Everything's Coming Up Roses
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Good land stewardship practices are critical to the health of our species moving into the next generation. I am starting a large nursery to support the growth of my acre in Baja and my wisdom and to have plants and love to share with friends and neighbors . I am constantly improving the ecosystem here through plant diversity, soil creation, water retention, and wildlife habitat. Much of the documentation for this project will be videos and articles relating to the specifics of soil, seeds, herbs and propagation that I will use in future classes and for my website. The OP goals house the digital end of the spectrum and the core report goals focuses upon the physical changes in the garden. The design of this packet will engage my hands in the earth in Baja and simultaneously encourage me to document through video, slideshows, photos and writing/collecting good land stewardship practices in subtropical desert for soil, seeds, plant propagation, tree care, and herbalism.
KEY OPPORTUNITIES: Experiment and explore land stewardship techniques such as Earthwork strategies for water management; soil creation including compost, hugelkulture and mulch basins; propagation including pruning, grafting, cuttings, division and seeds. Create multilayered green fence and perennial polycultural food forest on my 1 acre homestead.
IDEAL OUTCOMES:
1. Abundance of vines, shrubs and trees growing around my property, on the road and offer to neighbors.
2. Mitigate hurricane water run off by creating swales, trenches, resevoirs and mulch basins.
3. Creation of wonderful soil by using yard and kitchen waste as a resource.
4. Documented material showing my prowess as a gardener/designer.
5. Fun in the garden.
Context
I have been designing and improving my 1 acre homestead in Baja California Sur since 2007. This project aims to increase my skills as a land steward and plant propagator. In addition, I will have products to expand the plantings on my land and share with friends and neighbors. In addition, I will bring together information in the form of movies and keynote presentations sharing my knowledge and wisdom around land stewardship.
Design Methodology
SEED -- Setting Intentions/Goal Articulation--
“The yield of this design is theoretically unlimited.”
For me, seeds are incredibly magical and hold vast amounts of potential energy. Seeds embody much of what good design attempts. Before the project begins, hopefully we have coded good information about necessary steps for our system to grow and thrive, with some sense of what we hope to receive from this system. The planting is an internal time that I often do on a new moon, similar to settings intentions for the month or the year. This dark time allows clarity for how I want this to unravel. See Goals Articulations for clarity that emerged during this “Seed” stage.
SHOOT -- Actionalbe Items / Implementation
“Catch and store energy.”
Vegetative growth is the summertime of the plant’s life. Implementation of the necessary steps to achieve our goals is happening. Expansion thriving on the sun’s energy fuels play and learning. Here is when I will Actively Experiment with many propagation techniques and soil and water management techniques. See “Actionable Items” for a list of tasks I hope to accomplish during the “Shoot” stage.
FRUIT -- Outcomes
“Obtain a Yield”
Harvesting my work will be both figurative and literal with this OP on Land Stewardship. There are many yields that are both physically tasty and beautiful in addition to gaining much knowledge to share. Beyond the literal fruits and plants that I am planting and sharing with neighbors, I have created many wonderful resources including slideshows. See "Outcomes" for a list of the fruits of my labor.
ROOT -- Evaluation / Gaia Commentary / Reflections
“Observe and Interact”
The nutrients of perennials in temperate climates can get stored in the Roots through the winter. For me, this is a reminder to reflect upon what I have learned and shared. This is a good time to ask myself “What are the next available steps for me?”, “Are there any interventions in terms of how I thought this would be applied now that I actually see the fruit?” See Commentary for the dark phase of reflections before the cycle starts again.
Goals Articulation
▪ Create 4 educational slideshow to form the basis of four 2 hour classes that I could teach during PDC's: Water, Soil, Seeds, Plant Propagation
▪ Create a curriculum for a full day workshop on my land in Baja.
▪ Continue to plant out the green fence on the property for foods, medicines and privacy.
▪ Employ soil management techniques to retain water in the drylands of Baja.
▪ Actively Experiment with plant propagation: cuttings, grafting, ground layering, air layering, division.
▪ Take Bill McDormand's week long seed school program.
▪ Document soil management techniques for evidence in the OP and my portfolio: Compost, Mulching, Sheet Mulching, Hugelkulture, Mulch Basin.
Actionable Items
Following is a list of the many Concrete Specific Actions that I implemented in the pathway toward my goals.
PLANT PROPAGATION:
Slideshow on Propagation for a 2 hour PDC class.
Graft roses, hibiscus, avocados, mangoes.
Explore cuttings of softwood, hardwood, tips and old growth.
Explore different rooting hormones including honey and several commercial rooting hormones.
Explore propagating in water and soil.
Make video of me doing cuttings.
Make video of me grafting avocados.
Make video of me planting chocolate tree.
Make video of me ground layering.
Make video of me air layering.
Make video of me dividing plants.
SEEDS:
Slideshow on Seeds for a 2 hour PDC class.
Grow herbs, shrubs and trees from seed.
Gather and save seeds from wherever I can.
Offer seeds on a seed exchange site.
Make video of me saving seeds.
SOIL:
Slideshow on Soil for a 2 hour PDC class.
Add mycelial cultures to the soil.
Create an above ground compost for the 6 months I will be here.
Make video of me doing different hugelkulture.
Make video of me doing compost.
HERBALISM:
Construct an herb spiral.
Construct curriculum for a class on herbalism.
WATER:
Show construction of swales.
Slideshow on Water for a 2 hour PDC class.
GENERAL:
Plant the fenceline with new propagated plants.
SUBTASKS
MOVIES
Edit movies on Soil
Combine takes on hugelkulture, compost, mulching
Edit movies on Plant Propagation
Combine takes on ground layering, air layering, grafting, cuttings,
Edit movie on Seeds
Combine videos on seed saving and seed planting and pollination
Edit movie on Planting roses with cuttings.
Combine with takes on deadheading roses.
Edit movie on my nursery.
Edit movie on planting chocolate tree.
EDUCATIONAL
SLIDESHOWS
SOIL
Create Page on What is soil
Create page on Fertilizer
Create page on Mulching
Create page on Compost
Create page on Hugelkulture
Create page on Mushrooms
Create page on Natural Building
Create page on Microorganisms
PROPAGATION
Create page on Patterns
Create page on Cuttings
Create page on Division
Create page on Layering
Create page on Cuttings
Create page on Grafting
Create page on Pruning
Create page on Sexual vs. Asexual
SEEDS
Create page on Seed Starting
Create page on True to Seed/ OP / Hybrids
Create page on Seed Saving
Create Page on Seed Companies
Who is doing What, with Whom, When, Where and Why
Liam is working with his partner Bea, his mother, and some Mexican laborers including Raul the gardener through this winter, October 2015 --> March 2016, to improve the greenness, privacy, edibility and beauty on our one acre homestead in Baja California Sur, Mexico. This project will examine many aspects of Land Stewardship: Soil, Water, Seeds, Propagation, Pruning. The main propagation for this iteration will begin on the new moon in October and November 2015 with both the seedlings and cuttings to be planted around the property in the spring of 2016 to increase the beauty, edibility and privacy of our space. There will also be an annual garden. There is some financial incentive for my mother and I; however, the bulk of my personal incentive is learning and helping mother Earth.
For this project, I have been the point person from the beginning: signing the fideicomiso for the family, clearing and fencing the land. I established a nursery early on that represents about half of our initial plantings. I was on site working as the overseer for the construction of both houses and have been the primary person involved in designing the solar system and the grey-water systems. At this point, most of the infrastructure is in and the land ins mine to play with as a perennial poly-cultural food and medicine forest. I have managed numerous land based projects since our stewardship began. When not managing projects, I am on the ground in the garden creating more life and beauty every day I am in Baja.
Relocalization
Polycultural perennial food and medicine forests are the epitome of relocalizing both our food systems and taking responsibility for our own health care. Through this, I am also relocalizing my economy by having items to gift and barter. Mexico still feels very much like the old West and gaining skills and products on a local scale that friends and neighbors need is a huge aspect to life in the Baja.
The Field
Applied Permaculture Design
The field of "Applied Permaculture Design" is used by businesses and institutions from New Zealand and Australia to England, and in the United states from Illinois to California, the term APD is used by almost all as an applying permaculture design (through tools, principles and ethics) to a myriad of different landscapes and ecosystems. (See Page 4.3.2: Supporting Evidence: Applied Permaculture Design)
Just as every permaculturalist has a different definition for permaculture, each business and community that uses the term applied permaculture design has a slightly different lens on what it is they are applying through "permaculture design". However, the core ethics of creating resilient and regenerative systems that honor mother Gaia ("Earth care"), human life ("People Care") and, indeed, life in all forms by acknowledging the interconnectedness of all life. ("Fair Share")
This pattern level awareness of creating regenerative systems where humans and nature interface in win win situations through good design. It speaks highly of the permaculture movement that each of these businesses and classes offer a diverse array of techniques and strategies toward these ends and in many diverse ecosystems: from urban specializations to farmlands to woodlands--permaculture design is appropriate in every ecosystem.
Exploring the field of Applied Permaculture Design has helped refine for me that in my Capstone Learning Review, I intend to do a cumulative narrative demonstrating how I have applied Permaculture Design tools, ethics and principles in each of my OPs.
My relation to the field
I am working in the field of Applied Permaculture Design. Using the ethics and principles of Permaculture Design, I am applying the spirit of Permaculture Design to my 1 acre homestead. There are thousands of students who have finished PDC's and are looking for outlets and projects to apply their newfound wisdom. Taking care of the earth is certainly a thrust for me in creating this magical garden. I am a lover of knowledge as well as the earth and I believe that having a handful of wisdom-keepers will grow increasingly important as all information becomes available but actual application of that information through Active Experimentation and Doing becomes lost. I fear the tendency to not apply knowledge because it is assumed knowledge is dangerous as I never truly know anything until I apply it. My relationship to this field is that I have assisted several PDC’s and taken 2 PDC TTC. Now as I move forward with my Master’s in IESD with a focus on Applied Permaculture Design, I intend to teach workshops on Permaculture and apply permaculture principles and ethics into my Garden Design burgeoning business in Baja CA Sur.
During this OP cycle, I taught a 2 hour Permaculture class. My maximum point of leverage to the field of Applied Permaculture is spreading information and techniques in Mexico. I am actively seeking a Mexican work visa so that I can also help design more gardens and spaces here. Ultimately, I am also interested in larger Earthworks projects such as Greening the Desert and slowing the spread of arroyos in Baja. This area is alive with organic farming and has a rich water table; however, we must look years ahead as the water table in this area was drastically depleted during the sugar cane era of the 1950's which ultimately was a non-sustainable business model. The amount of farming here now is inspiring; however, we must apply good design in order to maintain this beautiful oasis for years to come.
Contributions
I have created 3 slideshows on crucial elements of land stewardship: soil, seeds and propagation.
I have created many videos of my techniques of plant propagation: working with cuttings, seed saving, soil creation, division, layering (ground and air), seed starting.
I have shared plants and food widely with neighbors and friends hopefully inspiring more awareness around land stewardship. Similar to my previous OP, my aspiration is to create pattern level awareness digestible for the population at large how they can create a stronger relationship with nature.
As, Permaculture is considerably less known in my region of Baja than in California, my maximum point of leverage is to help spread the terms and concepts in Baja. And indeed, there are many 1/2 - 1 acre parcels being designed by gringos buying a winter home or expats moving south. There is significant opportunity for employing good strategies in all the new development in Baja.
Dissemination
This work is meant to be used for classes that I will teach on seeds, soil and propagation. I have shared these videos on youtube so they are freely available to be viewed. Much of the writing and videos will also form the basis of my Applied Permaculture Design aspect of my website. In addition, I taught a class here for a local charter school and I share information and plants with neighbors, friends and other permaculturists here in Baja. I love to show my property and share information and plants to any and all who are interested.
I realize that in California, I felt like a very small fish in a really big pond; while here in Baja, I have the opportunity to be one of the top permaculture designers and educators.
Interventions
Too many plants to plant: inspired to start a nursery in Baja. This has some major impacts including looking at residency and corporations in Mexico. A key learning that inspired this intervention is that I realized I really like having employees.
Car Crash. My car crash in August had two major impacts on this project. Firstly it brought me to my land in Baja during hurricane season (September/October) for the first time. This had good impact on my earthworks projects involving water management. Secondly and sadly, it didn't allow for bringing interesting seeds. Many of my seeds stored here for that past few years were no longer viable, very low germination rate. This was a learning about seed storage here as well.
Research on youtube inspired me to try anaerobic composting in a garbage bag. I had never even heard of this before. I am excited to see how it turns out.