End of Year Thoughts

When I carry out Google searches on Vetiver associated topics it is amazing how many people refer to vetiver in their blogs. There are thousands of users (including many permaculturists) that we have never heard of applying Vetiver on small scale for a range of uses including erosion control, live fences, forage, mulch, shade pest control and so on. This can only mean that the Vetiver "word" is getting out on quite a large scale.

Additionally, through various forums, there is serious discussion as to how Vetiver can be used to deal with age old problems that are becoming more acute with the onset of climate change. Vetiver is not the silver bullet but it certainly provides the means to deal with some pretty substantive issues. We, as a network, can be very instrumental in helping this process along. I would like to thank all of you who have contributed through your blogs, emails, websites, discussion groups, and face to face promotion of the technology. As a network we have a reputation for proffered advice that is honest, helpful and fast. This is a great asset and let us continue in this vein and encourage others to provide feedback and participate in our "debates".

In the last few years TVNI has, together with local networks, organized some important regional and country Vetiver workshops, the latest being in Ethiopia. All of them have led to very significant improved understanding of the Vetiver System and increased activity - the benefit cost ratio must be very high. What is even better is that the local networks and agencies are providing in increasing number of resource persons for these workshops.

What does all this mean? It means that the technology is spread widely, that the technology is seen to be effective as a good and low cost solution, and that the technology is here to stay. From an organizational aspect we see in the future that expanding Vetiver System technology is going to be taken up more and more by local in country networks and individuals using their own experiences and raising funds through local resources. This is a good thing because (1) the TVNI leadership is not getting any younger and (2) international resources focus on, and are much more readily available to well managed in country organizations.

I have always believed in two Chinese maxims - "Seeing is Believing" and "Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom" - let us continue in this spirit.

New Year's greetings to you all

Dick Grimshaw