Children of Bukati PHOTO GALLERY Page 24 - 2010 Permaculture

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One of the Bukati-Project Goals is: Establish community-led projects to sustain the program Develop school projects that will generate income to enable the community to support their children without outside assistance in six - seven years time. May 12, 2010 - Permaculture Update Dear friends and family The permaculture project that Michael Nickels designed in Nov. 2009 is absolutely amazing. It encompasses the school compound and the 11 acres of land we purchased for the school last year. The water capture system of swales re-routes the rainfall from the entire school compound to the new banana groves, eucalyptus forest and finally to the fish pond. Yesterday, in the flash flood, the system was really put to the test. The water flowed perfectly toward the pond, rather than flooding the yard and running off onto the road. We watched the fish jumping, as the student who is responsible for feeding the fish sprinkled tiny dried fish on the water's surface. Large lush green leaves of banana trees, planted as tiny shoots in November, now flap in the wind like an elephant's ears. The trees that Peter planted behind the school, in what most of us would consider wasted space, are now 10 feet tall - growing so well with the water that runs off the school's roof. Together with the bananas trees, there are also espandia (sp?) trees that will be used as fodder for the cattle. They will provide additional protein to enhance milk production. Already, the trees are providing welcome shade to the classrooms, keeping the temperatures more tolerable for learning. Some espania are already producing seeds that will be harvested for the tree nursery. There is very sturdy fencing around each of the 3 pieces of land and some sections have been planted with kia apple trees that will provide a thorny barrier plus fruit. The new land is planted with maize and beans for the lunch program and rice. The school will harvest the rice to sell as seeds. Where the swales have been dug, the maize is growing much taller than in other sections. It is a vivid, living example of the benefit of water capture. This project is making the goal of sustainability a reality
Below:  Photos of the Water-Capture System The water capture system of swales re-routes the rainfall from the entire school compound to the new banana groves, eucalyptus forest and finally to the fish pond. Yesterday, in the flash flood, the system was really put to the test. The water flowed perfectly toward the pond, rather than flooding the yard and running off onto the road.