So wonderful to learn along with you Danou. It's one thing to learn the theory but to see it in action and see what works in different contexts is so helpful.
45 existing comments. I loved the aerial views of water retention efforts. I have never visited a farm that had a well organized barn or shed and no scrap yard. (I.E. do not worry about the future material storage area).
Lovely to see all the green thorn trees, what difference before the first rains. YES! "Little by little" Baby steps. And that is what you are doing. Every single day is adding on the day before! Thank you forr sharing! 🌿💚🌿😜👍👋
Anything you can do to harvest and sequester the water in to your land will benefit it. Anything that you can use to shade the soil from the sun will help too.
Nice job with the drone. Btw you use a lot of dutch words, not only zaai pit 😊. I would love to do what you're doin. I hope the donations from the ppl who watch this help make it easier.
You have a lovely peace of land to work with and to live on 😊 even the antelope want to move in lol. Lucky little guy has found the jackpot! It’s amazing they have survived through such dry arid conditions. Very interesting about the Zai pits meaning abundance. 😊
Also Danou if you were to go down the biochar route, there is a charcoal factory near Otjiwarongo at 20°10'31.1"S 16°51'28.4"E it's adivisble to charge the charcoal with manure before you use it though. There was some discussion over what was better worm castings or biochar, a way to settle with is dig 2 african smiles, one in each plant in there and measure the weight at the end of the year.
Been in contact with them. We do neighborhood watch together... Been thinking whether I should buy charcoal or fokus on making my own. Buying is not that expensive but it does seem wasteful.
@@thefoodforestnamibia Anyone can make 'low char' (my own term): nutrient rich biomass like straw or manure, at low temperatures. Getting high char is a bit more difficult: it requires +800C temperatures, and has almost no nutrients (and is best from woody feedstock). For more on the differences, check out: "Insights from a DFT calculation", a metaanalysis on feedstock and heat by Debo He, 2024.
In the Amazon where the whole region floods feet deep part of the year, they build up berms surrounding orchards (with terra prieta inside) with a gap to let flood water in, and then close them off as the water starts to recede to retain flood water inside.
Thankyou for the drone shots seeing how green your property is compared to your neighbour and the township is inspiring. I also like how you acknowledge how you are learning things as well and how at times you need to be on hand to show your crew how things should be done. Thx to Steve for his help with video he sent. We are all learning. I know in Australia there are more farmers taking on board what you are doing as well when we travel around my state you see such degraded farms with barren eroded landscapes so sad for the environment Iam not a farmer nor knoe much about permaculture but I care about the environment and you have made me realise my not so neat block of land doesn’t need to be tidy. So many birds, lizards , small mammals use our yard for food now. We can all contribute to looking after our environment.
Loving the work you are doing. Very pragmatic approach and less drama than others trying the same thing. May I suggest using the drone to get a high altitude shot of your land and your neighbours. To get a before and after image as well as to show how your work has affected your land compared to your neighbours.
Of course . These before and after views of neighbours land may show how positively your work affects their properties. It could motivate them to copy your permacultural approach. Some rain expected next saturdy and sunday (over 8 mm). I wish you it is true.
That's beautiful on the African Smiles!! 🙏Perhaps at some point for the wild life a designated waterhole specifically for them that they can access? I wish I had a scrapyard haha, why pay for free stuff. I can imagine not even the pits but just breaking the hard top layer like plowing it could have an effect as well? Like the little corn pits I like those a lot. 💚
I used zai pits for planting lthree small, bareroot lilacs in a remote place about 10 years ago. The pits were about three inches deep and 2 feet across. I watered them a total of three times. They established and are about 6-/2 feet tall now.
The one takeaway I have from this video, is the wet sand in the holes you are digging. I have to wonder if that sand would have been wet if it wasnt for all the swales and pits in the area.
It is quite exciting to see you using the drone. Controlling 3 dimensions, speed and also a camera's angle is not easy. You are doing wonderful so far Can I make a suggestion for a video? Pick a central spot, an important place we see a lot, then hover above it. First face the road and tell us if it is north or south, east or west? Gradually turn in a circle and identify each direction and the major land marks? For example, where is the swimming tank? Where is the termite hill? The house? To get started, instead of flying hither and yon, just stay in the center and talk us thru learning our basic compass references, please?
Check your soil ph and where your charcoal comes from before jumping in with biochar, it can have negative effects. If you can get your hands on a book on soil science by Robert Pavlis its a valuable read, I believe he also is on youtube
Rhizomal perrinial peanuts are a great self spreading, sun loving, ground cover that grows in your area, is easy to propogate by transplanting and is horse fodder that is so good they actually tell people their horses can gain too much weight if fed too much 😮...worth giving it a try I'd say
You ought to compact the soil that's supposed to catch the water. A meter high berm will compact by itself, whereas these 20cm high "dams" could easily get washed away.
Could you fly the drone over your neighbours' land and compare it to yours, so that we can see what a difference your actions are making. That would be very interesting.
Interesting, but very illegal. You cannot fly over and film other people’s property, without permission. If he were to do so, let’s say, in order to show them the footage to give advice on where and how to build water harvesting structures on their land, that would be possible. Obviously taking into account being 50m away from people and 100m away from buildings 😉
I saw in a documentary about a man replanting a forest in africa with the Zai pits and throwing in some termites to the pit. Are you adding termites too ? his logic was that they helped to break things down faster in the dry climate and create holes initially for water to soak in and then later for roots to use.
I don't think termites work. Like that. They really do need a colony to work with. But we have soooo manny that I am sure they wil find all our bio mass.
@@thefoodforestnamibia Yeah, I think in really desolate areas where they are no termites to get them going within the soil is maybe what he meant by it more than each holes needs some, not certain. If you have enough in the area already I am sure it is a different story. I promote termites in my garden with logs since we are far wetter and they need the protection of the log so different tactics for different areas ofcourse.
113 comments, the trees look so green. It is just a matter of time for the rest of the ground to be covered in green. With the deeper pits, aren't you afraid of the corn having too much water? Isn't that why you plant on the edge of the pit?
@@thefoodforestnamibiaon top of the spade is tabs that are bent over, these are for standing on, with your body weight you above the shovel rock the handle forward and back to wiggle the head down, then pry back and remove soil that is on the shovel
@@BESHYSBEES ahhh yes, I believe they know that part. The soil there is just a bit to hard. But yes I wil look out and see if there is a soft soil area to ho over it with them.
Your shovels look painful! I dont know if you have the same type but you should try to get some long handled pointed shovels. In the uk they are sold as west country shovels. Wel call em grave diggers round my way they are a godsend imho
Can't ask for better than that. I'll guess that the deeper/smaller pits make it easier for the plant roots to develop since the ground has been broken up in the root zone. Looser soil will also let the water percolate into the ground a little easier, getting it out from the sun's evaporative impact. To protect against folks breaking an ankle, I would cover the area with branches that will ward folks off and provide shade at the same time. The crop can grow up between the branches and nobody has to worry about bones snapping!
Could you please make only two or three a bit deeper with flat rocks on the bottom and then fill it the same as the other pits and mark them. I just want you to see the change in plant growth and water holding capacity. My reason is that high water tables in deserts is where you will find a desert oasis. I believe it will allow the soil to stay a bit longer moist to give plants a bigger hange to grow and settle. ( Bietjies, bietjies maak baie)
Have you ever heard about Allan Savory? he's from Zimbabwe and turned his wasteland in zim into a lush greenery too, Peter Andrews in Australia is another interesting case too
And another man is Geoff Lawson from Australia. Helping people in Jordan. It is wonderful to see people that care enough to help re-green the desert areas, even the wild life are returning to these once lifeless places. Actually there are a lot more people that have spent their whole lives doing that. And their neighbours laughed at them, until they saw the re-generated land. I watched a video sharing what had happened on some farms in Mexico that have re-generated their farm. How they don't need to replant the grass seeds, as the grass re-seed themselves. They don't use man made fertilizers. It's a win win situation.
It might not be much but it’s better to keep the growing things growing and utilise their shade, there’s plenty of detritus to use for mulch and biochar
Whe had a pond whit expensive fish in it and we had troubel whit bird's the eat them So we buy a laser whit a littel water jet on it 😂😂😂 so it scared the bird and you will water some plants 😂 And when you come to the earya don't forget to put the laser out first😅 I dont think it's good for your land but it is fun 😜
I am glad I found your channel. I will definetly try more of this in my village
The drone is revealing all the green you have achieved.
Love what you are doing. Your willingness to learn and improve your strategy constantly.
So wonderful to learn along with you Danou. It's one thing to learn the theory but to see it in action and see what works in different contexts is so helpful.
Thanks for the drone shots ☺
Enjoying your journey from Kobe, Japan! Drone shots are great!
@@ichifish thank you so much!
45 existing comments.
I loved the aerial views of water retention efforts.
I have never visited a farm that had a well organized barn or shed and no scrap yard. (I.E. do not worry about the future material storage area).
Thank you 😁
Lovely to see all the green thorn trees, what difference before the first rains.
YES! "Little by little"
Baby steps.
And that is what you are doing.
Every single day is adding on the day before!
Thank you forr sharing!
🌿💚🌿😜👍👋
Anything you can do to harvest and sequester the water in to your land will benefit it.
Anything that you can use to shade the soil from the sun will help too.
Your drone shots are getting way better!
So glad. Still feeling a bit uncomfortable with it.
Very interesting arrangements!
There are now so many methods, you will definitely be able to see which one is most succesful in future ❤
Yes, I think that's one of the benefits of doing so many different things this year - all of which will be beneficial, but some more than others.
great work again❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Love the drone footage! Shew! The guys get a lot done in short periods of time. Great stuff!
I’m learning so much from your channel. I’m so hooked on it.
Scrap yard...i am glad i salvaged building materials. My buildings cost me little more that labor.
Nice job with the drone. Btw you use a lot of dutch words, not only zaai pit 😊. I would love to do what you're doin. I hope the donations from the ppl who watch this help make it easier.
😂😂 as someone who grew up using a shovel it's good to see some people who know how to use them properly 😂👏👏✌️
You have a lovely peace of land to work with and to live on 😊 even the antelope want to move in lol. Lucky little guy has found the jackpot! It’s amazing they have survived through such dry arid conditions. Very interesting about the Zai pits meaning abundance. 😊
Also Danou if you were to go down the biochar route, there is a charcoal factory near Otjiwarongo at 20°10'31.1"S 16°51'28.4"E it's adivisble to charge the charcoal with manure before you use it though. There was some discussion over what was better worm castings or biochar, a way to settle with is dig 2 african smiles, one in each plant in there and measure the weight at the end of the year.
Been in contact with them. We do neighborhood watch together... Been thinking whether I should buy charcoal or fokus on making my own. Buying is not that expensive but it does seem wasteful.
@@thefoodforestnamibiaif it’s cheap buy a bulk bag and add it in your vermicompost, pigs and dig some into the swales and smiles
@@thefoodforestnamibia I suppose it depends on the speed you want to go.
Also you can calculate how much it will cost with your workers
@@thefoodforestnamibia Anyone can make 'low char' (my own term): nutrient rich biomass like straw or manure, at low temperatures. Getting high char is a bit more difficult: it requires +800C temperatures, and has almost no nutrients (and is best from woody feedstock).
For more on the differences, check out:
"Insights from a DFT calculation", a metaanalysis on feedstock and heat by Debo He, 2024.
In the Amazon where the whole region floods feet deep part of the year, they build up berms surrounding orchards (with terra prieta inside) with a gap to let flood water in, and then close them off as the water starts to recede to retain flood water inside.
Thankyou for the drone shots seeing how green your property is compared to your neighbour and the township is inspiring. I also like how you acknowledge how you are learning things as well and how at times you need to be on hand to show your crew how things should be done. Thx to Steve for his help with video he sent. We are all learning. I know in Australia there are more farmers taking on board what you are doing as well when we travel around my state you see such degraded farms with barren eroded landscapes so sad for the environment Iam not a farmer nor knoe much about permaculture but I care about the environment and you have made me realise my not so neat block of land doesn’t need to be tidy. So many birds, lizards , small mammals use our yard for food now. We can all contribute to looking after our environment.
Loving the work you are doing. Very pragmatic approach and less drama than others trying the same thing.
May I suggest using the drone to get a high altitude shot of your land and your neighbours. To get a before and after image as well as to show how your work has affected your land compared to your neighbours.
@@wade1812 thank you so much! Yes I can do a drone shot like that.
Of course . These before and after views of neighbours land may show how positively your work affects their properties. It could motivate them to copy your permacultural approach. Some rain expected next saturdy and sunday (over 8 mm). I wish you it is true.
@Chordially cool! What app do you use to check the weather?
Its looking great 👏
That's beautiful on the African Smiles!! 🙏Perhaps at some point for the wild life a designated waterhole specifically for them that they can access? I wish I had a scrapyard haha, why pay for free stuff. I can imagine not even the pits but just breaking the hard top layer like plowing it could have an effect as well? Like the little corn pits I like those a lot. 💚
Is it just me or from the drone shot's , do the trees on the land look greener and more lush since the rains ... especially near the swales ? 🙂
Definitely, our trees respond with incredible speed after it rains.
I used zai pits for planting lthree small, bareroot lilacs in a remote place about 10 years ago. The pits were about three inches deep and 2 feet across. I watered them a total of three times. They established and are about 6-/2 feet tall now.
beatifull greening up beatifully.
Bedankt
Ek waardeer dit ongelooflik baie.
"I appreciate this incredible allot"
This really do help me! Thank you for your support.
Ik begreep het eerste ook. Graag gedaan. ❤
@@lotjeboonit's for rest of us who don't)
The one takeaway I have from this video, is the wet sand in the holes you are digging. I have to wonder if that sand would have been wet if it wasnt for all the swales and pits in the area.
nice work, inspirational
It is quite exciting to see you using the drone. Controlling 3 dimensions, speed and also a camera's angle is not easy. You are doing wonderful so far
Can I make a suggestion for a video? Pick a central spot, an important place we see a lot, then hover above it. First face the road and tell us if it is north or south, east or west? Gradually turn in a circle and identify each direction and the major land marks? For example, where is the swimming tank? Where is the termite hill? The house?
To get started, instead of flying hither and yon, just stay in the center and talk us thru learning our basic compass references, please?
I like it. Yes wil do That
Love it man keep it up
Check your soil ph and where your charcoal comes from before jumping in with biochar, it can have negative effects. If you can get your hands on a book on soil science by Robert Pavlis its a valuable read, I believe he also is on youtube
Rhizomal perrinial peanuts are a great self spreading, sun loving, ground cover that grows in your area, is easy to propogate by transplanting and is horse fodder that is so good they actually tell people their horses can gain too much weight if fed too much 😮...worth giving it a try I'd say
Forgot to mention they do NOT produce peanuts 🥜😢
Danou are you aware of a farm called Krumhuk just to the south of Windhoek that does regenerative farming?
@@tricky1992000 met the owners and spend some time around them. Very informative and inspiring!
Narrow fences won't stop an antelope, a horse, a deer... even if they're 2m high. With some extra width, you'd achieve a better protection.
progress every day =]
You ought to compact the soil that's supposed to catch the water. A meter high berm will compact by itself, whereas these 20cm high "dams" could easily get washed away.
Wow love your way of regenerating degraded land, you should try the Miyawaki method of reforestation sometimes.
I have been reading up on it. I definitely think I should give it a go.
😊
I like seeing from overhead.
👍
Great video 🎉
Thank you so much!
Does your forest make any money or it is too early?
❤
Could you fly the drone over your neighbours' land and compare it to yours, so that we can see what a difference your actions are making. That would be very interesting.
Interesting, but very illegal.
You cannot fly over and film other people’s property, without permission.
If he were to do so, let’s say, in order to show them the footage to give advice on where and how to build water harvesting structures on their land, that would be possible.
Obviously taking into account being 50m away from people and 100m away from buildings 😉
@MaartenAnna He could film his neighbours' land from above his own land.
@@Pwecko I don't know... Depends on privacy laws in Namibia.
I know that people aren't allowed to film inside my property from the street.
@@MaartenAnna Where are you? In the UK, the law is quite relaxed.
@@Pwecko The Netherlands
I saw in a documentary about a man replanting a forest in africa with the Zai pits and throwing in some termites to the pit. Are you adding termites too ? his logic was that they helped to break things down faster in the dry climate and create holes initially for water to soak in and then later for roots to use.
I don't think termites work. Like that. They really do need a colony to work with. But we have soooo manny that I am sure they wil find all our bio mass.
Do you perhaps have a link to that documentary?
@@thefoodforestnamibia Yacouba Sawadogo - The man who stopped the desert - ruclips.net/video/GYKOcq9cd1Q/видео.html
@@thefoodforestnamibia Yeah, I think in really desolate areas where they are no termites to get them going within the soil is maybe what he meant by it more than each holes needs some, not certain. If you have enough in the area already I am sure it is a different story. I promote termites in my garden with logs since we are far wetter and they need the protection of the log so different tactics for different areas ofcourse.
Your channel is my daily watch mate I can see the gradual changes. A big goal would be to have Geoff Lawton visit you one day., keep it up 👍
113 comments, the trees look so green. It is just a matter of time for the rest of the ground to be covered in green. With the deeper pits, aren't you afraid of the corn having too much water? Isn't that why you plant on the edge of the pit?
So fast execution of sugestions from the comments.
@@rm6857 I am trying to follow and learn as much as possible
Hi from Jakarta
Welcome!!
Please tell the men how to use a shovel. You had me yelling at my screen. LOL Praying for more rain...
Long handles would be a start 😂
@@Remo303-c9i maybe tell me as well 😂😂😂
@@thefoodforestnamibiaon top of the spade is tabs that are bent over, these are for standing on, with your body weight you above the shovel rock the handle forward and back to wiggle the head down, then pry back and remove soil that is on the shovel
@@BESHYSBEES ahhh yes, I believe they know that part. The soil there is just a bit to hard. But yes I wil look out and see if there is a soft soil area to ho over it with them.
@ my dad would say “it’s harder than a cats head”
Try and get some long handle shovels it’ll save their backs
Your shovels look painful! I dont know if you have the same type but you should try to get some long handled pointed shovels. In the uk they are sold as west country shovels. Wel call em grave diggers round my way they are a godsend imho
Hi Danou is it too much to ask for longer videos please? Not every video but at least like a 20-30min weekly recap of the works done
Weekly /monthly / yearly updates would be great!
And they might capture more views and subs
Fastest youtuber on the planet
Thank you 😁😁😁
3.47k
Can't ask for better than that. I'll guess that the deeper/smaller pits make it easier for the plant roots to develop since the ground has been broken up in the root zone. Looser soil will also let the water percolate into the ground a little easier, getting it out from the sun's evaporative impact.
To protect against folks breaking an ankle, I would cover the area with branches that will ward folks off and provide shade at the same time. The crop can grow up between the branches and nobody has to worry about bones snapping!
Could you please make only two or three a bit deeper with flat rocks on the bottom and then fill it the same as the other pits and mark them. I just want you to see the change in plant growth and water holding capacity. My reason is that high water tables in deserts is where you will find a desert oasis. I believe it will allow the soil to stay a bit longer moist to give plants a bigger hange to grow and settle. ( Bietjies, bietjies maak baie)
Stop calling it a scrapyard its now officially named the “recycling and repurposing area” ❤ the drone footage
💯agree!
Recycling and Repurposing Area
is the new name! No more "sorry" feelings, instead feel proud 😁🦾
Love it! Thank you!
Have you ever heard about Allan Savory? he's from Zimbabwe and turned his wasteland in zim into a lush greenery too, Peter Andrews in Australia is another interesting case too
And another man is Geoff Lawson from Australia. Helping people in Jordan.
It is wonderful to see people that care enough to help re-green the desert areas, even the wild life are returning to these once lifeless places.
Actually there are a lot more people that have spent their whole lives doing that. And their neighbours laughed at them, until they saw the re-generated land.
I watched a video sharing what had happened on some farms in Mexico that have re-generated their farm. How they don't need to replant the grass seeds, as the grass re-seed themselves. They don't use man made fertilizers.
It's a win win situation.
And Mr Phiri in Zim did that too without any knowledge about permaculture etc. Very enterprising man. His children still run the farm.
I think the thorny trees should be regularly pollarded to create biochar to be used in the pits to grow non-thorny pioneer shrubs snd trees.
It might not be much but it’s better to keep the growing things growing and utilise their shade, there’s plenty of detritus to use for mulch and biochar
Whe had a pond whit expensive fish in it and we had troubel whit bird's the eat them
So we buy a laser whit a littel water jet on it 😂😂😂
so it scared the bird and you will water some plants 😂
And when you come to the earya don't forget to put the laser out first😅
I dont think it's good for your land but it is fun 😜
Hahahaha sounds like I would be watching the fields the whole day.