Finca Yantza

Family Farm: Jago Jan Veith,
Crops: Soursop, Guayusa, Bananas, Cacao, Lemon grass, Jackfruit, Durian, Breadfruit, Citrus
Location: Yantzaza, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador

PermaTree is a tropical fruit farm located in the southeastern region of Ecuador, alongside the Cóndor Cordillera. Literally at the edge of the Andes mountain range (which stretch 1800 kilometers from north to south, along the west coast of the continent) and the Amazonas region in Ecuador. Because of that the property is part of the Andes mountain range and part of the Amazon River Basin which covers a total covers an area of about 7,500,000 km2 or roughly 40% of the South American continent.

We are approximately 100 km east-northeast of Loja, the fourth largest city in Ecuador and capital of the Loja province.

• Location within the region and Ecuador – birdview

Arrival at the farm area from the city of Loja involves passing through smaller cities and towns that include Zamora (Zamora Chinchipe Province capital city), Yantzaza and Los Encuentros.

YANTZA-Farm Overview

Surface area

• Total – 78 Ha
• Conservation area – 40 Ha
• Current Production – 10 Ha (6 Ha tropical crops, 4 Has Food Forest)

Geography

• Lowest point – 800m above sea level
• Highest point – 1300m above sea level

Soil Type

• Main soil type – Ultisol – red clay with high mineral content
• Some areas containing higher OM than others
• Historically used as pasture land for over 10 years

Climate

• Tropical/Rainforest – Af in Köppen-Geiger classification
• Rain Season: May – June; Dry Season: July – February
  • Significant rainfall all year, even in the driest months.
• Average annual temperature in Yantzaza is 22.7 °C.
• Annual precipitation averages 1959 mm.

Climate Table Monthly Temperature

Climate Graph Monthly Rainfall

The Sun’s Motion Within 12 Hours In Relation To PermaTree’s Location

Biodiversity

We are constantly monitoring (iNaturalist) the fauna which surrounds us at the PermaTree. We believe this is a key pillar as holistic permaculture farm to be monitoring our local environment & understand the occurring changes & if needed undertake actions to improve the status quo.

So far we have been able to identity – Amphibians (Frog, Crab), Reptiles (Snakes, Lizards, Geckos, Iguana), Grasshoppers, Mantises (Praying Mantis), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and lost of birds (Parrot, Tucan, Hummingbirds, Woodpecker, etc), Spiders (Araneae), Scorpion, Dragon Fly, Caterpillars, Hymenoptera (Ants), Wasps, Flies and Bees, Moskitos, Mammals (Rabbit, Armadillo, Peccary, Agouti), more Insects, Beetles and Bugs.

Click here to dive into our PermaTree Biodiversity Monitoring Blog Article.

Existing Protected Areas (Conservation)

To protect the cloud forests and highlands of this mountain range, the Ecuadorian government, through the Ministry of the Environment, has created four nature reserves along the mountain range at different altitudes, which jointly protect some 41,000 hectares of forest (MAE, 2016). These reserves are:
• El Quimi Biological Reserve
• Cerro Plateado Biological Reserve
• El Zarza Wildlife Refuge
• Cordillera del Cóndor Protected Forest

Soil information

High concentrations of certain metals, such as barium, copper, cadmium, cobalt, hexavalent chromium, mercury, lead, vanadium and zinc, were identified, which are related to the geochemical characteristics specific to the study area from which the samples were analyzed. This is due primarily to the fact that polymetallic mineralized zones have been found in the study area. This issue has also led to most of the soil sampling points (84%) having pH figures of slightly acidic to acidic (lower than pH 7), which are in accordance with those found in the agronomic studies of those soils. Turning to edaphological characteristics of soils, the predominant type in the area is Typic Dystrundepts which is found to have texture profiles from loam to silty loam, with high water retention capacity, usually poor in available nutrients In addition, as mentioned above, the soils are generally acid. Therefore, they have a low level of natural fertility, which limits their use in farming. Additionally, most of the prospected soils have low permeability, except for Alluvial Terrace soils.

This category is associated with feasible use (F); normally on the terraces of the Zamora River and areas difficult to access, steep slope areas, such as the high hills that contain natural vegetation with minimal disturbance.

Water PH measurement (2018)

Full Area Visual Overview

Production Areas

Crop Zones

See our permaculture in action with the following maps of planting zones.
Existing crops growing. Soursoup, Cacao, Guayusa, Tumeric. Also Vetiver grass and lots of bamboo.

Production Area Photo

PermaTree Oveview Status (March 2019)

Products This Farmer Grows