Permaculture Leaders

I had the pleasure of meeting these gentlemen at the UTPA Permaculture Design & Education Workshop, held July 7th - 10th at various RGV locations.  (Information is from their websites.) They are (left to right):

Ing. Gerardo González Garibay

Gonzalez graduated from the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Nuevo Leon as Forest Engineer in 2013. His first encounter with Permaculture was an introductory course in Tulum, Quintana Roo, learning system design and living philosophy, then deciding to transform his life and stop being a designer / developer of websites and advertising to jump into the development of sustainable systems; Gonzalez obtained his certificate in Permaculture Design (PCD) in Australia by Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton in 2009.  He is currently in charge of the Huerta Project, La Loma Agri-Culture-Permanente, implementing and developing techniques according to the principles of design. Gonzalez seeks to provide tools and knowledge to system design and Permaculture Organic Farming for all those interested, creating Permaculture Mexico (www.permacultura.mx) and organizing information and training to all those who require knowledge.

Wayne Weiseman

An international leader in permaculture design, Weiseman has taught hundreds of Permaculture Design Certificate courses, designed numerous master plans, consulted for educators for curriculum and professional development, taught ecological construction methods, and worked as a contractor, herbalist, renewable energy expert, and farmer over the past thirty years. His new book, Integrated Forest Gardens: The Complete Guide to Polycultures and Plant Guilds in Permaculture Systems will be published August 2014.

Ing. José Gómez Dib 

(Designer, consultant, instructor, translator, representative)  Studies:  May 2014 Regenerative Agriculture and Living Design Course (RAD), taught by Darren Doherty, Muskerry, Australia; July 2012 - Internship Permaculture, Permaculture Farmstay Perak, Lenggong, Malaysia; February 2012 - construction Superadobe Workshop , taught by  Cal Earth Institute , Hesperia, California. October 2009 - Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC Permaculture Design Certificate) , given by Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton , Melbourne, Australia. November 2008 - University of Queensland. Bachelor of Information Technology.  Collaborating with Walter Pty Alchemy – New Zealand – worldwide leader in aquaculture systems, biogas and algal production; collaborating with Gaiacraft (www.gaiacraft.com) – Canada – development of techniques and educational programs for sustainability and permaculture.

Permaculture Design/Education: Community Gardens

Designing a Community Garden (Part 1):  Leo Pena Placita Park, Mission, Texas.

Our host this morning, Ray Perez, has the City of Mission's backing in his quest to possibly turn the amphitheater section of the park into a permaculture community garden. While Perez has yet to start formal planning, leading to a presentation to the city commission, he asked for ideas with which to start the planning process from those in attendance. Hector Rene Garcia, Architect and Partner, of Mata+Garcia Architects offered to produce the graphics needed to get the project approved.

 Ray Perez talks about his vision for a community garden in downtown Mission. He asked attendees about the best way to treat ground level fill, how to reduce weeds and provide nutrients, good places to get decent soil/mulch, ideas for plants that would do well in this terraced setting, noting a need for plant color and typical plant  types for hummingbirds and butterflies.

A view of the amphitheater stage, center, with both semi-circular (west) and elliptical (east) seating levels.

It was suggested that Perez propose the community garden on the terraced elliptical portion of the amphitheater and leave the semi-circular portion as functioning amphitheater seating for community events.

Designing a Community Garden (Part 2): Trinity Community Garden - Pharr, Texas

Our final stop was at 210 West Caffery (Bluebonnet corner), a lot being developed as a community garden by Alice Lee Williams Penrod, Steven Johnson and Virginia Costilla.  

The group has planted lab-lab in preparing the soil for the future community garden.  The goals are to have "anchor" families that are dedicated to permaculture as a part of life and diet and taking care of self and family. The group hopes to have corporate sponsors for each family with a community harvest, followed by a potluck supper, after each season.

It was suggested that a portion of the property use native plants as a way to attract butterflies and birds.

The UTPA Permaculture Design and Education Workshop close with yet another outstanding meal from Empanadas Argentinas, Sara Alicia Larronde, a permaculture enthusiast as well!

Permaculture Workshop: Edcouch-Elsa/Harlingen

Building Communities in the Ecological Epoch: 400 Adkins Street, Edcouch, Texas.

This morning we started off in Edcouch, at a subdivision project undertaken by Proyecto Azteca Inc., a self-housing program adapted to the colonia tradition of owner-built homes.  While Proyecto Azteca usually works on individual homes in colonias, this subdivision is the first time the organization tackles a complete neighborhood. The project will be the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver subdivision south of Austin.

Ann Williams Cass, Executive Director of Proyecto Azteca noted that once completed, the neighborhood will be home to 32 families, with hike and bike trails, a community center and a park.

The families are required to put in 550 "sweat equity" working hours into building their homes as well as taking classes on sustainable living, financial education, home repair, organic gardening, budgeting and building skills as a trade-off for living in the neighborhood.

The LEED Silver homes line the streets of Dolores Huerta and Rebecca 

Flores, longtime leaders of the United Farm Workers.

With 3,800 families on waiting lists, this particular neighborhood will 

house 32 families in 2 bedroom/2 bath (1,000 SF), 3 bedroom/2 bath

(1,200 SF) and 4 bedroom/2 bath (1,400 SF) homes. The homes were 

built with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) and metal roofs. All of the 

homes have rainwater harvesting and a few are fitted with solar panels.

Wayne Weiseman stated that he would like to see the families garden individually rather than as a community. He said the families will be able to see their own money "free-up", money that they can see in their own pockets. Noting that good leadership is necessary, Weiseman said it would occur little by little, common interests, community interests, seeing what is marketable. Refering to the learning of skills, Weiseman said "It starts at the back door."

Saying he was totally into the project; Weiseman closed by asking, "What inspires you and how do you facilitate that?"

Further information on Proyecto Azteca can be found at: www.proyectoazteca.org

The Llano Grande Center for Research and Development, Elsa, Texas.

The center is a non-profit that works to revitalize the local community through its youth.  Its goals are to create access to higher education, engaging students in community change initiatives and developing leadership that respects local history and culture.

The center's multi-tasked director, Orlando Salinas, presented the organization's vision to create an organic demonstration farm along with the local school district (Edcouch-Elsa ISD). Salinas led a tour of the property as Weisemen and workshop attendees provided suggestions on how to best utilize the property.

Orlando Salinas, Llano Grande Center Director give workshop attendees 

a tour of the property where the goal is to build an organic demonstration

farm for local public school student to learn about permaculture principles.

Salinas has done an initial layout of the property which will start with a 

reservoir on the west end and extend to the eastern edge with a mixture

of plot sizes and crop plantings.

Further information on the Llano Grande Center can be found at: www.llanogrande.org

Homestead Permaculture:  Cortez Property, 40 Acres West of Harlingen

Carlos Cortez, an Agroecology student at the University of Texas Pan American, gave us a tour of his family's property and how he plans to use the 40 acres, with complete backing from his family, to practice permaculture.  Cortez said "I want to restore the land and make it productive again."

Carlos Cortez descibes how he plans to practice permaculture on his 

family's property west of Harlingen.  The UTPA student has ambitious 

plans but plans to start with a small plot and expand from there.

Cortez's initial planting is a vegetable crop circle from which he will

expand to surrounding circles for companion planting.

Cortez stands next to his composting area; the property extends to 

the line of palm trees in the background.

Permaculture and Farming

Yahweh's All Natural Farm & Garden, 19741 Morris Road, Harlingen, Texas

Our final stop was at the Yahweh's All Natural Farm and Garden in Harlingen.  Owned and managed by Saul and Diana Padilla for the past ten years producing organically grown seasonal fruits and vegetables. There are also pecan, orange, grapefruit and peach trees on the property. The Padilla's also offer an sophisticated alternative for raising livestock by working with nature rather than against it.  They offer pasture and free range chickens, goats, rabbits and farm fresh eggs.

Diana Padilla leads a tour of her farm's various fruit trees.

Among the trees on the property are: pecan, orange, 

grapefruit, banana and peach trees

Bananas hang from the tree.

 The Padilla's have two green houses; one that they built (shown) 

and one that they bought.

 A line of bamboo acts as a windbreak for the citrus trees.

Organically fed chickens....

....and livestock.

Asparagus vegetable plants in the community garden.

Padilla asked Weiseman what his thoughts were regarding Yahweh's Farm and what she and her husband are striving for, he said one word, "Exquisite!"

Kate McSwain, co-founder with the Padilla's of the Hope Project for Small Farm Sustainability, spoke about their goal to renovate the existing farm house and acreage into public farm plots - 36 plots at 20'x20' each - and a farmers market store with a commercial kitchen.  Coolers will be available for local growers to store their produce.  McSwain said that they intend to be "economically sound and ecologically viable."

Additional information on Yahweh's Farms can be found at: www.yahwehsallnaturalfarm.com

Drawings for the HOPE Project can be found at:

www.behance.net/gallery/3120693/HOPE-for-Sustainable-Small-Farms-Project

Permaculture Workshop: Weslaco / Alamo

Today's workshop began with a talk by Wayne Weiseman in the workroom of the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco.  Weiseman discussed UDSA planting zones and the possible use of plant material from adjacent zones; the maintenance and management of permaculture projects; the use of solar food driers; a common-sense approach to cooling a house; the finding of five functions for each plant in use in one's project(s); and functional relationships versus stacking relationships.  Weiseman also recommended viewing "Plants for a Future" at pfaf.org.

Marianella Franklin, Director of Sustainability at the 

University of Texas - Pan American, introduces workshop

speaker Wayne Weiseman.

Restoring Native Habitat by Re-designing Human Communities:  We then took a tour of the Valley Nature Center (VNC), located at 301 South Border Avenue, Weslaco, Texas. Their website states the following: Our Mission is "to provide educational opportunities and to foster appreciation and understanding of the Lower Rio Grande Valley's unique natural communities of flora and fauna." 

The VNC is an 6 acre park that is home to a wide variety of the LRGV's native plants and animals. Many plants were transplanted during the past 25 years to this protected area from sites which were slated for development. There is an ongoing effort to enhance the plant diversity of the park. This aim is for protection of local plant species diversity as well as to make diverse food and habitat available for resident and migratory wildlife. By strolling the 1 mile of trails of the Nature Park, one may examine plant species native to such diverse areas as the Sabal Palm Grove, Arroyo Colorado Brush, the Barretal, Coastal Lomas and the Chihuahuan Thorn Forest.

Wander around our trails and you'll why Malachite and Pixie butterflies, Plain Chachalacas, Great Kiskadees, Buff-bellied Hummingbirds, Texas Tortoises, Eastern Cottontail Rabbits and several lizard and amphibian species can all be seen here. The park is a wonderful natural oasis in the middle of the city.

Urban Permaculture Design:  Visit to 1015 West 6th Street, Weslaco, Texas; the home and on-going permaculture project of Daniel Vela and Alison Fjerstad along with their friend and on-site resident Anthony Santiago. Vela, Fjerstad and Santiago, all 23 years old, have been working on their one-acre property for two years.  Each one provided detailed information on their work thus far, what has been successful and what has failed. The property has been grandfathered-in and will allow them to continue their work along with keeping the three individual residences and in the future some type of livestock.  The intent is to use the main residence, built in 1934, as a learning center - both for the permaculture work on-going and for holistic life enhancements.

Workshop attendees gather in the living room of the 1934 house to

discuss ideas that Vela/Fjerstad/Santiago can incorporate into

their on-going permaculture project

Alison Fjerstad and Daniel Vela discuss the ideas behind the banana

circle they planted near the front entry to their home.  It was suggested

by one attendee that the banana circle be moved to the southeast 

corner of the house so that the house itself can protect the plants

during the cold season.

Daniel Vela demonstrated how a fallen tree, left in-place

and then reclaimed by nature with the micro-system

that has developed around the tree trunk.

After a tour of the property, both Weiseman and workshop attendees provided Vela, Fjerstad and Santiago multiple ideas to implement and/or expand on.  The session was a pleasant surprise; meeting three 23 year-olds working a day job and  living frugally to provide funds for their passion; a permaculture project that will easily take a minimum of ten years for it to be fully realized.  

Anthony Santiago discusses the on-going work on the greenhouse

at the back of the Vela property.

It was suggested to Vela and Fjerstad that they begin work on the 

vertical layering of plant life under the canopy of the largest tree on 

the property.

A view of the backyard on the one acre site.

Small Farm Permaculture Design:  A Visit to Terra Preta Farm (7769 East Canton Road, between Tower and Val Verde Roads).  The farm is dedicated to providing fresh seasonal vegetables and herbs that are free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides Run by Juan Raygoza, the farm first began in 1996, then began farming organically in 2007 and has officially been open at Terra Preta Farm since November or 2011.  The basis of their success is the fertility of the soil, as they keep them active and full of minerals.  The farm offers weekly and biweekly vegetable shares and they are also active participants at the McAllen Farmers Market. Check their Terra Preta Farm Food & Grocery Facebook page and their website, www.terrapretafarm.com for additional information.

Cover crops in place for the summer.

The farm has grown tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, artisan tomatoes, green

beans, zucchini, yellow squash, okra, butternut squash and cucumbers.

Juan Raygoza, who runs the Terra Preta Farms explains the methods used

to grow and harvest the vegetables organically and as a part of the

permaculture movement.  UT - Pan American also assists at the farm.

Raygoza also volunteers his time and knowledge at the Yahweh's

All Natural Farm & Garden in Harlingen, Texas.

A windmill pumps water into the adjacent 8 foot deep reservoir.

The reservoir was initially filled with water from the Rio Grande.

A greenhouse that allows for the experimentation with smaller plants.

Dr. Alex Racelis, Agroecology Program Director at the University of Texas - 

Pan American, discusses his departments on-going work at the Terra Preta

Farm. Agroecology is the study of ecological processes that operate in

production systems. A deep understanding of the ecological implications of

the ways we produce our food, fuel, and fiber is to effectively manage these

systems in ways that are more environmentally sustainable.

Permaculture Design & Education Workshop

The Permaculture Design & Education Workshop, sponsored by The University of Texas Pan American's Office for Sustainability opened this morning with a talk by Mr. Wayne Weiseman, an international leader in permaculture design. Weiseman noted that observation of one's surroundings is key to a successful project. "Sit back an watch, use all the senses."  He recommended that when undertaking a project one "take one year of protracted observation" for a comprehensive vision to become a complete lifestyle.

Weiseman's general introduction covered ethics; Care of Earth - the primary ethic, the earth is the primary client; Care of People (Care of Ourselves) - if we can provide for our own basic needs, then we can care for the earth; Return of Surplus - contribute time, money and energy to achieve these ethics along with setting limits to population and consumption. You reinvest surplus into the first two ethics and limit consumption.

"Make the least change for the greatest effect," said Weiseman.   In challenging the forty attendees to take their first step into permaculture, Weiseman tried to ease people's caution by saying that "mistakes are tools for learning." 

Weiseman spoke about the "father of permaculture", Bill Mollison, and recommended we study his work by reading: Permaculture: A Designer's Manual and Introduction to Permaculture. 

Weiseman also spoke about David Holmgren, an Australian environmental designer, ecological educator and writer and a co-originator of the permaculture concept with Mollison.

Weiseman noted that Holmgren's Permaculture Principles include:  1. observe and interact 2. catch and store energy 3. soil & trees are living sources of energy 4. obtain a yield 5. apply self-regulation and accept feedback 6. use & value reusable resources and services 7. produce no waste 8. sustainable yield  9. integrate better than segregate. 10. use small and slow solutions 11. use and value diversity 12. use edges and value the marginal  13. creatively use and respond to change

The Permaculture Process:

• Pattern Observation
• Site Analysis
• Design
• Implementation
• Feedback

The Permaculture Scale of Permanence:

• Climate
• Land form
• Water (in general)
• Access and Circulation
• Micro-climate
• Vegetation and Wildlife
• Buildings and Infrastructure
• Zones of use
• Soil 
• Aesthetics

Weiseman's website, www.permacultureproject.com, lists the following as the Principles of Permaculture.

The Permaculture Design System is based upon certain principles and methodologies that govern design work. These principles are witnessed in the behavior of natural systems and therefore constitute a base for human activity that mirror nature and act within the laws that govern its behavior.

Principles of Permaculture

• Ethics:  The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children. Cooperation, not competition, is the very basis of future survival and of existing life systems.
• Care of the Earth: includes all living and non-living things, plants, animals, land, water, air
• Care of People: promotes self-reliance and community responsibility and mutual access to resources necessary for existence
• Setting Limits to Population and Consumption: in keeping with the current human capacity to benevolently distribute goods and resources
• System yield: the sum total of surplus energy produced by, stored, conserved, reused, or converted by the design. Energy is in surplus once the system itself has available all its needs for growth, reproduction and maintenance. Unused surplus results in pollution and more work.
• Relative Location: Components placed in a system are viewed relatively, not in isolation.
• Everything is connected to everything else: Recognize functional relationships between elements.
• Every function is supported by many elements (redundancy): Good design ensures that all important functions can withstand the failure of one or more element.
• Every element is supported by many functions: Each element we include is a system, chosen and placed so that it performs as many functions as possible.
• Local Focus: “Think globally-act locally”. Grow your own food, cooperate with neighbors. Community efficiency, not self-sufficiency.
• Diversity: As a general rule, as sustainable systems mature they become increasingly diverse in both space and time. What is important is the complexity of the functional relationships that exist between elements, not the number of elements.
• Biological Resources: We know living things reproduce and build up their availability over time, assisted by their interaction with other compatible elements. Use and reserve biological intelligence.
• One calorie in/one calorie out: Do not consume or export more biomass than carbon fixed by the solar budget.
• Stocking: Finding the balance of various elements to keep one from overpowering another over time. How much of an element needs to be produced in order to fulfill the needs of the whole system?
• Stacking: Multi-level functions for single element. Multi-level garden design, i.e., trellising, forest garden, vines, ground covers, etc.
• Succession: Recognize that certain elements prepare the way for the system to support other elements in the future, i.e., succession planting.
• Use onsite resources: Determine what resources are available and entering the system on their own. Maximize their use.
• Edge effect: Ecotones are the most diverse and fertile area in a system. Two ecosystems come together to form a third which has more diversity than either of the other two, i.e., edges of ponds, forests, meadows, currents, etc.
• Energy recycling: Yields form a system designed to supply onsite needs and/or needs of local region.
• Small scale: Intensive systems start small and create a system that is manageable and produces a high yield.
• Make least change for the greatest effect: The less change that is generated, the less embedded energy is used to endow the system.
• Planting strategy: 1^st-natives, 2^nd-proven exotics, 3^rd-unproven exotics- carefully on small scale with lots of observation.
• Work within nature: Aiding the natural cycles results in higher yield and less work. A little support goes a long way. Appropriate technology: The same principles apply to cooking, lighting, transportation, heating, sewage treatment, water and other utilities.
• Law of return: Whatever we take, we must return. Every object must responsibly provide for its replacement.
• Stress and harmony: Stress here may be defined as either prevention of natural function, or of forced function. Harmony may be defined as the integration of chosen and natural functions, and the easy supply of essential needs.
• The problem is the solution: We are the problem, we are the solution. Turn constraints into resources.
• Mistakes are tools for learning: Do not view mistakes as negative
• The yield of a system is theoretically unlimited: The only limit on the number of uses of a resource possible is the limit of information and imagination of the designer.
• Dispersal of yield over time: Principle of seven generations. We can use energy to construct systems providing that in their lifetime they store or conserve more energy than we use to construct them or to maintain them.
• A policy of responsibility (to relinquish power): The role of successful design is to create a self-managed system.
• Principle of disorder: Order and harmony produce energy for other uses. Disorder consumes energy to no useful end. Tidiness is maintained disorder.
• Chaos has form but is not predictable. The amplification of small fluctuations.
• Entropy: In complex systems disorder is an increasing result. Entropy and life-force is a stable pair that maintains the universe to infinity.
• Metastability: For a complex system to remain stable there must be small pockets of disorder.
• Entelechy: Principle of genetic intelligence, i.e., the rose has thorns to protect itself.
• Observation: Protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor.
• We are surrounded by insurmountable opportunities.
• Wait one year.
• Hold water and fertility as high (in elevation) on the landscape as possible.

While Weiseman covered a lot of material, it gave those new to the movement a quick overview of what they have to look forward to.

Permaculture Workshop at UTPA

I am looking forward to attending the Permaculture Workshop this coming week, sponsored by the University of Texas - Pan American.  The workshop will be led by Wayne Weiseman, an international leader in permaculture design.  Permaculture is an innovative design process that is based on one's design principles and ethics.  At Mata+Garcia Architects we use it as a guide for our the design of our buildings, by adapting patterns and relationships that are found in nature and applying them to all aspects of human habitation.

Location, climatic conditions and resources influence the strategies used to implement the principles of permaculture.  While the strategies may differ, the basic steps to the holistic approach of permaculture remain constant.

I will provide daily updates on the various talks and tours of RGVittes that are leading the permaculure movement here at home.  HRGarcia