Permaculture Learning and Application in Bolivia

Permaculture is a holistic approach to sustainable living, integrating agriculture, ecology, and public and private space planning to create self-sufficient systems that work in harmony with nature. The term, coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s, combines "permanent" and "agriculture." It emerged as a response to the environmental damage caused by industrial agriculture and emphasizes principles like soil regeneration, water conservation, and biodiversity promotion. Today, permaculture is practiced worldwide in gardens, farms, and urban spaces, offering solutions for food security and environmental resilience.

At the permaculture retreat run by Simon and Jessica in Bolivia, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about permaculture firsthand, expand your knowledge, and put it into practice. Simon has been practicing permaculture and natural healing for about 20 years and holds qualifications in permaculture design, community development, and holistic healing. Originally from New Zealand, he started building the permaculture retreat center in Mizque, Bolivia, from the ground up in 2014. He is continuously improving the project with innovative methods and shares his permaculture knowledge with participants during project activities.

The farm is also home to three dogs, two cats, and several chickens, turkeys, ducks, and rabbits.

Ongoing tasks and projects include water remediation for the Mizque River, the development of an open-source garden planner to help communities take responsibility for their food security, and building a new kitchen. There’s active exchange with the local indigenous community, who are supported in improving their living conditions, including water and food security. The farm also produces organic fertilizers and natural pest control products for both on-site use and sale.

Mizque, meaning "sweet" in Quechua, is a small town about three hours from Cochabamba. Known for its temperate climate and fertile soils, it has a reputation for thriving agriculture. From juicy grapes used for wine and guarapo to papayas, prickly pears, olive trees, and a wide variety of native medicinal plants, Mizque is an agricultural paradise. The rainy season lasts from November to February but is not particularly intense. The town is rich in indigenous culture, expressed in colorful traditions.

A Typical Day on the Farm

You start your day with the sunrise, followed by an hour of physical work to get moving, such as feeding the animals or working in the permaculture garden. Then we enjoy a communal breakfast, followed by four hours of work on current projects. The workday wraps up after five hours of effort, just in time for lunch.

Afternoons are free for exploring the area, taking on additional activities or projects, or connecting with the community. Cooking and kitchen duties are shared among participants, and meals are typically eaten together.

Tasks are varied and rotate among participants, ensuring there's never a dull moment and providing exposure to many aspects of permaculture. Additional activities include community-building exercises and mindfulness practices like yoga.

The town center is a 15-minute walk away and features a beautiful plaza, market, and farmers’ market. Traditional festivals are frequent, offering opportunities to connect with the friendly locals. Small shops are just a five-minute walk away.

You can rent mountain bikes at the retreat and explore numerous hiking trails, canyoning spots, rivers for swimming, Inca ruins, and cave paintings. Recreational sports like basketball, soccer, and the local game "frontón" can be arranged at the local school, community center, or stadium.

Engineering Internship Water Restoration and Water Harvesting

There is also the opportunity to complete an internship with a project conducted by the local administration of Mizque, in which the Permaculture Retreat acts as a consultant. The project aims to counteract the negative effects of slash-and-burn agriculture, overgrazing, and industrial farming practices that have led to the drying up of rivers and droughts. Villagers are guided in constructing local watersheds, following the successful model of the "Indian Water Revolution."

Five engineers specializing in civil engineering, water management, earthworks, and agronomy are involved in the project. They provide qualified internship supervision and can issue an internship certificate on behalf of the local administration.

The minimum duration for this internship is 4 weeks.