Monday, November 25, 2019

How Do I Influence My Landscape? Environmental Communication using Aerial Photography

Oikos Peace Garden in Bilar, Bohol is a permaculture project that practices organic and bio-dynamic farming methods. Aerial photo taken at an altitude of 24 meters by Tello drone.

Permaculture design is about individual action and making positive change in the landscape. And what better way to see our impact than from the sky!  

We're advocating the use of aerial photography for documenting how common people are influencing their landscapes with permaculture. A single aerial photo speaks volumes. It can inspire you and at the same time makes you aware of your surrounding environment from a view that we only get to see either from a plane or a tall building. 

"How do I influence my landscape?" was a question that popped up while scanning through several aerial photos we took with our Ryze (DJI) Tello drone--a budget UAV that we have been using for research since last year. It's a cheap drone ($99.00) with a 5 MP camera. But don't let the specs fool you! When used for a good purpose, there are many opportunities and applications for the Tello. T3.com even awarded it as the top budget drone for 2019.

Our Instagram account is currently focused on answering the question "How do I influence my landscape?" So we are encouraging people to share their photos and their stories with us on social media by using the hashtags #MyLandscape and #PermaGardenPH.

Aside from documenting landscapes with a permaculture design, some delegates from the recently concluded 3rd Philippine Permaculture Convergence had some ideas for the drone:

1) Citizen science - the general public can provide real-time visual data to scientists and researchers
2) Environment - documentation of land use and land cover change; detection of polluted areas in coastlines, forests, and other ecosystems; detection of illegal activities such as backyard burning 
3) Agriculture - crop and livestock monitoring; farm management
4) Biodiversity Conservation - surveillance of protected areas; monitoring of reforestation projects
5) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management - reconnaissance and aerial survey; search and rescue

and of course,

6) Environmental communication - aerial photos can be used for info dissemination campaigns and public education regarding environmental and climate issues. Students can use the drone for research projects, posters, and presentations.

This aerial photo of a group of people in a forest gave us the idea that Tello can be used to report illegal logging or poaching activities in the forest. The small drone is relatively quiet and can be a useful tool for park rangers. 
Using a 3D-printed mirror clip attachment from PHTek, the Tello can take downward view aerial photos.

While high-end drones with better cameras are available in the market, the price, size, portability, durability, and usability of the Tello sets it apart from other commercial drones. Well, at least until DJI/Ryze releases a new version of the Tello.

You can purchase the Tello at any DJI outlet or you can order it at the DJI store. The drone is also available on Lazada

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Research Timeline

Kudos to the all the people who have been part of the research team since last year. It's a long process but we will get there. The people we studied...their voices will be heard in due time.
Permaculture research in the Philippines still has a long, long, looong way to go. We really believe that permaculture can be part of the sustainable development agenda here in our country. It's a philosophy that focuses on what we can do right here, right now, with what we have. And this mindset, worldview, and advocacy is manifesting physically in landscapes across the country. We commend all the practitioners here, who in spite of ridicule and hardships, are trying to adapt, to be resilient, to be sustainable. Their landscapes reflect what's in their hearts...it's a heartscape.

We need radical solutions to address complex problems like food security and climate change. Permaculture is radical in a way that it encourages you, the reader, to step up and do something in your immediate environment, no matter how small it is. Of course this is not the solution to everything. But if you know how to cook what's growing in your backyard, then it's a solution to your hunger at the moment. For some this is a huge step, but my goodness, we live in desperate times.  




Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Map of Permaculture Projects in the Philippines


Presented here is a map of the 12 permaculture sites we studied for our research. We hope to document and study more sites soon, if ever we get the support that we need to continue in this endeavor. We also encourage students, researchers, and scientists to see and visit these places and conduct their own researches to contribute to our understanding of what "permaculture" is in the context of the Philippines. We believe that permaculture is an important emerging social movement that would help in the realization of our country's sustainable development goals. 

Below are the links to each site. Feel free to contact them and learn more from these permaculture practitioners.

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Luzon
Site: Olaussen Permaculture Park in Layog Country Farm, Tadian, Mountain Province
Contact Person: Flordelina Layog 



Region II, Luzon
Site: Lorenza's Garden and Food Forest Farm, San Manuel, Isabela
Contact Person: Enrico Navea



Region II, Luzon
Site: Isabela Permaculture Development Center, Ilagan City, Isabela*

Region III, Luzon
Site: Cabiokid Foundation Inc., Cabiao, Nueva Ecija



National Capital Region, Luzon
Site: Eco-house, Philippine Permaculture Association Office, Marikina, Metro Manila
Contact person: Bert Peeters



Region IV-A, Luzon
Site: Kai Farms, Silang, Cavite
Contact person: Karla Delgado, Thomas Caristea



Region IV-A, Luzon
Site: Glinoga Organic Farm, Pitogo, Quezon
Contact person: Nenieveh "Weng" Glinoga



Region IV-A, Luzon
Site: Tara Farms, Bay, Laguna
Contact person: Paulo Sandoval



Region IV-A, Luzon
Site: Foronda-Bonita Residence, Jubileeville, Bay, Laguna
Contact person: Edu Foronda



Region IV-B, Luzon
Site: Aloha House/Aloha Natural Farm, Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Contact person: Keith O. Mikkelson



Region IV-B, Luzon
Site: Aloha Ranch and Organic Farm
Contact person: Keith O. Mikkelson



Region VI, Visayas
Site: Alpas, Tobias Fornier (Dau), Antique
Contact person: Kimberly Eng



Region VII, Visayas
Site: The Justice German Lee Jr. Nature Sanctuary, Carcar City, Cebu
Contact person: Edna Lee and Joel Lee



Region VII, Visayas
Contact person: Edna Lee and Joel Lee

Permaculture-inspired hotels and lodging:
West Gorordo Hotel, Cebu City, Cebu*

Mayflower Inn, Cebu City, Cebu*

Elicon House, Cebu City, Cebu*

Region IX, Mindanao
Site: Umaleng Permaculture Farm/Dumingag Organics, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur
Contact Person: Joan Pacalioga Abejuela and Elgyn Pacalioga




Region IX, Mindanao
Site: Bukid ni Bogs, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur*
Contact person: Bogs Castro



*Visited but not included in study

Thanks to Malvin Biguerras for making this map. This endeavor would not be possible without the financial support of SEAMEO-SEARCA and DOST-SEI. Special thanks to UPLB, UPLB-GS, and UPLB-SESAM for making this possible. 

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Common Permaculture Crops in the Philippines

Gabi and siling labuyo are resilient crops and grow quite easily. The two crops ranked 6th and 4th respectively in terms of food preference based on a focus group discussion with our respondents

Sharing these findings to all the practitioners out there who might find this useful. 

In our research in twelve permaculture projects in the Philippines (Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Isabela, Palawan, Metro Manila, Antique, Cebu, Cavite, Zamboanga del Sur, Mountain Province), we identified 71 crops found in at least two locations. Though these projects are not necessarily representative of all permaculture projects, the data should provide us with an idea on what kinds of plants we can find in a farm or garden project with a permaculture design. What's interesting is that our respondents actually prefer these crops in their diets. 

Eat what you grow, grow what you eat. Strengthen the connection between the garden and the kitchen by learning how to cook what's available and creating innovative dishes.

We're still in the process of revising and editing the full report. In the meantime, we will be posting research highlights in the form of short blogs like this. 

Do you have these crops in your permaculture garden/farm? Let us know by e-mailing us at permacultureresearchph@gmail.com.



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