Help Marda Permaculture Farm Fund its Dream to Construct a Teaching Center! (West Bank)
The Marda Permaculture Farm is a working farm and demonstration site for permaculture principles, techniques and strategies in Palestine. Based in the picturesque ancient village of Marda, the project promotes food sovereignty, health, self-reliance and empowerment. This is accomplished through modeling water harvesting, recycling, energy conservation and home-scale garden production with readily available and locally-appropriate materials.
Farm Founder and Director Murad AlKhufash has long dreamed of a teaching building using natural materials and techniques such as earth bag construction, cob, adobe, and local building technologies. The building, which would maximize space with two stories would provide a much needed office, indoor space for workshops, and lodging for interns and volunteers.
We are ready to begin this process, with your help! $4000 will support Murad in launching the project by working with students at nearby Birzeit University to complete renderings for the building, begin the permit process, and initiate a Natural Building Workshop April 2015 to jumpstart the project!
This building will integrate passive and active solar power, rainwater catchment and graywater recycling, thus enabling the farm to go "off grid" and so reduce dependence on Israeli-controlled and high cost energy and water supplies.
Over the past eight years the farm has become a destination for international visitors as well local farmers and backyard gardeners. The farm has thrived despite continual challenges posed by the occupation ranging from destructive hogs unleashed by settlers that destroyed crops and fences, high costs of materials, food, and water.
Murad and his neighbors have endured ongoing curfews, harassment by the Israeli military, difficulty leaving and returning. Thanks to Murad’s dedication and strong partners the farm has survived, on a shoestring.
Please click here to contribute whatever you can!
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