Enterprises
Enterprises are simply independent businesses or projects that are linked to eekos, and still pursue our sustainable ideals.
Enterprises
Enterprises can be initiated by members and be fully owned by eekos, or an idea from others and eekos be a part owner.
They can be non profit projects that assist others and the environment, or can be very profit oriented to increase income to eekos and the members of the enterprise.
They have a sponsor agency and sponsor person who assists advising the enterprise as it grows.
Current enterprises
Here are the current ideas that we are launching over the coming months of 2009;
* Local Permaculture Farms - UK
Local Permaculture farms are to be leased land close to villages or other populations where we aim to produce a range of edible and non edible, but useful crops for use in the area local to the farm.
The main idea is to produce good quality, organic, in season produce using local resources and labour. Because the purchasers of the produce are immediately local, we eliminate food miles and can produce lower cost products, but at higher profit than traditional farms.
A requesite of each of the farms is to produce the planting material and growing knowledge to provide for its own needs as well as 3 more farms. Omce these 3 farms are also established, they then are required to produce enough for 3 more and so on.
We are currently looking for land to lease close to our local village at Kirky Malzeard to start the first farm.
With the UK government recently promoting the production of food for UK use from UK farms, we think this will make a great contribution to foor self sufficiency.
* Biochar Maker - UK
This enterprise is for the design and production of a charcoal burner that can produce biochar from locally grown tree crops and other bio wastes.
Biochar is simply carbon made by elimination of air from a burning process that produces high grade agricultural charcoal powder and energy producing gases.
The charcoal is used as a soil amendment to increase crop production and sequester carbon in the soil. The gas used to power electrical generation for immediate use, production back into the existing power network or to power hydrogen fuel cells.
Our idea is for the design and production of a simple tube like system that can be easily transported from farm to farm. The wood is put into one end and pushed along into the burning zone and finally comes out to a revolving crsuher to produce the fine charcoal through a sieve.
Income can be obtained through increased crop production, carbon credits from the amount of carbon sequesterd into the soil and from electrical production.
Biochar is now being promoted as one of the most exciting options for reducing CO2 in the air as well as builing sustainable soils.
* Permcaulture Centre - Gambia
Our work in Gambia over the last 5 years has demonstrated to us that there is a need to establish a Permcaulture centre for holding Permaculture classes for Gambians as well as international students and for demonstrating Permaculture in practice.
We are looking for 2 or more hectares to lease from Gambians in the Gunjur area of south Gambia to establish the centre.
Along with the educational role, we also aim to collect and promote the production of open sourced plant materials of a variety of crops for use in farm permaculture systems.
We will be establishing a discussion are in the coming month so that those interested can discuss the plans, We also plan to get over to Gambia in the coming tourist season to help move the plans to reality.
We belive that Permaculture provides the greatest hope to bring Gambians our of poverty and to build sustainable and environmentally sustainable systems for Gambia.
* Tropical Eco Houses - Gambia
Third world development is mainly based on support from the developed world. Unfortunately they have taken their high energy use designs into these countries. Equitable development is not possible with these designs and we explore the idea of designs that resond to the environment and the people using them.
We are actively promoting these type of houses in our Gambian agency where low cost, appealing and appropriate housing is sought by locals and tourists alike.