John's Field Study

Response to Amigo Bob

 

I am one of the grandchildren of your generation. One who grew up on the skeleton of an old farm, with her faded barns telling the story of an age gone by. No longer did we harvest lumber, but the mill was still there. No longer did we plant rows, but the horse drawn plows were still there. In an age when men began investing in heavy equipment and chemicals, my great-grandfather made a decision. We would not participate in this type of farming, we were going to do something else. Continue reading Amigo Bob Response and a Reflection on the Permaculture Principles

Coming home to Washington after being on Maui for 5 weeks was harder than I imagined. While it provided me the opportunity return to Evergreen and to meet my fellow classmates, I couldn’t help but to feel a little lost that first week. I met some really great people while I was on the island, but what was I supposed to do now that I was back? How could I most rapidly apply the principles and knowledge that I had just received?

The answer came about mid-way through week 6 of the quarter. I received an email reminding me that I had to get prepared for the 10 apple trees I had ordered from Vashon Island Fruit Club, and I realized this would be a great opportunity to create a permaculture based design for my 1.25 acre lot in Seattle. I have been living here for about six months, six months less than the suggested minimum time for a designer to get to know the property they want to create a design for. Continue reading What’s Next?

Hale Akua is a production farm, an education center, and a resort built around permaculture principles. We stayed here for our last week, and my weary bones definitely appreciated having a bed to lay on. We didn’t get to do much, as far as hands-on activities went, because it rained pretty much the whole time we were there. I didn’t actually mind this, because everyone was feeling the grind to get our design projects completed. Continue reading Hale Akua

The 180 acres of mixed agroforestry, orchards, and construction bamboo at Whispering Winds is truly inspiring. It was great meeting the crew there, and getting to know the property.  We had an intensive week of lectures focused around water catchment, natural building, site design, bio-dynamics, and grafting. Continue reading Whispering Winds

Ahimsa means to cause no harm, and at Ahimsa farm Blue Mountain and his son Eli practice this principle. The fish are vegetarian, the worms they use for vermiculture are vegetarian, and there is no eating of meat allowed on the property. It was a tough weak for I and I’s diet, that is for sure! We have had a lack of meat during the entire program, but this weak saw nearly an entire vegan menu. Continue reading Ahimsa

Week two saw the coming together of a new community; being tested, overcoming, growing as individuals, and bridging gaps between consciousnesses. We continued our preset order of operations, with lectures in the morning followed by hands on activities in the afternoon.  We completed many different tasks this week, and spent a lot of time interacting with the larger farming community of Maui.

On Monday, we learned about Yeoman’s Scale of Permanence and how important it is towards production permaculture farming.

The overall design process was designed to: Continue reading Week Two at Pono Grown

Maui​ ​in​ ​the​ ​winter​ ​can​ ​be​ ​hot​ ​and​ ​sunny,​ ​windy,​ ​have​ ​torrential​ ​rain ​for​ ​days,​ ​ ​is  ​sometimes ​ buggy,​ ​ but is ​rarely​ cold.​​  We​​ ​will​ ​be​ ​traveling​ ​to​ ​several​ ​locations​ ​during​ ​the​ ​course, so I am packing​ lightly​ ​ for easy​​ set​up​ and​​ break​down.

I am ​welcome​ ​to ​​stay​ ​at​ ​the​ ​site​ ​and​ ​take​ ​day​ ​trips​ ​on​ ​our​ days​ ​ off,​ ​ but​ ​ if​ ​ I venture​ ​ out​ ​on​ my own​ ​I​ will​ need​​ ​to​ ​take​ ​all​ my​ ​gear​ ​with ​​me,​ ​so​ I’ll ​plan​ accordingly and ​bring ​a ​backpack.

We​ ​will​ ​be​ ​camping​ ​for​ ​90%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​program,​ ​and every​ site​ will​ have​ an​ indoor​ ​ ​classroom, ​kitchen,​ ​toilets,​ showers, ​a​ place​ ​​to​ charge​ a device,​​ and​​ ​all​ ​the​ ​essentials.​

​Maui ​​has​ ​no​ ​snakes,​ no​​ ​predators ​​to ​​speak of​ ​(well​ ​sharks),​ ​very​ ​few​ ​plants​ ​with​ ​thorns, and almost​ nothing​ that​ is​ ​​poisonous. ​Mosquitoes,​ ​bees, wasps,​ and centipedes​ are​ the​ ​insects​ to watch​ out​ for,​ but​ ​that’s​ about​ ​​it.

We​ ​aren’t​ ​going​ ​to​ ​the​ ​remote​ ​wilderness,​ ​and​ ​there​ ​will​ ​be​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​get​ ​to​ ​stores​ ​every​ ​few​ ​days.

Spending a winter quarter on Maui studying permaculture design, between all the diving and surfing I’m sure to do, does sound like an excellent way to wait out the ugly winter weather in the Pacific Northwest. Truthfully, the amount of prepping that is required for the trip was greatly underestimated by this student.

Maui temperatures tend to range between nighttime lows in the 60’s and daytime highs in the 80’s, often time spanning those 20 degree shifts in one day. The sunlight is much more direct in Hawaii than in Washington, which increases the risk of sunburn. Special sunblock, containing zinc oxide, has been packed with no intention of being used. These temperature shifts are also going to require a different type of layering than I’m use to. Instead of my thermals, I will be taking lightweight long sleeves, which are better suited for the warmer climate.

I have packed a solar charger with a battery capacity of 10,000 mah, as well as a USB chargeable 40,000 lumen lantern which also contains a 30,000 mah battery. Continue reading Preparing for Maui