Barbara Graf

Barbara Elisabeth Graf, Tinizara, La Palma, mail: barbara.graf(arrobacsmgraf(punto)ch, fon: 0034 922 02 15

Master of natural science, Architect, ETH Zürich, Switzerland

PCD with Julia Boniface and Jeff Nugent, Australia, 2000

born the first of may 1968 , St. Gallen, Switzerland

diploma in pedagogic, 1988, works as a teacher on elementary schools

career as a communitiy politician, sindicalista, human rights activist and determined feminist  

first steps as an architect, 2000, remodelling abandoned cities and searching new uses for abandoned industrial sites by working out its potentials to improve the economy and social life of the whole region surrounding, architecture for long term refugees, consultant for communities to connect the traditional architecture, local recourses and traditional know how to improve their economic strength and autonomy, always applying the holistic way of a permaculturist thinking including considerating the local culture and history, the establishment of a regional currency, referring to Margareth Kennedy, treatment of waste and applying the most adequate way of using energy and water resources.

migration to Tinizara, 2007, La Palma together with Erich, my husband and Julian, our son. We are on the way to turn a monoculture avocado forest and vast potato fields into a high diversity food forest, experimenting with a big variety of plants which deliver fruits, vegetables and medicinal uses. 

my vision 

At the moment I am reading the autobiography of Wangari Maathai the founder of the Green Belt movement . I´m very much inspired by the work of this movement. It gives me an idea about how to go for the fullfillment of my vision: reforesting the Canary Islands to have them as green and filled with splendid flavours as they used to be 500 years ago.

http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/