Kamiah Permaculture Institute, Idaho

Location: Kamiah, Idaho, USA
Project Start Date: 2008
Expected Completion Date: Ongoing

Project Concept

To create a permaculture demonstration farm and educational center to teach the local community, and international students how to live a more sustainable lifestyle using Permaculture principles. Permaculture Design Certificate courses (PDCs) and workshops in related areas - such as food preservation, straw bale building techniques, rain water harvesting, herbal medicine, and natural animal care - will help fund this project. Any surplus produce can be marketed in the immediate area to provide a source of healthy, locally grown food. Relationship building will be the key to bring together locals, including youth, members of the Nez Perce tribe, and farmers, as well as international students who want to learn to improve their lives and build community wherever they live.

Detailed Project Description

Location:

Within the boundaries of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation, the site is just under 44 acres, situated less than 2 miles from the town of Kamiah, Idaho, USA (pronounced CAM-ee-eye) . It resides in the Palouse Bioregion, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the United States. While not on the Palouse Prairie itself, the project’s close proximity to one of the world’s most significant grain producing (and monoculture farming) areas of the world, presents a multitude of educational opportunities for local farmers.

History:

Over 12,000 years ago, ancestors of the present-day Nez Perce Indians or “Ni Mii Pu” populated the area. Due to its mild climate, the Kamiah Valley served as the winter home of the Nez Perce tribe. The Nez Perce were hunter-gatherers who survived on locally harvested wildlife, including salmon, elk, mule deer and camas bulbs from the surrounding prairies. Modern agriculture has had a devastating effect on the area. Since 1870, 94% of the grasslands and 97% of the wetlands of the Palouse Bioregion have been converted to crops, hay or pasture. Until recently, this site was part of a larger farm used for the production of crops, such as oats, and most recently as pasture for cattle - it was overgrazed for more than a decade.

Geography and Soil:

Located in the Clearwater Plateau Sub-Basin, agriculture and pasture constitutes forty-nine percent of the total land use. The slope on this site ranges from three percent to forty-five percent. There are several springs and a year-round stream that runs through the property. Soil is silt-loam to silty clay loam.

Climate:

The climate is unusually temperate for an area so far inland. Hot, dry summers follow relatively warm, wet winters and long, cool, damp springs. Most precipitation falls as rain for an average annual total of 16 to 22 inches. The average amount of precipitation as snowfall is 15.5 inches. The Kamiah Valley has an average growing season of 165 days.

Vegetation and Wildlife:

Four vegetative categories (exotic annual uplands/slopes, bottomland pasture, wooded riparian and forested slopes) exist. Native plants include Ponderosa Pine, Black Hawthorn, Honey Locust, Douglas Fir, Bluebunch Wheatgrass, Idaho Fescue, and Common Snowberry. Edible plants already established are wild plum, blackberries, pear, and apple.

Wildlife is abundant. Whitetail Deer, grouse, Ring-necked pheasant, quail and wild turkey are present.

Project Duration & Schedule

Phase One:

Phase one of the project will include earthworks (swales and dams), improving access, establishing a food forest, orchard, livestock systems and construction of a residence that demonstrates sustainable features, including:

• Straw bale construction
• Passive solar heating/cooling
• Solar electricity
• Radiant floor heating
• Rain water harvesting
• Solar hot water
• Solar Chimney
• Grey Water harvesting
• Composting toilets
• Glass house (Green house)
• Solar oven
• Masonry stove
• Root cellar
• Cool cupboard

Heritage breeds of livestock will be used to encourage and preserve diversity by taking advantage of breeds that are adapted to specific climate types and uses. Livestock systems will include: grass-fed cattle for meat and milk, chickens, ducks, turkey and quail for meat, eggs and fertilizer, goats for weed control, meat and milk, pigs for meat and tillage, rabbits for wool and fertilizer, dogs for herding and security, and horses.

Phase Two:

Phase two will consist of constructing a classroom with kitchen facilities for students, an administrative office and student accommodations.

Project Needs:

Funding
Volunteers