Comments on: My Experience of Permaculture in Guatemala http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/ Permaculture News, Commentary and Worldwide Projects. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:48:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Arian I. http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/#comment-43243 Arian I. Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:57:39 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=2485#comment-43243 Hi Kevin. Well, as you've mentioned the Casuarina trees do present a problem since they've established themselves rather nicely and the Fish & Wildlife Commission has had to spend millions of USD yearly to eradicate them. Casuarinas absorb lots of water and so were introduced early in the 20th century to facilitate drainage of wetland. Now they are a real headache for those endeavoring to preserve the ecological balance of the Everglades, which is highly dependent on water. Melaleuca quinquenervia is even worse in this regard. As well, both of them seem to tolerate saltwater spray well since Casuarinas can be found near the beaches as well. Melaleuca is probably less so, since I often find them more inland. Although we are about 250 Km north of the Tropic of Cancer here, we have a climate that allows us to cultivate tropical fruits & veggies almost year round. Thus, we are subject to a wet and a dry season typical of the Tropics. So far we've had enough rain this dry season to keep us out of drought ^^ in addition to periodic cold snaps (- -) You can say that all that extra water is insurance during times of drought, which do sometimes occur here. In some years we have restrictions on residential water use, especially when wet season rains are not as frequent as usual. In addition, some of the more invasive exotics produce lots of dry leaf matter, thus altering the fire patterns of the area and heightening the risk of wildfire. Ideally, a fire burns through the pinelands of SoFla to kill off undergrowth and so preserve the pine stands. After burning for a day or two, a rainstorm comes along and douses it. Permaculture around the Everglades and in SE Florida would be quite a challenge. The landscape has been greatly altered in many places and the amount of original wetland has been reduced greatly over the past few decades. Demand for agricultural and residential land has been a factor in that. Also, the land is almost table flat in many places, so the placement of swales and other topographical features should be carefully planned in advance. Not to mention that in a lot of places there are large coral/limestone outcroppings. (At one time South Florida was under a few meters of water.) One nice thing about all this limestone is that there are multiple aquifers throughout Florida - at least in the peninsular part. If you have the time, visit Silver Springs just outside Ocala. The waters there are clear enough to enable one to see to the bottom ^^ I learned Spanish as a child (and still speak it). So if it makes things easier for you I can translate the article and send it to you for your consideration. Hi Kevin. Well, as you’ve mentioned the Casuarina trees do present a problem since they’ve established themselves rather nicely and the Fish & Wildlife Commission has had to spend millions of USD yearly to eradicate them. Casuarinas absorb lots of water and so were introduced early in the 20th century to facilitate drainage of wetland. Now they are a real headache for those endeavoring to preserve the ecological balance of the Everglades, which is highly dependent on water. Melaleuca quinquenervia is even worse in this regard. As well, both of them seem to tolerate saltwater spray well since Casuarinas can be found near the beaches as well. Melaleuca is probably less so, since I often find them more inland.

Although we are about 250 Km north of the Tropic of Cancer here, we have a climate that allows us to cultivate tropical fruits & veggies almost year round. Thus, we are subject to a wet and a dry season typical of the Tropics. So far we’ve had enough rain this dry season to keep us out of drought ^^ in addition to periodic cold snaps (- -)

You can say that all that extra water is insurance during times of drought, which do sometimes occur here. In some years we have restrictions on residential water use, especially when wet season rains are not as frequent as usual.

In addition, some of the more invasive exotics produce lots of dry leaf matter, thus altering the fire patterns of the area and heightening the risk of wildfire. Ideally, a fire burns through the pinelands of SoFla to kill off undergrowth and so preserve the pine stands. After burning for a day or two, a rainstorm comes along and douses it.

Permaculture around the Everglades and in SE Florida would be quite a challenge. The landscape has been greatly altered in many places and the amount of original wetland has been reduced greatly over the past few decades. Demand for agricultural and residential land has been a factor in that. Also, the land is almost table flat in many places, so the placement of swales and other topographical features should be carefully planned in advance. Not to mention that in a lot of places there are large coral/limestone outcroppings. (At one time South Florida was under a few meters of water.)

One nice thing about all this limestone is that there are multiple aquifers throughout Florida – at least in the peninsular part. If you have the time, visit Silver Springs just outside Ocala. The waters there are clear enough to enable one to see to the bottom ^^

I learned Spanish as a child (and still speak it). So if it makes things easier for you I can translate the article and send it to you for your consideration.

]]> By: Kevin Mascarenhas http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/#comment-42912 Kevin Mascarenhas Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:09:59 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=2485#comment-42912 Hi Arian, I guess you have some interesting challenges in the Everglades. Am I correct in saying acacias introduced from Oz are a threat the ecosystem balance where you are? I'm in the process of producing a Spanish version of this article for my friends in Guatemala. Good luck with your permaculture adventure. Hi Arian, I guess you have some interesting challenges in the Everglades. Am I correct in saying acacias introduced from Oz are a threat the ecosystem balance where you are? I’m in the process of producing a Spanish version of this article for my friends in Guatemala. Good luck with your permaculture adventure.

]]> By: Kevin Mascarenhas http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/#comment-42911 Kevin Mascarenhas Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:08:08 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=2485#comment-42911 Hi Sarah, I'll pop you an link to a google album shortly. Yes, it was Geoff who introduced me to Ronaldo, who in turn helped me make the Ijatz experience come together. Oh yes, I can spell vinegar, honest! Hi Sarah, I’ll pop you an link to a google album shortly. Yes, it was Geoff who introduced me to Ronaldo, who in turn helped me make the Ijatz experience come together. Oh yes, I can spell vinegar, honest!

]]> By: Kevin Mascarenhas http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/#comment-42910 Kevin Mascarenhas Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:06:58 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=2485#comment-42910 HI Les, Interesting, I declined my MSc place at CAT to kick start my permaculture adventure! Post me your em address and I'll give you some ideas and contacts for permaculture and Spanish lessons (let me know if you want to learn Salsa too). Central America has a plethora of interesting projects to work on. Last summer I gave a presentation about permaculture at CAT for the members conference. Look forward to hearing from you. HI Les,
Interesting, I declined my MSc place at CAT to kick start my permaculture adventure! Post me your em address and I’ll give you some ideas and contacts for permaculture and Spanish lessons (let me know if you want to learn Salsa too). Central America has a plethora of interesting projects to work on. Last summer I gave a presentation about permaculture at CAT for the members conference. Look forward to hearing from you.

]]> By: Arian I. http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/#comment-42548 Arian I. Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:12:26 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=2485#comment-42548 Me parece sumamente fascinante este proyecto de permacultura. Vivo en el sur de la Florida, cerquita de los Everglades, con sus pantanos, manglares, y pinales. Estuve ya por un tiempo pensando ejecutar un diseño de permacultura, mas aun no tengo terreno propio. [This permaculture project seems highly fascinating. I live in South Florida, very close to the Everglades, with its swamps, mangroves, and pinelands. I've been thinking for a while already about executing a permaculture design, but I yet do not have my own property.] Someone here called for a Spanish-speaking poster -.- Me parece sumamente fascinante este proyecto de permacultura. Vivo en el sur de la Florida, cerquita de los Everglades, con sus pantanos, manglares, y pinales. Estuve ya por un tiempo pensando ejecutar un diseño de permacultura, mas aun no tengo terreno propio.

[This permaculture project seems highly fascinating. I live in South Florida, very close to the Everglades, with its swamps, mangroves, and pinelands. I've been thinking for a while already about executing a permaculture design, but I yet do not have my own property.]

Someone here called for a Spanish-speaking poster -.-

]]> By: Sarah Gorman http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/#comment-42519 Sarah Gorman Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:26:55 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=2485#comment-42519 Hi Kevin Enjoy your internship. If you've got some photos of I'jatz, It'd be great to send them to me sarahgorman79(at)hotmail.com. Yeah, Ronaldo has done some fantastic work and keeps on doing it. I recently did my PDC with Geoff Lawton who had photos of when he visited when the food forest was just being established: an amazing difference. Thanks for the guisquil salad idea! Hi Kevin
Enjoy your internship. If you’ve got some photos of I’jatz, It’d be great to send them to me sarahgorman79(at)hotmail.com. Yeah, Ronaldo has done some fantastic work and keeps on doing it. I recently did my PDC with Geoff Lawton who had photos of when he visited when the food forest was just being established: an amazing difference.
Thanks for the guisquil salad idea!

]]> By: Les Mitchell http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/#comment-42491 Les Mitchell Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:26:26 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=2485#comment-42491 Hola kevin. I did my PDC in Oregon three years ago and work a lot with Brighton Permaculture trust. I am also working on an MSc at CAT in North Wales. Very interested in the project as I am a retired Social worker and farm manager.I want to spend winters in warmer climate due to health in a Spanish speaking country and you have confirmed what everybody else has said that Guatemala is a good country to start. I have been doing conversational spanish and need to move on. Can you advise re contacts as I would want to work as a volunteer on a permaculture project to get my Spanish usable beyond Coma esta y habla espananol pocino. vale. Hola kevin. I did my PDC in Oregon three years ago and work a lot with Brighton Permaculture trust. I am also working on an MSc at CAT in North Wales.
Very interested in the project as I am a retired Social worker and farm manager.I want to spend winters in warmer climate due to health in a Spanish speaking country and you have confirmed what everybody else has said that Guatemala is a good country to start. I have been doing conversational spanish and need to move on. Can you advise re contacts as I would want to work as a volunteer on a permaculture project to get my Spanish usable beyond Coma esta y habla espananol pocino. vale.

]]> By: Gerson Morales http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/#comment-42451 Gerson Morales Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:10:00 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=2485#comment-42451 THis is just Awesome Kevin, I am going to share this article with it the guys form Ijatz it is really interesting. Stay in touch. Gerson Morales THis is just Awesome Kevin, I am going to share this article with it the guys form Ijatz it is really interesting.

Stay in touch.

Gerson Morales

]]> By: David Bartlett http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/#comment-42388 David Bartlett Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:41:26 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=2485#comment-42388 Lovely stuff Kev You must be learning so much my man. Keep 'em coming! Lovely stuff Kev

You must be learning so much my man. Keep ‘em coming!

]]> By: Kevin Mascarenhas http://permaculture.org.au/2010/02/07/my-experience-of-permaculture-in-guatemala/#comment-42335 Kevin Mascarenhas Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:05:59 +0000 http://permaculture.org.au/?p=2485#comment-42335 Hola Daniel, Sadly, I won't be able to squeeze a visit to your beautiful country on this trip. I'm about to start a permaculture intership with Andrew Jones at BioSana in Baja, Mexico in March. But, watch out for more news then. Good luck in your permaculture adventure. Hola Daniel,

Sadly, I won’t be able to squeeze a visit to your beautiful country on this trip. I’m about to start a permaculture intership with Andrew Jones at BioSana in Baja, Mexico in March. But, watch out for more news then. Good luck in your permaculture adventure.

]]>