The IPÊTERRAS Ecological Farm

In 1997, the founding members of IPÊTERRAS launched a successful campaign called "An Ecological Farm for Young People" to buy a 6 hectare property 5km from the town of Irecê. Since 1998 it is here that the organisation has been based, developing techniques of Permaculture and of living in harmony with the semi-arid climate. Such practices have included soil recovery, the installation of a solar energy system (the only source of energy on the farm), and the setting up of Sustainable Agro-forestry Systems (see bottom of the page for more details).

In 2003, by way of a new campaign "SOS Caatinga", the IPÊTERRAS staff were able to buy an 8 hectare plot of Caatinga (the local vegetation, typical of the semi-arid climate of the region) that was threatened with deforestation. Today this area has been preserved in its natural state and in it ecological, educational activities are organised for regional schools, students and groups of farmers.

The Ecological Farm, where IPÊTERRAS is based, is a collective space open to society.

A part of the Institute's staff also live on the farm.

Permaculture at IPÊTERRAS:

Soil recuperation and conservation: In 1997, the founders of the Drylands Permaculture Institute bought 6 hectares whose soil was in a state of high degradation. The team began therefore, with the important work of soil recuperation through the sowing of planting of trees. As one side of the plot is on a slope, it was necessary to use techniques for retaining water and, in consequence, the soil.

Today, after 9 years of work, the majority of the soil in this 6 hectare plot has been recuperated. To guarantee good conservation of the soil, it remains covered and protected during the 8 months of the dry season.

Preservation: IPÊTERRAS bought an 8 hectare plot of Caatinga in 2002, the original vegetation of the semi-arid region of Bahia. This area has now been preserved in its natural state.

The Use of Renewable Energy: The only source of water at IPÊTERRAS' Ecological Farm is the rain. The Institute therefore possesses 4 cisterns with a total capacity of 120,000 litres that capture and store water during the rainy season for use during the dry season. The only source of energy at the Institute is solar energy.

Diversified agriculture: Poli-culture is one of the basic principals applied at IPÊTERRAS. As a result crops are harvested all year round - during the dry and wet seasons. As well as plantations of beans, corn, mamona and manioc when the rain allows, the following plants are also grown at the farm: sorghum, gliricídia, palms, regional fruit (acerola, umbu, siriguela, etc), cotton, chili peppers, medicinal plants, trees typical of the semi-arid climate, the production of shade, of fire-wood, etc.

Apiculture: There is a small amount of apiculture work carried out at the Ecological Farm. One of the challenges is to increase this production.

Sustainable Agro-forestry Systems / Productive forests: After closely watching nature and then attempting imitating it, IPÊTERRAS is developing large areas of productive forests using local, adaptable plants such as gliricidia. The idea is to create areas in which the plants help and protect each other mutually, in this way mimicking nature.

Permaculture Chicken House: the chicken house has 8 sides and 8 exits, the idea being to create a rotation in the raising of the chickens. IPÊTERRAS has around 50 chickens.

Politico-environmental education: these educacional activities all take place at the Ecological Farm where the institution receives schools and associations from the region.

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