Resilience Design in Smallholder Farming Systems

Resilience Design in Smallholder Farming Systems Whole Systems Integration for Soil and Water Health and Stability Tools for the Field – Learning Event

Agricultural productivity and food security are inherently dependent on the human and ecological systems that sustain them. Resilient farming systems are those that achieve optimal productivity and at the same time conserve natural resources. By observing land patterns, and incorporating strategic agroecological principles through a whole systems design process into their site, smallholder farmers can have a significant impact on their ecological, nutritional and economic stability, and thus, their resilience. A series of two learning events will bring together project staff, extension staff, farmers, and other stakeholders to learn and share knowledge over the immediate and long term. Focusing on soil and water, participants will learn how to use a holistic design framework, observing natural patterns, and applying relevant principles, to co-design with farmers a productive and resilient smallholder farming system. The two events ‘Design for Soil Health and Stability’ and ‘Design for Water Health and Stability’ will be delivered by The Technical and Operational Performance Support (TOPS) Program. The TOPS Program has assembled a select group of individuals to share cutting edge thinking and application strategies, and to create an effective learning environment that fosters local networking and post-program interaction. The TOPS Program strengthens the capacity of Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) and food security practitioners to deliver high quality and effective food assistance by fostering collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing (http://www.thetopsprogram.org/). Food security project staff and practitioners are encouraged to apply. This will be a highly participatory training that will take place on farmer fields and include concrete examples and analysis. Participants must be willing to attend both field-based events in November 2015 and January 2016 in Malawi.

Dates November 16-19, 2015 – Design for Soil Health and Stability January 11-14, 2016 – Design for Water Health and Stability

Location Field location outside of Blantyre, Malawi.

Apply for the Training Email Eric Carlberg at [email protected] for more information or to apply for the training. In the email please include: 1. Name 2. Organization Affiliation 3. Title 4. Job description 5. Experience working with smallholder farming systems 6. How you plan to use the skills gained from this training Please submit your application by Oct 27, 2015.

Facilitators The Resilience Design in Smallholder Farming Systems Learning Events will be led by:

Warren Brush

Warren Brush is an international agroecosystem designer, Permaculture educator, and regenerative systems consultant for farmers, individuals, organizations and communities. He has worked for over 25 years inspiring people of all ages and “walks of life” to discover, nurture and express their inherent gifts while living in a regenerative manner. He is cofounder of Quail Springs Permaculture, Regenerative Earth Enterprises, Sustainable Vocations, Wilderness Youth Project, Casitas Valley Farm and Creamery and his Permaculture design company, True Nature Design. He works extensively in Permaculture education and agroecosystem design and implementation in North America, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and Australia. He has authored several articles including themes like: drought-proofing landscapes, innovating from the edge, regenerative farm investing, cultural regeneration, and more. He has taught the following courses: Permaculture Design Certification, Resilient Small Farm Design, Permaculture for International Development, Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Ferro-Cement Tank Building, Spring Rejuvenation and Watershed Restoration, Compost Toilet Systems, Water for Every Farm, Drought Proofing Landscapes, Ecological Restoration, Cultural Mentoring, Cultural Regeneration, Train-the-Trainer, Introduction to Permaculture Systems, Permaculture Gardening, Food Forestry, and Origins Skills among other offerings.

Thomas Cole

Thomas Cole has spent more than 20 years in sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, community development and humanitarian response work. Presently based in California, he has many years field experience across Sub-Saharan Africa - with significant time in Mozambique, Uganda and Ethiopia. His focal areas are in urban agriculture, food production system design, post-conflict recovery, organic horticulture, agricultural extension, permaculture, natural resource management and livelihoods. Thomas currently works as an agroecology and drought management advisor for The TOPS Program, and provides technical agricultural support for numerous communities recovering from conflict. Previously, he worked as the Africa Region Food Security and Livelihoods Advisor for Save the Children, as well as the coordinator for Save the Children's African Pastoralist Initiative. Thomas has a Master’s degree in Humanitarian Assistance from the Friedman School of Nutrition at Tufts University. Brad Lancaster

Bard Lancaster is a dynamic teacher, consultant, and designer of regenerative systems that sustainably enhance local resources and our global potential. He is the author of the award-winning, best-selling book series Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond; the website www.HarvestingRainwater.com; and its ‘Drops in a Bucket’ Blog. Brad has taught throughout North America as well as in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Australia. His hometown projects have included working with the City of Tucson and other municipalities to legalize, incentivize, and provide guidance on water-harvesting systems, demonstration sites, and policy. He has likewise collaborated with state agencies to promote practices that transform costly local “wastes” into free local resources. Brad’s aim is always to boost communities’ true health and wealth by using simple overlapping strategies to augment the region’s hydrology, ecosystems, and economies—living systems upon which we depend. Brad lives his talk on an oasis-like demonstration site he created and continually improves with his brother and neighbors in downtown Tucson, Arizona. On this eighth of an acre and surrounding public right-of-way, they harvest 100,000 gallons of rainwater a year where less than 12 inches fall from the sky. But it doesn’t end there. The potential of that water is then integrated with the simultaneous harvest of sun, wind, shade, and fertility. Brad is motivated in his work by the tens of thousands of people he has helped inspire to do likewise, go further, and continue our collective evolution.

Andrea Mottram

Andrea Mottram, the Senior Agriculture Specialist for The TOPS Program, has worked in agricultural development for 20 years. She leads the agriculture and natural resource management component of the consortium program for Mercy Corps, working with the implementing community to identify, modify, and develop tools and best practices, strengthen technical skills, and support knowledge sharing mechanisms. Andrea has worked with Mercy Corps in a number of agriculture and economic development field positions throughout Africa and Asia, as well as global technical support. She previously worked in agricultural research and training for the Centre for Arid Zone studies, a UK-based research and development organization. She has a PhD from the University of Wales, Bangor, UK in sorghum and millet production in semi-arid areas, and an MSc in rural resource management.

Eric Carlberg

Eric Carlberg, the Regional Agriculture Specialist for the TOPS Program, has worked in agricultural development throughout sub-Saharan Africa. As the Regional Agriculture Specialist, Eric focuses on building knowledge and capacity around agriculture, natural resource management and market systems through local and regional networks. Eric has worked in several roles in agricultural development with emphases on project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and capacity building. He has a M.S. in agricultural and applied economics and a B.S. in business administration.