Leadership by Cooperation
At the start of each of the three permEzone pilot projects, a small group of farmers has been selected through a process of consultation and interviews to be the ‘lead’ farmers. They’re the ones who participate in the 3-month training and the full 2-year process of creating model farms and recruiting networks of neighboring farmers for shared experimentation and collaboration. This process depends throughout on a culture of cooperation, and in Kisa West, as the lead farmers continue with their training, the network has already grown to over 100 farmers.
This culture of cooperation is a key component of the plans that are shaping up for the future rollout of the programme - putting all the lessons learned from the pilot to good effect as more and more farming communities start working together to achieve eco-social resilience.
This culture of cooperation is a key component of the plans that are shaping up for the future rollout of the programme - putting all the lessons learned from the pilot to good effect as more and more farming communities start working together to achieve eco-social resilience.
Lead farmers in Kisa West after a training session
The latest from the permEzone phase 3 pilot in Kisa West,
as the training nears completion
Caroline and Paul each lead training sessions
Our third permEzone training is close to completion with the 30 lead farmers in Kisa West, Kakamega County, Kenya. Paul tells us that the farmers are really happy with the trainings as they are very proactive especially during the practical sessions. They ask really good questions and their contributions during these sessions is quite encouraging.
The farmers are encouraged to put into practice the skills learnt during these sessions and this will be enhanced during the next stage of the project, the extension stage that will start next month. Soon they will be putting their new farm designs into practice, and sharing what they’ve learned with their networks of 20 farmers each, building a community of practice and exploring the full potential for working together to protect their local environment, increase biodiversity, meet their families’ nutritional needs and strengthen their local economy.
Leadership by Cooperation.
The farmers are encouraged to put into practice the skills learnt during these sessions and this will be enhanced during the next stage of the project, the extension stage that will start next month. Soon they will be putting their new farm designs into practice, and sharing what they’ve learned with their networks of 20 farmers each, building a community of practice and exploring the full potential for working together to protect their local environment, increase biodiversity, meet their families’ nutritional needs and strengthen their local economy.
Leadership by Cooperation.
May 6th, a Zoom presentation about permEzone
May 6th at 6pm (UK time) - the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI) has invited Hugh Kelly & Sheena Shah to talk about how permaculture training in East Africa is improving both nutrition and the farming economy, and their experiences of being involved in the pilot programme from the start.
SLBI is a small non-profit organisation, and attendance is by donation. RSVP here: https://www.slbi.org.uk/event/the-permezone-in-east-africa-an-online-talk/
SLBI is a small non-profit organisation, and attendance is by donation. RSVP here: https://www.slbi.org.uk/event/the-permezone-in-east-africa-an-online-talk/
We are now seeking funds to initiate the next stage in the evolution of this programme - using everything we've learned during the permEzone pilot to benefit as many farming communities as possible.
Please help if you can!!
Emmanuel Shikuku harvesting pawpaw fruit on his farm