RE: Seeking a model organic farming community

Dear Jeff,

This is the most interesting response we have received and I look forward to
sharing it with my colleagues here.  If they feel as encouraged as I am,
they may soon be sending a reply that they would indeed like to contact Dr.
Chan.

WE do appreciate your assistance and look forward to learning more about IF
& WMS.

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: jeff Buderer [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2005 12:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [Ecobal]Seeking a model organic farming community

Bill, 

We are currently working on developing what we feel is a very innovative
integrated development plan for the Fantsuam Foundation
http://www.fantsuam.com which works in a cluster of rural village in rural
Nigeria
http://www.onevillagefoundation.org/ovf/projects/ovf_Nigeria/Fantsuam_ovf.ht
ml. 

Our specific focus right now is in developing what we feel is a
revolutionary approach to farming. It is called the Integrated Food and
Waste Management System (IF&WMS). It is revolutionary we feel because it is
a way of farming that while operating at a very high level of ecological
sustainability, also significantly reduces the inputs that the farmer has to
buy. This cost reduction will we believe enable small farmers in places like
BayanLoco, Kafanchan and the surrounding villages in Nigeria to better
compete with larger agribusinesses. 

The global implications of this are potentially huge. If small farmers in
developing countries are able to better compete with this system then it has
the potential if applied on a large scale to shift demographic patterns.
More people will be able to make a living as small farmers and will not be
forced to flee to urban regions where their prospects for surviving are
often even dimmer than in the rural regions. What has been lagging is a way
to effectively invest in this system and to develop an effective way to
scale it, while retaining its grassroots design and intent. 
 
The IF&WMS is the work of Dr George Chan a âEURoebarefootâEUR environmental
engineer that once worked for the EPA who now works for ZERI, the Zero
Emissions Research Initiative. ZERI was started by Gunter Pauli, the former
President of Ecover.  Dr Chan's system which he calls the Integrated Food
and Waste Management System is one of the most integrated and sustainable
systems that i have seen. He has traveled to over 50 countries promoting
this system and supervising its installation. The IF&WMS is similar to John
Todd's Living Machines but different and it incorporates many aspects of
permaculture also. 

While the IF&WMS system is primarily designed for applications in tropical
wet regions we feel that with some modifications it can also be used and
work well in temperate climates. The ZERI USA chapter
http://www.scizerinm.org is working on this and they are coordinating their
work with the NM governor and the EPA. They have a page on the work they are
doing with IF&WMS in NM: http://www.scizerinm.org/projects.html#waste.

Their work also involves another 80 year old veteran of sustainability Dr
John Craven of  the Common Heritage Corporation (CHC)
http://www.aloha.com/~craven/allabout.html. While the main purpose of CHC is
in developing environmentally sustainable ocean resources it has applied its
work to convert cold ocean water into energy other areas including a way to
use the cold temperature of deep ocean water pipes to create a healthy soil
environment suitable for countless plant species to grow and thrive in the
harshest of tropical, coastal conditions.  This system can also be designed
for geothermal applications.

âEURoeThe cooled soil creates a constant springtime condition, promoting
vigorous growth of plants from virtually any climate zone. This CHC
innovation allows for soil temperature control and plant dormancy, enabling
multiple crop production per year. And it requires little, if any,
additional irrigation, as the cold pipes spawn abundant freshwater
condensation. We have all seen beads of water on the outside of a glass of
ice water.âEUR

âEURoeThis process was discussed in March during a Governor Richardson
sponsored ZERI workshop for his state agencies on innovative ways to address
some of the state's pressing issues such as water. It was among the
recommendations to the Governor for a water conservation pilot project. "

I currenly in contact with Dr Chan and if you like I can put you in touch
with him and/or the ZERI NM team.

Jeff


Jeff Buderer | jeff-Rh+2dnnLJKTjqqk/[email protected] 
Sustainable Design/Project Development 
oneVillage Foundation USA | http://www.onevillagefoundation.org  
oneVillage.biz | www.onevillage.biz

102 Ballatore Ct.
San Jose CA 95134

Cell 408.813.5135
Yahoo IM: jefbuder
http://www.ryze.com/go/Jefbuder
 


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Taylor
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 11:11 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Ecobal]Seeking a model organic farming community

We have a client that has asked us to plan a new town, for their employees
and their families.  
The new town is itself intended to be a model of the future for
environmental sustainability.
Are any fellow subscribers to Ecobalance familiar with successful organic
farming operations in the US, 
One that our clients might visit and develop a cooperative information
exchange ?  Thank you.


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