Get to know Sítio da Janaguba
Come and explore this residence that, besides being beautiful and comfortable, is also an example of a healthier and more sustainable way of life!
Objective
Sítio da Janaguba (Janaguba Homestead) is a residence dedicated to promoting a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. It is also one of the Demonstration Units of the Permaculture and Ecovillage Institute of Ceará – IPC. The site’s house was designed based on Bioclimatic Architecture and Natural Building principles, ensuring pleasant thermal and acoustic comfort with minimal environmental impact. The external area has been reforested, focusing on soil recovery, environmental restoration, and food production, including fruits, vegetables, staple crops (cassava, pumpkin, sweet potato, corn, etc.), unconventional edible plants (PANCS) such as ora-pro-nobis, bertalha, jaboti herb, joão gomes, and additional protein sources like eggs and fish. Furthermore, the site hosts courses and workshops aimed at spreading practical knowledge about sustainable living based on Permaculture principles.
.
History
In early 2009, during a community event at Sítio Floresta to create a garden made from old car tires, the idea of Sítio da Janaguba was born, upon learning that the land in front was for sale. This dream became reality in 2010 with the purchase of a 3,500-square-meter plot, the house’s construction in early 2011, and moving in, in June of the same year. The initial years were quite challenging, as the land was barren, with sandy soil and minimal nutrients, except for a few cashew, mango, coconut, and janaguba trees. Since then, much has changed. The site’s permaculture design was implemented, along with the construction of various structures such as compost bins, worm farms, a chicken-garden, a small pond, a herb spiral, a rainwater harvesting cistern, a seedling nursery, and a 700-square-meter Food Forest. Throughout this process, the site has hosted numerous events, courses, and workshops, promoting sustainable living, while adhering to Permaculture ethics and principles.
People
Mario Fraga, the main founder of Sítio da Janaguba, was born in São Paulo State, but has been living in Ceará for over 20 years. He is an agronomist, ecologist, and passionate Permaculture practitioner and nature lover.
He spends his weekends at Sítio da Janaguba, tending to plants and animals while performing necessary maintenances. During weekdays, he works in Fortaleza and lives with his family in a small apartment, where he also strives for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle.
Mario Fraga is one of the founders of the Permaculture and Ecovillage Institute of Ceará (IPC), where he teaches Permaculture courses, some of which take place at Sítio da Janaguba. He received Permaculture training in Australia from Bill Mollison, the founder of Permaculture, and Geoff Lawton, the current director of the Permaculture Research Institute.
He possesses extensive knowledge of local soils, fauna, vegetation, and agroecological and Permaculture production methods. He also enjoys teaching these subjects to interested people.
Location
Sítio da Janaguba is located in the River Park subdivision, between the Mangabeira and Olho D’Água neighborhoods of Eusébio, in the Fortaleza Metropolitan Region, State of Ceará, northeastern Brazil.
Distances from Sítio da Janaguba are:
– Fortaleza International Airport – 22.68 km
– Porto das Dunas (Beach Park) – 11.68 km
– Fortaleza/CE Beira Mar Avenue – 23.2 km
– Pacoti River – 1.46 km
– Jericoacoara/CE – 318 km (by car)
– Quixadá/CE – 161 km (by car)
The best way to reach Sítio da Janaguba is through ride-sharing services such as Uber and 99 Pop.
Neighborhood and Services
Sítio da Janaguba is located within a subdivision that is home to other similar places where people practice Permaculture and sustainable living, places such as Sítio Floresta and Sítio Juazeiro.
Available delivery services:
– Meal delivery (ready-made meals)
– Pizza and other restaurants
– Pharmacy
– Bottled drinking water and gas cylinders
– Pet and plant stores (supplies for animals and plants)
Transportation services such as Uber, 99 Pop, and TRUE (Eusébio’s free urban transport) are also available.
Permaculture Design
The homestead comprises seven 500-square-meter lots, totaling 3,500 square meters. Each lot measures 12.5 meters in width by 40 meters in length. The site’s entire width is 50 meters, its depth is 80 meters, and the back area measures 37.5 meters, aligned east to west.
Currently, in Sítio da Janaguba there are hundreds of food-producing, medicinal, and ornamental trees and plants at various growth stages, including mango, cashew, coconut, jackfruit, banana, avocado, sapodilla, orange, tangerine, tamarind, soursop, starfruit, acerola, açaí, annatto, janaguba, robusta coffee, guadua bamboo, yellow ipe, flamboyant, medicinal eucalyptus, jasmine, hibiscus, calabash tree, talipot palm, silk cotton tree, and even a large baobab tree!
Workshops and Courses
Sítio da Janaguba offers various workshops and courses, including:
Workshops
Instant Garden
Peopl learn hands-on how to create an instant vegetable garden using simple, low-cost materials such as kitchen scraps, manure, cardboard, straw, and organic compost. This quick and effective method allows immediate planting while enhancing soil quality.
Composting
Step-by-step guide on how to transform plant residues and animal manure into high-quality organic fertilizer. The workshop provides theoretical and practical insights into composting, with expert tips from over twenty years of experience. Participants build compost piles, turn existing piles at different stages, and examine ready-made organic compost.
Worm Farming
Learn how to set up and maintain different worm farm models. This hands-on workshop teaches vermicomposting, producing nutrient-rich worm humus and odorless liquid fertilizer for robust and healthy plant growth.
Seedling Production
Discover variuos methods for growing different types of seedlings, from vegetables to trees, using recycled materials like newspapers or beverage cartons. Participants learn seed and cutting preparation, container selection, and planting substrate preparation. A thriving nursery is crucial for establishing any vegetable garden or orchard.
Natural Earth Paint
Natural earth pigments provide stunning, long-lasting colors without fading over time! The exterior walls of the house at Sítio da Janaguba have been painted with natural earth-based paint, holding up well for over 15 years. This workshop teaches an easy, affordable, and safe method for making natural earth paint, ideal for both painters and inhabitants.
Courses
Permaculture Design Course – PDC
Offered by the IPC, the course is held in four alternating weekends. The 72-hour course follows the content established by Permaculture founders. It covers natural building, green sanitation, food production based on agroecology and agroforestry principles, social strategies, and much more. The course is held annually — stay tuned to the IPC calendar!
Introduction to Food Forests
Learn about food forest principles and successional gardening, following Ernst Götsch’s syntropic agriculture approach. In the practical portion of the course, participants establish a small successional garden and manage Sítio da Janaguba’s food forest site.
Videos
Contact Us
Enjoyed knowing Sítio da Janaguba so far? Want to know more? How about paying us a visit? Get in touch. Send us a message.
We are already happy and looking forward to welcoming you!