The "Green Team" project is a community based education campaign centered on increasing urban food production in Havana, with broader objectives of increasing ecologically sustainable self-reliance in the city.
The Cuban partner organisation is the 'Proyecto de Permacultura, de la Fundación de la Naturaleza y el Hombre' (PP-FNH). Together, they produce a magazine, 'Se Puede' ("It is possible") and have just published a handbook on growing and using medicinal plants.
The project runs week-long introduction and train-the-trainer style urban permaculture courses, and in January 1996 ran the first permaculture design certificate course in Cuba. The courses are run with the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) and the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Australians working on the project in Cuba are know as "The Green Team".
The project receives funding from the Australian Government Agency for International Development (AusAID), and from donations from the public. Donations to the "ACF Cuba Appeal" are tax deductible in Australia, and are matched two-for-one by AusAID. The project needs to raise A$25,000 each year.
Australian Conservation Foundation, 340 Gore St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
tel +61 3 9416 1166, fax +61 3 9416 0767
email: adamt@peg.pegasus.oz.au WWW: http://www.peg.apc.org/~adamt