HEPA (Human Ecology Practical Area) Farmer Field School (FFS) is a pioneering training dedicated to strengthen indigenous youth. HEPA FFS lies at the heart of the 6 inter-thematic networks action of Mekong Community Network Action for Ecological Trading (MECO-ECOTRA).
Overuse of resources and the lack of a caring attitude towards Human-Nature relationships in many sensitive watershed ecosystems have been the major causes leading to land desertification problems, gradual erosion of social traditions, and the losses of ecological biodiversity.
Reflection on visit to Human Ecology Practice Area (HEPA)
19/06/2014
I am currently a Master student at the Australian National University, majoring Human Ecology under the Environmental studies. I fortunately had a chance to visit HEPA from the 14th to 17th of April 2014, so I would like to share some of the reflections. Though I virtually had only one day to explore HEPA (since we arrived at night on the 14th and left in the lunch of 17th, and I was also sick on the 15th), this visit was very meaningful and interesting for me.
First of all, I found similarities between the philosophy in HEPA and traditional culture in Japan. I did not join the traditional ceremony of worshiping the tree; but after hearing stories and seeing photos from those who joining - I can see that people’s worship on nature in HEPA or this region is pretty similar with that of Japanese people. Japanese people also see Spirit in Nature, such as river, stone, animal, tree, water and sea. I attach a few photos for illustration.
After slightly recovering from my sickness, I attended the students’ presentation about HEPA. In the student’s presentation of HEPA, there was an explanation about harmonious relationship between human and nature. This is also a core value observed in the traditional Japanese landscape. One of the most interesting points was that when the Hmong student Giang A Su explained the 9 principles in HEPA’s Eco-farming practices, they were mostly in line with what Japanese landscape looks like (or used to be) and even now putting into practice in certain areas. Also these principles were as the guiding/governing points to enhance the resilience of the landscape (resilience is understood as the capacity of an ecosystem to respond to disturbances by resisting damage and recovering quickly (from Wikipedia)) of the ecological system.
For example, the design principle of ‘using the edge’ of HEPA’s Eco-farming practices explains precisely how Japanese traditional landscape has developed around the edge of mountain and forest. In Japan, people utilised resources in forests, developed paddy field, built their houses nearby and created farmland as well as small ponds. A photo illustration is attached below.
Photo from: http://inakazura.com/
Illustration from: http://www.artbank.co.jp/
The different land uses in and/or around the edge of the forest or mountain worked out perfectly and very effectively to use resources within the internal cycle and also to maximise the use of resources (i.e. not wasting the resources). At the same time, this landscape was effective to prevent disaster and to purify water. And thus, promoting the diversity and heterogeneous land uses have shown to be the key features of a resilience landscape. Therefore when I listened to the way the students at HEPA applying the principle of ‘using the edge’ on their farm site, I noticed that this is a very good practice of enhancing resiliance on their farm.
Secondly, I could sense how HEPA offers the minority students a place for learning (practical learning) and knowledge exchange was also very interesting for me. With a mixture of students with different backgrounds (ethnicity) learning was emerging in many ways. The Vietnamese students were offering translation for non-Vietnamese students, which seem not only gave non-Vietnamese students a chance to learning, but also were offering he/she a chance to use English. Students with eco-farming knowledge and with actual long-time farming experience exchanges their knowledge through practical hands-on sessions. Permaculture science and knowledge and practice have been integrated with traditional practices and knowledge on agriculture. Students were independenty making various trials. More surprisingly, their practices in HEPA, including patrol in the HEPA forest twice a week by 2 different groups were contributing crucial changes in the region to prevent illegal logging and other illegal activities; adding to the efforts of forest protection and regeneration at site and for the regional level. HEPA forest is located almost in the upper part of the entire watershed.
Finally, the students in HEPA offered impressingly high hospitality. I could observe that their humanity is very high. The students seemed to have good sense of self efficacy and pride for their activities.
I would like to thank all the students and staff in HEPA, for your warm welcome and helping my stay in HEPA. It was only once (or twice) that I met with you, but I felt like I have known you for a longer time. Joining you guys in the kitchen, for example washing dishes was very fun. I was surprised how quickly and efficiently everyone dealt their job. The rhythm of working in the kitchen was somehow similar to how Japanese people work collectively, and made me very comfortable. I hope to come back to HEPA again in the near future.
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Sustainable Ecological Livelihood and Food Sovereignty 
