The Peace Place Hall is used for children’s activities when there is no training. Photo October 2023 by Petrus.
Five years ago Peace Place embarked on an amazing journey learning about and applying permaculture, which has shaped our thinking, teaching, environment, and actions.
We invited Paula Paananen from New South Wales, Australia, to facilitate one day on Permaculture at the end of the International Peace Training in January 2019. Paula drafted a permaculture plan for the Peace Place property as a training exercise. Participants were so excited many came out at 5:30 am each morning to help Paula prepare assigned aspects of the plan.
On June 16, 2019, Paula returned with her partner, Ian, to complete a permaculture design. Paula delineated zones for buildings and gardens and Ian made suggestions based on his horticulture expertise. They encouraged the Peace Place team to keenly observe the area and make changes that were natural in the place.
We immediately repaired the school’s sandbox, installed ant cappings to protect from termites, and built a door to the transition room for toddlers and children with disabilities. Paula and Ian worked with the Peace Place training team and the Joglo Preschool teachers and volunteers to draft an Earth Care Commitment based on the Alternatives to Violence Project agreement: ”Care for each person, the community, and the natural world.” They then proposed additional steps: retrofit the school roof, install air ventilation, build a compost pit, and integrate permaculture principles into the peace school curriculum. The most complex work was to dismantle the roof of the school in order to add layers of UV plastic, aluminum foil, and woven bamboo under earth tiles. These layers protect the school from heavy misting during rainstorms and from falling dust and debris as well as reduce heat transfer into the building.
The first phase was completed in five months, along with construction of a 7 x 9 meter training hall community and school events and a 5 x 9 meter covered parking area for parents and community members to gather. Both used bamboo and the layered roof design. These changes made the school and buildings cooler and more comfortable and inviting. Even during the COVID pandemic, Peace Place was one of the few places that continued activities and hosted community events because people felt safe in the well-ventilated, open-air design. In January 2020, we were able to host an amazing International Peace Training with 43 participants while preschool, parenting program, and community events continued.
Rainwater catchment areas were established in 2019: 1) 80 cm in diameter by 100 cm deep, 1) 80 cm in diameter by 80 cm deep, and 3) 300 x 200 cm by 150 cm deep. In addition, Peace Place collects rainwater reserves to water plants. We installed a 2000-liter canister for Joglo Preschool Nature Center and a 150 x 300 x 100 cm tub above the bathrooms in August 2021. Later, in August 2023, we started managing wastewater from kitchens, bathrooms, and the school by filtration in the Peace Place environment, so water does not run off into waterways.
Composting has continued since 2019. The original bamboo compost bin was eaten by termites, so it was replaced in 2021 with walls. The 1 x 3 meter bin is divided into three parts, which produces excellent compost for fertilizing vegetables and fruit plants. The fruit plants are growing very well and provide lovely shade. Plants are fertile because we use compost, liquid fertilizer, and eco-enzymes, which we make during the fruit season. Everyone greatly enjoys the mangoes and water guava from August to November.
Joglo Preschool is cleaner and more comfortable with much less water damage. In October 2023, we pilot tested growing vegetables in used 15-liter drinking water bottles cut in two: the top part for planting soil and the bottom part for water reserves, which worked well. Children test growing many different types of plants.
By May 2021, Peace Place was able to build a 5 m x 8 meter multi-purpose building with a library, showroom, office, kitchen, and outdoor dining area. It has a second-floor large work or dorm space, two toilets, and storage for dorm and training supplies, unit block overstock, and office documents.
Living fences were recommended, so we planted bamboo twice. The bamboo to the east died when a neighbor built a wall too close to it. The bamboo along the back was replaced with a wall and moringa trees because it was so close to the area for toddlers and children with disabilities who needed more security. We also added a fence at the entrance to Peace Place for child safety. So efforts at planting bamboo were not successful. We also replaced the bamboo gutters with PVC plastic gutters in October 2023.
Permaculture requires that people understand the design plans and building drawings in accordance with permaculture principles. It feels very complex for people in our community. More information about maintenance of various building materials would have helped us. We also needed more consultation with an expert in bamboo planting and use in our area.
Still, the benefits are beyond measure. This five-year journey in permaculture application dramatically increased the quality of daily life, food production, comfort, curriculum, and community. We know we will not make peace with each other unless we make peace with nature. Without justice there is no peace. Ecological as well as social justice go hand in hand with peace. We cannot imagine Peace Place or Joglo Preschool without integration of Permaculture into our Alternatives to Violence Project principles and practices.
Ornamental plants during the dry season, October 2023. Photo : Petrus.
Twelve Principles of Permaculture
Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share
- Observe and interact.
- Catch and store energy.
- Obtain a yield, be fruitful.
- Apply self regulation and respond to feedback.
- Use and value renewable energy & services.
- Produce no waste.
- Design from patterns to details.
- Integrate rather than segregate.
- Use small, slow solutions.
- Use and value diversity and commonality.
- Use edges and value the marginal.
- Critically use and respond to change.
Some lessons learned include:
Community. Procuring the bamboo from a dozen Muslims in Posono, Klakah Kasihan Village in Gembong has had a positive impact on the relations between the Muslim and Christian residents.
Bamboo. It takes at least one year to prepare bamboo and natural building materials that are environmentally friendly. Bamboo must be cut between February and April. During this time, insects do not lay eggs on bamboo stems. After that, it takes about a year of soaking.
Ventilation. It is necessary to add ventilation at the top and middle portions of the roof so air can circulate freely. This makes traditional Javanese Joglo buildings much cooler. As temperatures rise with climate change, this is increasingly important for our health.
Water. During the dry season in 2016, water was reduced and participants had to queue to shower. From 2019 to 2023, water was sufficient, but in October 2023 the water flow was smaller so the 38 participants staying at Peace Place had to queue for water. Rainwater reservoirs can be used for watering plants.
Facilities. Facilities that support the variety of activities including storage make every program run more smoothly, simultaneously. Fruit trees and plants make Peace Place Pati cooler and more refreshing.
During COVID, Peace Place organized adult and children’s activities because of the open-air design.
Children from a very young age learn the principles and practices we talk about and act on. Before Paula introduced the permaculture principles and practices, the children ran over the plants and flowers, mistreated insects and animals, and were disconnected from their environment. Now children notice, care for, and value the environment and ask other young people and adults to take care of nature together.
We are tremendously grateful to Paula and Ian Paananen and all the people who participated, funded, and made this possible and all the people who come to learn and share. Please join us!