Why I believe in Whaelghinbran Farm – Daimen

by on December 22, 2011

Photo by Zach Melanson

I will never forget Susan planting a whole field of lettuce this summer, after deciding how much to grow just for them. Clark was in and out of the hospital and farming was next to impossible. But once Sue started planting she couldn’t stop. And when Clark was home he worked at plowing more field. They farmed anyway. I feel like I have learned so much about farming from Clark and Sue.

Photo by Zach Melanson

Farming isn’t easy and neither is cutting wood. They say to do it well there are no shortcuts. At Whaelghinbran every leaf of lettuce is twice washed. Every stand of forest deeply considered. I am inspired by Clark and Susan and the living they have made. They have done it so thoughtfully and so well. They have worked so hard for so long at something they believe in, and it shows on the land at Whaelghinbran.

I’m honored that CFI is a part of their work now. It is our responsibility to carry it forward, to save the farm, save the woods. I am confident because Clark and Sue are here to guide us, and because I have always felt that what sets CFI apart too is how hard we work.

It’s the people that have me believing in Whaelghinbran Farm. Susan Tyler and Clark Phillips, George Fullerton and the NB Community Land Trust, all of our mentors and supporters. And Estelle, Zach, Dale, and Jeff. Whaelghinbran is an exceptional farm and forest, but it’s people involved that have me believing in it.

Please help us make a stand for future generations. For more information about how you can get involved please visit our save the farm campaign page.

Photo by Jason Verschoor

Natural Pest Deterrents for Nursery Seedlings

by on January 7, 2011

One of the most common requests made by CFP communities to intern Lisa Hansen this growing season has been for dawa kwa miti, medicine for trees.  Inquiries revealed that the ‘medicine’ communities were referring to is a chemical pesticide available on the island which contains endosulphan.  Lisa’s further research revealed that endusulphan is an insecticide banned in over 60 countries for its bioaccumulative abilities and effects on the endocrine system.  That community members were sometimes applying this product to their crops and seedlings was very troubling to Lisa and the CFI team.

Knowing a little about natural pesticides, Lisa experimented with useful plants available at the local market to develop an an all-purpose pest deterrent recipe; a safe, affordable and easy to make alternative to the chemical pesticide. Testing different doses of the recipe on seedlings during low and peak sunlight periods to evaluate its ability to burn leaves and otherwise harm seedlings proved it was safe for application. Excited by the prospects of this natural pest deterrent, Lisa began to teach the Chasasa community how to make and use it.  The results were great, no more pests!

Natural Pest Deterrent Training

Natural Pest Deterrent Training

 

Three weeks later a trained Chasasa nursery member, lovingly called ‘Dr. Wahida’, is now responsible for preparing the ‘natural dawa’ and applying it as needed. In response to the effectiveness and quick adoption of the recipe at Chasasa, Lisa and Dr. Wahida are now also training other communities in its preparation and use.

Lisa’s ‘natural dawa’ lessons reflect organic farming theory and plant care by highlighting prevention vs. reaction as the best strategy for healthy nurseries and farms.  Community members are often familiar with these concepts in relation to maintaining good human health.  Homemade medicines from plant materials are still widely used on Pemba and people are aware of their effectiveness to ward off bacteria and viruses.  Attendants easily understood the idea that plant medicine for our bodies can also be useful for plants. Attendants were also trained to experiment before application, and learned that to be a good plant doctor you have to be a good cook, a good mother and a good scientist!

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Natural Pest Deterrent Training

The recipe is provided below and if you are interested in the lesson plan contact Lisa for further information. Additionally, if you have any natural recipes that are useful to employ in tropical environments we would be happy to receive them and try them out.

 

Natural Pest Deterrent

4 bulbs of garlic

2 onions

4 hot peppers

1 tbsp of soap

1.5 litres of water

Chop garlic, onions and peppers and place in water for 24 hours. Strain and pour into spray bottle and add soap. Spray in the mornings or evenings, to avoid burning plants, after you have watered plants to avoid washing it off. Keep it in the fridge for prolonged use as it will spoil after a couple of weeks. Spray all over the leaves, on ant colonies targeting larvae, and increase the frequency of your application at times of infestation. Monitor it’s effectiveness and change the dose of ingredients as needed.

Home Depot and Evergreen Green Roof Project

by on September 21, 2010

 

 

Roof Tight!

Roof Tight!

 

Supported by Home Depot and Evergreen, CFI recently completed the first stage of its latest Canadian project by raising a timber-framed outdoor classroom with a ‘green roof’ at the Community Garden in Sackville, NB.  The classroom will house CFI workshops and community garden activities, and will showcase ‘green building’ techniques and alternative energy.

 

 

 

 

A mix of hardy groundcovers and Seedums fill the rain-fed hydroponic growing system.

A mix of hardy groundcovers and Seedums fill the rain-fed hydroponic growing system.

 

The low slope of the roof and carefully selected yet readily available materials and plants combine to create a ‘living roof’ that will be overflowing with greenery next year.

 

 

 

 

Timber frame and water-proofed roof.

Timber frame and water-proofed roof.

 

The strong timber frame that supports the exceptional weight of the ‘green roof’ is constructed entirely of traditional wooden joinery, no nails!  It is a building technique that is prevalent in the old barns that dot the marsh surrounding Sackville.

CFI has drawn on its members’ diverse skills and experience in green building for this project.  Special thanks to the timber framing team, Zach and Estelle, and the green roofers, Graeme and Deborah.

The next step in this project involves installing a composting toilet, to improve the accessibility of the Community Garden in an environmentally friendly and economical manner.

Ecological Forestry Short Course

by on July 27, 2010

 

 

A comprehensive short course with a balance of in-class instruction and in-forest training. Attend the full course or make selections from the program to suit your interests.

 


$80/Day

$400 Full Course Registration


Day 1 (August 2nd)

  • New Brunswick’s Acadian Forest – Our History, Our Challenge and a Possibility for Change

  • Principles of Ecological Forestry – Making Conservation a Consequence of Production

Film: Forbidden Forest

Day 2 (August 3rd)

  • Learning to see the Forest – A walk through the woods

  • Tree Identification Practicum

  • Tools for Change – Certification and the Community Land Trust model

Film: Battle for the Trees

Day 3 (August 4th)

  • Practical Techniques and Procedures for Good Forest Operations

  • Introduction to Chainsaw Safety and Maintenance

  • Working in the Image of Nature – Edible Forest Gardening

  • Propagation of Native Mushrooms

Film: The Sustainable Forest and the New Forest Economy: Part One

Day 4 (August 5th)

  • Wild Crafting – Native Food, Medicine and Candy

  • Adding Value – Timber Framing

  • Propagation of Trees and Field Nursery Maintenance

Film: The Sustainable Forest and the New Forest Economy: Part Two

Day 5 (August 6th)

  • Selecting, Harvesting, Milling, and Processing FSC Lumber

Film: The Sustainable Forest and the New Forest Economy: Part Three

Final Dinner – Forestry for Tomorrow


Instructors drawn from the region’s most respected ecological foresters including:

Jamie Simpson, author of Restoring the Acadian Forest: A Guide to Forest Stewardship for Woodlot Owners in the Maritimes


For the full course program and syllabus see our website www.forestsinternational.com.

To register contact Community Forests International info@forestsinternational.org or 514-839-0546.

Ecological Forestry Course Update

by on July 16, 2010

Space still available in the upcoming Ecological Short Course Aug. 2nd – 6th in Sackville, N.B.  CFI is also offering a limited number of bursaries (up to $150) on a needs basis.

The additional chainsaw training on Aug. 7th has been canceled, but the introductory training in chainsaw use and maintenance on Day 3 is still in the program.

 

Instructors

Jamie Simpson – EAC Forestry Program Coordinator and author of Restoring the Acadian Forest: A Guide to Forest Stewardship for Woodlot Owners in the Maritimes

Bill McKay – President of Nagaya Forest Restoration Ltd.

Marc Spence – President of New Brunswick Community Land Trust

Michael Spence – Uniacke Hill FSC Woodlot Owner and Operator

 

Registration $400.00

Meals  $25.00/day or $10/lunch

Home Stay $15/night (space is limited)

Day 1 (August 2nd)

Full Day – Classroom – Sackville, NB

  • New Brunswick’s Acadian Forest – Our History, Our Challenge and a Possibility for Change
  • Principles of Ecological Forestry – Making Conservation a Consequence of Production

Film: Forbidden Forest

Day 2 (August 3rd)

Morning – Field – Moncton, NB

  • Learning to see the Forest – A walk through the woods
  • Tree Identification Practicum

Afternoon – Classroom – Sackville, NB

  • Tools for Change – Certification and the Community Land Trust model

Film: Battle for the Trees

Day 3 (August 4th)

Morning – Classroom – Sackville, NB

  • Practical Techniques and Procedures for Good Forest Operations
  • Introduction to Chainsaw Safety and Maintenance

Afternoon – Field – Sackville Community Garden

  • Working in the Image of Nature – Edible Forest Gardening
  • Propagation of Native Mushrooms

Film: The Sustainable Forest and the New Forest Economy: Part One

Day 4 (August 5th)

Full Day – Field – Otter Creek, NB

  • Wild Crafting – Native Food, Medicine and Candy
  • Adding Value – Timber Framing
  • Propagation of Trees and Field Nursery Maintenance

Film: The Sustainable Forest and the New Forest Economy: Part Two

Day 5 (August 6th)

Full Day – Field – Baie Verte, NB

  • Selecting, Harvesting, Milling, and Processing FSC Lumber

Film: The Sustainable Forest and the New Forest Economy: Part Three

Final Dinner – Forestry for Tomorrow

2010 Ecological Forestry Short Course

by on June 28, 2010

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Ecological Forestry Short Course Program

August 2nd – 6th, 2010

Sackville, NB

 

This is an updated program for CFI’s upcoming Ecological Forestry Course in Sackville, NB.  We have added an optional film program for the evenings of the course as well.  If interest permits,  participants will also have the opportunity to earn a Chainsaw Safety Certificate at a reduced rate immediatey following the short course in Sackville.

Registration: $400.00

Meals: $25.00/day

Instructors

Jamie Simpson – EAC Forestry Program Coordinator and author of Restoring the Acadian Forest: A Guide to Forest Stewardship for Woodlot Owners in the Maritimes

Bill McKay – President of Nagaya Forest Restoration Ltd.

Marc Spence – President of New Brunswick Community Land Trust

Michael Spence – Uniacke Hill FSC Woodlot Owner and Operator

Day 1 (August 2nd)

Full Day – Classroom – Sackville, NB

  • New Brunswick’s Acadian Forest – Our History, Our Challenge and a Possibility for Change
  • Principles of Ecological Forestry – Making Conservation a Consequence of Production

Day 2 (August 3rd)

Morning – Field – Sackville, NB

  • Learning to see the Forest – A walk through the woods
  • Tree Identification Practicum.

Afternoon – Classroom – Sackville, NB

  • Tools for Change – Certification and the Community Land Trust model

Day 3 (August 4th)

Morning – Classroom – Sackville, NB

  • Practical Techniques and Procedures for Good Forest Operations
  • Introduction to Chainsaw Safety and Maintenance

Afternoon – Field – Sackville Community Garden

  • Working in the Image of Nature – Edible Forest Gardening
  • Propagation of Native Mushrooms

Day 4 (August 5th)

Full Day – Field – Otter Creek, NB

  • Wild Crafting – Native Food, Medicine and Candy
  • Adding Value – Timber Framing
  • Propagation of Trees and Field Nursery Maintenance

Day 5 (August 6th)

Full Day – Field – Baie Verte, NB

  • Selecting, Harvesting, Milling, and Processing FSC Lumber

Final Dinner – Forestry for Tomorrow

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Backyard Beekeeping – Day 1

by on June 19, 2010

Photos by Rob

 

Worker Bee calling her friends home

Worker Bee calling her friends home.

 

 

 

Participants getting ready to open their first hive.

Participants getting ready to open their first hive.

 

 

 

Veils come off as participants get more comfortable with the bees.

Veils come off as participants get more comfortable with the bees.

 

 

Backyard Beekeepers in the Making.

Backyard Beekeepers in the Making.

2010 Food Forest Gardening Workshop

by on May 23, 2010

2010 Food Forest Gardening Workshop

Learn to Garden in Nature’s Image

 

Where:   Sackville Community Garden, Charles St., Sackville, N.B.

When:  June 5th, 2010 9:00am – 12:00 pm / 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Registration:  By donation ($35 suggested contribution)

Contact: info@forestsinternational.org or call 514-839-0546.

What:  Community Forests International will be delivering their Food Forest Gardening workshop again this summer on June 5, 2010, at the Sackville Community Garden in Sackville, NB.

Register: Click Here to register online.

This hands on workshop will explore the principles behind this innovative gardening method that seeks to explore co-beneficial relationships between plants and fungi. By arranging food and medicine producing herbs, vines, shrubs, mushrooms and trees in arrangements found in nature, participants will learn how to change traditional, energy-intensive garden plots into low-maintenance garden ecosystems.

The gardens feature native plants found in the Acadian Forest and will provide a great way to sharpen edible plant identification skills. Participants will learn how to work with oyster and morel mushrooms, fiddleheads, a myriad of berries and nuts and will develop all the skills necessary to grow a food forest in their own backyard. The workshop will take place at the model food forest the organization installed in the Sackville Community Garden on Charles Street last year with support from Renaissance Sackville and Evergreen. Registration is by donation, with a recommended 35$ contribution in order to support the upkeep and maintenance of the volunteer-led project. To register or receive additional information please email info@forestsinternational.org or call 514-839-0546.

 

Community Garden Map

 

 

Photos from last year’s workshop

 

 

CFI Members and participants get down to business, planting the apple guild.

CFI Members and participants get down to business, planting the apple guild.

 

Inoculating poplar logs with a native variety of oyster mushroom.

Inoculating poplar logs with a native variety of oyster mushroom.

 

Participants gather near one of the butternut trees in a question and answer session after touring the native species plot.

Participants gather near one of the butternut trees in a question and answer session after touring the native species plot.

Uganda

by on May 7, 2010

Estelle and I have left Zach on Pemba and have made our way back to Uganda, in order to collaborate with a couple of great NGOs here before returning to Canada.  We’re hoping to expand our network in East Africa, and to join our community based resource management efforts with like-minded groups.

 

Community Forest Management Reporting

Community Forest Management Reporting

 

Sustainable Livelihoods International (SLINT) is a relatively young organization currently operating in Kiboga District, assisting communities there to combat food insecurity, poverty, and environmental degradation.  We were impressed with the thoughtfulness and passion with which Dennis and the rest of the team are carrying out their activities and see a bright future for SLINT.  Their website is http://www.slint.org/ if you would like to find out more them and the good work they’re doing in Kiboga.

 

 

 

CIDev Field Office and Local Members

CIDev Field Office and Local Members

 

We also met with Judith and Peter of the Centre for Integrated Development (CIDev) and they accompanied us on a tour of a Community Forest Management (CFM) project that they are facilitating in the Mabira Forest Reserve, Mukono District.  It was very interesting and inspiring to learn how CIDev helped to develop and implement a formal contract between the local community and the Ugandan National Forest Authority for this progressive type of resource management.

 

 

Community Managed Parcel in Mabira Forest Reserve

Community Managed Parcel in Mabira Forest Reserve

 

The Mehta Group had collaborated with the Ugandan government to have a third of this forest cleared for sugar cane growing, but the combined efforts of organizations like CIDev, local community groups, and environmentalists forced the suspension of this plan in 2007.

 

 

Site Visit in Mabira

Site Visit in Mabira

 

With strong support for Community Forest Management this forest and the many endangered species that reside there can be preserved while providing employment, household resources, and endless ecological services for the surrounding communities.  Its the type of progressive conservation that CFI endorses, one that directly involves the biggest stakeholders, and we hope to learn from CIDev how we might reproduce this model on Pemba and at home in Canada.

 

 

Community Forests’ Research Nursery

by on April 1, 2010

Recently we began designing for an expansion of one of our best nurseries, with plans to make it our center of forestry research here on Pemba. We’re keeping with the low-tech, affordable nature of our community nurseries and adding some basic improvements including on-site rainwater harvesting, a sheltered work space for pot manufacturing, and a surrounding garden of useful multipurpose plants.

 

Taro (C. esculenta)

Taro (C. esculenta)

 

The plants will include several whose properties repel pests, combat harmful fungal infections, and provide micronutrients. For example, the local taro leaf contains calcium oxalate  (same needle shaped crystal that exist in rhubarb) and can be used as a spray-on broad-spectrum pest repellant; Papaya leaf has a strong anti-fugal nature; and a perimeter of lemon grass confuses pests while providing a steady supply of delicious tea. The fact that these plants are common and produce an edible yield is key, they lend themselves well to the permaculture principal of multifunction. The main goal of the research nursery is to trial new techniques and species to identify those which should be adopted in the 13 community nurseries.

 

Lemongrass (know locally as mchai chai)

Lemongrass (know locally as mchai chai)

 

We are fortunate to have Abdallah, our enthusiastic and knowledgeable field officer, to take care of the trials. Abdallah has a green thumb for sure, he raises a variety of healthy seedlings year after year. With luck we’ll be able to add several new indigenous species to our planting projects next season.

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