First independent permaculture job
In June Jon and I started our first independent permaculture design. We are designing a large circular key hole garden for some neighbors and additionally have plans to create permanent beds where we will plant berries and other edible shrubs and just north of these we have plans to plant several fruit and nit tree species. The “garden” will incorporate edible food forest systems as well as permanent beds that will support diverse concentrations of perennials and annuals. Our goal was to design something that was permanent and accessible, while being something that two people, who aren’t farming for a living, can manage on their own. Below are some pictures of the project in motion.
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r2r days 33-45 Bush skills, Project presentations, the course begins
During the final week of Ridge to Reef we explored survival and stone-aged skills during BUSH SKILLS. We also completed our final projects and presented these to the group and farm staff. Now the program is over, or everything else has begun.
I really enjoyed bush skills learning what many might think of as Boy Scout activities such fire making by hand drill and bow drill, basket and cordage making, creating natural pigments for dyes, instrument and tool making, flint napping, tracking, learning how to identify edible wild plants and more. It’s quite liberating to have these skills. There is nothing better than having the confidence that you can survive in your natural world without synthetic means. If you want to learn more about these skills and see some beautiful illustrations please purchase Earth Knack by one of my favorite instructors that week, Robin Blankenship.
After Bush Skills we presented our projects to each other. Jon and I finished up our hand book for a mini food forest and explained we planted a small urban/suburban demonstration garden at the farm- so visitors can take a piece of the beautiful farm home with them and learn to grow their own food.
Now the course is over and we are working on our next steps. Off to Vieques and then Puerto Rico next week. More on that soon.
r2r days 17 and 18
Solar panel install on electric car with Don Young.
Our first garden, more stages… raised beds consisting of top soil and compost, mulch… living trellis consisting of moringa and quick stick.
r2r day 13
Friday is Day 13 to us and what some say a full moon.
Today we got the chance to help Shannon with her project by building the foundation of her new wood burning sauna as part of the farm’s future wellness center.
Cutting the posts and floor joists.
Raising the post into the three foot hole we dug.
Making sure we are level.
Pouring the cement footers.
r2r day 12
Today we discussed building skins such as wood, adobe, brick, cement and bamboo to name a few.In the afternoon we actually went to harvest bamboo from the farm’s property to use as a shade wall on the bohio and hanging blinds. Bamboo is a wonderful renewable building material and can be grown almost anywhere. The farm is fortunate to have bamboo on site, virtually making their cost of materials and ethical choice of their use a simple decision.
harvested bamboo, visited some local ruins and discussed
r2r day 11
As in yesterday!! We worked on Ben’s new house, by cutting and installing floor joists and learning all about power tools like the circular saw.
Jon, Dave and I propagated some tomato plants.
Jon and I worked on our project see the site before in stage 1
and after in stage 2
And here is a funky looking jicama we dug up in the process.
r2r day 10
This morning we worked in our focus groups to get some hands-on experience in that area. I have chosen organic cropping as my focus area and therefore spent my morning in the garden weeding, adding compost to some newly established cucumbers, and removed the non productive buds of a tomato plants to give the fruit more nutrients to develop. We also cut some stems from the plant to start new plants that will eventually go into my model garden project.
I got the chance to go over my project again with Nora who gave some great advice as to how I should prepare the site and what plant species will work best for the space. Jon and I are about to get our hands dirty and establish the first ” backyard garden” on the farm. We are purposely working with a small space, around 5×10 ft., to pay homage to all those small spaces throughout urban and suburban communities. Our goal is to show how you can grow a wide variety of organic food including fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and starches right in your backyard and do so with ease and high productivity.
In the afternoon we learned about different roofing materials and types of roofs, why some are better suited for certain climates and regions than others and finally worked on a thatch roof of the farm’s bohio. After some serious labor efforts I got a chance to return to my projects site and start preparing the space for raised beds which will will use as a way to boost up the otherwise poor soil in that area for our garden. Super tired tonight… that’s all for now.
R2R day 9
January 25, 2010, 12:50 PM
Filed under: Buildings, Design, Energy, Green, Living, Ridge to Reef, Water
Filed under: Buildings, Design, Energy, Green, Living, Ridge to Reef, Water
This week we are looking at sustainable building, taught by Ben Jones, and how we can incorporate green, recycled, and sustainable materials into good, efficient design. The farm at VISFI has many such buildings that serve as examples of the type of home or community center you would want to build in its given climate (tropical), to serve its needs (shelter, water, and energy) and to make use of appropriate materials (local sustainably harvested wood).
Today we discussed the principles of green or sustainable building which are:
- use green recycled and sustainable materials
- build passive energy systems
- minimize energy use
- prevent all erosion
- disturb the smallest amount of land possible, and leave as much vegetation possible
- use local materials when possible
When then talked about the steps you would take when designing and implementing a building starting with the conceptual design (what is it that you want to design), the schematic design (how will you design it, construct it), design development (blueprint), and construction documents (permits, zoning requirements, etc.)
As for the implementation phase we discussed steps to follow:
- survey the site
- set up erosion control systems
- foundation work
- sub-floor/electrical, plumbing
- structure
- roof’
- skin (interior and exterior walls)
- windows and doors
- floors/porches
- interior/finish work
During this week our class will have the opportunity to work on several sustainable building projects here on the farm including, thatching a bohio (a traditional Taino hut made of wood posts and palm leaves), laying a wood floor down on a new cabana, and setting up the ground work for a living bamboo jungle gym. This is going to be fun.
R2R Day 6
Today Jon and I got to spend some time working on our project: hashing out the details, creating weekly goals and choosing the site we will work with on the farm property. We are both very excited about the potential the project has for both the farm and beyond. We are also somewhat overwhelmed with all the work we need to get done in the next six or seven weeks.
Our class met to spend some time talking about patterns and how we find them throughout all natural systems and in most of our man-made products as well. Patterns are very important and can be the key to understanding and unlocking everyday design challenges. Below are eight examples of patterns… take a look and see what around you has these patterns.
After a great tex-mex lunch with fresh habanero chilis from the garden we came back together to look into the fascinating world of maps. Permaculturists are particularly interested in looking at topographic maps to see the contours in the land and identify the best place to situate things like roads, homes, gardens and ponds. After examining a few maps courtesy of professional map makers, the Unites States Geological Services, and Google Earth we split apart to look at our project sites and understand where they fit into the greater picture of the VISFI farm map. We loctaed north, looked at boundaries, what was already on the site, both landforms and human made forms, and then charted out how our project will fit into the picture. Since we intend to design and plant a small home-scale garden we are looking at a site that is close to the kitchen and to a small building that students and relax in. The site is ideal in location but has very poor soil and will need a lot of tender love and care to make it work. We are up for the challenge. Off to learn.
R2R Day 5
January 19, 2010, 12:01 PM
Filed under: Design, Education, Food, Permaculture, Projects, Ridge to Reef
Filed under: Design, Education, Food, Permaculture, Projects, Ridge to Reef
