Mission

The Marda Permaculture Farm is a working farm and a demonstration site for permaculture principles, techniques and strategies. Permaculture is an ecological design system that draws heavily from indigenous, local wisdom as well as cutting edge science to help individuals and communities maximize local resources toward sustainable production, generation, and recycling of food, water, energy, housing, and other resources.

The project seeks to promote ecological, cultural and economic resilience in the Occupied Territories by continuing to develop our small scale permaculture site to serve as a model and training center for local farmers and international permaculture students. The Farm aims to be a model of sustainable development and self-sufficiency for the whole of Palestine, and to build connections with permaculture projects regionally and internationally. Farm staff facilitate permaculture design courses in diverse communities across Palestine. Find out more about team members here.

The primary objectives we are working towards through our project include building bottom-up green local economies and increased local food production, water harvesting and recycling, and small scale manufacturing for the people of the rural West Bank. We are looking forward to develop the farm to be a cell of a holistic green bottom up green economic body, using its regenerative economy as vehicle for change and as social-ecological medium to connect Palestinians with each other and their environment.

Marda Farm Goals

• Provide a dynamic model for organic, ecologically-designed, high-production farming techniques on small acreages with minimal use of energy and water, beneficial recycling and composting of waste materials, and integration of multiple components including orchards, chickens, bees, plant guilds, food forests, composting, and natural building.
• Provide Permaculture Design Courses at least annually for international and local students; to provide Palestinian agricultural engineers, farmers, and backyard gardeners as well as international participants dryland permaculture techniques and tools.
• Provide trainings, education, and resources for local people to help them reduce costs by growing more of their own food, using less energy and water, and developing micro-enterprises to supplement their income.
• Provide a cross-cultural opportunity for international interns, apprentices, visitors and PDC students to learn about the agricultural tradition within rural Palestine, as well as the current socio-economic, cultural, and political climate for Palestinians, thus raising awareness within the international community of Palestinians’ often silenced experiences living under military occupation.