Instead of Polybags

Before the lights switch off for Nyepi I would like to share with you what I found in the shops and on the market of Lovina on my search for alternatives to Polybags as pots for seedlings. Balinese people are very creative in making containers for their ceremonies and they use all kinds of materials like coconut leaves, split bamboo or others. Have a look at the picture. I think most of the Balinese women can make these containers. For the coconut leave containers on the left I paid 1000 Rp., for the bamboo container 4000 Rp.

Visit at Organik Manik in Sanur

Inspired by Elena's vivid description of the fancy bamboo water dripping system at the Manik Organik Health Food Store & Natural Health Centre in Sanur I went there on March 12 to see it with my own eyes and make some pictures for you. Here they are.



I enjoyed a lunch of broccoli almond soup with brown bread and butter while studying the bamboo pipes and the singapore tree on the verandah. And I couldn't resist to buy some organic chick peas and pinto beans to plant around my baby trees and the freshly mulched new terrace beds. I found also the Colloidal Silver there that our guru Norm always carries with him in his first aid kit. The bottle with 375ml costs 89'000 Rp., the pocket spray 32'500 Rp. They offer also essential oils, herbal teas, natural cosmetics and imported organic cereals. What a difference to the stressful shopping experiences I had before at Carrefour and Makro.

Address:
Manik Organik, Jl. Danau Tamblingan 85, Sanur
Phone: +62 361 8553380

Minutes of the Clubmeeting

15.03.2009 15:00 – 17:00 at Warung Bambu, Pemaron

Person present:
Elena, Silvia, Beate, Gede, Tanja, Burkhard, Burgel, Brigitta, Evelyn

Yuli joins us afterwards; Doris and Peter left already for Germany; Nicole and Jochen couldn't arrange transport because of a ceremony in their village

Next meeting:
15.04.2009 15:00 at Warung Bambu, Pemaron

Greetings and message from Norm: Just keep on doing something!

Everybody was excited to share good news:

• Silvia found a supplier for special fruit trees just opposite Kubu Lalang on the main road from Lovina to Singaraja.
• Silvia has already Vetiver Grass to sell for 1500 Rp per plant. The Vetiver Grass, she planted to stabilize the riverbank at KEV, survived already the first flooding during the last big rain and prevented any erosion.
• Gede told about a javan lady who sells fruit trees in Suwug. To get there drive east from Singaraja to Sangsit, there turn right into the road to Suwug and Sudaji.
• Beate informed that the springwater pool at Villa Manuk is finished and that they will start to build another guest bungalow.
• She already set up a travel agency for eco-conscious travellers. The idea is to find an eco certification agency for all businesses who are interested and then promote these businesses through the travel agency. The new homepage designed by Elena and Beate is on its way. Have a look!
  
• Beate's Children Sponsoring Project started very well. Every month she meets with the children and wakes their interest for plants and nature. In the first meeting she asked them to bring a plant from their garden. In the second meeting they talked about these plants and their characteristics. For the next meeting they will plant seeds that they later will sell. Instead of Polybags made from Plastic they will use locally made containers from natural fibers.
• Tanja and Gede inform that the people of their village finally become interested in their organic farming methods as they can see that the organically grown rice plants are stronger and have deeper roots than the conventionally grown ones.
• The group agrees that it would be great to have an organic market in Lovina similar to that of Ubud. So let's keep our eyes open for a suitable location.
• Silvia informs that the Rotary Club would like to start with a 3 year program in Lovina (Kaliasem) to clean up the village. Important part of this project will be the education program in the schools. On "Earth Day", April 22, they will "kick off" the project with a "beach clean up/educational fun program" for school children from Lovina schools.
• Burgel initiates an easy-to-use compost container for small compounds. Gede offers to build a prototype compost box made from bamboo mat that Burgel can test before it will be promoted.
• That we don't get too excited Burkhard tells us about his observation of "mountains" of plastic bags piling up on the beach.
• Elena will continue her travels in the coming week and says good-bye. It was great to start the permaculture way together with you, Elena! Thank you and good luck!

Selamat Hari Raya Galungan dan Kuningan!

A Global Nyepi

Two days after Nyepi in Bali, the world decides to switch the lights off and to vote for Earth in "the world's first global election between Earth and global warming". It is great to see good ideas spread the world over with the help of the world wide web, that celebrated its 20th anniversary in the research institute I was working while I was diving in the Liberty wreck in Tulamben ;)

Fellow Permaculturists, you may want to vote for the Earth, too!
See you later today :)



Earth Hour 2009 by WWF - Sign up for Earth Hour!

Minutes of the Permaculture-Club-meeting 15.02.2009

15.02.2009 15:00 – 17:00 at Warung Bambu, Pemaron

Person present:
Beate, Brigitta, Burgel, Burkhard, Doris, Evelyn, Jochen, Nicole, Peter, Silvia, Yuli

Next meeting:
15.03.2009 15:00 at Warung Bambu, Pemaron

Ideas, expectations, requests

We started the meeting asking the members to explain what they expect from the Permaculture-Club:

· Find and exchange ideas how to take permaculture ideals into consideration when planning housing / gardens:
Several of the members are planning or realizing housing- / garden projects. They would like to follow permaculture ideals when possible. It would be helpful to exchange experiences with materials and tradesmen and to realize a list of good sources (shops).

· Cooperation with local people:
Realize a permaculture-project like wastewater treatment (public toilette, Kindergarden / school).
Encourage locals to start business with permaculture products / services. As an example, some Balinese in Kalisada founded a company to build wastewater-treatment-gardens (Contact Sylvia).
Teach permaculture ideas to locals which can help to spread them to other Balinese people. For example help farmers to change to a more sustainable production.
Work with children / teenager. For Example Beate’s project in Manuksesa.

· Pestscontrol:
Get informations about non toxic pestscontrol. Encourage locals to change to a healthier pestscontrol.

· Organic food:
Find sources for healthy food. Encourage locals to change to the production of organic food.

· Find Environmentfriently accomondations for friends / guests

· Refuse disposal:
Install / Improve the town refuse collection service.

At the meeting we talked about cleaning. This informations should be transferred to the PCCH (PermaCultureClubHandbook)

2. Meeting Permaculture in action

On Sunday, 15.03.2009 we will meet in Warung Bambu Pemaron from 3.00 till 5.00 pm. If possible, please write me in advance if you have some ideas or wishes for the next meeting.
See you soon!

Beate