Project Report #3 from Seed and Permaculture
volunteers in Ecuador Feb 5 2001

September 2000 - Jan 2001
Helen Gilmour, Holly Shiach and Shine Mietzal

Activities undertaken in this time:
ON THE GROUND:
*Design and construction of seed drying racks
*Design and construction of seed saving isolation
cages
*Design and construction of extra seed multiplication
 beds and trellises
*Continuation of composting program
*General garden and farm maintenance and
 improvement (pruning, mulching etc)
*Continuation of plant sourcing 
*Continuation of germination testing and plant
 trialling activities
*Ongoing seed bank administration
*Plant and seed multiplication on site at Madre
 Selva and with other multipliers
*Ongoing seed cleaning, drying and saving
*Improved storage facilities
*Ongoing financial bookkeeping
*Development and facilitation of soils and
 composting workshop for community of Oldmedo, in
preparation for further seed/ plant work
*Networking and commencement of plant exchange
 activities with communities of Playa del Oro and
 Olmedo
*Development of educational materials
*Construction of new bridge access and road into
 Madre Selva (WOW!!no more mud!!!)
*Purchase and painting of new triciclo for transport
(YEY!!)
*Dismantling of dysfunctional water systems in
 preparation for the new.
*Design of new water system
*Repaired guardian house to basic living standard
*All volunteers improved Spanish!
*We all had a holiday!!(yipee)
PLANNING, COMMUNICATIONS ETC:
*Participation and facilitation of regular staff
 meetings at Madre Selva
*Communications with partners as possible
*Continuing evaluation and planning for seed
 project
*Participation and facilitation of planning
 sessions toward future for Madre Selva
*Financial planning for Madre Selva 2001
*Commenced research and feasibility studies for
 future projects for income producing projects for
Madre Selva
*Participation and facilitation of meeting with
 CIBT/ RIC/ Madre Selva staff on Madre Selva
*Networking and Planning for funding proposal for
 a national organic seed production business
 
And a little flesh......
Its been a time of quickening energy, getting
things done and consolidating the work of the previous
months. A fulfilling and exciting time with lots
of positive vibes amongst all at Madre Selva. Ongoing
seed gathering, planting and harvesting following the
rhythms of the moon has formed the body of our monthly
work routine.
Planning for the future has been a priority activity
during this period, to work toward a sustainable path
for seed and general activities of Madre Selva.
This has involved lots of planning sessions with
staff,
and communicating via internet with various allies.
December brought two new volunteers to San Lorenzo,
Mike and Monika from Oregon, USA. They had read the
RIC website and after reading the Madre Selva
Assessment of July 2000, said they figured
we really needed some help and on that made their way
to San Lorenzo!
Mikes experience working in nurseries and making
commercial organic composts and soils meant he was
able check out our soil mixes and composting
methods (which got the thumbs up!) He not only gave
good advice but made some darn good compost among
other
things while he was at it. It was perfect timing,
with the building of the new road in the dry
season allowing the arrival of truckloads of sand, and
the newly built multiplication beds needing filling.
Monika is a student of international studies and
it was a treat  to have interesting conversations and
news from around the world. She made a great
contribution co facilitating the soils and compost
workshop for the community of Olmeldo. Both worked
conscientiously every day and we were sad to see
them leave before Christmas when their Ecuadorian
visas
were up. 
Extra donations were forwarded by Rainforest
Information Centre and Seed Savers Network to top up
our budget to cover a few pledges not received, what a
relief, big thanks to them! Generous donations pledged
earlier by Tony Jansen and Sustainable Futures
Planning and Design were also gratefully received.
(Tony worked as a volunteer at Madre Selva in its
early days, and now continues agriculture work in the Solomon
Islands.)
During this period US$5000 funding was also received
from Global Green Grants, for priority maintenance and
repairs at Madre Selva. This money was sourced by John
Seed in response to a plea from all at Madre Selva in
the Site and Operational Assessment of May 2000 (on
RIC website). It has been an enormous boost to get
general systems back on track so that Madre Selva is
ready to resume its function as a site for seed and
plant production and distribution, and permaculture
demonstration and education.
Shine and Helen packed their bags in mid January
and everyone (especially Holly!!) is very sad to see
them go. We had a great 2 day farewell party, and
other
than dancing till we literally couldn't move,it was a
really touching celebration of friendships grown. Both
made an absolutely huge volunteer contribution of time
and energy and skills which have really made a big
difference here.
Shines energy will be especially missed on the farm,
as well as in the kitchen and at fruit harvest! Shine
will also be well remembered for turning up in San
Lorenzo with literally not a word of Spanish and
beginning his relationships in the community with only
a dictionary in hand, sticking it through to build
friendships and bit by bit pick up the language to a
point where he is raving with the best of em!! (Gold
medal!!) Shine has many ideas for Madre Selva and
other projects in the region and plans to continue his
relationship with ongoing research and communications,
and everyone hopes, to return here again.
Helens great energy for community relations will be
sorely missed as well as her work in the nursery,
seed bank and of course on the dance floor. Helen will
also be missed as the only one of us volunteers at
Madre Selva possessing a watch (what will we do now??)
Helen wins gold medal for maintaining fashion and
personal hygiene despite her environment. Helen has
been the life of the party, and a happy consistent
workmate.
It has been an incredible experience to share and
create with friends who have become "family". May good
luck and good memories go with those moving on, as
well as a sense of achievement for all they have
given, and a little San Lorenzo marimba magic to juice
up their futures.
  
Late January will welcome the arrival of a new
volunteer, Be Ward from Sydney/Tasmania. Be is a
permaculturist, a keen gardener and musician, who will
be working in the gardens and nursery at Madre Selva,
and assisting with community work. Having studied
music in Africa we are sure he will have his play time
well filled up with the local marimba scene, and Madre
Selva will be glad for a little live music action too.


A note from Helen:
I am feeling a sense of satisfaction tinged with
sadness; looking back to the beginning; participating
in the change and growth at Madre Selva; growing
in confidence and excitement as the project moved
forward and burst forth and my skills and knowledge
expanded; building the relationships that have made my
life so rich, both with the people and the land of
Madre Selva, San Lorenzo and Ecuador.
It has been wonderful to share this experience with
two other Aussies,Shine and Holly. I think we have
made an excellent team, joining together all our
skills and knowledge to  contribute something
worthwhile, as well as sharing a friendship that
has deepened and strengthened with the passing of
time.
So thanks, guys!!!
It is time to move on and say goodbye and I would
like to thank all the people and organizations who
have
helped support my time here as well as the project.
I plan to keep supporting the project from Australia
and want to maintain the connections I have made at
Madre Selva. This experience will be imprinted in
my memory and in my heart forever!!
Muchas gracias para todos and chao,
Helen