30/06/2010

 After graduating from Merton College, Oxford, Alex spent 5 years travelling in northern Africa and the Middle East.  He is now fluent in Arabic and Amharic.  In 2007 Alex settled in Konso, which is a remote part of Ethiopia south of Addis Abba, and set up an exemplary permaculture farm, Strawberry Fields Eco Lodge.   The farm is used as a case study from which training courses are given to local schools, farmers and teachers in how to profitably but fundamentally sustainably use the land.  This is for example by farming indigenous crops, discouraging soil erosion and not using fertiliser.

It was in Ethiopia that Alex found his wife, and Tom Leeming (who was best man at his wedding), introduced him to us.  This was a well illustrated and colourful talk about Konso and its local community as well as eco-tourism, permaculture and Strawberry Fields.  Further information on this eco farm is available through this link: http://www.permalodge.org/