Thank you Damien Delaplace for our new beehive!

Thursday, 26 August 2010 14:26

We are very lucky to have recieved a surprise donation of a beehive, a smoker, and a beekeepers suit today from Damien Delaplace.  Thank you so much!  We can't wait to taste the sweet harvest! 

New Volunteer Opportunity!

Sunday, 22 August 2010 12:03

NGP is seeking a Community Outreach Team Leader.   This person will be at the forefront of saving and rehabilitating naural areas and agricultural lands on the 650 hectare farm and will achieve this goal by working with communities to establish woodlots, to use fuel efficient stoves, and to establish permanent and diverse systems which provide for the daily needs of the surrounding households. The position is ideally suited to someone who is mature, personable, outgoing, patient, well-organized, has a sense of humour and wants to establish a career in the environment or a retired person with experience.

For more information, please click here.

Permaculture for Gardeners Course

Sunday, 22 August 2010 11:22

In mid September we will be offer a course for those who want to focus specifically on fruit and vegetable production (Zones 1 and 2 in "permie" talk).  In permaculture gardens an abundance of diverse foods are grown in a way that mimics the relationships observed in natural ecosystems. This means that the soil fertility is always enriched without need for chemical fertilizers, plants grow healthy in a balanced environment where chemical pesticides are not necessary and there are no negative effects on the environment or the people that consume the produce. We work with nature not against it, all the while conserving natural resources, water, money and a lot of time!

This course is specfically designed for the Chichewa speaker but much of it will be taught in English with direct translation.  For more information, please click here. 

Sustainable Earth Building course

Sunday, 01 August 2010 16:43

At the end of August, we are offering an unique opportunity to learn and practice a combination of natural earth building methods.

This is a unique hands-on, practical course designed to give the participant a working knowledge of using cob, compressed earth bricks, dry-stone foundations and rammed earth as building materials. A sound basic theoretical knowledge will be imparted and all participants will be given a notebook containing all the theory discussed in classes to take home as reference material.

This course is targeted at anyone who is interested in learning more about green building. Participants will ‘get their hands dirty’ building a semi-circular, fuel efficient open air kitchen to include a bread/pizza oven, wood stove with hot plates, braii, hot boxes, cupboards and wood storage space.

Click here for more information.

NGP graduates 39 new permaculturalists in July

Tuesday, 27 July 2010 09:24

June and July have been busy months for us at the centre. From 21st June to 3rd July we hosted a PDC course with facilitator Alex Kruger- a course which saw 24 people grow, learn, and turn into designers! Almost immediately following the course with Alex, we finished the final module of a 6 month PDC course that was facilitated by Kristof Nordin. These 15 graduates had the benefit of watching their site transition from the rainy season into the dry season- and the results were fantastic!

Both groups produced great designs and most importantly left NGP knowing how to apply the knowledge they gained during the course to any piece of land.

Thirty eight of the 39 participants live and work in Malawi and we expect their contributions to greatly increase the succession of the permaculture movement in Malawi!