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Permaculture Takes Off in Tanzania!

Editor’s Note: It’s with pleasure I introduce you to a fantastic and fast-spreading permaculture movement in Tanzania, kicked off by Geoff Lawton’s PDC in 2007 (see Geoff’s articles on his experiences and observations there here and here), and organised by our partner the Global Resource Alliance. Below is an excellent documentary looking at their work and its context.

From the Mara Soil


GRA’s office plot in Musoma, Tanzania

GRA was introduced to permaculture in 2006 at a workshop with Geoff Lawton, one of the world’s leading experts and promoters of permaculture. Permaculture offered a path to connect and expand GRA’s current programs in organic gardening and tree planting, and GRA’s future plans for sustainable building, rainwater harvesting and alternative energy.

The following year, GRA organized a successful two-week Permaculture Design Course with Geoff in Musoma, Tanzania. Thirty students, both local and international, graduated; the youngest was only 11 years old! After the training, several of the local permaculture graduates began collaborating with GRA to develop more permaculture gardens and further promote the principles of permaculture to address the problems of food scarcity, poor housing, deforestation and other environmental issues in the area.


Garden bag

We now have three active permaculture demonstration plots in Tanzania, with plans for further development in the near future. Each demonstrates essential permaculture concepts like using swales to catch water for the crops, enriching the soil with nitrogen plants, harvesting water, compost-tea, compost pile, banana/papaya circles, bag garden, nursery, bank saving seeds and others. The gardens are supported by local efforts and a string of international volunteers that have brought new energy, insight and experience to the projects. GRA has a partnership with the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia to refer experienced volunteers to expand the knowledge and implementation of permaculture principles in the Mara region of Tanzania.

The first demonstration permaculture plot is a half acre on our office compound in Musoma. The garden provides food for staff and volunteers, as well as 40 children from the Musoma orphans project every Saturday. Musoma orphans meet here in the shade of our pavilion to collect sundries and participate in fun weekly activities like art, singing, drama and sports. Our second plot is on one acre in Kinesi Village at UVIMAKI Rural Development Association. It was designed and implemented by graduates of the 2007 Permaculture Design Course, and provides food for Association members.


Kinesi Orphans’ Garden

6 Comments

  1. what a fantastic sucess story, Geoff provides true leadership for us youngsters
    and the guys in Tanzania – well done. I’d love to come and learn some African work songs one day soon. The word educate in latin means [to lead out]
    well done

  2. This video is very inspirational, it makes me wish I didn’t have commitments here, otherwise I’d be straight over to volunteer.

  3. What you are doing is really amazing! Are the projects still alive? I would like to visit one or more of your gardens, would it be possible?

    Thank you, kind regards,

  4. Woaw ! Congratulations !!!
    I have been visiting Tanzania last January to April, and have faced all the problems you are approaching here. I came back to France with the hope that one day, I will be able to do something for Tanzanians. One other big problem which affected me a lot was the plastic waste production and management. But for me, I have seen the problem, but don’t find any solution to bring. So I am so impressed by what you are doing ! And it makes me want to spread your work everywhere, and mostly in the two little villages where I had the very big honour to be hosted…
    I will have a look on what you are doing know..and see the possibilities of working with you one day..who knows !
    Anyway, congratulations again, and good luck to keep on doing your great work !

  5. Thanks for the great work.
    Come to Uganda.
    Just concluded my PDC course and need a team to work with.
    Am in Wakiso just few Kilometres from Kampala City.
    Your welcome

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