2019/01/09

Cuba PDC — The Urban Farmer

Cuba PDC — The Urban Farmer

LEARN FROM CUBA

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Permaculture Design in Cuba

When the economic crisis of the early 1990’s began to disintegrate Cuba’s heavily industrialized and import-dependent food system, the very future of the country was at stake. Food was in short supply and the means of growing food in the highly mechanized and chemically driven manner of the past few decades was no longer available. In response to this crisis, the development of a vigorous agroecology framework for transforming the country’s food system emerged, including the introduction of permaculture design as a way to empower urban people and their communities to achieve some of their own food security in very uncertain times.

Brigades of Australian volunteer permaculture teachers arrived in Cuba in the mid 1990’s, sharing the permaculture vision with key agriculturalists, and members of organizations like the Antonio Nunez Jimenez Foundation for Nature and Humanity (FANJ). In a few short years, FANJ began teaching permaculture throughout the country, creating a movement that would grow tremendously using a model of “campesino to campesino” (farmer to farmer) knowledge sharing. FANJ wrote a book on permaculture methods for Cuba, “Permacultura Criolla” and developed numerous other methods for spreading the possibilities of permaculture far and wide.

“It was the kind of learning experience that has helped me better feel the footing of the path I’m on, and to see that there are alternatives that are “really working!” I really feel that this experience in Cuba was something quite pivotal in my life…that it “gave” me a new context, new hope, new alternatives…and I’m excited how these elements will enrich not only my own life, but new projects/people/ideas to come into the future.— Trina Moyles, Change for Children Association - Edmonton, AB (2011)

Permaculture has evolved in Cuba within the context of the wider agroecological movement and is in constant dialogue with the many organic farming, urban agriculture and food security initiatives throughout the country. While the initial stimulus for permaculture in Cuba was certainly the food crisis, the movement has broadened its focus to integrate many of the other key permaculture domains: water, energy, housing, appropriate technology, arts and culture, and alternative community structures to name a few.

Permaculture Design Cuba

This course offers the unique opportunity for participants to learn from and participate directly in this exciting movement in Cuba. Canadian permaculture teachers Ron Berezan (The Urban Farmer) and Javan Bernakevitch (allpointsdesign.ca) will facilitate the learning process in close partnership with permaculture leaders and practitioners affiliated with FANJ in Cuba.

Ron has taken over 300 people to Cuba on 18+ permaculture and agroecology programs and has developed great working relationships with many of the leading visionaries and practitioners in this remarkable movement.

This three-week program will be an inspiring integration of theory and practice covering the internationally-recognized Permaculture Design curriculum and exploring the many expressions of permaculture in Cuba.

An exciting journey of learning and discovery which includes:
Face to face contact with Cuban permaculture practitioners, agroecologists, urban farmers and community activists.
The core permaculture design curriculum including permaculture ethics and principles; ecological patterns and ecosystem functioning; methods of design; organic soils management; water systems; annual and perennial food systems, fungi, plants and animals in permaculture design; natural building and appropriate technologies; community strategies and social permaculture, permaculture for the tropics and temperate zones – a total of over 96 hours of participatory instruction and learning.
Numerous site visits to small agroecological farms, urban permaculture projects, cooperatives, “organoponicos” and community projects in the provinces of Matanzas, Sancti Spiritus and Santiago de Cuba.
Hands-on activities in existing and new permaculture projects such as the reforestation and community permaculture learning centre of Bella Mar, the urban permaculture systems in the city of Sancti Spiritus and new urban permaculture projects in Santiago de Cuba.
A group design and installation project in the city of Santiago de Cuba.
Time for reflection, relaxation, integration and dialogue.
Opportunities to enjoy the vast cultural and ecological richness of Cuba including music, architecture, dancing, beaches, hikes and caving.
An internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate for all those who complete the program.

This program is a great fit for:

Small farmers, food gardeners, and urban agriculturalists
Permaculture practitioners wishing to broaden their experience, attain a Permaculture Design Certificate, and learn from Cuba’s permaculture movement.
Food security advocates, community activists, urban planners, and environmentalists.
Those with a desire to be part of a dynamic experiential group learning process set in the heart of “the real Cuba”.

Film Reflection: The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil | PhilosEcolAnt

Film Reflection: The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil | PhilosEcolAnt

FILM REFLECTION: THE POWER OF COMMUNITY – HOW CUBA SURVIVED PEAK OIL
NOVEMBER 26, 2013 JLITER LEAVE A COMMENT

For context, here is a summary of the film from IMDb:

The documentary, “The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil,” was inspired when Faith Morgan and Pat Murphy took a trip to Cuba through Global Exchange in August, 2003. That year Pat had begun studying and speaking about worldwide peak oil production. In May Pat and Faith attended the second meeting of The Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas, a European group of oil geologists and scientists, which predicted that mankind was perilously close to having used up half of the world’s oil resources. When they learned that Cuba underwent the loss of over half of its oil imports and survived, after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, the couple wanted to see for themselves how Cuba had done this.

Question: Is this the severe crisis that will cause the human population to make a significant change in regards to dealing with the environment? Do you see Peak Oil as a coming crisis we will face?

(film below)

By definition, finite resources must eventually be depleted if they are continuously used. Considering our wide reaching dependence on oil, and reluctance to adopt renewable forms of energy, I think it is clear that peak oil is a coming crisis. It is not clear however if this is the crisis that will cause a dramatic shift in the way that humans deal with the environment. There are already signs of changes, but it seems that only inasmuch as they allow oil to eventually be replaced with some other source of energy. The mindset and attitudes toward the environment, at least in contemporary western society, seem to be one of addiction and exploitation; one of forcing nature to our desires for security and luxury rather than adapting our methods to the natural processes of the earth. Therefore, any change will likely be more a matter of exploring and exploiting other possibilities. Fracking is one indication of this.

I am not entirely convinced that looking at Cuba’s reaction to peak oil is adequate in gauging or planning what our reaction might be. Certainly, it can provide ideas and motivation for change, but it is likely that the focus of any changes resulting from peak oil will be ones that enable us, at least to some extent, to continue our lifestyles. Current efforts that are similar to those seen in Cuba (such as sustainable agriculture) to postpone or prepare for peak oil are gaining traction here, but are possibly only a postponement of the impact of peak oil. Ultimately, they may only make the impact, or at least the duration of that impact less severe, and thus inadvertently minimize the need for significant changes in attitudes and mentalities. I certainly will not discount such efforts, and they must continue, but we must also be aware of risks.

Related articles
Forget peak oil; peak trash is the world’s real concern: researcher(calgaryherald.com)
Peak Oil, Not (peakoil.com)
There’s No Tomorrow (peak oil, energy, growth and the future) (34:52) (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)
Imminent peak oil could burst US, global economic bubble – study(theguardian.com)
Peak Oil: Using Energy To Get Energy # 4 (peakoil.com)
PEAK Oil FACT OF THE DAY (wisair.wordpress.com)
How Europe almost ran out of timber and how it relates to peak oil (trejdify.com)

Video The Power of Community - How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil - Wikipedia

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

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The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
Directed by	Faith Morgan
Release date	14 May 2006
Running time	53 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil is an American documentary film that explores the Special Period in Peacetime and its aftermath; the economic collapse and eventual recovery of Cuba following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Following the dramatic steps taken by both the Cuban government and citizens, its major themes include urban agriculture, energy dependence, and sustainability. The film was directed by Faith Morgan, and was released in 2006 by The Community Solution.^[1]

Overview[edit]

The film is a reflection of the peak oil scenario argued by oil industry experts and political activists, including Matthew Simmons and James Howard Kunstler. The Cuban economy, heavily dependent on economic aid from the Soviet Union, suffered tremendously following the end of the Cold War. The nation lost half of its oil imports, and 85 percent of its international trade economy.^[2] Director Faith Morgan, together with the non-profit groupThe Community Solution, seeks to educate audiences about peak oil and the impact it will have on transportation, agriculture, medicine, and other industries.^[3]

History of the film[edit]

The idea for a film based on the Cuban recovery first arose in August 2003 when Morgan traveled to Cuba as part of the Global Exchange program. Amazed by stories of survival during The Special Period, she learned that the Cuban economic crisis was survived with a fundamental shift in the country's economic policies, rather than with new energy sources. Morgan began securing funds for the film in 2004 with help from Community Services, Inc. and began filming in the fall of the same year.^[4]

References[edit]

^ The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (2006) - Company credits
^ Quinn, Megan (25 February 2006). "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil". The Permaculture Activist. Permaculture Activist. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
^ Cooper, J.N. "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil". Archived from the original on 2006-10-10. Retrieved 2006-10-18.
^ Faith Morgan (2006). The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (Film). Cuba: The Community Solution.