EAGLE CONDOR FARM - FINCA ÁGUILA CÓNDOR

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20/7/2015

We are nature.

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PictureImage courtesy of Bioneers.

I am finally considering myself a reformed urbanite, although the seeds of the natural world were always within me (actually everyone, because in fact, we are nature) After spending 2 years straight on this farm and implementing -- re-harmonizing the land with the design I created, I came to the realization(s) over and over again, that everything, yes all of what the indigenous wisdom I have read to date is true. All of it, and I can honestly say that without humans re-harmonizing with their own nature, or at minimum allowing and supporting those who do…then we may be in irreversible trouble. Also, there is no way to separate ecology from spirituality,  because  the Logos is Nature, is always talking to us in patterns-symbolism, if we are just present, we can see, read and understand the message. Masanobu Fukuoka​ knew it best I believe, farming (nature) cultivates people!  Also, Bill Mollison​ reached the very important conclusion and teachings in Permaculture, which was long protracted observation & pattern recognition, work with nature, not against. Now that I have been back in the states working since March, I see so much the value of what I learned working outdoors, creatively with nature that I am in utter gratitude almost daily when I stop to reflect on the dichotomy of the two worlds I work in-between. It's quite interesting and I will be writing about it at more length, soon. 

In gratitude,

Monica*

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21/9/2013

Condor feather significance & healing:

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"A ritual is the enactment of a myth. And, by participating in the ritual, you are participating in the myth. And since myth is a projection of the depth wisdom of the psyche, by participating in a ritual, participating in the myth, you are being, as it were, put in accord with that wisdom, which is the wisdom that is inherent within you anyhow. Your consciousness is being re-minded of the wisdom of your own life."

"I think ritual is terribly important."

 From "The Wisdom of Joseph Campbell," New Dimensions Radio Interview with Michael Toms, Tape I, Side 2

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Sacred Feathers...Feathers in hair for Native Americans had a spiritual meaning. They were worn by Native American Chiefs to symbolize their communication with the Spirit, and to show off their divine wisdom. Feathers also represented the power of the thunder gods, along with the power of air and wind. Sometimes feathers were representative of courage during a battle or a successful hunt.
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This Condor feather is a rare find as they are illegal to purchase since Condor's are on the endangered list. This feather was bought to us from Peru as a gift to be used for healing ceremonies....
Again I write about ritual and symbolism. Ritual is important aspect of healing, as our ancestors used it to help clear psycho-spiritual-physical aliments. The act of a ritual is a powerful healing tool for all people collectively, as it has been practiced for millennia by our ancestors, around the world.  Symbolism is the language of the psyche (subconscious) and is most effective in communicating with the parts of ourselves that are still in the in the dark or unconscious as it were. 


Feathers have an ancient symbolic meaning, they are linked to the air element, freedom and pure potential. They are attributed to transformation that is strong, swift and potent.

Feathers are used by a healer ("yachek" in the Andes or shaman) on the aura (energetic body) of an individual, in smooth, long strokes from the head to the feet, in order to clear energy. They are used from any one of the nine cardinal directions towards the body in order to invoke healing energy. 

The Andean Condor is associated with the Sun deity and is the ruler of the upper world. Condors live in the Andes Mountains, the highest peak of which is 6,962 metres high (some smaller species are found in California and Mexico). Condor is a symbol of power and health. Condor has a wingspan of 2.7 to 3.2 metres. Its plumage is all black, except for frills of white feathers at the base of its neck. It also has patches of white bands on its wings. The colour of the skin on its bald head changes as a form of communicating emotion. In males the irises are brown and in females they are deep red. Condors have extremely good eyesight and can spot food from miles away, symbolising being able to see or plan far into the future. Condor’s talons are not for hunting. In fact condors hardly ever kill for food, they eat meat that they find (benevolence) and thus symbolise making use of what we find and working with what we have. They use branches, sticks and feathers to make their nests, also symbolising the use of things that are to be found in our everyday lives. They nest very high on cliffs teaching us to make our home in heaven. They glide from mountain peaks and often make use of wind currents to soar, teaching us to surf the currents, ebbs and flows of life. Condors typically lay one egg, teaching us to treasure that which is rare and that some things only come along once in a lifetime. They have no natural predators and are thus Kings and Queens of the heavens, because they are at the “top of the food chain” although they rarely kill. These birds can fly at 90 km/h and are thus the harbingers of rapid transformation. The people of the Andes view the condor as their guardian. When the Spanish arrived in the Andes the condor became a symbol of freedom from oppression and slavery. Condor is the messenger of the gods and the carrier of our dreams and prayers to heaven, because she flies much higher than any other winged animal. She teaches us about the ancient mysteries of life and death, about communion with the spirits and how to soar above our limitations.

Condors have an uncanny ability to sense death, so they are sometimes seen as the angels of death, circling around when life is about to end. Condor is very powerful protection in the spirit world. Condors live on average between 50 and 80 years, roughly the average lifespan of a human and thus teach us about life. Although humanity has been responsible for the near extinction of the condor, we have also been responsible for saving these birds, whose numbers have increased in recent years. This represents humanity’s ability to solve problems which we have created for ourselves. The prophecy of the Eagle & the Condor says that when the Masculine Eagle (mental aspects) and the Feminine Condor (heart aspects) fly together again (when the north and the south are no longer at odds), we will again live in harmony and recreate paradise on Earth. 

Condors rest at night and fly by day. Legend says that they draw the dawn and the sun across the sky. Condor chicks leave the nest at age two, symbolizing independence. These birds also signify connection to the land and one’s place of birth, because they do not migrate at all.  Condor helps us transform that which is dead  and no longer serves us into energy that helps us soar above, into greater heights of awareness. 



Thank you for reading!


Monica*

References:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condor
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Condor
kalypsyd.hubpages.com/hub/Animal-Symbols-and-Meanings
tqe.quaker.org/2005/TQE138-EN-Condor.html


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17/8/2013

What's new...

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We have a main access road ! 


Our main access road is part of the main frame design of the property. In Permaculture, every element has many functions, as we will describe here. The road curves into and down mid way the 7.2 acre property to the worker home we will be building, soon. Access is an element meant to harmonize with water, so we have taken advantage of this opportunity in the design & implementation of this element. The choice for the curve is also for purposes of size/functionality, prevent erosion (& as mentioned to catch rainwater coming downhill). The curve is also an example of using natural patterning + edge, as the land slope required this shape. Because this shape/pattern creates more edge effect, we are using this opportunity to plant on the bank of the curve (to also help keep the rock wall in place & again, to prevent erosion). Finally , it will empty into a pond to the immediate left of the curve of the entrance and then down road, into one of the main frame swales. 

Another post and more pics (for adequate perspective), as the road "accessories" are finished, soon.

This as well as other large and small projects are what's new for our farm and also we imagine interesting for our volunteers to experience and work with... So much is happening these months and in the next few years as we develop our Permaculture farm from the very beginning :)

At times the amount and scope of work can be intimidating, and avoiding mistakes are thoughts we consider... so far we are happy with the slow and steady thoughtful progress we are making. The key to prevent 'mistakes' or rather ' expensive learning opportunities' ! is to remember long protracted observation is 1st. Then planning, and finally execution. 

Thank you for reading!


Monica*


*CLICK ON ANY IMAGE BELOW TO MAKE BIGGER (includes photo captions)...*

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19/7/2013

Returning Flora & Fauna:

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PictureAndean Eagle, difficult to get a closer shot, the bird was massive. Light grey coloring, beautiful bird. The Andean fox is very well camouflaged against the dry background.







This week in returning fauna: Andean fox, a pair of owls, and many other variety of birds, a snake, and an Andean Eagle...

All animals and elements in an eco system play a vital role in the balance of the system itself. For example, foxes may have been seen as predatory animals, however they have their function as well; keeping wild rabbit populations to manageable numbers.  Permaculture magazine ( <- click for article) does a great job of explaining this in their article related to this subject.

A great indicator of sustainability is not only an increase of your soils per year, but also returning natural systems (biodiversity). Biodiversity = health and strength of an eco system, in all areas of life (soils are also another part of the entire system on a micro level & is of course, therefore a living eco-system). As slow as our process has been in the last 2 years, in establishing our permaculture farm from a mono-culture to polyculture (our food forest), we have indications of going in the right direction with wildlife returning. 


Thanks for reading!

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26/6/2013

Intro. to permaculture zones...

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Design for efficiency, pattern your design to harmonize with your work, daily living & the natural landscape. A living ecosystem :
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7/6/2013

Ethics & Permaculture...

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Permaculture Ethics: "Care of the Earth, Care of the people, Share the surplus" - Bill Mollison 

“Relativity applies to physics, not ethics” - Albert Einstein
  
“Ethics is nothing else than reverence for life. “ - Albert Schweitzer

I recently listened to a lecture by the director of the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, Geoff Lawton. I really enjoyed what he said about ancient cultures and ethics. In order to live in community, people lived by an average of 18 ethical principles, they lived harmoniously (within their tribes) with each other and their environment. Creating and living by a system of ethics meant life and harmony vs. disorder, chaos and possibly death. Where are our current ethics? If they are not taught at home, when and where are they discussed? You don't really hear of the word? Is this part of why current reality is not in harmony? Is it because ethics and values are no longer part of our consciousness? Is it missing in interactions with each other, with our environment? Is this why greed is rampant, even at the cost of our environment and ourselves? Permaculture has 3 ethical principles, Geoff stated, that with these as a minimum, societies etc. can live more harmonious and sustainably. They are: Care of the Earth, Care of the people, Share the surplus (back into both). Perhaps people can begin to discuss and identify what ethics are, or even a virtue? Then perhaps once again, they can be a part of society at large. I love this diagram because it illustrates Native American virtues (which are related and connected to ethical principles) that were valued and I believe created much more harmony and happiness in communities.

Wisdom:..... To cherish knowledge is to know Wisdom. Wisdom is given by the Creator to be used for the good of the people. In the Anishinaabe language, this word expresses not only “wisdom,” but also means “prudence,” or “intelligence.” In some communities, Gikendaasowin is used; in addition to “wisdom,” this word can also mean “intelligence” or “knowledge.”

Love:..... To know Love is to know peace. Love must be unconditional. When people are weak they need love the most. In the Anishinaabe language, this word with the reciprocal theme /idi/ indicates that this form of love is mutual. In some communities, Gizhaawenidiwin is used, which in most context means “jealousy” but in this context is translated as either “love” or “zeal”. Again, the reciprocal theme /idi/ indicates that this form of love is mutual.

Respect:..... To honor all creation is to have Respect. All of creation should be treated with respect. You must give respect if you wish to be respected. Some communities instead use Ozhibwaadenindiwin or Manazoonidiwin.

Bravery:........ Bravery is to face the foe with integrity. In the Anishinaabe language, this word literally means “state of having a fearless heart.” To do what is right even when the consequences are unpleasant. Some communities instead use either Zoongadikiwin (“state of having a strong casing”) or Zoongide’ewin (“state of having a strong heart”).

Honesty:........ Honesty in facing a situation is to be brave. Always be honest in word and action. Be honest first with yourself, and you will more easily be able to be honest with others. In the Anishinaabe language, this word can also mean “righteousness.”

Humility: ......Humility is to know yourself as a sacred part of Creation. In the Anishinaabe language, this word can also mean “compassion.” You are equal to others, but you are not better. Some communities instead express this with Bekaadiziwin, which in addition to “humility” can also be translated as “calmness,” “meekness,” “gentility” or “patience.”

Truth:....... Truth is to know all of these things. Speak the truth. Do not deceive yourself or others.

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21/2/2013

Tola , andean ancestral healing center:

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On this trip to my farm, I did a walk thru with two knowledgeble people who are Ecuadorian and experienced in ancestral knowledge and andean agriculture. To my surprise, they both told me I have a ceremonial mound called a tola. It is considered a powerful  energetic point or center of the land,  basically of the entire farm in this case.  

It is where energy radiates or is created,  and symbolizes a mothers whom. It is used to heal people, and originates from the yachac's (quechua word for shaman).  Andean culture share the belief (as many other ancient cultures), that all illness is a decrease in energetic vibration of the body, before and while it is manifested in the physical. The tola is for healing ceremonies, to raise the energetic vibration of the person(s) in it, and it is considered a direct connection to the cosmos. In ancient times, the tola also had a pyramid constructed over it to focus the energy on the people inside.
 
It is located using an instrument, called a tupuc. It is flower shaped with a point at the end, where a shaman holds 
the tupuc until it carries and points them to the energetic center of the land. The tupuc pics up the energetic points or lay lines where the tula is to be created.

It's shape is a circular mound surrounded by stones giving it structure, with an entrance/exit for an unbilical cord (symbolized by a tree tunnel).  The tree tunnel is created by planting them into a topiary, giving them the form of a passage way leading to the center of the mound.
 These trees are important in the cosmo vision, as they are considered spirits and are often referred to as grandfathers or abulelitos, who assist in the healing of the earth and the individual in the center.

We will be restoring our tola at some point and will share the pictures of our progress as it goes!

Thank you for reading,

Monica*

Theses photos of a reconstructed tola were taken at the Jatun Yachay Wasi; Ancestral Wisdom & New Consciousness University in Colta, Ecuador.
                                * click on any photo to enlarge *

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26/6/2012

Reforestation: Zone 5 food forest - 3,040 soil building trees & counting...

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This part of the project is basically our beginning and it has been a very rewarding experience.

The goals of our reforestation efforts are:

1. To establish & create our food forest, improve & maintain the quality of the land. Initiate our overall farm permaculture design. 

2. Create conditions for increased biodiversity in both flora & fauna. By providing habitat for birds and other wildlife, as well as re-establishing depleted native species.

3.  Increase biomass.  Do our part in mitigating global warming. All reforestation is an important part of the global carbon cycle because trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide. 


In accomplishing our reforestation goals, we are stacking functions. This is an important principal, as nothing in nature has only one function. This is how nature is amazingly efficient. We are ultimately working with nature in designing our farm to mimic a natural ecological food and habitat producing forest. 

Myself, a friend from the states, my brother, mom and my mom's amazing garden helper along with a few men from the local indigenous community planted all these trees (see pictures below). I am very appreciative of everyone's work in actually doing something significant and special as planting trees. 

Ecuador's deforestation rate, particularly in the Andes has been devastating. Many trees in both the highlands & the Amazon have gone extinct or are endangered. 

Information on Ecuador's current deforestation & reforestation initiative can be found on our Reforestation page.
 
Hence, the initiative of the Government of Ecuador to give land owners trees (free). They initially come to your land and assess it for size, species & requirements before they deliver the young trees. For a poor country, I find this governmental initiative admirable. 

Working with the government of Ecuador's department of agriculture has also been a big help as well as uplifting since 3,000 of our trees came from them. The initial request of the trees was a fairly straightforward process. We wrote to the department of agriculture's local office in the nearest big city which is Riobamba, an hour and a half away. Our request was written in December 2011 and the trees were delivered to our farm in late February. Initially, 2,700 trees delivered, 40 of the endangered Spanish Cedar's we purchased by us, and planted in July 2011. The remaining 280 were delivered in March 2012, after placing a new request in late February.

The timing was perfect as I planned a last minute trip to Ecuador for mid-March and thankfully, it was still rainy season, perfect for planting! 

Our request was for trees to serve as a wind barrier & hedge. To my surprise, all 4 species delivered are soil builders. These trees will serve as nutrition pumps for the soil they use and for the food forest we are creating; they all fit beautifully into our permaculture design plan. We planted; Acacia (Robinia Pseudoacacia), Aliso (Alnus acuminata), Lupina (tarwi, L. mutabilis), and Alamo (Populus deltoides) all nitrogen fixers. We were happy to receive whatever trees gifted to us and would have worked any type of tree into the design somehow, whether they were soil building or not. In Permaculture, we look at functional relationships 1st, so as an example, this was perfect for our overall design. Functional relationships are also indicators of sustainability, which is always our big picture - whole thinking goal...

We planted our new trees around the full perimeter of the 9 hectares of the farm. They will serve as timber eventually, nitrogen fixing/ nutrient accumulators, habitat for increased bio-diverse flora & fauna, wind barrier and shade. Planting them around the perimeter also serves as our zone 5 food forest. Zones‎  in permaculture are a system where the location of an element in a design is determined by:

1.      How often we  use the element

2.      How often  we are required to service the element


This is a basic logical + practical principle, whereby the things you use most often & require the most attention, are placed closest to the house in the design (i.e. zone 0-2). Consequently, the things that are used the least often, or that require little or no attention, are placed furthest away in the design, and things that fall somewhere in between are placed accordingly (zone 3-5). 

For example, you would place your kitchen & herb garden right outside your door so that you can maintain it (easy access) and also you'd be using it often, so its proximity is practical and efficient use of your time & energy.

Zones are abstract conceptual boundaries around the home which help us to work with distance to plan efficient energy use. Zones do not have any hard/structural boundaries and they can blend into one another. They are always in flux, and are also not necessarily round per the diagram illustrated below.

Next stage for our food forest is zone 1; as typically you work from the inner zone out and can have multiple zone 1's as we will since we will have different living structures. We ultimately will be planting a variety of fruit and nut trees as well as more nutrient accumulator shrubs, plants and nitrogen fixing bushes producing legumes etc. When done with the planting in zones, we will have a 7 layer deep food forest planted in succession (see diagram below, next to zone diagram). Succession planting is following one crop with another, is the most important tool for maximizing a yield.  A smart succession plan means fresh food from spring until winter, the harvest keeps coming... 


So as the overall food forest is established & evolves, the food chain will extend. It will also continue to attract and increase the diversity of flora and fauna in the area. 


Increasing Bio-mass & the many other magical roles of trees:

Our trees are building soil for us, right now, they serve as "pioneers" and ultimately help decrease the workload of mulching. What are nitrogen fixers & soil nutrient accumulators? Nitrogen fixing plants & trees harbor bacteria or fungi in their roots that extract nitrogen from the air and convert it to plant available form in the soil. This is a huge benefit. Nature builds soil from the top down. When pruned or when their leaves fall, they provide a rich stock for mulch or compost. All these trees are obvious players in our ecological food forest because they keep nutrients cycling within the soil and reduce the requirement for purchasing fertilizer.  All their debris quickly composts into rich organic humus, which we & Mother Earth welcome. 

Trees are veritable chemical, alchemical magic. From just the example above on how they convert their leaves and roosts into soil & food for the many living micro-organisms, worms and creatures underground. Trees are vital to our living eco-system called Earth. 

Trees are excellent water purifiers. Thru their leaves, they transpire, pulling water up from their roots. All water exists (exhaled) pure thru the pores in their leaves, originally polluted or not. A full grown tree can transpire 2,000 gallons of water on a hot, dry day. The moisture returns as rain, up to 1/2 of the rainfall over forested land comes from trees themselves. Cut the trees down & the rainfall disappears. They also help keep any nearby water flowing, for example, you take away trees near a creek, and the creek will disappear. 

Trees remove CO2 from the air & produce O2. This is how trees help reduce the levels of green house gases on the planet. 
Air is also purified & humidified when passing thru a tree. Half of clouds are created by trees! Trees act as cloud seeders as well, to bring rain.  They help keep us at livable levels of temperature & weather, helping maintain our ecosystem in homeostasis. Trees help create cooling winds above them; they create convection currents and breezes.

Trees block the wind, making them excellent windbreaks. 

Trees provide timber, for homes, heating, furniture, paper goods, energy source & medicine.

Trees leaf litter & roots help hold soil in place (as well as build nutrients & prepares its own fertilizer, as mentioned above). They are erosion-control systems.

Trees have also been shown to be sentient. A tree's roots thread with nearby trees and fuse with them. Research has shown, that their roots can graft with those nearby, exchanging nutrients and even notifying each other of insect attack. Chemical signals released by an infested tree prompt its neighbors to secrete protective compounds that will repel the potential bug invaders.  Trees in a forest are more like branches from 1 single subterranean tree than a group of individuals, as they are interconnected and communicate with each other. 

In summary, trees are deeply connected to their surroundings, both living & non-living. Trees are dynamic, reacting to their environment and to each other. They transform wind & sunlight into a variety of microclimates, daily & seasonally. Trees harvest nutrients, build soil, pump & purify air and water, create and concentrate rain, shelter and feed wildlife and microbes. For people, they can serve as a barrier; they provide food, medicine, shelter, shade, energy source, flowers & beauty. 

Thank you for reading,



Monica*

“Trees are the best monuments that a man can erect to his own memory. They speak his praises without flattery, and they are blessings to children yet unborn.” ~ Lord Orrery, 1749
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PERMACULTURE ZONES
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PERMACULTURE - 7 LAYERED FOOD FOREST
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Lupina Tree
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Alamo, Lupina & Acacia Trees

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26/4/2012

Basic Seed Saving:

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Seed saving is a tradition and ritual that spans millions of years, it's as old as civilization.  

For over 10,000 years, individual gardeners and farmers created and sustained our rich agricultural genetic heritage.

Our ability to grow food is the culmination of countless generations of sowing and harvesting seeds and those seeds are the continuation of an unbroken line from our ancestors to us and to our children and grandchildren. Our ancestors developed a relationship with plants that allowed their cultivation for food and medicine and this has been a central element of culture and human evolution and survival for millennia in regions throughout the world.

"We are on the verge of losing in one generation, much of the agricultural diversity it took humankind 10,000 years to create. As late as 1900, food for the planet's hungry was provided by as many as 1,500 different plants, each further represented by thousands of different cultivated varieties. Today over 90% of the world's nutrition is provided by 30 different plants and only four (wheat, rice, corn and soybeans) provide 75% of the calories consumed by man. Where once diverse strains strengthened each local ecosystem, currently, a handful of "green revolution", super-hybrid varieties are "mono-cropping" farms and gardens worldwide." - International Seed Saving Institute
www.seedsave.org

Today, gardeners and farmers can continue to play an important role by learning to save their own seeds from varieties that perform best in their own mini-ecosystems. This will assure diversity in the same the way that diversity was promoted and protected instinctively throughout the history of agriculture.

I was initially intimidated in "the honor of seed saving". However, just like anything else, one you just go ahead and do it, it's a lot of fun and a very rewarding experience! 


What to Harvest? 

There are a few basic tips for success: 


Start with the simple things; lettuce, peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers, many types of flower seeds. Some plants like squash and corn require special isolation practices because they cross-pollinate so easily. Others are biennials like carrots, parsnips and cabbage and won’t set seed the first year.  These are best tackled when you have more experience. Many perennials once established set seed every year and are good candidates for seed saving.


**Be sure that the seeds you want to save do not come from hybrid seeds. Hybrids may have many desirable characteristics but they are not good for seed saving because they revert back to their parent stock in the second generation. This means you may get something interesting but it won’t be the same as the plant from which you are collecting. Save seeds only from open-pollinated seeds.**

Once you have decided which type of seeds you are going to collect, choose the healthiest plants from which to gather the seed. Select the plants based on the desirable characteristic which you want to preserve: Good flavor, size ,hardiness, early maturity, color, etc.  Be sure to collect the seeds from more than one parent plant if possible. This ensures a broader genetic diversity for your seed collection.

Read seed savers exchange's blog post, for a better understanding of: "The difference between open-pollinated, heirloom, and hybrid seeds": 


When ? 

This is the easy part:

  • when you can see that the seeds are fully formed and, ideally, drying on the plant  (it looks like flower buds) OR
  • when the fruit which houses the seed is mature (tomatoes, peppers, etc.)


The only challenge here is to not leave the open seeds on the plant too long or you will find yourself with lettuce volunteering in every available space next year.  This just takes a little practice and can best be mastered by regular visits to the seed plant to run your thumb against the seed heads. If the seeds are near the “point of departure “ it’s time to collect them. Another option is to remove seed heads once they are drying and let them finish drying in a partially shaded area.


How ? 

For open seeds, a cookie sheet, paper bag, sack etc. will work fine.  For many seeds you can simply collect a whole seed head and separate the seeds later. (Don’t neglect this separation step, because proper drying ensures seed viability.) Once the seeds are collected and separated spread them out in a cool dry place and let them complete their drying.

For seeds inside a fruit carefully cut the fruit open and squeeze out the seeds.  If the seeds are basically dry like a pepper simply separate the seeds and allow them to air dry as above.  For tomatoes and other ‘slimy’ seeds a special process to remove the gelatinous, sprout-inhibiting coating is necessary but very simple:

Put the seeds with pulp in a glass and add just enough water to get them floating. Set it on a windowsill for several days until a moldy scum starts to form.  Remove the scum and any floating seeds, drain and rinse the seeds and spread out on a screen or glass or plastic plate for several days to dry. Don’t leave them for long after the scum forms or they will begin to sprout in the water!


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After harvesting the seeds, we like to use a regular sack. We put the entire stem of the plant with flowers/seeds on them & hang them upside down in the sack. The seeds simply fall to the bottom for collection.
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Seed Vitality - Viability 

Generally speaking, with seeds big and fat is good! The larger and plumper a seed (relative to other seeds of its type), the greater the viability.  When separating seeds with the wet method the seeds that float can be discarded as they will not be as strong as the seeds which sink. For seeds of peppers, eggplant, etc. which don’t require fermenting you can assess potential viability by placing in water for 24-36 hours and, as before, saving those that float, discarding those that don’t. 


Storing your seeds... 

Sore in a COOL and DRY space.  Apart from the original quality of the seed you save this is probably the most critical factor in successful seed saving. Keeping your seeds dry and cool plays a major role in assuring their long term viability. 


  • Be sure the seeds are properly dry before storing them.  This usually requires 5-7 days of air drying during a dry period. A simple test: break a seed in half, if it breaks instead of bending it’s probably dry enough.

  • Store them, labeled - in paper envelopes, recycled or glass, (avoid plastic, or reuse plastic containers that can eventually be recycled. Let's be kind to our environment ;) in a cool, dry location.

Thank you for reading & happy seeding!

Monica*
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After harvesting the seeds, we like to use a regular sack. We put the entire stem of the plant with flowers/seeds on them & hang them upside down in the sack. The seeds simply fall to the bottom for collection.
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lettuce seeds, onion seeds, parsly seeds.
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cilantro seeds, pumpkin seeds.

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21/1/2012

A little history on how Eagle Condor Farm was born:

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My parents are 100% Ecuadorian. My father was born and raised in Alausi, Ecuador and my mother is from Southern Ecuador, Catamayo. 
You might be familiar with Catamayo if you are familiar with Vilcababma (in the Valley of Longevity) there is a large and growing ex-pat community there.

Speaking of longevity, both sets of grandparents lived into their 100's. They told me the formula is low stress, clean food, moving your body and of course, love...

My parents bought the farm before they had any of us, about 45 years ago. They had in mind retiring there, or moving back to Ecuador sooner. Something always got in the way. 
They did finally move back, in 2006 to retire. 

Unfortunately, my dad became ill from 2008 forward, until he passed on in late October 2010. He was hard working, and I think one thing that kept him going was getting back to his country and his land. He always imagined us all returning and enjoying living there. He was always very proud of where he came from. He was an honorable man, with integrity and a love for simple things. He laughed, a lot and loud, always joking. He had many dear and old friends in Alausi. He contributed to his community in any way he could. He was, and is still very much loved there.

While sick in the hospital, he asked me to please keep the land 
and do  something with it. I said yes, of course...and here I am!
I basically took a PDC (permaculture design course), since I had heard so much about Permaculture being the answer to the many environmental and social issues of the modern world. I took the course and fell in love. I have always been a nature lover and once I discovered that our current farming practices of monocultures and GMO's (genetically modified organisms) are by far the most damaging to our environment than anything else we are doing, I knew this was the best use of the land. A teaching farm and demonstration site filled me with lots of ideas and excitement. My passion for permaculture was born. 

This planet is paradise, custom made for human beings and all it's creatures, it's just that human's have forgotten. There is a disconnect, from the fact that we are mammals, we are nature! The further people get away from this knowing, the more harm we do to ourselves and the earth. As any animal would not destroy it's own environment. 

My connection to nature is also my early memorable experiences in Ecuador. Both sets of grandparents, were connected to the land. My mother's parents were farmers, as well as my father's mother, was the care taker of my parents farm in their absence. My entire childhood was spent either on the farms or immersed in nature. I am very comfortable there, I suppose it's in my DNA, and if you think of it, it is in everyone's from our ancestry...

Human's may be "at the top of the food chain," so to speak, yet to me, having more intelligence and the ability to reason and talk makes me a steward. Responsible for all the creatures and the earth. Not a callus taker, consuming until there is little or nothing left for future generations? People argue, that the earth can replenish herself, yes she does, always coming back to balance, however that may mean people are out, since our species is not in equilibrium. I sometimes ask myself, this maybe the current evolutionary trajectory, and humans are meant to go?  I also believe that the intelligence that created us makes no mistakes. Humans can have an enormous impact for good, we can actually help nature, work with her instead of against.

Everything I have ever fallen in love with in regards to earth stewardship, permaculture and what I feel I can do to make a difference is what I am committed to co-creating here...

"Permaculture, reforestation, sustainable education, health, shamanistic studies (ancestral wisdom), agritourism, voluntourism..."

The prophecy of the eagle & the condor is very fitting, as I am planning to host various experts from both North and South America, in a wide range of sustainable farming practices, with a focus on permaculture.

I am grateful to my parents for helping me re-discover my passion in sustainability and to be able to use this farm as an example for others looking to do the same.


Thank you for reading.


In peace,


Monica*

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