Organic Agriculture

  Panama

Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: 1/10/09-8/28/09

Description: Re-establish an organic food producing farm and create a new organic farm. Former one-acre training farm was only used as an educational area for Ngobe Indigenous peoples and is located 35 minutes by boat from the main town. Indigenous peoples need to produce more food as wages have not equal food price increases. Fertilizers and pesticides are both expensive and harmful. We wish to demonstrate how to have food without them. We would like to scale up this acre of land to produce local food crops (primarily root crops) for education purposes, local consumption, and to commercially sell. The new farm is composed of 6 acres of cleared land and 18 acres of jungle and is located 50 minutes by boat from the main town. The jungle is not to be cleared, but crops which can grow in conjunction with the jungle can be planted.

We need someone who can evaluate the sites, establish the composting needed, determine the appropriate food crops, train and manage local workers in planting. It will mean the volunteer(s) live on site most of the week. We have a very comfortable cabin over the sea, which could be available. We will provide accommodations while on the job sites.

Highlights: Training Indigenous peoples in maximizing production, while producing organic foods and minimizing costs. Learning about another culture through hands on experience. Sharing in some else's life. Experiencing the wonders of Panama's people, jungles, and reefs.

Qualifications: English and Spanish speaking. Background in organic farming, preference for Central America or tropical experience. Knowledge of local food plants. In good physical condition to handle hot, humid environment.

Cost in US$: $100 per week

Experience Required: yes

Organic farming experience. You will be planning and implementing this project. Training experience is a plus.

Typical Volunteer: Someone with technical organic agriculture field experience. Experience in foreign countries is a plus. Must care for the environment and be sensitive to the indigenous culture. Speaks Spanish as well as English. Able to effectively communicate with peers and trainees. Easy going personality and able to create in the field "MacGuyver-like".

Age Range: Open

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Panama Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 3-4

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Phone Interview
• Resume

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad

Soluciones Biotecnologicas Tropicales (SBT)'s Mission Statement: We are an organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities (primarily to remotely located Indigenous Ngobe Indian children), community access to health professionals and services, and promoting environmental conservation, and cultural preservation. Our motto is one powerful word, "hope". SBT wishes to provide a realistic hope for a common future for the peoples and the environment of Bocas del Toro. Our long-term plan is that successful models or techniques developed and tested here would then be available to other areas of Panama and other developing nations through the power of the Internet and written articles.

Year Founded: 2005