Growing Food Forests: A Syntropic Farming Workshop

Syntropic farming was developed in Brazil by Ernst Gotsch (Swiss botanist) in response to deforestation and industrial agricultural practices. The word ‘Syntropy’ in agroforestry refers to “increasing complexity” and biodiversity within the system. A forest is a natural succession of plant species with the fast growing species creating conditions for slower growing plants to eventually establish themselves. Every species in a forest ecosystem has a particular ecological function and fills a different niche in the system. It is about systemising the natural processes of rainforests. We create food forests by mimicking succession, while also reinvigorating soils on degraded land.

MORE OF WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Understanding forest vertical layering of the habitat; the arrangement of vegetation in layers. We will explore how plants behave in their environment, considering the quantity and quality of light that the plants need to be healthy and the particular forest micro climate they thrive in.
• Natural succession. To cultivate a forest it is important to see how plants behave across time. How long it takes them to reach their full life cycle and how long it takes until they reach maturity.
• The importance of Mulching. It is essential that soil stay covered with organic matter to be fertile. We will teach best mulching practices for maximum soil health.
• Intercropping. We will demonstrate how to combine plants in an Agroforest, including examples on how to properly combine different species in one system.
• Agroforestry Design. There will be a practical design exercise evaluating production goals regarding the quantity and type of products being produced and considering all variables of your property or agicultural land: climate, soil quality, ground leveling, positioning considering the sun, etc. We will also initiate the implantation of a new area that will become a food forest here at Terganic.
• introduce you to Plant Propagation. Knowledge of best practices for the propagation of different plant species to create long-term health and productivity of individual plants.

This workshopis part of many other short courses that makes up to the 72 hours) of the PDC (Permaculture Design Certificate).  Students who take this workshop can then add up our other coming complementary courses that will in the end give you a solid foundation in ethics and principles of permaculture.

Day Schedule :

• 9h00 : Check-in
• 9h30-10h15 : Permaculture Food Forest vs Syntropic
• 10h15-11h00 : Natural successions from vegetable crops to Food forests
• 11h00-11h15 : Coffee Break.
• 11h15-12h30 : Intercropping, plant guilds, and companion planting
• 12h30-1h30 : Lunch Break
• 1h30-2h30 : Practical Design Exercise
• 2h30-2h45 : Cofee Break
• 2h45-4h30 : Planning and Production Considerations

Drinks and finger snacks will be available at the bar as from 4:30 pm at affordable prices.

Camping facilities can be arranged on site for the night before the workshop, and on the Saturday night after the course.

⚠️ Workshops are French spoken but we can arrange English courses for a minimum group of 5 participants on week days. You can send us your requests via our contact page.

● Lunch :

Enjoy Lunch at our Ecovillage Table D'hôtes, and have a farm-to-table experience with Olivier & Anaïs as they will be most happy to introduce you there own experience and philosophies of a resilient lifestyle in connection with the natural ecosystems of their own farm gardens. Lunch includes:

• A Welcoming homemade Juice
• A Buffet lunch (Veg/Non-Veg)
• A Dessert
• And Coffee/Herbal Tea

● Outfit :

Plan a casual outfit to go to the gardens with ease. Boots, hats, and gardening gloves would also be recommended on the farm, as well as sunscreen, and a mosquitoe repellent.

● Accomodation Options :

• For people who wish to stay on-site over the weekend, accommodation is camping style on our camp ground.
• There is one powered container cabin family dormitory glamping style available at La Petite Ferme within our Ecovillage (to be booked for a fee). Contact Olivier on Whatsapp number: ☎ 5963 3495.

● Course location :

Terganic Permaculture Garden Farm forms an integral part of La Meule Permaculture Ecovillage.

Located near Bambou Virieux, this 5 acres magnificent farm has been created from bare ground and managed since 2015 as part of La Meule Ecovillage. It is the first ecovillage farm of its kind in Mauritius designed entirely with the permaculture design methods, where people and nature live in harmony. La Meule Ecovillage is a unique place of 27 acres including energy-independent dwellings, cultivation areas, ponds, enclosures for animals, and much more. The valley of Anse Bambous is a place of permaculture and agroecological experimentation and development of green agro-tourism. Please respect the place and its inhabitants.

● Access to the farm :

Please note that we have about 1 km of agricultural road (chemin cane) before reaching the farm. If you have a very low height car, please arrange accordingly. SUVs, 2x4 and 4x4 would be more appropriate.

● The Training will be animated by: 

Thierry Guimbeau, our farm manager and resident teacher: Born in Mauritius.  Thierry is certified in permaculture by Geoff Lawton (A world reference in the permaculture movement). Thierry completed his training in 2012 with a PDC (Permaculture Design Certificate), followed by a 2-month Internship at the Permaculture Research Institute, Zaytuna Farm, Australia. His Training included the following:

• A Biointensive Gardening Course (by Kay Baxter),
• A Seed Saving Course,(by Kay Baxter)
• A Compost Soil Biology & Natural Fertilizer Course (by Paul Taylor),
• A Permaculture Urban Landscape Design Course (by Geoff Lawton/Nick Huggins),
• A Permaculture Earthworks Course (by Geoff Lawton),
• A Permaculture Project Aid Works Course (by Geoff Lawton),and
• A Permaculture Teacher Training Course (by Geoff Lawton).

In addition to his teaching, Thierry also practices consulting and design services in permaculture.

He is a co-founder of La Meule Ecovillage and and founder/manager at Terganic Permaculture.