The Rocket stove has landed in Cebu at Katunggan Permaculture Adventure Farm

In December 2010, we made our own rocket stoves

We based it on the design of Dr. Winiarski at the Aprovecho Center.

We distributed these stoves to our staff as a Christmas gift,

the gift of self-reliance in cooking.

In line with that we started a firewood club program,

where our staff members can have access to free firewood.

Our wood comes from the trees  at the Katunggan Permaculture Adventure Farm

that regularly shed of their lower branches,

just the right size for our biomass rocket stove.

Our staff have been using their stoves for three months now.

Their neighbors started to get  interested in these stoves.

These  are fuel efficient wood burning stoves.

So, we searched the net 

to see if we could collaborate with an organization 

that mass produces these biomass rocket stoves.

We found two groups-

Stovetec and Envirofit.

Envirofit has been distributing biomass stoves in India and Africa.

Luckily, Envirofit International is now in the Philippines.

So, the rocket stove has now landed in Cebu.

As part of our  Corporate Social Responsibility-

Cultivating Self-Reliance Program,

We have started our Staff Envirofit Distributorship Program.

We have partnered with Envirofit Philippines,

in order that our staff can distribute these biomass rocket stoves

to their neighbors and friends.

So, if any of you are interested 

in having a fuel efficient biomass rocket cookstove,

approach any staff member of the ff companies:

Mayflower Inn, West Gorordo Hotel, Elicon House, 

Gelato Eliseo and Mayflower Realty.

They will be willing to explain to you -

how to make your own,

 how these cookstoves work,

how they help our planet, 

and of course,

how much they cost, 

if you want to buy one or two or more...

Tree of Life Mosaic, Elicon Cafe, Cebu

There is a popular mosaic in the city of Cebu.

It can be found at Elicon Cafe, at the corner of P. del Rosario St. 

It is a tile mosaic depicting the Tree of Life. 

What is a mosaic?

It is an artistic pattern,

created using small pieces of tiles, glass or other found materials.

It can be glued or cemented.

Each piece is pasted individually.

It is a tedious process,

but it is worth all the time and effort.

The Tree of Life Mosaic at Elicon Cafe is a tile mosaic.

It was designed by Joel Lee, Permaculture teacher and designer.

It was made with the assistance of the staff at Elicon Cafe,

under its Cultivating Self-Reliance Program,

called Learn & Earn.

Our staff learned a new skill,

that of mosaic making,

which is an ancient form of art / craft

and earned as well.

The Tree of Life Mosaic,

is a symbol of how trees support life...

It is the sun and the rain that give life to the tree,

but the tree gives life to many living organisms.

The tree gives off oxygen

so we can breathe.

Its crown gives shelter:

to birds, fireflies & other animals.

It bears fruit for animals to eat.

Fruits have seeds, 

which birds love to deposit with their dung,

The dung falls to the ground,

ready to regenerate the earth,

generously providing for our future.

It gives us timber, 

so we can build our homes,

Its branches give us firewood,

so we can cook our meals

and warm our abodes.

Its roots hold water,

silent storing it for us,

giving it freely when we need it.

It keeps the soil from eroding,

preventing floods,

so we are safe in our homes.

The Tree of Life Mosaic,

reminds us of a gift,

that trees are to be valued,

protected and sanctified.

A humble sign of God's love for us.

We should have a yearly celebration for the Tree of Life.

Kiss each tree and wipe it with our handkerchiefs,

(the way we fanatically act towards religious icons)

to remind us of its miraculous powers,

that of  daily providing us with 

water, shelter, sustenance, and  protection...

our staff installing the tiles

     

joel lee, mosaic designer

students like to hang out under this tree

Belen Japzon, Centenarian, Cebu, Philippines

Lola Belen

lola belen with her gang

Lola Belen,

is a centenarian.

She turned a century recently.

Born during the first world war,

A young mother  during world war 2.

A wife, mother, 

grandmother and greatgrandmother.

A teacher all her life.

She taught physics, math, spanish and filipino.

A savvy world traveler.

She strolled Dubrovnik, Prague and Cestokowa.

She cruised the Carribean and Alaska.

She knows what sweet dreams are made of....

She has travelled the world and the seven seas.

A devout church volunteer.

She sews scapulars, strings rosaries...

She served at  health clinics,

dispensing medicines to the disadvantaged.

thank you for all the love...

A loyal friend,

A true mentor.

She generously gives of herself-

her time,

her energy,

her treasures, 

and most of all,

her LOVE.

We love you, LOLA BELEN!!!

Lola Belen, joyfully joined her creator in early April of this year.

Fr. Leonard McManus, Salesian, Cebu, Philippines

Fr. Mac at the mangrove viewing deck at
KPAF (Katunggan Permaculture Adventure Farm)

Fr. Mac saying mass at the Chapel at KPAF

Fr. Mac blessing the Marian Loop at KPAF

Fr. Mac,
with his goatee
and Indian accent,
is someone you cannot forget.

A Salesian priest,
a BBB: British-Burmese-Bisaya,
assigned at Lourdes Parish
since the 1970's.

I've known him
since I was a kid.
Now, he is a certified antique,
and a Salesian icon.

He has an easy smile,
a generous heart,
a bantering spirit,
and a true missionary.

Thanks for being a witness
to the lives of your grateful parishioners.

Bert Peeters, Cabiokid Foundation, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Protracted observation, during a site visit at
Katunggan Permaculture Adventure Farm, Cebu

permacultura

consulting on our projects

Bert Peeters,
or Kuya Bert to permaculture learners at Cabiokid,
is a permaculture teacher and designer.

He is a Philgian,
or a Filipino - Belgian.
He speaks perfect Tagalog.
Is probably more Filipino than you and me.

We learned permaculture in Filipino.
He has been teaching permaculture courses at Cabiokid.
We studied with him.
We did not need to go to Australia or the U.S.
You can study with him too at Cabiokid.

After our permaculture course,
Bert came to Cebu.
He checked out our proposed projects
To see how we could adopt permaculture.
He said  permaculture will keep us busy for the next decades.

We are. We are having fun.
We continue to  challenge ourselves.
We share with others
how our lives have been transformed with permaculture.

Maraming salamat, Kuya Bert.