Lorraine Ciarallo

Hello Owen, thank you very much for the PDF on the Magoye Ripper. I like some of the great advantages such as no fuel required, no C02 emissions, simple design and likely an affordable tool for many small farmers. But an Oxen...what's our best 2nd option? Do you have any idea if the Ripper is sold in North or South America? Can the Ripper Tine be replaced with a Yeomans Chisel plough because it appears, but I don't know for sure, that the chisel is more narrow than the tine, and does that make a difference? The Ripper recommends using it on dry land where as PA Yeomans, recommends using the chisel plough after the 1st or 2nd rainfall or after the rain season. Any thoughts on that? I am told by some of the older Barbadian famers that they use to use the Strip farm method. I wonder if it was similar to the Magoye Ripper tool, but regardless, they stopped the strip method years ago to their own detriment I suppose. Barbados is mostly limestone and my research has shown only 2% organic matter, so you can imagine how important the task to build soil fertility will be. We will soon have a topographical survey available of the 15 acres of basically flat land, but still Yeomans basic rules still apply. I have attached a map of Graeme Hall where CPRI will have it's demonstration site. The 15 acres are located in the middle portion, lower mid section of the map. I think that entire section has 30 acres though. Would be great if I could attend your Keyline class to learn more about keyline farming because I will need to sharpen my skills in this area. My location is currently Van. BC. Barbados only happens in about 2 months. And yes, we will stay in touch for sure because we would love to have you be a guest teacher on the subject. Thank you and best regards!

Hello Owen, I am quite new to posting comments, but I will take this opportunity to welcome you and to introduce myself. I am also a PRI Certified Instructor from Australia. Upon completion of my internship, I decided to take my skills, ambition and entrepreneur ability and bring permaculture to Barbados and the region. I have registered the NGO as CPRI Caribbean Permaculture Research Institute of Barbados and have just finalized putting a great team together. We have received tremendous support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water of Barbados and have been granted 15 acres to build a demonstration site and set up a learning center. In addition, we have received financial support from the UNDP and other funding is in the works. We are so excited! My WPN profile and the CPRI Project can be found here http://permacultureglobal.com/users/3549-lorraine-ciarallo The project will commence in a couple more months. Owen, I am particularly interested in Keyline Farming and would like to bring this knowledge to a much needed Caribbean Island and region. I hope I get a chance to win a space in your upcoming class and if not, I sure would like to bring you in as a teacher on this topic. We can time it well so that you can escape the Colorado cold winter and take a break to soak up the Caribbean sunshine and swim at one of their many beautiful beaches in between teaching. There are many farmers who can seriously benefit from Keyline farming and to be able to teach them how to transform their unproductive land into productive land, will be so rewarding not only for them, but for CPRI as well. Farmers have no idea what permaculture can do to create soil fertility and food security which are both high on the governments top agenda, but they will finally get a chance . We intend to help them learn through gentle humble care and consideration of custom and culture. The moment I found permaculture was the day my life changed, but a special thank goes out to Inspiration Farm in Bellingham, WA for making my PDC experience a memorable one. I hope CPRI could inspire Caribbean's to feel the same way. Best regards!