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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Building a new pond at Jiwa Damai

Our volunteer Shoshi from the US and our intern Andreas from Germany are working close to our parking lot on developing a new pond on our premise. They were digging very hard and now they are preparing the pond lining which should prevent the water from being re-absorbed into the earth.

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For that purpose a lining of newspapers and green banana leaves are left for a few days. Then this is covered with earth  tightly compressed on top. The underlying layer will then create a water resistant lining.

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Building a natural pond by using the old Russian method of 'gleying': 

The different steps:

- Dig the pond and compact the soil really well.

- Clear the pond of stones and rocks.

- Cover the bottom and sides with a thick layer of organic material (fresh grass cuttings and bananas leaves) and waste paper

- Spread out EM all over to add the bacterias which are necessary for the process

- Add a layer of soil and press down firmly all over.

- The soil keeps out the air and allows a biological process known as ‘gleying’ to take place (its an anaerobic process)

We shall see how well that works. Lets hope for the best ;-)

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!

Permaculture through the Heart

BALI Internship: Permaculture Through the Heart

May 15 - June 14, 2013

This innovative program blends 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.

“Permaculture through the Heart” is a modular seminar. You can choose if you want to book the entire program or if you only want to book the 1. and/or 2. week.

Join us !

For more information please inquire at:  info@jiwadamai.net and visit our website

www.jiwadamai.net

permaculture through the heart

Permaculture Design Certification Course

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We at Jiwa Damai are extending an invitation throughout the world in hopes of reaching people interested in joining us in Bali for our Permaculture Certification Course, from February 24th to March 12th. Jiwa Damai is an agro-permaculture center located fifteen minutes outside of Ubud in the district of Mambal. The lush surroundings of the retreat center include a diverse array of flora and fauna that make it an ideal environment for students to be exposed to many different learning opportunities. 

In addition, we are also offering a 4 week internship, Permaculture Through The Heart, from May 1st - 29th. Participants have the option of taking each of the first two weeks separately if desired. Week 1 covers classical permaculture techniques. Week 2 is unfolding the HeartSelf-intelligence; an experiential transpersonal psychological approach to self exploration. These core principles will be combined for the final two weeks in the form of group and individual environmental projects.

If you would like a more detailed description of our program, we invite you to visit our website through the link provided below. 

For more information visit: http://jiwadamai.net/activities---seminars/

Warm regards, Dr. Margret Rueffler and the team at Jiwa Damai

The raising of the seeds

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The permaculture garden at Jiwa Damai features a plant nursery. This area is sheltered by a roof to protect the seeds from the heavy tropical rains.

One challenge we have is to raise the little seeds, grow them into small plants,  that can then be planted into the grounds.

Plant nursery

The ideal thing would be to grow the seeds in biodegradable pots. On Bali, unfortunately there are no biodegradable pots available. So once more we had to be inventive and develop our own devices: We use cut banana leaves, which are  folded into the shape of a pot.

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This technique is working very well. The seeds develop beautifully. Once big enough they are planted in the organic garden.

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