Guerilla House

Free co-learning webinars in honour of Compost Awareness Week!

Join us today for the first session at 2pm: http://shorturl.at/asGIS

Globally, on average, just a 20cm layer of topsoil supports all of humanity on earth - providing us with all the renewable resources we need to survive such as food. Every year we lose about 1% of that topsoil to soil erosion. Most of this soil erosion is directly due to human activity - devegetation of our landscapes to make way for our built environment and industrial agriculture.

Continuing the game of humanity for generations to come is directly dependent on this layer of topsoil. Thankfully converting organic wastes back into topsoil is super easy, and governments around the world are progressing this on a regional and national scale - for eg Western Cape Government plans to ban the landfilling of all organic waste by 2027, with a 50% target set for 2022.

https://www.greencape.co.za/assets/Uploads/NF-1-Industry-Brief-GreenCape.pdf

www.greencape.co.za

We recently had the privilege of working with The Labon Foundation, an inspiring organisation who's made incredible strides toward localised food security in Bonteheuwel. They run a soup kitchen which feeds 150 people per day, Monday to Friday, and have also converted a large plot into a promising food garden.

We were brought in along with Sustainable Development student Natasha Piprek to host a 3 day workshop for the volunteers of the food garden. Our focus was boosting veg production to supplement the soup kitchen, as well as exploring income generation opportunities through the garden.

Workshop overview:
Day 1: Site analysis and design, soil types, improving soil fertility.
Day 2: Nursery design and plant propagation.
Day 3: Market gardening, crop rotation, pest management, value-adding, funding, and creating capital.

We left this workshop incredibly inspired, not just by the potential of the ecological landscape of this space, but by the drive and sense of community within the social landscape of this space.
We often say the ecological issues are simpler to solve. It's the social aspect that tends to be more challenging and volatile. But if you have that sorted, magic follows.💫

Did you know Calendulas are edible and packed with antioxidants? 🤩

The leaves are often added to salads, and the flowers are used as garnish, seasoning and in teas.

Medicinally it’s renowned for treating skin conditions such as acne, rashes and scar tissue.

These low growing beauties are part of the daisy family (Asteraceae), so just like many species in this family, they benefit the ecosystem by attracting beneficial insects and micro-organisms such as pollinators (bees, hover flies and butterflies) and predators such as ladybugs and lacewings.

Tip: Harvest the flowers as soon as they bloom to keep the plant flowering indefinitely.🌼

Another low maintenance water wise garden installed.
Veggie beds, a patch of grass for the kids, and drip irrigation loading!🌀💦

Tankful for the rain 🤲🏽💦

"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." - Steve Jobs⠀
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While a well thought out permaculture design often looks delicious, we find the biggest value our clients get is in the transfer of knowledge of how the design works and how it ties together various systems which are relevant for their unique context.⠀
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While we provide 3D models if required, often all our clients need is a rough sketch and conceptual plan to understand the systems that would meet their requirements.⠀
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Our design service is broken down as follows:⠀
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- Site visit to determine project scope. No charge for our time if based within 20km of us, only charge for our travel at R4/km. Design quote provided thereafter based on project scope.⠀
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- Design work, including any or all of the following: mood boards, data maps, conceptual and final designs (either 2D scale drawings or a 3D scale model), cost breakdown, supplier list (for clients who would like to implement themselves), plant lists, and an implementation plan.⠀
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NB free implementation quotes can be provided if you know exactly what you'd like implemented. If you just need ad hoc advice we also provide a consultation service at an hourly rate.⠀
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We quote according to project scope. If you're interested in our services, drop us a message!🤙🏽

Guerilla House Co-Founder Imraan Samuels is currently occupied full time facilitating intensive permaculture courses for previously disadvantaged individuals at SEED. This has been some of SEED's responses to the pandemic.

When lockdown hit this garden pivoted from an educational permaculture garden to a market garden and SEED linked up with 2 feeding schemes in the area (Mitchells Plain) to supply them with organic vegetables and naan bread on a weekly basis. To date the garden has supplied 125kg of fresh veggies as well as 1,850 naan breads to the feeding schemes 🙌🏽, and has provided income to 2 gardeners and 2 bakers.

This would not have been possible without the help of generous donors like Uthando South Africa and others 🙏🏽. If you'd like to donate or get involved, check them out at SEED

The cure for widespread unsustainable consumerism? Highly localised production!⠀
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Make your home your centre of regeneration and your gateway to abundance.🌱