Permaculture Relief Corps Forming For Haiti Earthquake
The Remarkable History (and Possible Future) For Permaculture Disaster Relief

This is a short article I wrote about the potential of a Permaculture Relief
Corps response in Haiti.  Please tell me what you think and if you know of
any efforts mobilizing to make something like this happen.
Evan Schoepke

http://punkrockpermaculture.com/2010/01/13/haiti-earthquake-permaculture/
< http://punkrockpermaculture.com/2010/01/13/haiti-earthquake-permaculture/ >


Devastation in Port Au Prince photo: Carel Pedre via twitter

1/13/09
Yesterday the island of Hispanola was hit with a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake near Port-Au-Prince the capital of Haiti .  Many multiple story buildings have completely collapsed including the major Hospital in the region.  Thousands may be killed or trapped in the rubble and aid is being mobilized from around the world.  With little to no backup power, sewage, water, housing, or food aid systems in place, Haiti, which is currently the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, is in a VERY DIRE SITUATION.  Without a doubt resources and expertise are moving en mass to Haiti, but beyond this temporary relief, what will sustain this nation of 10 million people when it's left in an even poorer position than ever before?  This is where permaculture design comes in, with an adaptable and ever evolving tool kit that can be of vital assistance in disaster relief and the long recovery period to follow.
During the war in Kozovo back in 1999 when displaced refugees flooded into Macedonia Geoff Lawton and a crack team of eager permaculturalists secured international aid to design and implement the master plan for the
Cegrane Camp Permaculture Rehabilitation Project, a large refugee camp that provided relief for over 43,000 people.


Permaculture Disaster Relief
Geoff created the design around water capture and storage.  The final design called for 7.2 km of swales, with an estimated water holding capacity of 30 million liters, greatly reducing the flood potential.  Many passive solar strawbale buildings were constructed by trained locals who quickly grasped the simplicity and efficiency of this natural building technique.  Large gardens, composting toliets, and chicken tractors all came together in a very short time span.  The skills and systems thinking acquired during this process may help secure sustainable employment and economic development for the entire region for years to come.
Another successful implementation of permaculture relief took place in Cuba during the early 90's when Cuba was suffering from a crippling petroleum embargo.  Working with a grant from the Cuban government Austrailian permaculturalists, including Robyn Francis, traveled to Cuba to work with hundreds of Cubans on sustainable food systems design.  Robyn, a well traveled expert in permaculture education in the 2/3rds (developing) world, helped local organizers use permaculture design prinicpals and techniques in their urban agriculture efforts.  During this time, worker cooperatives were set up, market gardens and public transportation flourished, little to no pesticides or fertilizers were employed, and catastrophic famine was avoided.  This partnership has continued to be highly successful and now some of the most experienced urban permaculture experts in the world come from Cuba because of the courageous spirit of the Cuban citizenry.  Currently, the Cuba-Australia Permaculture Exchange (CAPE) is working on sustainable housing developments using natural building to compliment the work they began together with urban agriculture

Water Harvesting
There are numerous ways in which a full-time Permaculture Relief Corps could operate in Haiti in short and long-term time frames.
Short Term:
Building sewage systems, composting toilets, compost and recyclying centers, rocket and solar stoves, temporary shelters (perma-yurts), water catchment, and plant nurseries.
Long Term:
Permanent natural buildings, water storage, earth works, renewable energy, permaculture food forests, broad-scale reforestation, farms, aquaculture systems, health centers and schools.
In the fall of 2003 a team of international permaculturalists including broad-scale permaculture designer Darren Doherty arrived in Haiti for a village relocation after torrential floods.


Design for a new village
Today their team in collaboration with the local community and the Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Environment ORE  is working on:

- Low cost relief from floods
- Waste management & recycling to protect the environment
- Hygienic toilets to improve family health
- A community center to bring people together
- Privacy to reduce stress within families
- Green spaces to enhance quality of life
- Fruit trees to generate income
- Utilizing daily wind patterns, heat and cooling cycles
- Covenants to protect their community

Haiti is in desperate need of our assistance which can not come soon enough.  8 out of 10 Haitians live in abject poverty and need the long term commitment of folks working for a sustainable and abundant future.   Please check out the links below of organizations doing great work in this field.
If you are interested in the formation of a
Permaculture Relief Corps like the one I'm proposing please email thejulianeffect(at)gmail.com and I will keep you up to date on the latest developments.
My heart goes our to all those working and living in Haiti right now,       
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Sincerly,
Evan Schoepke (@gaiapunk)
Principal of Gaia Punk Designs
Permaculture ACROSS boarders
CAPE
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Chi'Bagoda (bambitat perma-yurts

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