Agroecology through Permaculture and agroforestry

 Permaculture - incorporating indigenous knowledge & culture into socio-ecological landscape farming systems

 Welcome to our world of multi-storey mixed integrated organic farming. Suzy-farms adopts a flourishing natural ecosystem model which includes people, animals, birds, insects, fishes, trees, crops, vegetables, fruits, nuts, tubers, medicinal herbs, land and water resources through mutually beneficial synergies – no waste and close loop systems. We incorporate social aspects; culture of the people and indigenous knowledge; to re-construct a modern multi-storey integrated mixed organic farming system as practiced in the 19th century by our ancestors. The farm is managed as an integrated whole of a mixed diversified canopies of trees and crops underneath. Here we work alongside with nature, observing and planting according to the weather conditions (two crop seasons per year) and valuing plants and animals in all their inter-related functions rather than treating any element as a single product system. We try to get a better understanding of the landscape, functions and species assemblies to enable us identify where each element should be place so they can provide maximum mutual benefit to each other and the environment. Our focus is not on an individual element, but rather the relationship among them - where the whole system becomes better than its individual elements. A sustainable system that minimizes waste, pollution, human labour, energy input and maximizes benefits through synergy.

Permaculture

Our principles

Here are some farming principles practiced by Suzy-Farms

1. ·        We do not farm on virgin forest, but rather rehabilitate degraded land by planting long standing fruit trees and crops to sequester carbon dioxide and halt further timber exploitation.
2. ·        We observe and interact with the landscape to design a solution that is suitable for the particular area.
3. ·        We self-regulate and accept feedback to re-strategies toward appropriate activities that lead to project sustainability.
4. ·        We make use of and value nature’s abundance resources thereby reducing our dependence on fertilizers, chemicals and non-renewable resources.
5. ·        We produce no waste as all resources are employed or recycle.
6. ·        We observe natural patterns and society to design our projects.
7. ·        We integrate the natural relationships between elements in our design and align them to benefit each other and enhance yield per unit area.
8. ·        We make use of best available techniques which are less costly, easier to maintain and produce more sustainable outcomes.
9. ·        We incorporate indigenous knowledge and practices.
10.        We enhance biodiversity to reduce system vulnerability to climate change threats and restore ecosystems.
11. ·        We observe the natural ecosystem closely, so we can prepare ourselves for any unpredictable challenges with a timely intervention.

Dr. Nvenakeng Suzanne at the farm, Buea- Cameroon

Multi-storey layers

In our 200ha of land, we have design a sustainable ecosystem model of eight layers with many relationships between its constituent parts – timber, fruit trees, cash crops, crops, climbers, tubers, animals and soil organisms. Diverse community of animals, birds and insects occupies different layers.

• 1.     The first canopy are large timber trees with large canopies, typically 2-3 trees per ha for wood biomass and conservation purpose.
• 2.     The second layer is occupied by large fruit trees such as mangoes, plums, avocado, casa mango, bush mango and cherry planted with a triangular spacing distance of 8m*12m. Then coconuts and palms to demarcate, section each 2ha of planting space (for better management) and provide shade on roads (8m wide) within the farm.
• 3.     The third layer consist of fruit trees like oranges, apples, kiwi, guavas - planted at 8m*9m spacing. Then plantains planted at 3m*5m triangular spacing to shade coffee and cocoa.
• 4.     We have coffee (3m*2m) and cocoa (3m*4m) as under-storey because they can flourish under canopy. Then plantains 
• 5.     Next is the shrub or herbaceous layer with plants such as hibiscus, bitter leaves, scent leaves, culinary and medicinal herbs.
• 6.     The ground cover includes plants that grow close to the ground like pineapples, agave sisalana, pepper, vegetables, egusi, melon, flowers and cover crops. They fill bare patches, help to retain soil moisture, reduce erosion and add nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
• 7.     The rhizosphere includes the soil, soil organisms, plant roots, tubers, fungi, insects, worms, etc.
• 8.     The vertical layer include vines like vanilla, black pepper, beans, passion fruits etc.

  Guild concept

We use the guild concept to carefully bring together compatible animals, insects and plants that form symbiotic relationships which results to healthier plants, ecosystems and resources for humans. Some plants are grown to produce food, fertilize the soil (legumes), attract beneficial insects (flowers for bees to aids pollination) or repel undesirable pest (Red acalypha, marigold and Tithonia plants).

Our mutual support guild group include sister or companion crops that complement, support and provide mutual benefits to each other. Examples include planting maize and beans together, where the root nodes of the beans fix nitrogen for the maize plant and the maize support the vines of the bean. Lady beetles are introduce as predators for aphids, mites, caterpillars, and scale insect. Wasps are introduce to control aphids, worms, caterpillars, borers, bugs, weevils and flies. Other predators that are commonly used to control pest are dragon flies and praying mantids. Flowers are planted to attract insects that act as pollinators. Coconuts and cocoa are good examples of resource partitioning guild group because coconuts has a shallow root system while cocoa is a tap-rooted plant, so they can draw nutrient from different levels.

People and culture

Indigenous people are very much bonded to their soil and landscape, so much that their health and mental wellbeing depend on maintaining these ties with their local home site. Preserving indigenous knowledge and plant species may create an environment for enhancing community welfare and inclusiveness – the Ubuntu mindset.

We are using a holistic approach to life and work to create a land management approach; that depends on cultural values, local knowledge and indigenous species; which enhances the socio-economic and environmental aspects of the landscape - people, planet and profit. A blend of modern and indigenous knowledge can make people and local communities to be self-reliant and resilient to threats. We are taking local actions in solving global issues like climate change, food security, employment, poverty alleviation, hunger, pollution, biodiversity and species preservation amongst others.

Practices

Earth worms

 We are relying on the benefits from combining timber, fruit trees, shrubs, crops, livestock and fishes through agroforestry and permaculture to create a more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable ecosystem. We incorporate indigenous knowledge, processes and relationships that are valuable in landscape ecosystems. Our multi-storey model helps to maximize space for food production and effective use of resources like sunlight and nutrients. Dead leaves, shrubs and woods are buried to increase soil water retention. This local technique enable us to practice only rain feed farming as the shrubs and woods absorbs water to sustain crops during the dry season. Thus nutrient are naturally being recycle in wood, leaves and shrubs as they decompose. This leads to high water holding capacity of organic matter which enhance the soil structure and drainage systems. Our zero burning practice preserves soil organism and earthworms - which break up green and dead leaves to produce nutrients and worm castings respectively. These castings fertilize the soil, increase plant growth, decrease heavy metals, aerate the soil and improve water retention.

Our houses are built from locally available natural materials (lime mortared stem walls, thatch, wood, sticks etc.) that produce healthy living environment and better air qualities without jeopardizing human comfort, health and wellbeing.  Rain water is harvested and use for livestock, fish farming, drinking and irrigation of vegetables.

Animal husbandry

Animals are a critical component of Suzy-Farms. We rear goats, sheep, chicken, ducks, rabbits, geese, pigs, snails and fishes. They forage to recycle nutrient, eat fallen fruits and left-over crops and in return produce waste that are used as manure to fertilize the farm. Animal waste can also be used for biogas production. Water from our fish ponds are used to irrigate and fertilize vegetables. We use dry grass and leaves to mulch. Mulching absorbs rainfall, reduces evaporation, provides nutrient, increases soil organic matter, creates favorable habitat for soil organism, suppresses weed growth and reduces erosion. Thereby generating a more low maintenance, healthy, efficient and productive ecosystems. Let’s all cooperate with nature to care for the earth and its people.

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