How to Use the Map #PermacultureMapPH #OpenData

 

Webinar with UP Horticultural Society--Our Last for 2020!

Last Saturday, we were invited by the UP Horticultural Society in their weekly webinar entitled "Agventure with HortSoc: An Agricultural Webinar." The show was hosted by HortSoc members, Ronald and Dominique. Special thanks to Rae Michael for inviting us and to Rhesa for referring us to HortSoc. 

The web show did not have a time limit and we thought that we were given enough time to share our research and talk about permaculturists and their work in the Philippines. And for the first time, we were able to talk about the permaculture map project that we are currently doing. Hopefully this would encourage more people to visit the farms and projects and conduct research of their own. The audience also asked very good questions and we had a great time trying to answer them. We still don't know a lot about permaculture so we encourage you to keep asking questions and continue being critical of the concept.

We've had a fair amount of webinars this year and we're truly grateful to all the people and organizations who have invited us. There is still so much to share and to learn. So now, we will focus on finishing our research project this year so we can share new findings next year in 2021!

You can watch the full episode here. 

PRPH Team Interviewed in Episode 2 of #ProEarthChats Web Series

Last Saturday, November 7, Malvin and Jabez of PRPH were interviewed on a new web series called #ProEarthChats. The show hosted by environmental advocate, Mr. Anton Antonio, is a project of Pro-EARTH Crusaders--an environmental advocacy page on Facebook. 

In the episode, Malvin talked about his experience as an Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialist/researcher and how he uses it for creating risk assessment maps. Jabez, on the other hand, introduced the audience to the concept of permaculture design and how it can be applied in the context of the new normal. 

We thank Mr. Anton and the Pro-EARTH Crusaders for giving us an opportunity for sharing our research work. Thank you also to all our friends, family, and colleagues who watched. If you missed it, you can watch the full episode here. 

#ProEarthChats is produced by The Rabbithole Studio. Special thanks to Monty Antonio for producing the show and introducing us to Discord. 

New Publication from SEARCA #SEARCApublications

Documenting Permaculture Farm Landscapes in The Philippines Using a Drone with a Smartphone

October 2020

In book: Methodologies Supportive of Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Natural Resources Management: Selected Cases in Southeast Asia

Chapter: 5, pp. 71-86

Publisher: Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)

Download for FREE: https://www.searca.org/pubs/books?pid=472

ABSTRACT

The emergence of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones has led to their widespread use in agriculture by scientists and farmers for the purposes of mapping, monitoring, and landscape management. However, the high cost of drones, together with the risk and difficulty of flying any drone, has marginalized the small-scale farmers from exploring the potential of the UAV technology appropriate to their context. In this report, we aim to introduce a simple documentation methodology to small-scale permaculture farmers using a budget-friendly drone that would promote permaculture design, agroecological farm management, and stimulate environmental awareness. The study developed a 10-step methodology based on experience in the field that maximizes the features of the drone. Originally intended as an entry-level UAV, the Ryze Tello was used as a documentation tool to generate baseline data on farm biodiversity and system component interactions as well as landscape heterogeneity. Using aerial photos from the drone’s built-in camera, the researchers were able to gather valuable data in four (4) small-scale permaculture farms in the Philippines. Collecting such data would enable farmers to observe and interpret both anthropogenic and natural patterns and processes occurring throughout the year. The results of the study suggest the development of more drones like the Tello with improved features in the near future to empower more farmers to make design-based decisions that would ensure both farm productivity and ecosystem health.

Simple Ways to Apply Permaculture Design at Home

 

Permaculture is a design philosophy for sustainable living. It is based on 3 ethics and 12 design principles: https://youtu.be/0mwRAf3z9ag 

In this video, learn how you can apply permaculture design in your homes. #permaculture 

Video created using Canva Pro.

PRPH Team Interviewed on Bukas-Isip Radio Program

 

Last July 28, Erickson Tabayag, Malvin Biguerras, and Jabez Flores of the PRPH team was interviewed by Efren Pallorina in the round-table discussion, Bukas-Isip, a program of Pinoy Connection of the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC).  The team members talked about how they are adjusting with life in the "new normal" and what solutions we can offer as individuals and as a society.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.facebook.com/pinoyconnection/videos/1021815238236445

From Pinoy Connection's Facebook Page:

Magandang araw, kabayan! Kwentuhang Kalikasan tayo ngayon sa episode na ito ng BUKAS-ISIP, tampok sina Jabez Flores, Malvin Biguerras at Erickson Tabayag.

BUKAS-ISIP sa Pinoy Connection, kasama si Efren Pallorina!

To listen, download this app on your Android phone https://play.google.com/store/apps/details… //PinoyConnection

Web: pinoyconnection.febc.ph

#pinoyconnection

Finally! Permaculture is now in the National Agenda

Last Thursday, July 2, we were invited to participate in "Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways," a web show hosted by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda organized in cooperation with the Climate Change Commission Philippines. On the show we shared some of our findings from our study, particularly on mapping of biodiversity in permaculture landscapes. Inputs from researchers, Malvin Biguerras and Erickson Tabayag, were highlighted. We're very grateful that our research will be used for promoting permaculture in the Philippines.

Watch the episode here: https://www.facebook.com/conglorenlegarda/videos/588554795432922/UzpfSTY2OTI3MTcwMzQyMDQ2MToxMjQwMjk4MTk5NjUxMTM5/

Related stories:
Legarda: “Everyone Must Benefit from Permaculture”
July 02, 2020 Thursday

“There’s so much we could do together to help implement existing environmental laws. When we design small or big farms in rural or urban areas, let’s make sure that every local government, people’s organization, and citizen can understand, implement, operationalize, and benefit from permaculture,” said Legarda.

No going back to the ‘old normal,’ says Loren Legarda
Published June 8, 2020, 4:57 PM

"House Bill No. 6864 also calls for the promotion of circular economy to aid in the implementation of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and promotion of permaculture, and implementation of agro-ecology, and resilient and green local food supply system."

'Permaculture: Why it Matters to Sustainable Agriculture' Webinar Hosted by Dream Media/Dream AgriTech

Thank you to our friends at Dream Media and Dream Agri Tech for inviting us to do this webinar on permaculture. Below are some resources to aid you in your permaculture journey:

Permaculture organizations in the Philippines:
Philippine Permaculture Association 
Green Warrior Permaculture
Green Releaf
Cabiokid Foundation, Inc.
Isabela Permaculture Development Center

Permaculture Facebook groups in the Philippines:
Philippine Permaculture Practitioners
Solution: Permaculture
Permaculture and Wellness Club of the Philippines

Permaculture farms, projects, initiatives:
Lorenza' Garden and Food Forest Farm, Isabela
The Justice German Lee Jr. Nature Sanctuary, Cebu
Aloha Natural Farm, Palawan
Alpas, Antique
Kai Farms, Cavite
Layog Country Farm, Mountain Province
Tara Farms, Laguna
Umaleng Organic Farm, Zamboanga del Sur
Glinoga Organic Farm, Pitogo, Quezon
The Pitak Project, La Union
Bukid ni Bogs, Zamboanga del Sur
I-mazingPH

Permaculture Reference Database

YouTube Videos:
UMASS Permaculture
Oregon State University Ecampus (permaculture course)
Documentary on permaculture in the Philippines
Dito Sa Laguna Permaculture Episode

Permaculture Reference Database

Please help us build a Permaculture Reference Database. This will be helpful to students and researchers writing their Review of Literature for their permaculture-related papers.

Please feel free to add, comment, and edit the entries. Journal articles are preferred but you can also add book titles, news articles from credible sources, links to published abstracts, and thesis manuscripts. Thank you! 

#permaculture

Add your entries by clicking this link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lxI4JuDzpR2eWH8pVERmXXAk9XAPxCn7vcYV-lePXnA/edit?usp=sharing

Webinar on Permaculture Presented by Dream Agritech Consultancy Services

For the next webinar in our Agriculture 20-20 series, we are going to talk about #Permaculture!

Join us on Monday, May 18 at 3 pm (UTC +8)!

The webinar will be conducted by Jabez Flores from Permaculture Research PH!

Register via this link: https://forms.gle/5JmpvBMdsSZ3hvB6A

See you on Monday! Stream will be live here on FB and on our Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkXb1kgihxzbDAN_kDuSEJQ)! #DreamAgri2020

Roberto "Obet" Verzola on Permaculture

Photo from Philippine Permaculture Association Facebook Page

Here is an article written in 2009 by the late Engr. Roberto "Obet" Verzola in his blog, Ecology, technology and social change: Notes on Green theory and practice by Roberto Verzola. Sir Obet was a visionary, a polymath, and a man ahead of his time. A board member of the Philippine Permaculture Association, he is known as the "Father of Philippine Email."

Permanent agriculture

How does one design a farm so that it is environmentally-friendly and economically viable as well?

To many Filipino farmers, this question has not even occurred. Most tenants and farm workers have little say in running the farms they work in, much less in redesigning them. Even farmer-owners often simply take the existing farm set-up as given, preoccupied as they are in the day-to-day problems of keeping their farms afloat.

Yet, a farm’s design is a key factor in its survival and sustainability. In poorly-designed farms, farmers will always feel as if every day were an uphill climb, because the poor design makes the farmer work against the natural flow of matter and energy in the farm. In well-designed farms, farming will feel like a downhill joyride, as the natural forces and components in the farm themselves do most of the work that the farmer normally shoulders.

A sustainable approach to farm design called permaculture, first developed in Australia, is now proving its worth under Philippine conditions. In permaculture (from permanent agriculture), the farmer carefully lays out a system of water containment and channels within the farm, so that water naturally flows slowly, by gravity, from one containment to the next. Then, the farmer gradually “assembles”, following certain principles and guidelines, an increasing variety of plants and animals. These are laid out in a way that each additional farm component performs one or more functions or provides matter or energy which, in a conventional farm, have to be provided by the farmers themselves. After many years, a well-designed permaculture farm will look like a lush forest of food and cash crops. And this forest will essentially maintain itself. Then, the farmers’ job will consist mainly of tending the “forest” and regularly harvesting its products.

Successful permaculture farms in the Philippines include the Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning (CELL) in Silang, Cavite and Cabiokid in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. Permaculture practitioners and advocates have set up the Philippine Permaculture Association (PPA), which conducts regular trainings and supports those who want to try permaculture in their own farms.