The Art of Learning by Doing

Land before Chinampas

Permaculture in Practice - The Art of Learning by Doing 6th - 30th January 2014

Jiwa Damai encourages a combination of theory and hands on practice in a supportive environment as an important approach to learning and growing. Our internships offer the possibility to design and actualize a project, either as a group or on an individual basis. Our interns receive expert support and guidance while being given the chance to take responsibility for their own learning outcomes.

At this time we are offering places for up to 6 interns to take part in a one-off group permaculture, aquaculture design project, facilitated by our in-house permaculture design trainer Stephanie Garvin.  The project will involve designing and implementing an aquaculture project, including building a chinampa system, a technique used in Latin America by the Incas to successfully grow food in wetland areas.  We have several swamp areas at Jiwa Damai which lend themselves ideally for such a project. To our knowledge it is the first of its kind to be implemented in Bali. It is an exciting pilot project.

This project includes free theory sessions on permaculture design for chinampa systems.

Following this internship the we offer a Permaculture through the Heart course www.jiwadamai.net/education-activities/

Our offering The Art of Learning by Doing is open for people interested in permaculture, sustainable food production and environmental conservation. No previous permaculture knowledge or experience is needed. We also invite Permaculture Design Certificate holders desiring to expand their practical knowledge and design skills. Participants need to be in good health and physical condition since the project will involve manual work in a tropical environment.

Skills that participants will have the opportunity to learn and practice during this internship include:- Permaculture design methodologies Assessing needs and yields Building a stable, productive ecological system Nutrient recycling Using local and on site resources Water management Aquaculture systems Creating energy efficient systems Planning for diversity and habitat creation Using edge effects to increase yield Teamwork and task management Plant propagation techniques Soil building and composting

For more details or information, or to apply for a place on this internship programme, please contact us at info@jiwadamai.net or using the contact form attached.

Optional Extras We can provide on-site, basic accommodation and meals at Jiwa Damai Retreat Centre and Organic Garden at a discounted rate.

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Love story

"They say there is something magnetic about Jiwa Damai, well, we certainly found some magnetism! A magical place where magical things began to happen and this is just the beginning". Justin Pelzer, Astrophysicist, from the US merged paths with Lavida Rose, Creative Consciousness Facilitator, from Australia in the nature-scape retreat of Jiwa Damai in December 2012, a year later on the solstice they will marry, in celebration of love and life itself! "Discovering what it means to amplify energies, and then inviting them to continue to grow by embracing a simple, yes"

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Aligning with the Heart of the Earth

Aligning with the Heart of the Earth Monday 16— Sunday 22 December 2013

The seminar setting is in a natural tropical environment which provides a conducive space where a deep connection with one's own heart and the heart of the earth may unfold. An alignment with the own potential and the earth's potential means to welcome the present changes as symptoms of one's own and the earth's growth process. A profound acceptance is needed to align with the heart of the earth's vibrational frequency and welcome the process of moving into the new. The seminar is based on The HeartSelf-Intelligence® method, a transpersonal psychological approach.

Included in the cost are seminar, daily morning yoga class, heart meditation in the evening, accommodation, transfers, excursions, three meals per day .

Price:  $US 1220

For more information on seminars please visit our website: http://jiwadamai.net/activities—seminars/ E-mail: info@jiwadamai.net

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Colorful flowers

Our organic garden at Jiwa Damai is home to various species of plants and animals. Flowers are blooming in all kinds of colors : purple, yellow, red, white, ...

Purple flowers

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Beautiful red flower

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Permaculture through the heart

Last month we were hosting our first Permaculture Internship – Permaculture through the heart at Jiwa Damai. This innovative program blends the core principles of tropical Permaculture gardening with Self exploration from a transpersonal psychological perspective.

The internship is a combination of personal growth processes, allowing our heart energy to flow into our work with the earth, environment, water, soil, plants and people. This program is the first of its kind, working with the psychological framework of the mind, theoretical Permaculture principles, design and planning, planting, harvesting and food preparation - all in alignment with the heart energy.

Participants came from Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada, Ireland, Indonesia and Australia to participate in the first two weeks. Some of the participants stayed on for the complete 4 weeks training.

On this picture we see our participants with Ketut Badung, our head gardener  at Jiwa Damai, studying the healing qualities of the indigenous Balinese healing plants.

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Here we see the group during a field trip visiting an organic producer on Bali studying an organic way of planting and watering.

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This picture is taken during the 2nd week, which focused on Unfolding the Heart Quality. Participants explore and study the personality as an interactive system, becoming acquainted with their own inner dynamics and peace potential by allowing the qualities of the heart to unfold.

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The 2nd Permaculture internship will take place in September 2013.

Information can be found on our website: jiwadamai.net

Come join us on Bali!

Helping hands

... from our international friends. Our two wonderful volunteers, Laia from Spain Catalan, and Aitor form Equator are engaging in garden work, using the Balinese sickles to clean an area from Tapioka.

Tapioka is eaten as a vegetable, prepared with grated coconut meat.

Thank you for your contribution to Jiwa Damai!

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Mandala workshop

Recently we had a group of  30 russian ladies staying at Jiwa Damai for 10 days. The ladies chose our retreat to be the location for their Mandala Workshop on Bali.

This particular workshop was about embracing your femininity. The russian ladies in their beautiful colored clothes, mostly long skirts, spent their time at Jiwa Damai meditating and walking through our gardens and among the palm forest.

mandala workshop

Most came directly for Russia and enjoyed the workshop and Bali very much. We at Jiwa Damai got excellent feedback on the beauty and serenity of the place and the excellent organic, mostly vegetarian cuisine we were able to provide. The language barrier was actually fun, since very few spoke little English.

Russian ladies

Thanxs for staying at Jiwa Damai!

Bokashi Balls Permaculture on Bali

Some months ago we had to drain and repair our pond at Jiwa Damai, due to several leaks that caused the water to flow out. http://jiwadamaibali.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/restoring-our-pond/

After we had to rebuilt our high pond, the water quality left to be desired. Emptying the pond, we had lost all the EM which had settled in the nooks and crannies of all the stones. In order to get back to the old clear water we now treat the water with liquid EM (effective microorganisms). Each day a few drops dripping in, slowly but continuously.

The Bokashi Balls are made of clay and EM.

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The microorganisms like to settle between certain type of stones.So we distributed about 500 balls, all handmade under the stones in the water to allow the organisms to settle again. It reduces the moskitoes as well as keeps the algae growth in limits.

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So now we hope to welcome back the diverse aquatic life and beautiful water lily’s!

Our pond before the drain

Permaculture through the heart - internship program

Permaculture through the heart Jiwa Damai Agro permaculture and retreat center is located on a four hectare property next to Banjar Bindu, Mambal in the district of Badung, Bali, in a small tropical valley.

The Flora and Fauna are diverse, including Coconut-, and Banana trees, ponds, a small river, plants and a jungle which is home to numerous traditional Balinese healing plants.

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We offer a four week intensive internship training

This innovative program blends introductory with advanced learning and application of the core principles of tropical Permaculture/gardening with Self exploration from a transpersonal psychological perspective.

Experiencing Permaculture through the heart presents a unique opportunity to combine class room Permaculture learning with “hands-on” experience, complementing the active physical engagement with the soil with an inner attitude of loving alignment with the earth.

The internship is a combination of personal growth processes, allowing our heart energy to flow into our work with the earth, environment, water, soil, plants and people.

This program is the first of its kind, working with the psychological framework of the mind, theoretical Permaculture principles, design and planning, planting, harvesting and food preparation - all in alignment with the heart energy.

The fundamental understanding of the Permaculture principals, the interconnectedness and interaction of nature and environment will be aligned with our own personality landscape and deep inner nature which directly impacts the quality and nutritional value of the food.

Program and Activities

The theoretical and hands on learning is complimented by a daily early morning yoga session and heart meditation.

Two field trips to other Permaculture centers on the island are planned during the 4 week course.

Two cooking classes will be also be offered featuring Balinese vegetarian and raw foods.

An excursion and exploration of the local spices and medicinal herbs grown in the area will also be included.

Yoga session

Week One: Classes in theoretical Permaculture will take place for 2-3 hours every day, including discussion and evaluation application of the principles via hands-on practice.

Week Two: 2-3 hours daily, unfolding the HeartSelf-intelligence, and an experiential transpersonal psychological approach to Self exploration will be offered.

Week Three: Designing an environmental group project to be executed in Jiwa Damai.

Week Four: Focusing on your personal project design, presenting it to the group as well as receiving input and feedback.

Interns are encouraged to research and investigate areas or potential project sites which may welcome and benefit from your support and feedback following the internship.

Permaculture topics

Ethics and principles in Permaculture design

Understanding environment, weather patterns and location, seeing the large scale

Planting patterns and design

Water infrastructures

Composting with IMO or EM

Ecological Insect control

Indigenous building materials, bamboo

Edible Aqua Plant Permaculture

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Organic food topics

Virgin coconut oil production

Balinese ceremonial and medicinal herbs

Organic raw food preparation

Balinese vegetarian cooking, local spices

Topics of the heart

Unfolding the qualities of the heart

Aligning the brain with the heart

Respect and appreciation for Self and the Earth

Translating transpersonal inner values to the soil and earth

Connecting to the heart of the Earth

Our international faculty brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the program.

Ketut Badung is Balinese and has received his Permaculture training from IDEP Bali, Indonesia. He is our head gardener with an in-depth knowledge of local Balinese Flora and Fauna as well as Western plants which feed an nourish our team and guests. Under his care, the Jiwa Damai gardens have flourished since their inception twelve years ago.

Shelby graduated from Florida State University with a degree in International Affairs and a concentration in Sustainable Agriculture. While in school, Shelby managed an educational community garden and began her own Permaculture based urban farm after finishing her degree. She continues learning new techniques daily through a partnership with Edible Landscapes, a Permaculture design install team and through her own constantly evolving farm.

Uwe Scholz studied Permaculture with Rico Zook (USA) in Darjeeling, India. He is developing his Permaculture node in the mountains in Bali and likes to built earth houses. He is a graduate Dipl.-Ing. in informatics and computer sciences from University of applied sciences in Frankfurt, Germany.

Terry Trushel loves to transform plants with thrive in extreme conditions, such as desert and tropical environs. He established a landscape gardening business in Ashland, Oregon, USA before moving to Bali. He graduated form the Logan College of chiropractic and holds a diplomate in orthopedics.

Miquela de Ris is a certified Tri-Yoga Teacher, specializing in Yoga Flow, meditation and Kriya Yoga.She received her Yoga training at the Datta Peetham Ashram in Mysore, India and apprenticed in raw foods with Jeremy Saffron in Maui. Hawaii. She majored at the Berkshire, Massachusets community college in Peace and world order.

Margret Rueffler is the founder and caretaker of Jiwa Damai Agro-Permaculture and Retreat Center. She holds a Ph.D. in transpersonal psychology and is an acupuncturist and teaches internationally. Her books have been translated in several languages.

Course tuition: 18 735.000 IDR             $US 1 950.00

Times: Class and working times are from 09.00 am to 5.00 pm excluding weekends. The course is limited to 15 people.

To enroll in the course or if you want to receive more information , please contact us via email: info@jiwadamai.net