Re-evaluation
Winter 2014
Goals Evaluation
More than goals, I have mentioned my aims for this project, some ones has been fulfilled and others not. Down I mention these again and I specify which ones has been accomplished.
- To create a PC educational centre. (non accomplished).
- To create a permaculture design for our property. (accomplished).
- To live more sustainably. (accomplished).
- To have an edible landscape. (partially accomplished).
- To create an aesthetically/visually pleasing environment. (partially accomplished).
- To increase the value of the property. (partially accomplished).
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Principles Re-evaluation
Below I present few evaluations about how have work, some of the Permaculture principles that we have applied to meet the aims of this Land project (in green colour).
1.Observe and interact
To create a permaculture design for our property
To create an aesthetically/visually pleasing environment
One of the things I think we've done well is to observe without interacting deliberately, and has not been easy in many cases because when I see problems in something I want to fix them immediately.
Has been worth taken the time to observe to gather enough information or acquire the knowledge to solve problems in a more effective and appropriate manner, saving much effort, time and money.
In our case where there has been more interaction has been in zone 1 and 2 and the rest almost have not intervened, giving a period of one year to absorb as much information as possible.
To create an aesthetically/visually pleasing environment
One of the things I think we've done well is to observe without interacting deliberately, and has not been easy in many cases because when I see problems in something I want to fix them immediately.
Has been worth taken the time to observe to gather enough information or acquire the knowledge to solve problems in a more effective and appropriate manner, saving much effort, time and money.
In our case where there has been more interaction has been in zone 1 and 2 and the rest almost have not intervened, giving a period of one year to absorb as much information as possible.
2.Catch and store energy
To live more sustainably
Because lack of money and contacts we couldn't get the water system from the beginning, and as water is life has been very challenged to do it without it.
I still looking the way to make little ponds using the bedrocks to collect the rain water, but per now has not been very successful and still have to improve my knowledge and skills to make it happen. In our land has been a hard process to make sure where they were the best key points to be more successful in collecting rainwater. |
3.Obtain a yield
To live more sustainably
Well..., because we have started a land project from scratch has been difficult to find great immediate yields, since normally such projects require much effort and little yields at the beginning and over time if the design is good, every time you work less and more results are obtained.
To have an edible landscape
We tried to obtain the highest possible yields, but these have been very small and only a few have been able to supply few of our own needs.
If you want to know more about our yields acquired at the first year, you can hake a look at my Site Survey page by clicking (here).
Well..., because we have started a land project from scratch has been difficult to find great immediate yields, since normally such projects require much effort and little yields at the beginning and over time if the design is good, every time you work less and more results are obtained.
To have an edible landscape
We tried to obtain the highest possible yields, but these have been very small and only a few have been able to supply few of our own needs.
If you want to know more about our yields acquired at the first year, you can hake a look at my Site Survey page by clicking (here).
Bellow you can see a list with few different yields and the quantities approx that we have got from each.
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4.Apply self-regulation and accept feedback
To live more sustainably
There has been times when we forgot to stop working and take strength to continue. I do not think I've had much discipline in this aspect and has lead me to problems sometimes.
With such an ambitious project, the work can absorb myself and if I do not self-regulate my free time spaces, I just burn myself as has happened several times in the first year.
There has been times when we forgot to stop working and take strength to continue. I do not think I've had much discipline in this aspect and has lead me to problems sometimes.
With such an ambitious project, the work can absorb myself and if I do not self-regulate my free time spaces, I just burn myself as has happened several times in the first year.
5.Use and value renewable resources and services
To increase the value of the property
Taking horses has given us many challenges but also many benefits. They have helped to transform much of the vegetation in rich manure that we used to improve our land.
To live more sustainably
Foraging many cooking and aromatic plants growing wild in our land, has been very useful for the day by day.
To create a PC educational centre
Also volunteers has come to help us, they always happy to give a hand and learn through the experience in most of the land projects.
Taking horses has given us many challenges but also many benefits. They have helped to transform much of the vegetation in rich manure that we used to improve our land.
To live more sustainably
Foraging many cooking and aromatic plants growing wild in our land, has been very useful for the day by day.
To create a PC educational centre
Also volunteers has come to help us, they always happy to give a hand and learn through the experience in most of the land projects.
8.Integrate rather than segregate
To live more sustainably
Make friends in the area where we live has been crucial to feel integrated in place, these have helped us on many occasions, both lend a hand when we needed resources, information ... Is very rewarding and I feel safer when the locals opens to me them arms, and is very nice be able to share experiences and have fun with local friends. |
9.Use small and slow solutions
To have an edible landscape
We have tried to make a modest garden, we thought it was not very large compared with the proportions of the land, but in the end was more than we could cover, and we had struggled to keep it alive because lack of time and water.
This is one of the most pronounced examples, and now our garden is much smaller trying to plant what we like to eat the most and works best.
We have tried to make a modest garden, we thought it was not very large compared with the proportions of the land, but in the end was more than we could cover, and we had struggled to keep it alive because lack of time and water.
This is one of the most pronounced examples, and now our garden is much smaller trying to plant what we like to eat the most and works best.
10.Use edges and value the marginal
To create a permaculture design for our property
Having neighbours with other ways to do agriculture brought my many long conversations with them, they have explained to me the history of the place and its agriculture, have helped me to understand at what point in agriculture is at the area and the reasons why still many people believe necessary to continue using these methods.
Having neighbours with other ways to do agriculture brought my many long conversations with them, they have explained to me the history of the place and its agriculture, have helped me to understand at what point in agriculture is at the area and the reasons why still many people believe necessary to continue using these methods.
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Assess
It's been almost two years since we have arrived to Can Silo, and throughout all this time to find a paid job around the area has been like a impossible mission.
Lack of money has made unsustainable our living situation in the Land.
My partner in life has moved to England looking for rest off from our project and try to expand our financial possibilities.
She did very well with her time in there, in a few days she has started to shape a small business and has invited me to hang out with her to carry it out. So we have felt this chance as a bless and per now we have moved to England, until we can come back with a more realistic economic resources.
This decision was painful to the fact of having to leave the project temporarily, but at the same time it feels as a nice break after such a large amount of time and intense work that we have made in there.
Lack of money has made unsustainable our living situation in the Land.
My partner in life has moved to England looking for rest off from our project and try to expand our financial possibilities.
She did very well with her time in there, in a few days she has started to shape a small business and has invited me to hang out with her to carry it out. So we have felt this chance as a bless and per now we have moved to England, until we can come back with a more realistic economic resources.
This decision was painful to the fact of having to leave the project temporarily, but at the same time it feels as a nice break after such a large amount of time and intense work that we have made in there.
Reflections
Project Reflections
When I have started this project I had based this on the acronym SADIMET as a process design. After I have been working this way for a year and a half I had a chat with mi good friend Matt Prosser who recently finished his Permaculture diploma, he has passed to me a sheet from Hannah Thorogood with different methods and tools that I could use to improve my diploma.
There was mentioned Patrick Whitefield a grate permaculturist, Nims had his book The Earth Care Manual at home for a long time but I had never time to spend to read it deeply. So I have decided to check it out more thoroughly and quickly have become clear that I wanted to dedicate this project to his way of working.
Change the work I had already done on SADIMET for a new format inspired on Whitefield took me quite effort, but I can see that it was the best choice to explore a new way to design in permaculture, and now I feel that this method has been the most appropriate for this project.
Below you can see the mind maps from the SADIMET process I had made before the change.
There was mentioned Patrick Whitefield a grate permaculturist, Nims had his book The Earth Care Manual at home for a long time but I had never time to spend to read it deeply. So I have decided to check it out more thoroughly and quickly have become clear that I wanted to dedicate this project to his way of working.
Change the work I had already done on SADIMET for a new format inspired on Whitefield took me quite effort, but I can see that it was the best choice to explore a new way to design in permaculture, and now I feel that this method has been the most appropriate for this project.
Below you can see the mind maps from the SADIMET process I had made before the change.
I have found that the way to distribute the survey is much more detailed using his three steps (base map, site survey and Questionnaire), which have helped me to get a better approach before I have to passed to the evaluation.
A part from the Whitefield design process I also have used analysis tools that are mentioned in his book as Zones, Sectors, Inputs....
The Design Proposals section was very easy to adapt from the work I had done before, I already had documented different designs approach for the site so I could introduce this ones in the layouts. Was very interesting to use the section of details especially the Cost and the Implementation Plan, with which I thought much more deeply how to organize my time and money to get the best performance from the situation.
This is the project that I feel more satisfied and I think it is very useful and solid to be able to implement in our land with good outcomes.
A part from the Whitefield design process I also have used analysis tools that are mentioned in his book as Zones, Sectors, Inputs....
The Design Proposals section was very easy to adapt from the work I had done before, I already had documented different designs approach for the site so I could introduce this ones in the layouts. Was very interesting to use the section of details especially the Cost and the Implementation Plan, with which I thought much more deeply how to organize my time and money to get the best performance from the situation.
This is the project that I feel more satisfied and I think it is very useful and solid to be able to implement in our land with good outcomes.
Personal Reflections
The first year of transition at the land (before to have a design) has been a very hard work, I think that my first vision when I just have arrived to the place was not realistically between my margins, I had misjudged about many factors and priorities and that has caused a lot of frustration.
I think that with the realization of this project I will save a lot of energy, time and money, being able to be more free to pursue my personal and family time.
I also have developed more empathy in some idyllic aspects that escaped from my boundaries, and now I have more understanding and I feel more "realistic" by accepting what is more appropriate to enjoy implementing and maintaining the site without burn myself.
I think that with the realization of this project I will save a lot of energy, time and money, being able to be more free to pursue my personal and family time.
I also have developed more empathy in some idyllic aspects that escaped from my boundaries, and now I have more understanding and I feel more "realistic" by accepting what is more appropriate to enjoy implementing and maintaining the site without burn myself.
Because our lack of infrastructures I think that to turn the site into a permaculture center is something that will takes long time, but already we have hosted volunteers that have lived and learned from our expertise in permaculture.
We have improved the soil quality and the site have some trees and plants to use and/or eat, but still I can not say that we have an edible landscape.
We have cleaned out the place and repaired many parts of the land, with what has been improved and made more attractive place for other people than want to live there in the future.
We have improved the soil quality and the site have some trees and plants to use and/or eat, but still I can not say that we have an edible landscape.
We have cleaned out the place and repaired many parts of the land, with what has been improved and made more attractive place for other people than want to live there in the future.
Professional Reflections
I can clearly see a big change since I have started this project over a year and a half ago, and definitely if I had to do it again I would not do things in the same way.
Having no previous experience and be ignorant of many things, there have been hard times to follow ahead. I think that now I have much more understanding in how things work on a land design. I have learned from many mistakes that I do not like to have with a client or friend who I advise.
Now I feel that I can put myself better into the client skin and better sympathize with them problems and ambitions, my ideas are more clear and I have more confidence in myself to implement our land design, or help designing this kind of projects for other people.
Still I feel very young in creating land designs to tell someone how to invest large amounts of money, but in a small scale I'm now much more confidence to create more effective systems and obtain the necessary yields more immediately.
Also because my lack of experience about doing land projects, I didn't have a deep questionnaire about the other members of the family that are living at the land with me. It's important to reflect the needs and aims of all of the members of the project, also this way we can see if we are sharing the same vision. I'll take it in count when doing projects for me or others in the future.
Having no previous experience and be ignorant of many things, there have been hard times to follow ahead. I think that now I have much more understanding in how things work on a land design. I have learned from many mistakes that I do not like to have with a client or friend who I advise.
Now I feel that I can put myself better into the client skin and better sympathize with them problems and ambitions, my ideas are more clear and I have more confidence in myself to implement our land design, or help designing this kind of projects for other people.
Still I feel very young in creating land designs to tell someone how to invest large amounts of money, but in a small scale I'm now much more confidence to create more effective systems and obtain the necessary yields more immediately.
Also because my lack of experience about doing land projects, I didn't have a deep questionnaire about the other members of the family that are living at the land with me. It's important to reflect the needs and aims of all of the members of the project, also this way we can see if we are sharing the same vision. I'll take it in count when doing projects for me or others in the future.
Time Reflections
When I think that a work will last one day, at the end are three, and the same goes for one week, etc ..., as a minimum triples, but I never have imagined that some things took so long to be accomplished, and some still are without being finished.
The economic factor has influenced much to the process go slower, we can not work much if we do not feed our basic needs. Our budget was the same for the food than tools and materials, so in a matter of priorities some of the material has been falling as the wind blows over the year, with small economic inputs to go forward we have projects waiting for a chance to be implemented.
As the house project that I have planed to do in one year, and finally I have extended to two (until I have left the place). Now after more than one and a half year from the start of this project I feel that is a good point to end it.
The economic factor has influenced much to the process go slower, we can not work much if we do not feed our basic needs. Our budget was the same for the food than tools and materials, so in a matter of priorities some of the material has been falling as the wind blows over the year, with small economic inputs to go forward we have projects waiting for a chance to be implemented.
As the house project that I have planed to do in one year, and finally I have extended to two (until I have left the place). Now after more than one and a half year from the start of this project I feel that is a good point to end it.
Project drafting Resources
Software
VUE
Weebly
Windows 7
Camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20
VUE
Weebly
Windows 7
Camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20