Fayez Taneeb, a permaculture expert and uncompromising enthusiast, has developed an organic permaculture farm, in March 2010 in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm.

Permaculture -referring to permanent agriculture- is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. Father of Permaculture Bill Mollison defined it in his book “Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual”,“It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and nonmaterial needs in a sustainable way.”

He believes that it is crucial to provide Palestinians with the opportunity to study regenerative ecological practices, as a first step towards establishing autonomous models of how human beings can live sustainably.

The farm was born out of the strong belief that changes in agriculture do not remain in, but extend to reach food habits, cultures, and ultimately, human relations.

“I inherited the farm in 1984. At first, I did not care about it – for 6 months I did nothing. But then Israeli soldiers moved onto the land and started using it as a training ground. I realized I would lose the land if I did not fully utilize it. So, I bought some basic equipment and started,” Fayez told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Today, Taneeb is developing the farm as a demonstration site for experimenting and teaching organic farming techniques and sustainable technologies.

Traditional is the new black:

Such transformation shifted agricultural methods from modern back to traditional ones, asserting good and sustainable yield in the farm. Taneeb opted for traditional farming techniques because it is more sustainable and less polluting than similar modern industrial techniques. In addition, these methods reinforce natural farming traditions, restore forgotten practices, manage natural resources and establish alternative agricultural systems.

The farm also promotes several permacultural practices through hosting international gatherings of permaculture practitioners and Palestinian youth. It further serves as a forum for information exchange and learning by harboring ‘Global Campus’, which connects local communities with a large-scale international network that largely shares their vision of becoming more ecological and sustainable.

Education is a social responsibility:

To follow in that pursuit, Hakoritna continues to be a demonstration site for permaculture food production and sustainable technological solutions. Agriculture and Permaculture students visit to learn how to build biogas tanks that convert animal manure into energy, and solar dryers to preserve fruits and vegetables.

Similarly, Fayez applies sustainable permaculture methods such as reusing organic materials from the harvest, collecting rainwater from off of greenhouses’ roofs which are later stored for watering the farm throughout the year.

Today, Taneeb is developing new techniques in organic farming and sustainable technologies that he believes are important for Palestinian farmers suffering the chemical pollution that is harming their lands.

And, as a result of his consistent efforts to shift the way his family land is being used, production has consistently grown over the years.

Hakoritna Farm is a functional farm model for researchers, students, and volunteers of its community, helping promote awareness about natural and organic farming. It has become a learning center for permaculture practices and sustainable technological solutions to environmental pollution.

Perhaps one of its most important accomplishments is to inspire Palestinians to invest in their abandoned family lands, villages, or refugee camps, using organic and eco-friendly farming practices.

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Photos: Courtesy of Hakoritna Farm