Life is like riding a bicycle.
To keep your balance,
you must keep moving.
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HISTORY
In the course of a career break, Jürg Kunz intuitively chose to explore the Amazon region. This first trip already planted a seed for the development of a project in Brazil. The first milestone was laid in Zurich on January 27, 2011: The founding of a non-profit organization “Terra do Caju” with seven founding members.
The basic idea for the project is to contribute something meaningful to the current global environmental challenges. Over the years the team has grown and the expertise of various people is at our disposal. Frequently volunteers complement the team and contribute with interesting ideas and experiences from all over the world. At the moment the project is in the transition phase from the construction of the infrastructure to the establishment and launch of the plantations.
Dry season means construction time. From May to December 6-8 workers from the neighboring village work full time on the construction of the facilities.
Jürg Kunz, initiator of the permaculture Terra do Caju.
2013: Omri at the extension of the kitchen of the existing residential house. On the roof, the first solar plant with 3 panels.
2014, March: First oven for the production of vegetable carbon and charcoal as an ingredient for the Terra Preta.
2014, June: Construction of the chicken coop.
The chicken coop is designed for keeping up to 150 chickens.
2014, September: Excavation of the reservoir for the irrigation of the permaculture.
Team 2014
2014: The reservoir is ready to be filled. The bridge leads from the living area to the working area of the property.
2014, November: Start of the construction of the canteen.
Our canteen providing meals for workers and guests.
The canteen is open and ready to serve lunch.
2015, September: Construction of terraces in the permaculcture.
The tractor together with the built paths make it easy to transport material on the property.
The terraces are ready to be filled with Terra Preta.
2015: First successes on the plantations with bananas, corn and pumpkins.
Plantations in the permaculture zone. The nutrient-rich brown soil in the fields and the loamy, nutrient-poor soil on the paths are clearly visible.
The lake house was built as an addition to the existing residential building.
2015, November: The nursery is ready.
It offers space for growing seedlings and trees.
In a sheltered environment the trees are prepared for their transplantation.
Over 3 km of paths lead visitors safely through the jungle.
Bridges lead over streams and swamps.
The structural shell of the workshop space with the metal workshop on the left and the carpentry shop on the right.
The master builder Jürg building working space 3.
Delivery of building material. Here the sand for the concrete.
The WC facility for visitors and workers.
Laying bricks for the working space 3.
The trusses for working space 3 are installed.
Here the technical room that forms the heart of the solar system. For thermotechnical reasons, this room was built with a double layer brick wall.
Team 2017
2017: Completion of the clay oven.
Delivery of the bricks for the construction of the kitchen building.
The concrete floor slab for the kitchen building with the big industrial freezer in the background.
The structural work for the kitchen building.
2018, July: The solar panels are delivered by ship.
Loading the batteries from the truck onto the ship.
Team 2018
Jürg during the creation of the design concept for Terrra do Caju.
Be the change
you want to see
in the world
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Jürg Kunz
TdC Initiator, electrical mechanic and merchant
Raiele Gama Macedo
Administration
Alain Büchler
Partner, Communication and technology, automation technician and instructor
Ney Vasconcelos Pessoa
Partner, Teacher
Andi Gantenbein
Permaculture planner, landscape architect and environmental engineer, ETH Zurich
Swen Sutter
Finances, Office Switzerland, IT business engineer
Christoph Bocchetti
Design, Website, Graphic Designer, ZHdK
| Omri Fink | 2013 | CH |
| Andi Gantenbein | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 | CH |
| Nayeli Paulin | 2016 | CH |
| Alain Büchler | 2016, 2017, 2018 | CH |
| Larissa Kessler | 2016 | CH |
| Wendi Kessler | 2016 | CH |
| Janica Angst | 2017 | CH |
| Lukas Koch | 2017 | CH |
| Milena Francio | 2017, 2018 | BR |
| André Luiz da Silva | 2017, 2018 | BR |
| Laurent Galichet | 2017 | FR |
| Christoph Bocchetti | 2017, 2018, 2019 | CH |
| Sinthuia | 2017, 2018, 2019 | CH |
| Michael Dönni | 2017, 2018 | CH |
| Janik | 2018 | CH |
| Raimunda | 2018 | BR |
| Jana Bracher | 2018 | CH |
| Chris Widmer | 2018 | CH |
| Charles | 2018 | FR |
| Luca | 2019 | CH |