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Eco Ola
Eco Ola
Details
Commenced:
01/08/2009
Submitted:
05/06/2012
Last updated:
07/10/2015
Location:
Iquitos, PE
Website:
www.eco-ola.com
Climate zone:
Wet Tropical





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Eco Ola

Project Type

Rural, Community, Demonstration, Educational, Financial Economic

Project Summary

Eco Ola’s mission is to break the cycle of resource depletion and poverty plaguing the Peruvian Amazon through the implementation of permaculture in conjunction with the local communities. The destructive cycle starts with logging; uncontrolled slash and burn; followed by cattle grazing; then abandonment of the land for newly exploited areas. Towards this goal we have developed a polyculture system that includes community staples yuca, bananas, and beans; regional crops cocona, camote, peppers, achiote, and lemon grass; and the export crops sacha inchi and cacao. This diversity of crops mitigates yield and market risks while restoring degraded land and building community self reliance. We understand the importance of proving that agroecological farming systems work and provide a real alternative to industrial farming. Thus, all of our design work is geared toward scalability and the inclusion of additional communities to turn the negative feedback cycles into positive ones. A key facet of this is providing people with access to healthy products that are truly sustainable. Consumer choice can only be an agent of change when real alternatives are made available and people can make informed buying decisions. Eco Ola welcomes collaboration with other groups dedicated to building better communities.

Project Description

In addition to providing finance and training to our partner farmers we also operate our own 100-acre site.  The site was poorly managed and abandoned before we acquired it and it is emblematic of land use problems in the Amazon. A large portion of the site was clear cut and used as pasture without any forage crops or rotational grazing. As a result  this area was denuded of soil and full of erosion channels.  All the valuable trees were cut down in another section, and the third area was a poorly designed government run aquaculture installation, incapable of sustaining fish. 

Since taking over the site we have swaled the exposed open areas, and installed our sacha inchi based polyculture that will grow into a triple-canopy food forest. We are managing the forest areas to promote medicinal forests combined with selective plantings in gaps in the canopy.  Finally, we are very excited to turn the fish ponds into rich, biodiverse chinampas!

We are employing many familiar permaculture practices, some notable examples are our water buffaloes and stingless bees. The regional government introduced water buffalo to the community, but never provided any training on their use as draft animals. We brought in an expert water buffalo trainer and now our herd includes the first working buffaloes in Iquitos! Most European honeybees are unable to thrive in the Amazon and the Africanized ones are a risk for our buffaloes, and us! We have started some hives of endemic stingless bees, which are easy to work with and very hardy. And let’s not forget the honey, it is exceptional! 

Our next project is building a training center where community members and activists can learn about permaculture from our partner farmers and implement what they learn and share in their own communities.

 

SKYPE:  eco-ola

Social Media Outlets:  
Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/ecoola/  
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eco-Ola/168036436569442
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/EcoOla


Eco Ola Bio/Media Articles: 
Eco Ola Biography-http://www.eco-ola.com/about-2/company-overview/

Fast Company-
Farming Goes High-Tech in the Amazon
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1680524/farming-goes-high-tech-in-the-amazon

Mongabay Interview-http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0503-park-interview-eco-ola.html

Project Restoration- http://www.eco-ola.com/2011/12/09/project-restoration/

Independent blog from Rick Pickett-http://permaculture.rickpickett.com/post/20409086321/first-visit-to-eco-ola-permaculture-farm-in-mazan-peru

Updates

Red Plantains~Eco Ola

Red Plantains~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

It's the Little Things~Eco Ola

It's the Little Things~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Chemicals? Or Sea Kelp?!!!!---The Easy Solution

Chemicals? Or Sea Kelp?!!!!---The Easy Solution

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Perfumed Permaculture~Eco Ola

Perfumed Permaculture~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Nourish the Beginnings~Eco Ola

Nourish the Beginnings~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Unparalleled Poohs and Views: Composting Toilet~Eco Ola

Unparalleled Poohs and Views: Composting Toilet~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Mulching Cover w/ Banana Leaves~Eco Ola

Mulching Cover w/ Banana Leaves~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

"Think of all the beauty..."~Eco Ola

"Think of all the beauty..."~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Amazonian Dark Earths~Eco Ola

Amazonian Dark Earths~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

To hear, to see, to try~Eco Ola

To hear, to see, to try~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Description of Mazan Attack~ Eco Ola

Description of Mazan Attack~ Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Eco Ola Needs Your Help-Rainforest Devastation

Eco Ola Needs Your Help-Rainforest Devastation

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Road Less Taken~Eco Ola

Road Less Taken~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Chaikuni Institute + Eco Ola's Ecosocial Entrepreneurship

Chaikuni Institute + Eco Ola's Ecosocial Entrepreneurship

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

Machete Work~Eco Ola

Machete Work~Eco Ola

Posted almost 11 years ago (0 comments)

A Basic Chance~Eco Ola

A Basic Chance~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Maniacal Manioc~Eco Ola

Maniacal Manioc~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Care Less For Your Harvest?~Eco Ola

Care Less For Your Harvest?~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Jungle Peanutry~Eco Ola

Jungle Peanutry~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Jungle Peanutry~Eco Ola

Jungle Peanutry~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (4 comments)

"Luminous world"~Eco Ola

"Luminous world"~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Whole Way of Understanding~Eco Ola

Whole Way of Understanding~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

"The Physic of the Field"~Eco Ola

"The Physic of the Field"~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Permaculture Chicken Coop and Worm Bin~Eco Ola

Permaculture Chicken Coop and Worm Bin~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (1 comments)

Neurological Network~Eco Ola

Neurological Network~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Good Guests~Eco Ola

Good Guests~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Dr. Seuss~Eco Ola

Dr. Seuss~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Masato~Eco Ola

Masato~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Office Buffalo~Eco Ola

Office Buffalo~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

An Instrument of Grace~Eco Ola

An Instrument of Grace~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (1 comments)

Jungle Insight~Eco Ola

Jungle Insight~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Mocambo~Eco Ola

Mocambo~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Good Farmers~Eco Ola

Good Farmers~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Permaculture in the City~Eco Ola

Permaculture in the City~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Eco Ola in Lima, Peru---Permaculture Promotion

Eco Ola in Lima, Peru---Permaculture Promotion

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Build It And They Will Come

Build It And They Will Come

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

The Fight~ Eco Ola

The Fight~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

"The Tonic of Wildness"~Eco Ola

"The Tonic of Wildness"~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

"The Tonic of Wildness"~Eco Ola

"The Tonic of Wildness"~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

A Football Field Lost Every Second~Eco Ola

A Football Field Lost Every Second~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Acaté Amazonian Conservation

Acaté Amazonian Conservation

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Rainforest Nursery~Eco Ola

Rainforest Nursery~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Transporting Baby Plants~Eco Ola

Transporting Baby Plants~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Fighting for the Undernourished and Badly Nourished~Eco Ola

Fighting for the Undernourished and Badly Nourished~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Rainforest Iguana Stewardship ~ Eco Ola

Rainforest Iguana Stewardship ~ Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Monkey Hunts? Deforestation? Permaculture?

Field Notes from Amazonia

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

The Question~Eco Ola

The Question~Eco Ola

Posted about 11 years ago (0 comments)

Exuberant Vegetation~Eco Ola

Exuberant Vegetation~Eco Ola

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

La Puna Tree~Eco Ola

La Puna Tree~Eco Ola

Posted over 11 years ago (3 comments)

Writing Stories With Permaculture~ Eco Ola

Writing Stories With Permaculture~ Eco Ola

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Matses Tribe + Eco Ola

Matses Tribe + Eco Ola

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Consumer Choices?----Eco Ola Blog Post on GMOs

Consumer Choices?----Eco Ola Blog Post on GMOs

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Peru Bans GMOs ---Eco Ola Rejoices

Peru Bans GMOs ---Eco Ola Rejoices

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Alternative to Extractive Industries---Eco Ola Permaculture

Eco Ola is situated in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest where ancient trees, minerals and oil reside.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

More Grows in the Garden than the Gardener Sows---Eco Ola

Sacha Inchi + Tree Frog

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Charapita Peppers Gigantes

Charapita Peppers Gigantes

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Wisdom of Mind, Kindness of Heart---Eco Ola

To paraphrase Charles Dickens, it is the marriage of the wisdom of the mind and the kindness of the heart that can mend our hurt.

Posted over 11 years ago (1 comments)

The Significant Insignificant of Eco Ola's Permaculture

"You'll come to learn a great deal if you study the Insignificant in depth." (Odysseas Elytis)

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

"Value the Marginal"--Eco Ola Living Fence Posts

One the core principles of permaculture is "To use edges and value the marginal."

Posted over 11 years ago (6 comments)

Permaculture Partner Farmers, Rainforest Knowledge---Eco Ola

This is Eco Ola's dear Domitila hauling in some firewood for Peruvian cooking.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Moringa's Place in Eco Ola's Permaculture

When Eco Ola designs its polyculture guilds we think about how we can grow extremely nutrient dense food.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Bonbonaje Leaves for Roofing---Eco Ola

When you live in one of the most diverse and abundant rainforests in the world, you must learn to use its resources effectively and sustainably for both your needs and the health of the planet.

Posted over 11 years ago (2 comments)

Mahatma Ghandi Quote and Eco Ola

"What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another."

Posted over 11 years ago (3 comments)

Jungle Permaculture Caterpillar

When you are on Eco Ola's farm in Peru, animals appear everywhere in the most diverse and creative forms.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Araza Fruit Tree---Gorgeous Eco Ola Permaculture

The endless creativity of the Amazon Rainforest manifests itself in an outstanding array of fruits, vegetables, trees and animals of all shapes and sizes.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Yuca Bundles + Alicia Fox Photography

In this beautiful photo you see some bundled yuca stalks that are part of Eco Ola's permaculture farming.

Posted over 11 years ago (1 comments)

Amazonian Rivers, Deforestation and Eco Ola's Permaculture

Eco Ola's large-scale permaculture site is located in Mazan, Peru with access from both the Amazon and Napo Rivers.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Matsés Tribe and Eco Ola

Eco Ola is located deep in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon.

Posted over 11 years ago (4 comments)

Working Smarter Not Harder---Eco Ola

At Eco Ola's model farm in Peru, we've recently been working on preparing and renovating some new structures for our nurseries.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Smallest Amazonian Frog---Eco Ola

By revitalizing our land in the Amazon Rainforest through permaculture and agroforestry techniques, Eco Ola fosters the development of a wildlife corridor.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Women in Permaculture and Sustainability---Eco Ola

Eco Ola's Peruvian founder, Carla Noain, is a businesswoman that makes care and compassion priorities for our operations.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Baby Sacha Inchi Pod---Eco Ola

At Eco Ola we believe that stewardship of the small things in life and agriculture will generate brilliant and dignified change for the Amazon.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Plantain Abundance at Eco Ola

The philosopher Meister Eckhart once declared, "What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we will reap in the harvest of action."

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Eco Ola + Indigenous Amazonian Tribes

We work together to assure the peaceful development of the regional populace, many of whom are from the indigenous Yagua and Matsès tribes.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Omega-3s and Eco Ola Sacha Inchi

Omega-3s and Eco Ola Sacha Inchi

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Eco Ola's Peruvian Eden

Our mini-paradise in the Peruvian Amazon

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Eco Ola's Peruvian Eden

Our mini-paradise in the Peruvian Amazon

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Fast Company Magazine + Eco Ola: Permaculture Goes Mainstream

Permaculture Goes Mainstream

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

Eco Ola: Adding Calcium One Egg at a Time in the Amazon

Eco Ola: Adding Calcium One Egg at a Time in the Amazon

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)

High Tech Help For Amazonian Farmers

Using technology and permaculture to regrow the Amazon and provide superfoods.

Posted over 11 years ago (0 comments)
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