The Gardeners of Eden East Timor Seed Project continues to have successes with groups who have received in small commercial quantities of seed at six locations in Ainaro. All locations report good germination rates and we have avoided distributing seeds of crops that people are unfamiliar with. There has not yet been direct contact with the groups in Ainaro that were contacted through the Ministry of Agriculture but we hope that there will be in the near future; Such are the difficulties of maintaining regular communications with groups in the mountains. Carrots have all performed exceptionally well, as have silverbeet, some of the open hearted lettuce varieties, rocket, zucchini (summer and winter squash) and the more traditional crops of the area like cabbages and kale. In the next phase of the project we would like to start to concentrate on groups that are ready to move on from simple seed saving to seed multiplication. There are many groups that want seeds and not presently enough seed to go round.

To advance the project overall, a Permaculture methods and practical solutions training was conducted for participants at the site in Horaiqiq, Maubisse. Because of its central location within the sub-district and easy access, it has been chosen for extended development as a demonstration and training site.

Through the generous grant from Dean's Beans the Gardeners of Eden East Timor Seed Project has been able to construct a small coffee wet-processing facility and install a coffee depulping machine at the Horaiqiq site. This will function as an adjunct to the market garden operation, and when not being used for processing coffee the facility will provide irrigation water for the dry season and a site for processing vegetables before shipping them to market in Dili.

Unfortunately at this time, transport linkages remain weak, and we are still working on a way of getting products not grown for consumption in the mountains, (such as silverbeet and rocket) to Dili quickly for direct distribution to individuals and restaurants keen to buy local organic produce. The transportation, distribution, and handling of new products has presented itself as an entire area worthy of concerted effort to find solutions that are workable within the economic means of local farmers.

Beginning on the 11th of April Fundasaun Hari'i Au Metan's project team of workers and volunteers, arrived on site and started construction of the coffee processing facility together with local Horaiqiq group members, and assisted Sr. Joao Batista Tilman’s household to prepare for the week-long Permaculture training program provided through Permatil (just days before the launch of the Tetum version of the Permaculture Manual for Timor-Leste). Permatil's Permaculture trainers, Hugo and Atai, provided assistance with integrated agricultural production systems ideas, showing, for instance, how to integrate the waste water flow from the coffee washing facility into the gardens via terraces designed to handle the heavy wet season rains and provide an improved layout for the market-garden. Construction work on the terraces was continued during and after the training program. A composting system was constructed to utilize waste from the coffee de-pulping operation, to be combined with animal manure for hot composting before returning to fields as useful fertilizer and mulch. The trainers established a simple fermenter for production of Effective Micro-organisms, fed on honey. They demonstrated and established liquid manure production from field wastes, using the 44 gallon drum provided by the project. Other practical demonstrations included how to make several different natural (and organically acceptable) pesticides from locally available plant materials. Some Neem trees were gifted to the group to establish their own sources of Neem, an important species for Timor-Leste, and not yet readily available to farmers.

Upon reflection following the training, it is clear that there is great scope to improve horticultural knowledge and appropriate practices. It was particularly noted that organic farming education is not readily available anywhere in Timor-Leste. This is surprising given the reality that most farmers in the Maubisse area that grow coffee have been certified as organic farmers by their national co-operative.

Several other groups sent participants to attend the week long training, including other land-holders from the Horaiqiq aldeia and from other nearby aldeias. These groups have all requested and will receive seed starter packs from the current stock available for distribution.

The Horaiqiq group has continued to send silverbeet and carrots for sale directly in Dili and are really excited as this is the first time they have ever had direct access to the retail marketplace in Dili. Usually they sell their crops (potatoes, cabbages, carrots, corn, sweet potatoes, etc.) direct to buyers with access to transport, who wholesale their products in Dili.

There are still some seeds and tools to be distributed to several groups in Maubisse and Hatuberlicu (Ramelau area), and we plan for these to go out in the next couple of weeks as the coffee season gets underway.

In March, a group of project workers from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) approached the Gardeners of Eden East Timor Seed Project to see if we would be willing to provide some seeds for IDP’s (internally displaced persons) at the Taci Tolu IDP camp. Under the auspices of the Gardener’s of Eden Seed Project, vegetable and herb seeds were provided once the site had been prepared and raised beds formed, and once clear mechanisms for management and coordination of work were in place. A range of herbs and polybags were provided for pot-based production of basil, parsley, and to trial other herbs not currently available in Timor-Leste, with the idea that active youth in the camps might be able to produce sufficient quantities to sell to local restaurants. Along with the herb seeds, a larger quantity of vegetable seeds were also provided. We also hooked the group up with access to some trees for integration into their system which is very close to the coast and in need of shelter from salt laden winds. The trees were generously provided at just a little over full production cost by the CCT/NCBA nursery at Comoro. By mid-May the garden showed tremendous results, and many international NGO's and members of government came to have a look and have their photos taken. Many thanks to the NRC for the opportunity to put seeds in the hands of willing gardeners.

At present the Gardeners of Eden East Timor Seed Project team that was responsible for the project design and implementation in Maubisse are busy getting the Laclubar projects up and running. The focus of these projects is on establishing a water supply system with the multiple purpose of providing clean gravity fed water to: around ten households; a small wet-processing facility for the local areas coffee; and nursery and market garden systems. River sites selected for a model forestry plot are being surveyed and prepared for trees which will be shipped together with all project materials by the end of May. Everyone is keen to get working after having been involved with the project in Maubisse and seeing the potential from the integrated systems design approach being utilized. Hugo from Permatil has already been invited to Laclubar to teach under the auspices of the Gardener’s of Eden Seed Project, and all involved are looking forward to bringing participants in from all of the gardens we have supported around Orlalan, Bora, Fatulaun and Batara. It is not clear where the training will be held at this stage, and also the timing is a little complicated by the coffee season, however, the team feels confident, that those working with us on the Gardeners of Eden Seed Project will all be able to send representatives to attend.

The funds raised over the holiday period are almost all expended, and there are still considerable amounts of seed to distribute, so we are hoping for support to increase our ability to move around the country. To date we have tried to avoid using anything other than locally available transport, to encourage sustainability at all levels of action. In part this is because the Fundasaun Hari'i Au-Metan truck is out of action, with a new motor required at a cost of around USD$3,000 for purchase, installation, and some other minor repairs that are needed. The loss of the truck has forced us to reconsider our methodologies and in some ways is ensuring greater efficiency, and certainly avoids unnecessary driving. Fundasaun Hari'i Au Metan has been concentrating its local fund-raising efforts towards rebuilding re-equipping our office after losses incurred during the 2006 crisis, but formal donors appear unwilling to support independent groups such as ours. At present we also need more funds to purchase and ship seeds to be able to continue our work, and/or more resources to enable us to build a network of local seed-producers faster, and move away from imported seed altogether.

The first phase of the Gardeners of Eden Seed Project for 2008 has demonstrated considerable potential from the introduction of new and improved varieties of non-hybrid seed and has also generated considerable interest, most importantly from farmers, but also from some extension officers working with the Ministry of Agriculture. The directors and farmers are happy with the technical input provided through Permatil, but there is a real need for a specialized training in organic market-garden production and post-harvest handling, seed production and multiplication, and integrated animal systems design.

At the end of the cycle of projects conducted this wet season, the final project will be the market-garden and nursery water supply system for Aldeia Romit in Dili. It is hoped that the work on the water storage tank can be completed before mid-June, but there is a major flood control bank project at present which is utilizing almost all available labor, and which is also currently blocking the river access road preventing us from taking materials in to the site.

Many thanks to those who continue to follow the work of our small grass-roots project and especially to those who have been supportive both with monetary and seed donations. To make a donation to the Gardeners of Eden East Timor Seed Project, please drop off or send seeds, cash, or checks to:

JUST COFFEE
1129 East Wilson Street
Madison, WI 53703 USA

or if you would like your donation to be tax deductable, please mail your check, with 'SEED PROJECT' in the memo line to:

FAMILY FARM DEFENDERS
P.O. Box 1772
MADISON, WI 53701 USA

Stay in contact with the Gardener's of Eden East Timor Seed Project by tuning in to updates at Just Coffee's website.

The Gardener's of Eden East Timor Seed Project is graciously supported by:
Just Coffee and Family Farm Defenders,
Madison, Wisconsin
Fundasaun Hari'i Au Metan
Dili, Timor-Leste
and
caring friends around the world.