Sepp Holzer projects in Ecuador & Colombia

Hi, I've been searching all over the net for more information about Sepp's projects in Ecuador and Colombia, and can't find anything but a 10 min Ecuadorian news special that reports on the work he did in the highlands outside of Quito, and nothing on Colombia. To my knowledge he's consulted on projects down here years ago; the systems he put in would be mature at this point.

Does anyone have any knowledge about his projects here or contact information, websites, etc. which would help me further my search to understand Sepp's approach to the tropics, here in S. America? I would go and visit the place pronto if I knew where to find it! Thanks

Pato, are you on facebook? He has a facebook site where you may be able to ask your question.
Some of the folks who work with Sepp come to permies once in a while so you might repost the question under one of the threads about Sepp.

https://permies.com/forums/posts/list/80/2413?OWASP_CSRFTOKEN=FWZQ-K77Z-NL4F-DO1G-61Q0-E0FF-B8TS-1UT6#222541

Your post piqued my interest in all things Ecuadorian. I reviewed a(the?) youtube video on Holzer in Ecuador. I then did a quick search for Francisco "Pacho" Gangotena, the organic agriculture guy in the video. I think your best bet would be to track him down. He shouldn't be hard to find. He is an activist and has an organic farm in Puembo, outside Quito.

While doing my search I found an interesting paper on organic agriculture in Ecuador that you might find interesting, RETURN TO PACHAMAMA?: THE DIFFUSION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN ECUADOR.

Good luck.

Any new information about Sepp Holzer projects in Colombia?

No new information about Sepp's projects in Columbia but Pato here has a great project just getting underway in the cloud forest of Ecuador. I went down there for a consultation this past spring and the project they are beginning is really going to be incredible!

Very cool!

Any information you can spare? I am currently farming in something of a cloud forest here in Colombia (1840msnm). There is way (WAY!) less information about permaculture in the tropics than anywhere else, would be interested in a website or pictures or anything!

Thanks

Alex Trapp wrote:Very cool!

Any information you can spare? I am currently farming in something of a cloud forest here in Colombia (1840msnm). There is way (WAY!) less information about permaculture in the tropics than anywhere else, would be interested in a website or pictures or anything!

Thanks

Hi Alex, our project does not have a website at this time but I'd be glad to talk with you about what you've got going on and share what we're doing. Our finca is at 1000-1300m over sea level so it's not quite in the cloudforest - we're in the transition zone between pre-montaine lowland forest and the actual cloudforest which begins around where you are. I like to think we're "below the fog".

As for permaculture info re: the tropics I'd have to disagree as a lot of what one could call permaculture - agroforestry, forest gardening, silvopasture, etc. has its origin in the tropics. The best place I've found for tropical perma-info is the Permaculture Research Institute, Geoff Lawton and other Australian permaculture folks. I would look there if you haven't already. The majority of people here on Permies seem to be from the USA and cold-temperate strategies seem to be the focus.

Just a few pics of the garden we created in June.

It's about a 1/4 acre plot, 3x100' hugelbeds laid out slightly off contour, 6-8' high with tipi trellises...

Here's the garden a few weeks after it was created. Before it became a jungle and you could still see the layout of the beds.

Very nice, Pato. Were you able to connect with the local permaculture crowd?

I met a woman a couple of weeks ago who will be returning to Ecuador to retire. She and her husband have chosen Cuenca. They already have their terreno, casa and a new chevy truck (assembled in Ecuador). Just a few more years, and my wife and I will be seriously considering it.

hi pato! are you still in colombia? we are here too, and would be happy to conect!!