EARTH & US — Barichara Evolving
What is my “north star”?
After months of preparation, including applying for a longer-term visa, I now have abundant time to contemplate the purpose for which I returned to Barichara…
- To be part of the Earth Regenerators movement
- To help make a difference in restoring some land and planting trees
- To cut my fossil fuel use drastically and live more simply
- To belong to an active, progressive community
- To help promote biogas digester technology and adoption
- To help in the harvesting and infiltration of rainwater
My friend Margarita challenged me: why didn’t I stay home in the U.S. doing that type of work? At first, I took this as a sort of rejection, but it did prompt me to think of some responses.
“Because of Joe’s leadership and this community.”
“Because I can learn about and work on regeneration so easily here.”
“Because the US is toxic, deeply divided, out of touch with reality, full of mental illness and addiction, and has bad karma of genocide and slavery. Because it’s the primary cause of global warming and pollution, and there will be suffering and loss of life when the empire falls.”
“Because I’m tired of protesting against what’s wrong, and want to co-create a world that works.”
“Because I can contribute to promoting biogas digesters here.”
“Because my community is so spread out in the US compared to here, where I can walk to see everyone, and have daily contact, without a car.”
“Because I can walk to the canyon and the Bioparque from here, plus do all my shopping and nearly everything on foot.”
““Because I’m sensitive to cold and it’s warm here, plus I can afford to retire here and work simply as a volunteer, unlike in the US.”
Syntropic Agroforestry
At the Bioparque, the week before I arrived there was a 2-day workshop on Syntropic Agroforestry, taught by a Brazilian man called Paco. This was a huge success, attended by some 30 people, over 1/3 local folks. Vicky and Camila, “founding mothers” of the Bioparque, were thrilled. There are already plans to bring Paco back!
I’ve been learning about what this method of earth restoration involves, by watching videos online. Pioneered by Ernst Goetsch, a Swiss man who lives in Bahia, Brazil, the method produces food and other useful crops while avoiding the need for continuing inputs of fertilizers or manure, and requires less water. Most of the work is on the front end: dense interplanting of multiple species, with trees and shrubs that will be coppiced or pruned frequently so that their foliage and branches can help build soil and hold water. Most important, pruning stimulates the secretion of “regrowth hormones” into the soil, supporting the growth of many plants. Beans and other nitrogen-fixing plants and trees add nitrogen to the soil. It’s all about cooperation.
Says Goetsch: “Instead of agro-mining and depleting the soil, respect nature; build the soil. Become a cherished element where you live.”
Among the crops planted in the workshop were pineapple, yucca, cacao, many fruit trees including banana and plantain, and many annual seeds as well. Nopal cactus provides moisture to the soil. The design allows for density by incorporating species that fill different niches or strata both above and below ground. A lot of carbon is sequestered by the trees as they grow. Both soil and food can be produced at the same time. I was astonished to see 4-inch-tall bean plants that had grown from seeds planted just ten days ago!
Our current task is to plant a bunch of small trees left over from the workshop.
Community where I live
Margarita’s hostal is currently home to Rafa (whom I affectionately call my “hermanito” or little brother), his English girlfriend Shona, and her 4-year-old daughter Soriah; Jacob, a young German volunteer who wants to help design the Ecoversity on the recently purchased land called Las Albercas; Guillermo, a young film-maker from Bogota; and me. Margarita is here most days, making granola and other products, supporting local women to do food processing, and having community meetings. But now, thanks to Joe’s fundraising, she and her family live in another house which is more peaceful for her husband and son.
Joe, Elise, and his new partner Penny live just two doors down the street.
Every week, Margarita, Rafa, Shona, Jacob, and I get a huge sack of locally grown organic produce for about $6 US. Last week it contained yucca roots, green plantains, mora (blackberries), star fruit, lettuce, spinach, chard, green onions, long green beans, bunches of fresh oregano, mint, spearmint, lemon balm, thyme and more, plus some vegetables that are like thin-walled, mild green peppers. The challenge is to make use of it in time! This week’s produce was mostly similar, plus a large jackfruit. I made some delicious mora jam using “panela” (Colombian brown cane sugar).
Margarita and I processed some of the yucca but had to toss all of the previous week’s, which had spoiled. After I peeled off the bark and cut it, Marga fed it through a processor, obtaining a liquid (which she dehydrates to make a sweet cracker), and a creamy, starchy tofu-like substance, which we seasoned with cumin, salt, chopped onions and garlic. We then fried it in patties, similar to the corn patties known as arepas. We steamed some long beans and fried up other vegetables, and fed all of us.
This week, I grated yucca by hand and mixed it with carrots, onions, garlic, and peppers, and then tried to cook it like hash browned potatoes, which I’d heard could be done. Honestly, it didn’t turn out very well, too starchy and chewy…I’ll stick with the food processor the next time! Jacob tried to cook the jackfruit, but didn’t boil it first, so it wasn’t really edible.
Awakening to Yes!
Joe’s latest 8-week Learning Journey on the Earth Regenerators platform posed the question: Why do so few people awaken and follow their dreams? It requires getting out of the corporate/colonized system of “wage slavery” that essentially increases the wealth of a handful of people by destroying the earth. If we asked our hearts, we would not tolerate such jobs. We may see that the old way is wrong, but not know what else to do. We may have family and friends depending on us. We probably lack support to make a change. Most people don’t know about the crossing of planetary boundaries, or if they do, they react with despair and perhaps cynicism.
“Feel into your sense of place,” Joe suggests. “If you don’t feel that you belong there, you can choose to leave and go where you do belong.” Discovering one’s authentic self means listening to the heart; it requires going into the stillness, to find what doesn’t change. “Dream from the innocence of your authentic self,” he urges. Our inner child is alive and passionate! Acting from that energy can inspire and attract others, as Joe and Jessica did years ago when they bicycled through Utah canyonland. Their obvious joy made them irresistible to strangers, who would actually stop and offer them a cold beer on the highway, or seek them out at their campsite.
To say YES to what makes us most alive, often means saying NO to what holds us back, whether it’s a job or a relationship. Joe addresses our excuses:
Afraid? Practice courage by taking small steps. Stand up for yourself.
Self-doubt? Connect with intuition through meditation, painting, dance…
Feel powerless? We all have some power. Find your power and practice using it.
All alone (or fear being alone)? Discover the Others, those with a shared dream. (Hint: Earth Regenerators)
Don’t know what your YES is? Get clear: read, study, explore.
Daunted by pain? Trust the pain, it is there to move us toward solutions and healing.
Don’t know how? Seek mentors, role models, inspiration to move toward.
Afraid of hurting someone? This is real. We can love them, and release them to follow their own hearts.
Think it’s too late? Find a way!
If you’re interested in a Learning Journey with Joe, the next one begins June 18. https://earth-regenerators.mn.co/posts/new-learning-journey-begins-on-june-18th
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