Biosynergetics

The biosynergetics institute is located approximately 20 minutes outside of central Johannesburg, in a tranquil country suburb.

The institute is a family home as well as a learning and demonstration site that is gradually being retrofitted according to permaculture principles. We offer internships to provide the opportunity to develop practical knowledge of ecological design and permaculture systems. The following features are already developed:

• Permaculture Gardens: Our drylands permaculture food forest system has been evolving for the past 4 years. It has a strong focus on locally-appropriate and indigenous plants, including many African and cosmopolitan herbs. It features swales, deep mulching, drip-line irrigation, liquid manure, and many plant guilds centered around almonds, figs, peaches, pecans, and avocados.
• Blackwater Clarification: A biofilter remediates blackwater and returns the treated water to the garden system.
• Roofwater harvesting: All rainwater from the main house is harvested and stored in the swimming pool, which has been converted to a natural pond system with papyrus, iris, frogs, and goldfish.
• Run-off harvesting: A network of swales, diversion ditches and ponds redirects, captures and stores run-off. We have a total of approximately 300kl storage capacity with which to irrigate our gardens in the dry season.
• Greywater Systems: An experimental greywater system treats water from baths, shower, and kitchen.
• Renewable energies: We have installed one solar water heater and are planning further installations.
• Nautilus Earthbuilding: We are constructing an earthbuilding using cob, adobe, strawbale, and other technologies.
• Workshop: We have a basic workshop with various power-tools for welding and woodwork.
• Library: An extensive collection of books on permaculture, ecological design, nutrition, herbalism, deep ecology, evolution, and many other topics.
• Training centre: Our training centre with attached bathrooms and kitchen can accommodate up to 30 trainees at a time, and has been used to run workshops on health, herbalism, ferments, earthbuilding, and chi kung.