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October
2006

Trainees - Recycling

A growing number of trainees

In order to disseminate and transmit organic and biodynamic techniques to future generations, Fazenda Tamanduá receives trainees from all over the world.

Last July was a record month, with the following 5 trainees:

Jamerson da Silva Alves and José Kleibson Leandro Santos, both from the Belo Jardim Federal College for Agricultural Technology, in the State of Pernambuco, graduating in Agro-industry and Dairy Technology; Pedro Braz Amaral, from the prestigious Emerson College, which teaches Biodynamic Agriculture in the UK and where part of the present-day biodynamic elite graduated; and finally, Elizabeth Regina Rodrigues da Silva and Amanda Guedes da França, from the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, graduating in Veterinarian Medicine.

In addition to the educational aspect, the important thing is always the exchange of experiences and ideas brought by these young people to all those involved in the training, with a new perspective on our work and on the world.

Jamerson, Kleibson, Pedro, Beth and Amanda
 

Pedro will stay with us for 6 months, focusing on biodynamic agriculture (including livestock raising). He has already taken part in the production and application of fladen, and will write a report for Jornal Tamanduá in due course, about his impressions of the hard life in the semi-arid region and the ways to adapt to biodynamic agriculture.
 

Kleibson, who has an impressive amount of experience, which started when he was 8 years of age (!), in home-made cheese production in Pernambuco, helped us in developing products such as “light” butter and coalho cheese. At present, we are studying the possibility of launching these new products in our line of dairy products.

Amanda and Elizabeth, on the other hand, worked at the corral during this extra-curricular traineeship. Their work, dedication, diligence and serious approach were praised by everyone, including the cowboys Raimundo, Rúbens, Dudu, Chico Paca, Severino and Maciel, who are indeed typical Northeastern macho-men! The young ladies are even thinking of doing work on their theses at the farm. Well, let’s see...

For the time being, they will answer some questions about their traineeship:
 
How did you hear about FT?
Through the Internet, when we were searching for information on organic livestock raising in Brazil.
 
What was your impression of the working atmosphere, your colleagues at the corral, as well as life on the farm?
The harmony among people during work and the enormous pleasure in doing everyday activities; good humor was always present. In addition to increasing our circle of friends, we found extremely good teachers in practical management.
 
What is your impression concerning the transmission of technology by those responsible at the farm?
The professionals responsible for that are people who have total knowledge of their activities within Fazenda Tamanduá. Their dedication is noteworthy, managing the work of dissemination among the farm’s employees.

Beth and Amanda
 

What most impressed you and what are the biggest differences, when you compare organic and conventional livestock raising?

The well-being of the animals together with a balanced environment, thus benefiting the health of the herd. The quality of the animals, without the use of allopathic treatment, surprised us both.
 

Why would you come here to work again?

Because of our interest in learning about organic production, considering that Fazenda Tamanduá is a pioneer in the Northeast. We believe that it is possible to raise animals and supply products without degrading the environment.
 
Any particular wish or hope?

To improve our knowledge of organic production, in the hope of changing the situation regarding agricultural production in Brazil and showing that it is indeed possible to produce without damaging nature so much.

Selective Garbage Collection

One of Fazenda Tamanduá’s concerns is with the Environment. Being aware of and familiar with the practices applied in an organic system, the inhabitants of the farm did not find it very difficult to adapt to Selective Garbage Collection. Let us start from the beginning.

The idea was to gather together all our workers, and for that purpose we were able to count on the very important participation of the Environment and Sustainable Development Secretariat of Patos, represented by Ms. Lúcia Gomes da Nóbrega, who was the source of information and knowledge in the area of Environmental Education.

Sra.Lucia Gomes da Nobrega na Fazenda Tamanduá
 

In fact, there is no way to avoid the production of garbage, but we can reduce waste, re-use whenever possible before throwing away, and separate what can be recycled. It is not complicated, in principle there are four categories – metals, glass, paper and plastic – in installed collecting bins, duly identified by colors and distributed by sectors.
 

Then comes the question: After all the workers and inhabitants have learnt to collect and select their garbage, what shall we do with it? Where will it go? The concern about where the garbage would go was a challenge for everyone.

After the selective collection, it would go to the Patos landfill. But could we leave the garbage there and feel that our role had been fulfilled?  No, that is when the important character in our story appears: Maria Nilma Gomes de Sousa, who works every day at the landfill, together with her family.

Always in a good mood, despite the tough, painful situation she lives in, she has been a lesson to all of us. The garbage would benefit “dona Maria”, who would allocate about 50% of the amount she obtained from the sale of the waste in question to the Old People’s Home situated in the district of São Sebastião, in Patos.

Maria Nilma Gomes de Sousa

INTERNAL COMMISSION FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS AT WORK (CIPATR)
As promised during the First SIPAT (Internal Week for the Prevention of Accidents at Work), held in July, after the best sentence about Health and Safety at Work was chosen, we would publish all the other sentences in the competition:
 

“Working safely means successful production.”
Maria Célia Rocha Sobral

  
 

“Where there is prevention, there is health.”
Terezinha Campos Pereira

  
 

“With safety and health the work is more productive.”
Roberto Martins Chaves

  

We wish to inform all the workers at Mocó Agropecuária Ltda. that the company was ranked 2nd in the Small Company category in the SESI “Quality at Work” Award for 2006. Congratulations!

Paula Leite Silveira

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Contact us! Fazenda Tamanduá
Caixa Postal 65 - Patos / Paraíba - CEP 58700-970  - Brasil
Tel.(83)3422-7070    Fax(83)3422-7071