take one leg away and the stool is useless.

Balanced Nutrition for a Better Life Control…..Accomplishment…..Hope for the Future

Current Meal Malnutrition - focused on energy alone Monoculture cropping leads to High inputs High risk of crop failure High risk of food insecurity Detrimental to soil / environment

Better Meal Balanced Nutrition - focused on all nutrients Diversified Planting Increased Food Security Fewer inputs Increased chance of yields Better for soil / environment

The Nutrient Home Fats Protein Minerals Vitamins Carbohydrates Water Fiber

Dodoma, Tanzania November, 2008 Home Based Care Volunteer Training

Water Capture and Control

Five Hours Later : Real Change

Two Months Later

Before: No Water Control = Low Yield

2 Groups and 4 training days later: Control and Hope for High Yields

Clear Space Near Home

Make Compost for Sustainable Soil Health

Create Perennial Borders Create water holding berms

Double Dig

Break up the compacted layer. Then add charcoal and manure to improve it.

Amend with local resources only. Manure Char Wood Ash

Hands - on Learning for Empowerment

Plant Bio-Intensive Beds Plant bio-intensive beds

Three Weeks Later 3 weeks later

8:00 am

2:00 pm

10 Weeks

PCV Outreach to PLWHA and Caregivers

Break up compacted soil to allow water and roots to go deep

Two Hours Later

One year – and many harvests later…

Poor soil and no control. November 2010

Doable Actions with Immediate Results = Behavior Change

Two Months Later

Peace Corps Training 2-day intensive during PST

Control the water

Learn to plant correctly.

After 3 weeks another training group has learned the same techniques.

Any space – no matter how poor

Can be managed well

To help people feel Empowered for Life

Where small changes….

Can make a huge difference in people’s lives.

Permagardens: A Centerpiece for the PCV Experience - Helping Families Achieve Resilience and Food Security  Permanent Control Structures  High Yield Potential Very Quickly  Close and Easy to Manage  Opportunity for Year Round Diet and Bio Diversity  Opportunity for Income Generation  Gardens for Better Living

Peace Corps Permagardens Growing Resilient Families and Communities

Peace Corps Permagardens Feeding the World One Family at a Time

PermaGardens Grow Big … and Stay Home Healthy Soils = Healthy Plants = Healthy People = Strong Communities For Further Information Peter Jensen Permaculture Specialist Peace Corps Tanzania