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Field Day |
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After Pierre had given a general presentation of the “Fazenda
Tamanduá Agricultural Organism” and introduced his co-workers Manoel,
Alan, Rogéria, Elcione, Flávio, Paulo and Marcelo, whose total
commitment ensures the life and existence of this pioneering work,
the participants were divided into three groups to visit the
different workshops: mango-tree management with Manoel, composting
with Paulo, dairy goat raising with Rogéria, fruit growing (melons
and mini-watermelons) with Marcelo, and beekeeping with Flávio.
A baião-de-dois (a typical dish of the North-East) was served
in the open-air canteen, with biodynamic red rice and coalho
cheese. After lunch a prize draw for the Farm’s products was carried
out, and the visit ended with an area that everyone was very keen to
see: the biodynamic management of dairy cattle, visiting the corral
and the Brown-Swiss cattle, presented by Alan and Elcione.
A very full day, a marvelous opportunity to compare our experience
with that of the participants, and, if only one producer decided to
start introducing a biodynamic / organic program in her farm,
everyone left with the “seed” of a different method of agriculture
and livestock raising, adapted to our sertão region.
A few days later we received the following e-mail from Wilma;
Fazenda Tamanduá’s workers were moved by what she wrote, which
justifies all the difficulties, doubts and discouragements we went
through! |
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A victim of its fame, Fazenda Tamanduá receives frequent requests
for visits, which cannot always be granted due to the internal work
of the farm.
That is why we decided to hold a Field Day and sent invitations to
all the friends who wanted to see our work.
It was an immense success: 94 people showed up!
Among those present were Dr. Virgínio, who is responsible for
organics in the Ministry of Agriculture Superintendency in João
Pessoa; Dr. Girley, who is responsible for the Farm’s SIF (Federal
Inspection); settlers of the irrigated perimeters of Condado and São
Gonçalo, accompanied by Fernando Perisse, leader of the Via
Sertaneja movement; several members of the Várzeas de Sousa
Irrigators Association; a delegation of representatives of EMEPA
(Agricultural Research Company of the State of Paraíba), which owns
an area that is certified by the IBD in Sousa; farmers of all sizes,
coming from Emas, Mãe d’Água and Cubati; professors from the Paraíba
Federal University (UFPB) in Areia, and from the Federal Institute
of Paraíba, Sousa Campus; and representatives of EMATER (Rural
Extension Company) in Sousa, of John Deere / Veneza Máquinas, of the
Mãe d’Água Rural Union, of the Post Office at Patos and of Banco do
Brasil. |
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94 people showed up! |
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After Pierre had given a general presentation of the “Fazenda
Tamanduá Agricultural Organism” and introduced his co-workers Manoel,
Alan, Rogéria, Elcione, Flávio, Paulo and Marcelo, whose total
commitment ensures the life and existence of this pioneering work,
the participants were divided into three groups to visit the
different workshops: mango-tree management with Manoel, composting
with Paulo, dairy goat raising with Rogéria, fruit growing (melons
and mini-watermelons) with Marcelo, and beekeeping with Flávio.
A baião-de-dois (a typical dish of the North-East) was served
in the open-air canteen, with biodynamic red rice and coalho
cheese. After lunch a prize draw for the Farm’s products was carried
out, and the visit ended with an area that everyone was very keen to
see: the biodynamic management of dairy cattle, visiting the corral
and the Brown-Swiss cattle, presented by Alan and Elcione.
A very full day, a marvelous opportunity to compare our experience
with that of the participants, and, if only one producer decided to
start introducing a biodynamic / organic program in her farm,
everyone left with the “seed” of a different method of agriculture
and livestock raising, adapted to our sertão region.
A few days later we received the following e-mail from Wilma;
Fazenda Tamanduá’s workers were moved by what she wrote, which
justifies all the difficulties, doubts and discouragements we went
through! |
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Pierre Landolt
gives a general overview |
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Wilma writes: “I had great pleasure in getting to know Fazenda
Tamanduá. I came back impressed with what I saw. More than just work, it
is an example of determination, of administrative capability. I always
believed that in our region “whatever you plant will grow” [a quote from
one of the earliest settlers of Brazil].I am the daughter of a man who
was born in the semi-arid region of the Northeast and who came to the
city, still a boy, on top of a truck, fleeing from the drought. He died
believing in his land, talking about its riches and lamenting that trip
that had left him an orphan of everything he loved. He did not have time
to realize his dream.Today, I see that the caatinga landscape hides
incommensurable riches. It is all there. It is just a matter of wanting
to seek it. With determination. The way you have done it.Congratulations
for the work and the example, which came from so far away, but came in
time to wake us up.” |
