Danyadara

Permaculture at Suryalila

food forest

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Reasons to join our Permaculture Design Course

Do you crave a nurturing experience that brings you back in touch with nature? Do you feel the urge to contribute towards a more sustainable future in a practical way? Are you keen to explore solutions that integrate diverse landscapes and people?

If the answer is yes to any of the above, our hands-on residential Permaculture Design Course running from the 1st May to the 30th June 2019 might be just what you are looking for.

Permaculture means different things to different people, but it mainly focuses on mimicking natural ecosystems to design sustainable human environments. It is about taking time to observe and value the diversity of beneficial relationships between plants, animals, people and all living organisms. In a nutshell, as explained by Fukuoka in his book The One Straw Revolution, it is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature.

Here at Danyadara, we work to promote soil health and biodiversity, improve water stewardship and increase carbon sequestration.

We do that by applying regenerative agriculture methods, replanting our grasslands with ground cover and pioneer trees and welcoming the help of diverse microbial species.

In the process, we passionately share our journey with others, fostering collaboration and holistic learning. Students from different locations and backgrounds are invited to join us for an immersive two-month experience where the nature and the classroom become closely intertwined.

What makes our course unique? The abundance of possibilities…

  • to apply the theory to the land and experiment with the place you live in every day
  • to learn how to observe changes with new eyes, to adjust to nature’s rhythm and design accordingly
  • to see how permaculture can be applied to extreme climates and explore effective solutions for water use, harvesting and storage
  • to visit inspiring projects nearby and establish a network of experts in syntropic agriculture, organic olive growing and sustainable land management
  • to nourish your body and soul with delicious food harvested straight from our gardens or delivered to us by our neighbouring organic farmer
  • to enjoy the space and time to take it all in in the beautiful settings of Suryalila Yoga Retreat Centre, one of the most popular yoga centres in Europe
  • to stretch your thoughts and muscles at our yoga classes
  • to sleep in a quirky eco-house built with upcycled materials (Follow the building progress on our Facebook page)
  • to cultivate relationships and be part of a welcoming community
  • to open new doors in your career or personal life thanks to the internationally recognised PDC Certificate awarded by the Permaculture Association, UK
  • to stay on after the course as a Danyadara volunteer to experience a real Andalusian summer, keep taking care of the land and animals and become an ambassador of the project. Sam, one of last year’s students who decided to stay with us, shared his impressions and notes in his blog “Permaculture Life”. Have a read for some insight into the atmosphere and content of the course.

The cherry on the cake is made of fiery sunsets above the rolling hills, the birds’ concerts early in the morning, the pleasures and challenges of sharing and those moments that cannot be put into words but make a learning journey worth all our time and energy.

Get in touch with us to know more or fill in your application form here. We look forward to hear from you!

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New Year, New Trees + New Threads!

We are beyond thrilled about our budding partnership with KOMODO, a pioneer fashion brand promoting the use and development of natural fibers (think organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and others) since the early ’90s.

Danyadara is now among the charities and projects that KOMODO allocates funds toward thanks to consumers shopping consciously (and stylishly). Their long-standing philanthropy enables organizations that strike a chord with Joe Komodo to continue to do amazing work around the world.

A big THANK YOU! to Mark Bloom (a.k.a. Joe Komodo) and all of the conscious consumers that enabled the donation of €750 toward our Food Forest through shopping ethically. This community – one created across regional and international boundaries with a shared vision about the way that humans interact with each other and with the planet – builds awareness and raises funds for charities and projects around the world.

As you know, our efforts to reverse desertification in Andalusia rely on our volunteers, individual donors and great companies like KOMODO to thrive. Check out their newest collections here and keep an eye out on Facebook and Instagram for future collaborations.

Shopping for your new threads can help our project in Andalusia. KOMODO is a member of the Ethical Fashion Forum and operates within the code of Independent Brands Supporting Independent Retailers. Shop KOMODO online and use the code PlantDANYADARA to have funds directed specifically to our project.

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Milestone: We planted 5000 trees!

 

18 months in the making

It was exactly a year ago today that we marked the land that was going to become our Danyadara food forest and 18 months since we presented out plan to José, our tractor driver, who laughed when he saw the curved design we handed him. He thought we were bonkers – in a lifetime working on the fields of Andalusia he’d never seen such scribbles – but agreed nonetheless.

As we talked to José about water, rain, drought, and about how nature never plants on a straight line, our plans grew stronger. We told him all about keyline cultivation patterns and explained how they allow for rainwater to naturally distribute more evenly around the field instead of falling down the valley.

You know the rest of the story, but here are the highlights anyway: We spent a year designing and cultivating. We raised money through our Crowdfunder. (Thank you!) We got all our ducks in a row and now, December 2017, José and his son Manuel are back in the field to till the land for the last time. We have started our food forest.

 

Cover cropping

Tilling soil after each crop is devastating the to soil health and its capacity to function. The compacted ground on our barren field was tilled for the last time to open up the soil for a fertile future and reseeded with diverse cover crops purchased from the neighbouring town of El Bosque.

Remember, we are working with a soil that has been depleted over decades of industrial agriculture. You can think of the cover crops as a first aid kit to our barren soil. They provide speedy relief and protect the soil from the harsh sun and wind, kick-starting the process of resurrecting the soil. The cover crop also provides biodiversity integral to supporting diverse wildlife.

We had been checking the weather forecast daily to ensure we plant just in time for the rain to fall from the heavens. It was just so. As if the Gods of Gardening were paying attention, the rain fell on our field just hours after José and Manuel planted all the seeds of cover crop. Did one of you do a rain dance? (Or know someone who does? Asking for a friend…)

The rain provided incentive for celebration and hope, but then the big task started: Plant 5000 trees.

 

5000 trees

The 5,000 pioneer trees were selected for their ability to endure the harsh conditions (extreme temperatures and lack of water) of the land in Andalusia. It took us a week of dedicated work but we are proud to say that we have an infant forest rooted and on the way to making history. There is nothing like planting thousands of trees, bare hands carving out the soil, knowing that these tiny trees will grow strong and be there well after we are gone. Thanks to the dedication and love of the people that nourish this project, the future is already different.

At the time of publishing this article, we are mulching and applying layers of compost. We still have quite a task on our hands.

 

It is thanks to our community!

Everything we are doing would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors, donors and collaborators. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your belief in Danyadara and for your generous contributions to the beginning of a change for this land.

Keep following our journey over at @danyadarapermaculture

 

(The awesome celebration video above is a production of our superstar volunteer Christie M)