The Garden Estate
Short description of your place and practices
We are inspired and influenced by the concepts of permaculture and analogue forestry and try to implement this knowledge wherever suitable in our work at THE GARDEN ESTATE
vision and mission.
Our vision is to turn THE GARDEN ESTATE into a nourishing large garden, that is home to a big diversity of plants, animals and people. It shall be a place that feeds, educates and brings people together. The project is not profit orientated, it shall simply feed everyone that lives and works on THE GARDEN ESTATE.
motivation
Within about 30 years - since the Sri Lankan government has approved the import of seeds and fertilizers - almost the entire knowledge of local farmers about organic farming methods got lost. We are disturbed about how dependent mainly small farmers have become on agrochemicals. Farming appears much easier to them today by using artificial fertilizers and hybrid seeds in short cycles. If plants have diseases, the "agro shop", which is available now in every village will provide quick help. When buying seeds the farmers receive flyers, which describe exactly when and which fertilizer and pesticide are to be applied in order to maximize the harvest as quickly and with as little physical effort as possible.
To most farmers this sounds attractive, and we can not deny that organic farming provides a little lower income and implies hard physical work in the first years of cultivation. But organic farming also means to be self-determined, to be able to produce your own seeds, not to be dependent on prices of agrochemicals. And of course, it also means not poisoning the soil and yourself.
In the markets in Sri Lanka you can find vegetables that are blown from high nitrogen use in farming. They grew only half as big a few years ago. In some regions, e g. about 70 km North east of THE GARDEN ESTATE around the city of Anuradhapura, more than 15 percent of the population between 15 and 70 years are suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Within about 20 years, more than 22,000 people have died. Several scientific studies have shown a link between contaminated drinking water through a high use of pesticides mainly on rice fields. We hope that the newly elected president Maithripala Sirisena, unlike his corrupt predecessor recognizes these study results and will regulate the use of pesticides by law.
Some people in Sri Lanka - rich, well-educated city guys, foreigners living in Sri Lanka, but also the normal rural population, for example who have cases of the disease in the family have started to think about the development of agriculture in the country. So since a few years an organic scene has slowly developed in Sri Lanka.
The view to other regions of the world shows that a small-scale, self-determined agriculture can protect against dependencies. If one considers that many poor people in Sri Lanka have to spend most of their income on food, the knowledge of self sustainable farming can create independence from market prices.
sustainable farming
Most important is that we will not contribute further to the destruction of the precious Sri Lankan nature and therefore strictly follow organic farming methods.
We mostly treat our plants with natural fertilizers. Unlike most other estates, THE GARDEN ESTATE does not grow a single crop in monoculture, but focuses on establishing a diverse garden of trees, bushes and small crops that grow in a "natural" community. We have not only planted crops that we can harvest, but also trees and ornamental plants to create shade and attract animals as to "imitate" a natural ecosystem. Besides plants THE GARDEN ESTATE is home to many different species of animals.
We are inspired and influenced by the concepts of permaculture and analogue forestry and try to implement this knowledge wherever suitable in our work at THE GARDEN ESTATE.
social aspects
THE GARDEN ESTATE is not simply a farming project, but follows a social approach as well. The project shall provide jobs in a rural area and in accordance to fair trade principles the staff is paid a fair and gender equal salary. Teamwork and learning from each others experience are our guidelines.
goals
Create jobs to secure several families' income
Create jobs in a healthy working environment
spread the knowledge of organic farming methods (again)
set an example with THE GARDEN ESTATE: "Look, it works. We can feed ourselves without agrochemicals and even make money."
create a place of equality and integration in a country with a long civil war history: We welcome people of all ethnics, religions and genders!
We feel a personal challenge to show that an ecological farming works, is profitable and can be fun. Our vision is a thriving, vibrant garden, that is home to plants and animals; and earns a living for the people in harmony with nature – simply a little oasis. The first steps in this direction have already been taken.