An Interwoven Life
By 2023 apprentice Elya Justina Mech
As you pass through the gates at Rancho Mastatal, you step into another world. A place where perhaps the hands you hold at evening circle are the very ones who built the structure you'll sleep in that night. Where your salad greens come from the garden you walked through that morning with your coffee, and the cows down the road have not only given the kitchen milk to make dairy kefir, but manure to fuel the bio-digester cooking system. The connections here are endless; its permaculture life you can see and touch.
As apprentices we are learning the principles of permaculture - not just in the classroom but also in our morning community contribution skills, during meal prep, on our walks through the agroforestry system, and as we assist with the daily function of the Ranch's infrastructure.
Its easy to understand why this way of life makes so much sense. We can see our regenerative influence on the natural environment, and feel a deep satisfaction from knowing how the components of your day are interwoven.
And at the Ranch it's very clear to see that you are also nature, you belong here, and you can have a healing impact on the earth.
Here are some more examples of ways in which our daily life is interconnected:
Water Kefir or "Balm" that we enjoy at our meals is a probiotic-rich, fermented drink made from yeast, local raw cane sugar with a base of fruits, spices and herbs from our gardens and orchards.
Eggs from Dona Flor, a chicken farmer in Mastatal who provides us with a large supply of our daily protein. Our beautiful brunches feature frittata or scrambled eggs. We also make homemade mayonnaise and use the eggs in baking for special occaisions.
Composting toilets allow us to drastically reduce our water consumption compared to conventional toilets. They also create nutrient-rich humanure to be used in our orchard spaces.
Meeting our energetic, nutritional, and social needs in symbiosis with nature brings such a joy and satisfaction to all those who live, work and visit Rancho Mastatal. Its inspiring to see how we can live in way that is kinder to the Earth and healthier for our bodies and minds.
Thinking back to life before the Ranch, its easy to see how many components of my daily life came from far off places and how my needs were often met by people whom I did not know and came from sources I was unfamiliar with. Without that integration I felt disconnected and there was a part of my spirit which was searching for more.
When we think about all the aspects of our daily lives - what we eat, how we process our waste, how we spend our time, and the spaces we occupy, we can ask ourselves 'how interconnected are these elements'?
Part of the magic of the Ranch is how its inspiring others to bring back these values and ideas to wherever they're from and share a new way of living with their family and community. You don't have to be living in a rural town in the tropical rainforest of Costa Rica to have a life that is interwoven, regenerative, and full of meaning.
Perhaps you can start by growing some herbs or veggies in your own backyard or by finding a farmer's market to visit each week. How about hosting a monthly dinner with your neighbours and inviting everyone to bring a homemade dish? Which local businesses in your city can you become a patron of?
Maybe you are already living on a piece of land you'd like to develop into a community project. There could be a nearby seed saving bank to help you get started on growing heirloom varieties of vegetables or neighbours to borrow tools from and donate building materials. Often times there are school groups looking for volunteer opportunities and gardening clubs who have years worth of knowledge to share. The farmers in your area will also be a valuable resource to connect with, having insight into growing seasons and weather patterns. If you are looking to raise animals, they may be willing to help you get started and even sell animals to you.
Permaculture is all about creating a thriving and regenerative world for us to live in and enjoy. We can use smart and slow solutions right where we are to improve the way we meet our needs and the needs of others.
As I spend another beautiful day at Rancho Mastatal I am filled with gratitude to be able to learn these lessons in the heart of a thriving community. With each meal, every visit to the garden and orchardsand spending time in structures that have been lovingly made from the land, I realize how this interwoven life has enriched me and changed the way I will live from now on.
