Introduction
This page gives context of my design for this Output Packet (OP). I include my life context with in which I was designing and executing this project and an abstract for the project. I articulate the design methodology used for the OP itself and consequently the Goals, Actionable Items and Outcomes. I reflect upon my time management and incorporation of feedback from previous OP's.
Life Context
I have grown significantly through my time with Gaia and in this project specifically: personally, professionally, digitally and in so many other ways. When I first enrolled in Gaia, I imagined that my ten OPs (Output Packets) would entail gaining many hard skills of permaculture and creating curriculum for classes and workshops. Perhaps, I believed, I would do one project on plant propagation, another on soil, another on water, another on space-making and natural building and so on. Coming full circle into my final project OP with Gaia, I am inspired to complete work on many of these topics under one single OP on land stewardship. Simultaneously, my digital literacy, specifically with keynote presentations and imovie has grown during this OP cycle. I hope to marry my digital capability with my love of nature and be able to market myself on the internet as a landscape designer. I have lived and worked the land on my one acre homestead for most of the past 8 months (September 2015 --> April 2016).
Observing the Opportunity
Creating presentations and videos of my competencies regarding land stewardship was one of the thrusts in enrolling in Gaia. I am using my final project OP to bring together my passions around Soil, Plant Propagation and Seeds.
OP Abstract
OP ABSTRACT: Good land stewardship practices are critical to the health of our species moving into the next generation. The two primary functions of this OP run parallel:
1 Showcase Liam's skills as a permaculture designer using the 1 acre homestead in which I have spearheaded the development for the past 8 years.
2 Design and document new projects regarding water, soil and propagation Liam can implement during the winter of 2015-2016.
The transformation entails from 2007 to the present day in Baja, Mexico, Liam's designs and implementations have transformed a cornfield into a beautiful garden oasis. I intend to design the next step on this property while simultaneously creating classes on ways in which I have skills in land stewardship. In previous OP's, I have already presented upon the 100% solar energy of our land. Much of the documentation for this project is videos and slideshows relating to the specifics of soil, seeds and plant propagation. I aim to use this playground to create digitally media for future classes and my website.
OP KEY OPPORTUNITY: Document the significant development I have spearheaded in Baja and have video and digitally presentable information for future classes and building my website.
OP IDEAL OUTCOME: 2 hour presentation keynote on soils, on seeds, on herbalism and a webpage on "Liam as Permaculture Consultant" highlighting soils, seeds and plant propagation.
Feedback from my Advisor
DESIGN
1 Make an overview of this design methodology in comparison to others you’ve used and how I am evolving as a designer.
2 Articulate clearly how goals are related to outcomes. Did the project realize its intentions?
FIELD
1 Bring in more external referencing for the field assessment.
2 Explore my impact on the field in more depth.
OP Management
Considering the vast scale of this OP, I feel I managed it very well. I believe that I am following my bliss and doing exactly what I want to be doing. As my life has created situations that allow me to do this, I applaud that I am both moving forward at a good rate, while not overworking myself. I certainly renegotiated the due date for this OP (and the order in which the OP's would happen) multiple times; however, I was clear in my renegotiations with Jennifer and myself. And as I was managing my professional life appropriately, I feel I did a great job managing this OP.
OP Structure Guidelines : a Design Framework
OP Design Methodology
As I draw near the end of my MA with Gaia, I decided it would behoove me to explore GaSADIE which, when I encountered 5 years ago for the first time was a new concept for me. Now, after developing multiple design methodologies and exploring with many others design processes, I would like to revisit this first design methodology that I used.
Goal Articulation:
See OP Goal Articulation text box below.
Survey:
This is my final project OP. 9 OP's have come before where I have been honing my skills regarding communicating my projects with relevant information regarding my personal and professional growth especially as leader and learner.
The acre in Baja is a resource that is quite ample for a project regarding homesteading/land stewardship.
Jennifer's feedback is crucial for key opportunities for growth within the OP.
Assess:
Work on my documentation of the metrics that I set out.
Create a section called Liam's worldview to insure that I adequately reflect upon worldview.
Design:
Create charts that help me reflect upon the active experimentation that is happening.
Create clear pages that document the core report itself.
Create commentary pages that reflect the key concerns and opportunities that Gaia recommends: MTMP, action learner, designer, leader, contributions to the field, key un/learnings
Create contextual pages to offer the reader strategies for navigating this OP and clarity regarding how to best interface this OP.
Implement:
See Actionable Items text box below.
Evaluate:
Proofread.
Assess whether I met OP Goals.
Reflect upon my growth.
OP Goal Articulation
Explore a new design methodology (for the core report) rooted in the cycle of plants.
Explore "worldview" more in depth as suggested by my advisor.
Research the field of Applied Permaculture Design and articulate how my project fits within the parameters of Applied Permaculture Design.
Create an OP that satisfies all aspects of Gaia's needs including
1. offering context and navigation ease
2. reporting outcomes with documentation
3. reflecting in the commentary on my own process: MTMP, key un/learnings, designer, leader, the field.
Reflect and document on active experimentation in my nursery.
Explore my facility in a more rounded presentation of my outcomes per Jennifer's suggestion. I believe that I have grown considerably in seeing things from the eyes of the reader and I believe that there is more effort I can place to having the outcomes part of my portfolio close to ready for my website. (Thus far, I have focused more on the content than the presentation.)
Use my remaining LSB budget as there are ample opportunities to employ people in assistance with projects.
Employ other feedback from Jennifer: awareness of self as designer.
Output Packet Outcomes
• Good design methodology based on the natural growth of a plant. This design methodology matches the content of this OP well.
• Wrote more on my worldview especially in the 5 P's section on planetary.
• Researched Applied Permaculture Design online and wrote on it including links and my connection to the field. (see Field text box on Outcomes page)
• I am happy with the flow of my OP.
• Journal-ed regularly on worldview, MTMP, key un/learnings, and self as designer and leader and nursery.
• Included a section in Commentary called "Pathway Design: Evolution of Self as a Designer."
• Reflected generally upon the LIPD including the skill-flex chart and the Accountability Metrics Chart.
• All the Permaculture principles fit into projects that I am doing.
Actionable Items
- Create a design methodology focused upon the natural cycle of plants.
- Journal on 'worldview.'
- In my 5 P's section, write more on my own 'worldview.'
- Spend time exploring the field of Applied Permaculture Design to place myself more fully in the context of Applied Permaculture in the world.
- Research all uses of Applied Permaculture.
- Compare my work to others doing "Applied Permaculture"
- Reflect upon context and navigation. Solicit help from others regarding context and navigation.
- Journal regularly regarding MTMP, key un/learning, myself as designer and leader.
- Journal regularly on how the nursery progresses.
- Have Bea and mom look at the Outcomes page with me and talk about it in terms of not just content but also presenting it to the world.
- Compare and contrast all of my design methodologies through my Capstone journey.
- Offer links to any contributions to the field ideally through dissemination of my keynotes and videos that are created.
- Reflect upon growth from my LIPD.
- Reflect upon how I utilize the permaculture principles and ethics in my work.
Incorporating Advisor Feedback
DESIGN
1 On Page 4.1.3, I added a text box "Pathway Design: Evolution of Self as a Designer"
2 On Page 4.1.1, I added a text box "Summary" that briefly reflects on whether the project outcomes met the intended goals.
On Page 4.1.2 I added a text box "OP Outcomes."
On page 4.2.2 Core Report Outcomes Page -- I consciously articulate whether the project realize its intentions. I draw a very explicit connection between goals and outcomes.
FIELD
1 In 4.2.1, I created a text box called "Applied Permaculture Design" to define the field that I am working in and discuss how this is being used in the field today.
2 In 4.2.1, I expanded the 'Contributions' part of "The Field" text box to include more about my impact on the field.