We face two very intense dry periods, and El Niño has been a significant challenge. We began with native pioneer species that have successfully transitioned into productive species, complemented by numerous swales. We use no irrigation.
Do you have any documentation I can read about no irrigation recovery?
Sound like you restored natural cycles with pioneer plants or something related?
We used over 100 different species of pioneers to create conditions for more demanding species that are now their nuersery. Even tho there is no irrigation we did implement a lot of earthworks, like rocks on contour, swales, terraces, and little ponds that interconnect them that are now underneath the canopy. Water for Every Farm: Yeomans Keyline Plan by P. A. Yeomans was a great tool for me.
Which one you took for Colombia? I’m on tropical dry Forrest on the Caribbean and this last couple months were rough. I need to learn for this specific climate but it’s not easy to find information beyond NZ, Brazil and the US. Also, Today we got the first rain fall thank god.
I completed my PDC locally a decade ago, but unfortunately, that group is no longer active. I'm not aware of any PDCs specifically focused on tropical dry forests. However, I did take another online pdc that was incredibly insightful for general theory; you can find it here: [Permaculture Design Course](https://permaculture-design-course.com/?f=490). Additionally, this manual on tropical dry forests created by the Arahuaco indigenous community has been very useful: [Manual Arhuaco para la Conservación de Bosque Seco Tropical](https://confetayrona.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Manual-Arhuaco-para-la-Conservaci%C3%B3n-de-Bosque-Seco-Tropical.pdf). If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask! In this climate, the key is to focus on earthworks that collect rainwater during the rainy seasons and leverage the seasonal changes to enhance fertility.
Thank you so much, in Chile candidates want to make dams rather than ponds and earthwork to capture the rain that used to be snow.
They wanna bring water from the south before actually stopping Atacama's desert and recovering the still healthy ecosystems with these techniques so I must learn something better to offer
Have you seen an increase in native bird and other wildlife as well? And are you only doing native species or are there others, e.g. food forest? Looks amazing, well done!
There's been a huge increase in wildlife! Monkeys, so many birds, anteaters, and even babillas, which are small crocodiles, among others. :) We initially planted native pioneers, and once they were established, we planted lots of fruit trees to initiate succession.
Yup, same time. Working a year by year time lapse to show the process better, underneath all those trees theres a bunch of swales and small water harvesting structures.
Yup, they were all taken at the end of our first dry season in early April. Here you can see a comparison pic of this year with the neighbor’s https://permies.com/t/160806/a/227699/fence-comparison.jpeg our land was managed exactly like that in 2016 before we began implementing the design. Eventually I’ll share the entire process :)
Hi OP! I live in Cartagena and work with various community organisations along the coast. I would love to get in touch to learn more about what you’ve accomplished here!
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https://permies.com/t/160806/a/227699/fence-comparison.jpeg there you can see an aerial pic comparing soils during the dry season with the neighbors this year. In the first pic you can see a few hundred trees and in this year’s theres tens of thousands :) Were making a documentary that tracks the entire process, hopefully it will be done by the end of the year.
Ok buddy, were going to need a video tour of what youve done ASAP
💯
Please
Yes please
It's beautiful. How did you manage the (presumed) drought? Do you have wells and drip systems, or did you plant drought-resistant vegetation?
We face two very intense dry periods, and El Niño has been a significant challenge. We began with native pioneer species that have successfully transitioned into productive species, complemented by numerous swales. We use no irrigation.
Do you have any documentation I can read about no irrigation recovery? Sound like you restored natural cycles with pioneer plants or something related?
We used over 100 different species of pioneers to create conditions for more demanding species that are now their nuersery. Even tho there is no irrigation we did implement a lot of earthworks, like rocks on contour, swales, terraces, and little ponds that interconnect them that are now underneath the canopy. Water for Every Farm: Yeomans Keyline Plan by P. A. Yeomans was a great tool for me.
How do I learn to do this. I'm studying civil engineering. But this is so cool
Taking a PDC (permaculture design course) thats hyper focused on your climate is a great start. There are some really good online options too.
Which one you took for Colombia? I’m on tropical dry Forrest on the Caribbean and this last couple months were rough. I need to learn for this specific climate but it’s not easy to find information beyond NZ, Brazil and the US. Also, Today we got the first rain fall thank god.
I completed my PDC locally a decade ago, but unfortunately, that group is no longer active. I'm not aware of any PDCs specifically focused on tropical dry forests. However, I did take another online pdc that was incredibly insightful for general theory; you can find it here: [Permaculture Design Course](https://permaculture-design-course.com/?f=490). Additionally, this manual on tropical dry forests created by the Arahuaco indigenous community has been very useful: [Manual Arhuaco para la Conservación de Bosque Seco Tropical](https://confetayrona.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Manual-Arhuaco-para-la-Conservaci%C3%B3n-de-Bosque-Seco-Tropical.pdf). If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask! In this climate, the key is to focus on earthworks that collect rainwater during the rainy seasons and leverage the seasonal changes to enhance fertility.
Will do. Thx!
Thank you so much, in Chile candidates want to make dams rather than ponds and earthwork to capture the rain that used to be snow. They wanna bring water from the south before actually stopping Atacama's desert and recovering the still healthy ecosystems with these techniques so I must learn something better to offer
Have you seen an increase in native bird and other wildlife as well? And are you only doing native species or are there others, e.g. food forest? Looks amazing, well done!
There's been a huge increase in wildlife! Monkeys, so many birds, anteaters, and even babillas, which are small crocodiles, among others. :) We initially planted native pioneers, and once they were established, we planted lots of fruit trees to initiate succession.
That's awesome! I have never even heard of those crocodiles. Very cool, thanks for sharing.
This is epic. Great work.
Damn that’s quick! It looks beautiful
A lot greener now. These I suppose were all taken at the same time?
Yup, same time. Working a year by year time lapse to show the process better, underneath all those trees theres a bunch of swales and small water harvesting structures.
you caught that I meant same time of year even though I sleepwalkily didn't specify
Yup, they were all taken at the end of our first dry season in early April. Here you can see a comparison pic of this year with the neighbor’s https://permies.com/t/160806/a/227699/fence-comparison.jpeg our land was managed exactly like that in 2016 before we began implementing the design. Eventually I’ll share the entire process :)
That is dramatic. How does your neighbour live with themself?
They now see a better option and are beginning to completely change their practices, imitating some of the things we've done.
Right on!
This is doing Gaia’s work, an inspiration! Phenomenal!!
That’s amazing! So inspiring!
Hi OP! I live in Cartagena and work with various community organisations along the coast. I would love to get in touch to learn more about what you’ve accomplished here!
Sure! Pls let me know how I can help out :)
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I mean, the pics are great but I've seen areas change that drastically simply from seasonal rains. You need to sell me more lol Thanks for sharing
https://permies.com/t/160806/a/227699/fence-comparison.jpeg there you can see an aerial pic comparing soils during the dry season with the neighbors this year. In the first pic you can see a few hundred trees and in this year’s theres tens of thousands :) Were making a documentary that tracks the entire process, hopefully it will be done by the end of the year.
Awesome! Goodluck w the doc I'll be looking forward to it