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