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EPFL
Jean-Denis Bourquin's Visit |
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In
April 2009 we had the visit of
Jean-Denis Bourquin, who has a background in biology (zoology and ecology) and
environmental engineering.
He
works at present at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale of
Lausanne (EPFL) as advisor to the Dean of the School of
Architecture and Civil & Environmental Engineering (www.enac.epfl.ch)
and is responsible for special projects. In this context, he
came to pay Fazenda Tamanduá a visit in order to find
opportunities for research to be carried out in cooperation
with the EPFL.
The study of the semi-arid climate, which has not been studied
much, will be the focus of the work, especially because of
awareness of the fact that climate changes will cause a rise
in temperatures and desertification of European regions.
Therefore, the information gathered here may be extremely
important.
Obviously, problems such as the eco-physical parameters of the
Caatinga, and studies of eco-hydrology and the optimal use of
water, were closely examined. He made contact with researchers
from the Federal Universities of Campina Grande and Pernambuco
who are doing long-term work at the Farm. We therefore await
the EPFL’s decisions with great interest.
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Jean-Denis Bourquin |
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Severino |
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In 1977, when we arrived in the sertão of the State of
Paraíba, Severino was already living at Fazenda Tamanduá.
He
decided to stay, which made everyone happy.
He started working close to the farmhouse, taking care of the
windmill-driven irrigation of the area; and because he was so
close by, he used to tell the recently-arrived gringo
stories of his homeland – an important initiation, oral
transmission of knowledge that was fundamental in order to better
understand and act.
Later, Severino went to the corral, to look after the Brown-Swiss
dairy cows and become a true North-eastern cowboy.
He took part in the introduction of artificial insemination, a
small revolution that gave a huge boost to the quality of our
cattle, which until then had benefited exclusively from the
services of Guará, an old Schwyz bull that had apparently suffered
a little from foot-and-mouth disease! In 1979 Severino traveled to
Recife in order to receive 9 pregnant heifers and a thoroughbred
bull, all acquired in Switzerland, which also helped to form the
nucleus of the elite of Fazenda Tamanduá’s herd.
With Severino, we did the rounds of the cattle shows – in Patos,
but especially the famous ones in Rio Grande do Norte – such as
that at Eduardo Gomes (now called Parnamirim) – or Recife, where
we managed to vie and compare well with the most traditional
breeders of the time in the parades. We were not the worst, far
from it!
Thanks to his knowledge of the herd and careful observation,
Severino took on the great responsibility of seeing when the
animals were in heat, in the corral or in the field, bringing cows
and heifers to the corral for insemination.
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Twice a day, riding his horse in the pastures, with a rattle, a
pump full of “blue medicine”, and some wire behind his saddle, he
observed the condition of the animals that had not yet mated,
treating small infestations, closing gaps in the fences,
identifying hiding animals, as well as animals in heat.
Over thirty years he spent in this routine, through times of
plenty and drought, sunshine and rainfall, weekdays and holidays,
cold and heat, always willing and bold, despite mounting health
problems. The time for retirement has finally arrived.
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Despite his great passion for football, being a fan of the Vasco
football team of Rio de Janeiro and the Nacional of Patos,
Severino and Dona Dirce, who had 10 children, did not manage to
form a whole football team, even counting Severino himself!
Two
girls were born amid the brood!They were all brought up at Fazenda Tamanduá, and four of them are
members of the Farm’s personnel today: Lúcio, an expert in the
temporary irrigated melon and watermelon cultures, the king of
biodynamic preparations and other decoctions and macerations of
bio-fermented products; Pebinha, who successfully manages the herd
of goats and the processing of biodynamic milk; Dudu, who followed
in Severino’s footsteps and is a serious and dedicated cowboy; and
last but not least, Luciano.
They are all married, with children,
and will perpetuate the unforgettable presence of Severino, now
running into the 3rd generation.
Thank you Severino! |
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