As a part of their program at Jiwa Damai, Kearene's group from French Switzerland was also enjoying a permaculture introduction facilitated by our resident permaculture teacher. Some of the activities included learning to mulch. In the pictures you see different types of mulching. With paper, cardboard and with dry grass.
Don't forget to join our Permaculture Design Course Through the Heart in October.
Our Swiss guests and Jiwa Damai was invited to the wedding of one of the village chiefs' son. A very exciting and elegant affair. The intricate clothing and make up of the groom and the bride, the decoration of the whole house takes at least a month to accomplish.
Balinese wedding
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The Rhinoceros Beetles are a problem all over the world because these beautiful beetles attack the coconut trees. They have already devastated entire coconut cultures in Spain, Mallorca, Hawaii and Asia. No solution was found so far for fighting them.
At Jiwa Damai we are trying several approaches in order to strengthen the coconut trees. After thoroughly cleaning the leaves, a deep trench is made to uncover the feeder roots of the trees. We use our best compost for the roots and afterwards we cover it with earth. The following day we water the trench with our compost tea.
feeding the roots with best compost
We also tried to place bamboo sticks about 30 cm upright into the grounds. We fill them with compost and water them with our compost tea.
margret pdc through the heart
During the Permaculture Design Course Through the Heart we discuss with our students different ways of taking care of the plants and supporting their growth. Join us in October to find out more!
One of the basic things we learn in permaculture is to be self-sustainable. Therefore, finding out how to make a compost is a must. This way one can reduce waste and create a nutritional soil for plants.
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The compost is created layering carbon, our dried leaves, nitrogen, green grass and ash and fruit scraps several times. It has to be turned every two days. Take care, it develops a great heat! On the 18th day the compost is done and exudes a pleasant soil like odor, ready to be used.
Compost at Jiwa Damai
Join us on the October 2015, Permaculture Design Course Through the Heart in order to learn by doing!
Sometimes plants need more than healthy earth. At Jiwa Damai we also try alternative methods of taking care of the coconut trees which are attacked by the Rhinoceros Beetles, among other strategies, like feeding the roots and cleaning the leaves.
For instance, as science has already proven that water is influenced by emotions, by words or by thoughts, we try to help our coconut trees by hugging them. We send them our support thoughts and we ask them if there is something they might need. We also ask the Rhinoceros Beetles to retreat because they are harming the trees.
Coconut hugging
We are preparing a new Permaculture Design Course Through the Heart in October. Join us at Jiwa Damai!
This is the month of the Moringa at Jiwa Damai so here is one of our favorite receipe. The Moringa Soup.
1 piece of ginger root, sliced 1 or 2 cloves of garlic 4 cups of Moringa leaves 1 large diced Tomato Pure water, enough to cover ingredients Pinchsaltandpepperpendingonpersonal taste
Put all ingredients but the Moringa in a pot and let simmer for 20 minutes. Add the Moringa after 20 minutes, and let simmer for another couple minutes, until Moringa is bright green. Soup is now ready to serve. The soup can be eaten as is or served over brown or white rice, with the soup juice poured over the top of the rice for flavor.
We offer Moringa at Jiwa Damai along our local products.
Nata I Ketut is smiling. He is always smiling but he was smiling even more when we told him about an interview for the Jiwa Damai blog. “We want people to meet you”, we told him! His eyes were big and full of light. “Ya?, he said. But which people?”.“Friends of Jiwa Damai who are reading our newsletter, our blog, our Facebook page”, we replied. He was not really sure why we were asking him all these questions but he wanted to help. The way he always does around Jiwa Damai. Nata received a scholarship from Lagu Damai Bali foundation in order to pursue his interest in studying law at Universitas Warmadewa. He is also coming for two hours a week at Jiwa Damai to learn about permaculture and to help our gardener and volunteers.
lagu damai bali foundation student
The discussion was a mix of English and Bahasa Indonesia. We started by asking him about his studies.
“I am studying civil law at Universitas Warmadewa in Bali. I started three years ago and I still have three years to go. I am really interested in the land law because I want to help the poor people of the village to organize better the community.
My dream was to study law and Lagu Damai Bali helped me to pursue it. It is a challenge (he really used the Indonesian word tantangan) but I think I can help other people by learning it and this motivates me”.
We also asked him about his work at Jiwa Damai.
“I like the way we are taking care of the plants at Jiwa Damai. I am still learning a lot about permaculture. I like the green of the leaves, the green of the trees, the green of the garden, it makes me happy.
In Bahasa Indonesia we say: “menanam banyak tanaman membuat keindahan didalam diri saya” which means, “creating a green space brings beauty inside my soul”.
At Jiwa Damai we are taking care both of our land, of our garden, of our plants and of our people and we do this whole-heartedly and we get all this love back. Come and feel it for yourself!
This month we are celebrating 13 years of activity through the heart at Lagu Damai Bali Foundation. Have you seen our video?
Some studies conclude even that the Moringa leaves are a potential solution as natural anti cancer nutrient. Further investigation is, however, necessary to confirm for its use in the cases of clinical anticancer activity. Other studies have also showed that the Moringa leave extract have a positive effect on treating human breast cancer.
The Moringa leaf is believed in fact to contain twice the protein of yogurt, four times the calcium of milk, three times the potassium of bananas, four times the vitamin A of carrots, and seven times the vitamin C of oranges.
These nutrients can contribute to improvements in:
Moriinga leaves
The seedpods, flowers, seeds, oil, roots, leaves, and dried leaf powder can be used in different ways for consumption.
Moringa can grow several feet in a short timeframe and this is due mostly to the effects of Zeatin, a plant hormones that induces cell division, growth, and delay aging of cells. Zeatin is also linked to anti-aging or the slowing down of aging processes in the human body therefore being through the consumption of the Moringa a more natural way to support skin health by regenerating new skin cells.
At Jiwa Damaiwe offer the Moringa leaves. Have a look at our products here.
Or read more about the powerful benefits of Moringa here and here.
Much of the Moringa plant is edible by humans or by farm animals. The leaves are rich in protein, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and minerals according to recent studies. A 100-g portion of fresh Moringa leaves has 9.3 g protein, 434 mg calcium, 404 mg potassium, 738 mg vitamin A, and 164 mg vitamin C.
Moringa oleifera has all essential amino acids, beneficial fats and omega oils. Moringa is rich in calcium, iron and many other minerals, as well as a variety of vitamins, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances in big quantities but very few calories attached to it.
Also, the Moringa extract, thanks to it’s high antioxidant activity can be a potent cancer cell anti-proliferation. This has been shown by recent medical research, indicating the potential medical value of the Moringa in treatments of cancer as chemotherapy and chemoprevention.
At Jiwa Damai we offer the Moringa leaves. Have a look at our products here.
The name Moringa is derived from murungai, the Tamil/ Muringa Malayalam word for drumstick. In Africa is also known as Kpashima or Argentinga, in South America and Caribbean as Liberdad or Mawonga and in Asia as Saisam or Mulungai. Most commonly is known as Moringa Oleifera.
The Moringa tree is native to the tropical and subtropical parts of Africa and Asia and is the sole genus in the flowering plant family Moringaceae.
Adaptation: Moringa grows in tropical and subtropical regions, from cuttings or from seed, the ones coming from the local trees having a better chance of propagating. The Moringa plants can be grown as a monoculture, multi-cropping or as hedgerow in farm. It is suitable for urban garden in warm climates due to having distinctive flower colors, white and yellow. The plant can produce leaves and flowers for consumption in short time, from eight to twelve months. The seeds have no dormancy periods and can be planted as soon as they are mature.
At Jiwa Damai we offer the Moringa leaves. Have a look at our products here.
Jiwa Damai is a hands-on, socially responsible organic garden and retreat center.
We are located amidst lush tropical vegetation in the heart of Bali (20 mins from Ubud).
