“Diversity creates harmony, and harmony creates beauty, balance, bounty and peace in nature and society, in agriculture and culture, in science and in politics.”
Vandana Shiva
REGENERATION
We cultivate healthy soils, healthy ecosystems and regenerate landscapes for the benefit of our community and local biodiversity.
RESILIENCE
We work to transfer practical skills and create production systems that mimic local ecosystems to create conditions where life can flourish, in order to foster food and land sovereignty, and enable communities to better adapt to changes in the economy, technology and risks such as climate change.
COMMUNITY
We actively promote the values of a regenerative culture: peace, respect, knowledge transfer, and the rescue and conservation of our Afro-indigenous heritage to help foster a paradigm shift and return to healthy exchanges between humans and nature. and a sense of good living and justice within our communities.
About Us
About Quisqueya Permacultura
Quisqueya Permacultura is a small, family-run business that promotes the principles of permaculture, in order to empower, raise awareness and accompany all those individuals, groups, businesses and organisations who wish to build their resilience by adopting regenerative sociocultural and environmental practices.
Since its foundation, Quisqueya Permacultura has worked with a variety of people, projects and organizations, who have approached us to learn tools and techniques that will allow them to re-shape the way that they are thinking and living, and to integrate more holistic Permaculture ethics and principles into their lives and environments, through a local, decolonised perspective.
Some of the people and organizations we are very grateful to have had the pleasure to work with over the years:
- Communities in the Province of Samaná and towns such as Jarabacoa, Monte Plata, Juan Dolio.
- Schools & Universities such as The Community for Learning, The Carol Morgan School, UNIBE, Cornell University, INTEC,
- Organizations & Projects such as: Rancho Baiguate, Global Environments Network, Canadian Local Initiative Fund, German Cooperation Agency KATE, TourCert, IDDI, TRANSTUR, Destinos del Futuro, USAID Farmer to Farmer, Ola Design Group, Ascala RD, Foro Ambiental de Samaná, Vida Sana Las Galeras, Aventura Rincón Ecolodge,
- Scientific Community: Holly Garrod (Birds Caribbean), Spencer Shubert(University of Villa Nova), CEBSE (Center for the Conservation and Ecodevelopment of the Bay of Samaná and its Surroundings)
LEARN
OUR COURSES
Whether by oneself, with a group or hosting a team-building event, give yourself and others an agroecological and cultural immersion experience in the mountains of Las Galeras.
FULL DAY COURSE
Weekend Course
PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE
“ There is one, and only one solution, and we hardly have time to make it work. We must give all our resources to the repair of the natural world, and train all our young people to help. They want it that way; We need to give them this last chance to create forests, soils, clean water, clean energy, safe communities, stable regions, and know how to do it from practical experience.”
BILL MOLLISON
Testimonials
Quisqueya Permacultura prides itself on having worked closely and collaborated with individuals, families, communities, universities, and other organizations and groups from all over the world since 2014.
Shiselle Lopez
“Shortly after QP began working with us, students were begging to go outside and work on their respective projects and responsibilities. Students understood the importance of this type of education and they embraced it. Some students went above and beyond, researching and educating themselves about GMOs, farming, agriculture, conservation, caring for the earth and eating healthy. Students were involved in the process and they were eager to share their knowledge with anyone and everyone that would listen. Students began going home and teaching their parents and family members about what they were learning. Students were conscious about the environment, leading healthier lifestyles and cooperating with others, as well as having positive relationships. QP transformed our sustainability projects and we are eternally grateful that they shared all of their knowledge, input and love of what they do with us.”
Harry Alvarez
I first encountered what was an idea of permaculture when I first met Orquidea and Antu back in 2015. I saw how they transformed the land of one of our closest partners into a lush garden with passionfruit vines intertwined among papaya trees that were giving shade to mint, oregano, and all types of herbs. More importantly the passion, knowledge and patience with which they demonstrate the outdoor spaces they create gives the user (client/customer/tourist) the ability to be met at their comfort zone. I learned about the concept of permaculture from Antu and Orqui, and have learned many more lessons from them because of this keen ability to meet people where they are on topics of sustainability, conservation, farming, etc. Hundreds of our Offbeat Travel students and staff have participated in permaculture seminars and have provided much praise themselves. Many students are so inspired that they write back to us weeks later saying things like “I want to live more like Orqui and Antu. How can I stay in touch with them?”. But more importantly they also write to us to let us know about the compost they started, the community garden they helped plant, or how they applied another of the many lessons they learned from Quisqueya Permacultura in their everyday lives.¨
Fyto Sandoval
“Su trabajo y cuidado de la tierra es admirable”
Anonymous
What did I love most? “The inspiration that Antu generated in me for reviving love, respect and the need to observe nature, because I understood a lot about permaculture, and Orqui , who allowed me to reaffirm my commitment to change, with transformation, even from the smallest of spaces in which we move on the planet. The solidarity of the people of Las Galeras who supported in some way the development of the course, I breathed community. The work methodology, the facilitation team and the support between you… (Translated from spanish)
Altair Rodríguez
I first met Orqui and Antu (Quisqueya Permacultura) at one of their Bioconstruction workshops some years ago. The two-day practical workshop was a life changing experience. Quisqueya Permaculture has been a pioneer in areas such as Permaculture, Agroecology and Successional Agroforestry in the Dominican Republic. Their knowledge and passion on these and other areas that relate to collective regeneration is impressive. With the years I´ve had the opportunity to work with them on workshops, talks and trainings and everytime they teach me new things both as outstanding facilitators and trainers and as sensitive and empathetic human beings who practice what they preach and who are committed to another way of life that truly reconnects with with nature and ourselves.
OUR INSIGHTS
LATEST BLOG POSTS
More resources to help create awareness and innovative solutions to have sustainability become a reality in our modern world
Acknowledgement
What we now call the province of Samana was home to the Ciguayos, Ciboneyes, and other indigenous groups who migrated from parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America. After 1492, when the island was colonized, other groups of enslaved peoples were brought forcefully from different parts of Africa, and later many others migrated as free peoples from other parts of the Caribbean and from the US, seeking true freedom. We would like to acknowledge and honour the traditional owners of the land, those who migrated to these lands and worked hard to make it their home, and pay respects to the Elders of this land, those of the past and the present.
