**PURAVIDAonline**

As part of the Sustainable Community project PURAVIDA has been building energy efficient clay stoves, known as rocket stoves. These simple stoves greatly reduces the amount of wood needed and are easily made using clay and banana stalk, all of which is available in abundance at the farm. Together with the local families we have also built rocket stoves in their houses.

A RAM pump has also been installed to bring water from the river to the top of the hill using only the force of the waterfall as its source of energy. This has enabled us to create irrigation systems for the permaculture gardens and to have running water close to the kitchen for washing up.

The permaculture gardens have extended all over the hills and are now fruitful with pumpkins, tomatoes, chilies, cucumbers, mandioc, herbs and leaves. All families working and living on the farm have also initiated their own vegetable patches. It is hoped that this will help not only reducing their food expenses but also improving their diets which tend to be surprisingly poor in fruits and vegetables, considering the abundance available.

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