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Given the state of our countries unemployment rates, trading goods or services for goods or services, or an alternative currency instead of simply just cash is very lucrative for many. Trading laws vary, they varied, even before the existence of money or currency. I am deeply blessed on my journey to find people who have traded the use of much land, both in Mpumalanga and Gauteng. In Mpumalanga I have written a previous post on some of what goes on, on this farm. Read it here for more information.
I find myself on a farm, situated approximately 7kms outside Machadodorp, nestled between a trout farm and game farms with guesthouse accommodation. A co-owner of the land, Ane’, connected with me via an old friend and we emailed back and forth information about our visions for community and self-sustainability. Working with ATSOU (Awakening the Spirit of Ubuntu) Ane’ found a love and passion working with disadvantaged children and ex-combattons. She worked in many community projects and is an excellent PA to a very wealthy woman in the city. It became a trade to do a garden, a massive garden, without any money to invest or reward me with… We decided on a small piece of land for me to use to build a small home on. I do not have any money income apart from consultations and the garden in Johannesburg at the Pirates Sports club was thinned out to do a few client gardens when I lost my cottage 6 months ago. It would have ended then if it were not for a friend Peter who insisted I keep the garden and has truly stepped up to assist in the physical work of it all. It is also an important garden because it ensures there is always food in Johannesburg growing for me and those who assist, and those who I giveaway to. We therefore currently trade a ride through to Johannesburg once a week/every second week (to tend to my garden at Pirates and do consultations), my monthly costs (rent, electricity, washing, and three meals a day),and if necessary assistance with odd items for personal use when required, along with the use of the land to build my own home on…
The setup and duties on the farm include assisting in creating a youth camp consisting of 4 teepees and 2 large army tents. Once we have funds to complete a small ablution and kitchen area for volunteers it will be set up and ready for camps/woofers/visitors. Ane’s vision does not end there, she has looked at the entire region – Emakhazeni; each small town individually (WatervalBoven, Machadodorp [Dullstroom is already at tourist attraction and is therefore not included] and Belfast) and we have reached out to various departments; Municipality, Arts and Culture and the Cooperative Governance of Traditional Affairs for assistance. We wish to implement a plan and program which can be summed up as a self-employment initiative for each area. This involves setting up of green spaces (community gardens), tourist stalls, art and crafts developments with capacity building, incorporating ideas such as trash to treasure and fresh start to name a few of the projects in mind. It is a highly amiable and ambitious vision. It is also the most likely model to create community that thrives on local and naturally grown produce, medicine and cosmetics.
I’ve worked on these gardens for approximately 6 months, and planted over 100 different edible and medicinal plant varieties. Some in bags, some in the ground, some in trays, some in the food gardens, some in the wild… I am still, in no way producing anything in a monoculture method. or on a mass scale. We are still experimenting; wanting to find a main crop or two…a vision of setting up a nursery in the area. I estimate another 2 years at this rate before making some serious money, but keep an eye on my Facebook pages and this blog, many things change instantly in my world.
My trade is to use my talents, to just be, which seems surreal but is quite a task at times. It is all very exciting, very humbling, very rewarding and very much dependant on consistent effort and discipline. It is a race against time that is no longer as we know it. Climate change presents itself, especially with drought and a recent tornado in Johannesburg. Biodiversity is vital to both our own health and that of the earth itself. This planet. I am almost certain a few of us will evolve, as some plants evolve when transplanted from region to region. The question is, whether or not we are prepared to evolve?
Much about gardening has become a dance for me, like putting away ones toys after a game. Relayering, replacing, restoring, adding, shifting mulches…. The result is longevity and great skin. It is a dance highly recommended to those drawn to it, but not a calling for everyone. I came across men eating mice once, and it shocked me to core with a deep sadness at how unprepared they were, even with the knowledge of planting seed. If anything to do a garden is a major way of taking ones power back. IF not back from government or shop owners we dislike, or from bosses who don’t pay us enough to go on holiday often enough, then simply it is a matter of pride, in my opinion, as a garden is a good foundation for a home 
Do come join me in Johannesburg at my garden for a monthly crop swap so we can add to the biodiversity of this country or visit us at the farm in Mpumalanga and volunteer your time and expertise.
see you in the garden
I find myself sitting up in bed at 4.30am considering the past two months, the two years spent in the city, with my own blinkers on. This blog and the work I have done in an effort to be self sustainable has been completely fruitless financially, yet, if I were to cease to exist as I do, and get a job (as in stop trying to make money doing things I love doing, get some bills to pay etc, instead of following my heart, I know I would not afford the fruits of this world as I do now. I put myself and my talent out in every way on this blog, and some perceived me as a company (great and quite a trainsmash too for my ego- thank you); others perceived me as some kind of expert on all the fields and others show great compassion and step up to take back their power as people.
I often receive messages of gratitude and encouragement, big smiles from those who have supported me with unintentional false promises, trades and finances. Ive written about The Vintage Kitchen merging with me and selling my products, but The Vintage Kitchen is two people still picking up on creating a business, and a preference and passion for biodegradable cleaning products prevailed for them. I also wrote about Bianca and Joanna assisting me, they did, but they did not make money, neither did I. I lost my cottage cage in Linden, I was getting sick there – trying to connect with my neighbors, impress the landlords by growing food on Yakka roots hmm not an easy thing to do… Bianca and Joanna no longer assist, but follow their hearts I trust. The previous blog posts will explain completely why I, therefore, decided that working and living on a farm, outside of Johannesburg, in an effort to trade for land and assistance in creating a home and business is more lucrative for me than to continue with this trade for Pirates Sports clubs bit of land.
Yes, I still want to grow my teas, get a potting wheel and make giant teapot fountains and teapots to drink from, sell you the teas, the seeds, the plants, the workshops etc etc in an effort to muse, inspire and empower. It’s always my intent. In jhb community is too large for me maybe? I wanted support from local businesses, local residents and perhaps my perception of local being wherever I can reach without transport was what stirred this holy anger within me to stubbornly continue to create and destroy the awesome gardens I did there twice over two years. I did muse and amuse many and I did inspire many too. Empowerment comes from within though, not from numbers in an account, it is up to each of us to add value, through compassion, with or without numbers.
Intuition is part of or a form of natural medicine. In a dictionary, I have in my possession, Intuition or that which is known intuitively is defined as truth obtained by internal apprehension without the aid of perception or the reasoning powers. I like to believe that intuitively we all know that living foods straight from our backyards are more beneficial to our bodies, and that the same goes for medicine too. Medicinal tea is one of the oldest medicines known to us, and herbologists were labeled witches and burnt at the stake some time ago for a reason. I believe that in that time our perception of value or capacity changes as well, and our intuition literally went out the window as far as medicine from our backyards goes, when we stopped listening to our bodies out of fear and went to doctors instead. We also lost community in the same way we lost our connection to our intuition and nature itself.
So, on this farm, my host has opened up her home to me and also another family (we are all in limbo and without much money, some of us are not in good health), progress is slow but steady at times. I am learning a lot about people, plants and medicinal infusions to assist. E.g tick bite fever and recovering from malaria. We randomly found a volunteer from Amsterdam, who assisted for a day. The wild horses come say hello at the fence more often. We started making a tunnel using the invasive wattle removed. Chopping wood, moving logs, pots, teepees, leveling, walking, water divination and more go on – even planting seeds in this unique winter inside my tent. I am finding joy, and learning what nurturing really is. I will write a lot about us here on the farm, and I am pleased to have already got a big patch of the garden almost prepped for Spring
Leaving my pirate garden behind has been quite a struggle to me, I deeply apologize to all who feel my efforts failed their dreams about community there, and to those that used it to promote only themselves, that removing it completely fails.
I would still APPRECIATE assistance, definitely more soil and more fruit trees. Please let me know if you wish to trade or donate something toward my efforts in bringing people together to add value in this world by emailing me…. nntreasure@gmail.com as I am not around signal all day.
For some reason people still keep contacting me about Bamboo Leaf tea, which I sold at markets about 2 years ago, and I have put them in contact with the supplier up until today. I responded asking what they would take it for, and the answer was Hair growth. I ended that with, well I will go investigate in the garden in the morning and make a suggestion or two, and if she likes it I will harvest it fresh. That is so much better than dried stuff without dates on them. I think it’s better the garden function as a factory, and storeroom than separating them into a system that tries to control nature itself too.
In my research I found that Rosemary, Peppermint, Stinging Nettle, Aloe, Gingko Biloba, Ginseng, Saw Palmetto, Horsetail, Burdock and Lavender oils can be mixed with olive oil and massaged into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. There are in fact, a lot more than that to list.
I also researched whether drinking tea make from these herbs or various combinations of them will be as effective as massaging herbal oil into ones hair. Aloe Vera can be added to shampoo. Stinging Nettle and Aloe Vera are quite reputable as solutions. The good news about making Teas from these herbs is also that the tea can be used as a conditioner and it can be enjoyed with some tasty snacks.
Here is how to do it:
- Heat a cup of water in a pan and add tea leaves or herbs in this case to it
- Boil for 5 minutes
- Strain the liquid and let it cool down.
- Mix this liquid with some mint water
- Use this to rinse your hair or enjoy it as an iced tisane
If you would like me to get into the garden and pick you a few cups of tea give me a call 072 146 9017 or order via email nntreasure@gmail.com
After 7 years of running to stand still, and making my way back into society and toward my own blood family, I have finally rented a beautiful little cottage in Linden. Over the past year and a half I have been in and out of Jhb, walking from Linden to Greenside to do my garden and found that in 4th Avenue I get greeted the most, in fact, by virtually everyone walking past me – even when they look pissed off. It has made me smile, it has restored alot of faith in humanity that I lost along the way.
I got kilograms of coffee grains, which were used on the farm and at Pirates from Gravity, really nice owners who truly do want to make a difference by example of growing some things on their steps and generously saving the waste for me to utilize. This is their facebook page GRAVITY BIG LOVE AND THANK YOU
There is what I consider to be a homely, relaxed and awesome new place called the Choo-Choo Junction on 4th Avenue that is very worthy of a visit. They serve food that gives one a rather worldly experience, definitely not anything you will find anywhere else and to top it off, the music is always good and the service excellent. This restaurant is growing alot of the food they use in the cooking, making it even more nutritious for all who are served. I have gifted them with a few plants and seeds, and they have kindly given me some space to grow one or two tea plants. This is their facebook page CHOO-CHOO JUNCTION BIG LOVE AND THANK YOU
Patrick is a wirework artist who has been setting up various struggling artists work, along with his work, outside the wool shop in 4th Avenue. I am one of those artists. We would like to network a bit more, in order to assist more people who really are going the extra mile to create beautiful things that are cost effective. Please contact me or go take a walk in 4th avenue any day to show some support 072 146 9017 My email is nntreasure@gmail.com. We thank you in advance. Here we are below, with some images of what can be purchased on 4th Avenue’s sidewalk thankyou Patrick for all your effort in assisting struggling artists all over Johannesburg.
In the mean time I have got to get back into my garden throughout December, and package teas to sell in two days time. It has all been a wonderful journey throughout my year and I look forward to meeting more of the residents in 4th Avenue in general.
Merry Christmas Linden <3
For those following my story, on this blog, I have been deterred so many times just trying to be self -sustainable off the land I traded for using various systems of trade and proxy. I figured what I loved doing the most when I worked in the company I resigned from, was actually the simple act of foraging in the garden for leaves and flowers for a tea and sharing it with my fellow workers So, when I resigned, I decided to trade for the land I use at Pirates and to firstly, grow my own food, and then my medicine or teas and share that.
Along this journey, I sold out in before the first summer of the first garden came, and had to relocate the garden, just as I was getting the tea plants to grow more, and start again. I started again, which brought new people into the garden. One of them is now my boss or investor or mentor, time will tell. He has an interest in self-sustainability and living off-grid comfortably, and has invested, not only in the Pirates garden, but also out in the Lebombo / also known as the Ingwenya mountain range near the Oshoek border post of Swaziland and South Africa. It is still on the South African side of the border, so no need for a passport if you are South African These are some images from my first trip out there.
The accommodation include a gas powered stove top and shower, with toilet.
My accommodation is set in the cliff-side on a wooden deck, with draping tents as walls and a corrugated rooftop. I have a comfortable big bed too with storage units under it. We will be needing volunteers to assist in building more of these platforms for accommodation for a while, as this is quite an impressive few hectares of land to food forest. Please contact me if you want to assist. 072 146 9017
Here is already sugarcane, papaya, mango, olive, litchi, berry and more growing for a few years… and the gardener has done a PDC course – which I have not, so this will be interesting as I will be farming the plants I used to make teas and teaching the people about my teas and how to connect to the garden, well hopefully, that as well, as we grow together. Firstly, the land has been in drought for over 2 years, so we dig alot and take water from the mountain literally I am learning alot about the earth I have danced with for so long, and deeply grateful that so many of my favorite fruits can already be tasted in December.
This is Yarrow – used as an antiseptic in soaps and teas, can be used as a wound wash as a tea or ingested and very safe for anyone, including children
The Lebombo Mountains, also called Lubombo Mountains are an 800 km long, narrow range of mountains in Southern Africa. They stretch from Hluhluwe in KwaZulu-Natal in the south to Punda Maria in the Limpopo Province in South Africa in the north. Part of the mountains are also found in Mozambique and Swaziland. This is mostly still tribal land
Plantain – on of the edible weeds at pirates is found growing next to the river here…
THE FOLLOWING IMAGES ARE OF THE FOUNTAIN GARDEN I WILL BE USING TO GROW MY TEAS AND HERBS IN. I will need volunteers here too – please contact me if you are interested in spending some time learning and growing in this space with me,
love and light
Netanya
0721469017
nntreasure@gmail.com
Funding or Donation Requests
People Involved
- Netanya Naude’ founder & administrator of Art of Craft
- Nklandla Pirates Garden Guardian and Compost Manager
- Joseph Laborer, assistant apprentice for managing future urban farming project
Supporters of Art of Craft include the Pirates Sports Club and community, and also small businesses in the surrounds of Pirates Sports Club.
MISSION – the Preservation of Culture : To revise the current standard of living among urban settlements, and provide training in the application of low-cost, practical upliftment through example and education, as well as creative learnership of our African cultural heritage to all. In essence a re-establishment of community based exchanges.
The purposes of the plan or ideas set out in this document are to achieve empowerment and to achieve the end goal of rehabilitating some land on the grounds, providing subscription food boxes and other naturally grown organic products such as hand creams to the community.
This project will be beneficial in creating more community and a central gathering space to achieve the above-mentioned mission.
Background of Founder of Art of Craft – Netanya Naude’
Netanya has a wealth of experience and knowledge about plants and their medicinal use. She worked for a company assisting urban communities with farming and gardening projects, while living off the grid herself. When she moved back to Johannesburg she got in contact with the Pirates Sports Club (PSC) in Greenside. The initial food garden was located between the gym and squash courts, which she maintained for a period of 6 months. Together with volunteers from various companies the garden grew significantly. She started a blog, www.artofcraft.co.za to record all the activities at the garden. On the blog (this one you are reading now) Netanya writes about herbal teas, medicinal use of plants, poetry, organic and recycled art and the companies that volunteered in the garden. Herbal tea remedies from the garden were sold at local markets
PSG Certification
After 6 months of maintaining the garden, it was moved to a different location at the Pirates Sports Club to allow for more growth and growing opportunities. At the same time Netanya got Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) “in transition” certification for the garden as defined by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). “Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are locally focused quality assurance systems. They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange.” (IFOAM, 2008)
PGS represent a real alternative to third party certification, especially adapted to local markets. Thousands of small farmers who grow organic produce are unable to certify their products, due to the costly processes involved and requires onerous record-keeping and infrastructure beyond the means of small farmers.
The new garden was started in November 2015.
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Product or services and its advantages
- Interactive gardening sessions on Saturdays from the garden, where people can learn about plants and their uses.
- A venue for people wanting to do workshops on making toothpaste, permaculture gardening, sustainable building such as building with bottle bricks or cob, composting, medicinal plants and how to use them and cooking from the garden.
- Showcase of thriving food and herb garden. Customers can see how food and medicine are growing and are encouraged to interact in the production of food and medicine.
- Fresh 100% organically grown produce from heritage or heirloom seeds.
- To provide a conferencing center, or showcase garden that will be used to host visiting expert trainers in job skills, work ethic, sustainability and sufficiency in maintenance – connecting people and community.
All of the above awaken the connection between mankind and nature, they awaken the body to healing itself again, to longevity and health and abundance for all The earth is assisted in her recovery of what all the waste and concrete on the land did. A lot of bottles, broken bricks and waste from the grounds have already been used, promoting ideas of recycling.
Benefits and Features
- The soil is being rehabilitated, and the garden will be self-sustainable within the 36 month period.
- Many people are learning the medicinal use of everyday cooking herbs and that organic medicine is just as possible as organic food from their own back yards.
- People have the opportunity to learn about composting, hugelkultuur, plant medicine,making creams, making toothpaste and making hair shampoo and much more.
- Empower, inspire and educate people. Community is coming together in a way recreating itself, encouraged to trade or use money or use alternative currencies or both or all three closer to home or at least en-route home.
- The harvest is organically or naturally grown. Coffee grains and bokashi are used in the garden and grow anti-pest plants which I ferment and spray with if required. So far not yet.
- The garden is a sanctuary for all to enjoy, excluding the herbs and medicinal plants reserved for above-mentioned companies.
- Future plans include exclusive meals from the garden or served on deck at Pirates or during wine tastings. Workshops on a variety of topics can also be introduced. And growing alot of herbs for different companies and restaurants making use of them in food preparation.
Unique selling points
- No produce is ever older than a month, in the case of a month it may only be dried herbs in this period of agreement of land usage.
- Pick food fresh in front of customers, or customers can harvest themselves.
- Custom made tisanes or herbal remedies.
- Unique once off workshops – many plants to use in various creams, soaps and shampoos.
- Limited and exclusive harvest.
Produce Impression
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Market opportunity
- Suburban upper-class enjoys wine tastings – food, tea and wine pairing is becoming very popular. Carmien Teas used in Netanya’s tisanes from the garden, already do this with wine clubs in the Citrisdaal area in the Cape. X Factor Wines is based in Johannesburg and Pirates already have a wine club going. Small local tea companies such as Dandelion teas can also come together in this space.
- Organic or Farmers Markets bring community members together.
- Supply ofHealth Shops
- Co-op produce shops and Open Food Network
- Restaurants and Coffee shops.
THIS IS HOW YOU CAN HELP US 072 146 9017
Corporate/Civic Partners
Corporate/Civic partners are companies and organizations with a special tie to Art of Craft Netanya features corporate partners prominently whenever possible on her blog, on Facebook, newsletters and anywhere else we can promote the partnership.
Corporate/Civic Partners engage in our efforts to create this garden in at least one of the following ways:
- Contribute R500 or more
- Host a food or fund drive, using produce from the garden.- as much as possible.
- Place a link to Art of Craft on your website
- Sponsor an Art of Craft event
- Bring a group to volunteer at the Art of Craft garden
2016 Art of Craft Corporate/Civic Partners:
- Pirates Sports Club – grounds and water for 36 months
- Solid Green Consultants – volunteers in the garden
Funding requirements
| Item Required | Cost of item | Quantity | Total | Supplier | Motivation / Reason |
| TOOLS | Workshops | ||||
| Gardening Fork | R150 | 1 | R150 | ||
| Gardening Spade | R150 | 2 | R150 | ||
| Dibber | R90 | 5 | R450 | ||
| Pruning shears or scissors | R500 | 3 | R1 500 | ||
| Hoe | R150 | 2 | R300 | ||
| Spray bottle | R700 | 2 | R1 400 | ||
| Watering can | R100 | 1 | R100 | ||
| Lasher hand tool set | R260 | 1 | R260 | ||
| Hose 20m | R300 | 1 | R300 | ||
| Jojo 2200L and set up | R5000 | 1 | R5 000 | ||
| Building mix 40kg | R43.50 | 6 | R261 | ||
| MATERIALS | |||||
| Soil and compost | R3 000 | 3 cubes | R3 000 | ||
| Hay Erogenis | R100 | 5 | R500 | ||
| Co- co nut coir | R80 | 5 x 5kg blocks | R400 | ||
| TRANSPORT | |||||
| Electric bicycle | |||||
| Electric trike | |||||
| Van/ bakkie | Mercedes ? | ||||
| License & driving school Netanya | R2 500 | R2 500 | |||
| COMMUNICATION | |||||
| Cell phone | R2 000 | R2 000 | |||
| Laptop | R10 000 | R10 000 | |||
| Wifi or data | R1 000 | R1 000 | |||
| SALARIES | |||||
| Nklandla | 3000 X 3 MONTHS | R9 000 | |||
| Netanya | 3000 X 3 MONTHS | R9 000 | |||
| OTHER | |||||
| 3 X 3M wendy | R15 000 | R15 000 | Dehydration & Packaging & storage space also for workshops on above-mentioned. | ||
| 4 X 5 BIG Wendy | R21 000 | R21 000 | Workshop and training space. Exclusive meals served at intervals. | ||
| Dehydrator | R5 000 | R5 000 | |||
| Marketing Budget | R5 000 | R5 000 | Business cards & flyers | ||
| Greenhouse to be constructed in workshop event | A recycle project using bottles. | ||||
| Bench and table nooks Joseph makes | R1 000 | R1 000 | To be used in garden for tisanes daily. | ||
| TOTAL ESTIMATED FUNDS REQUIRED | R94 271 |
I found in a blog post by Shivanand Pattanshetti the perfect sentence to sum it up.. ‘’Money is just a proxy for real goods and services. The value of money and the relative costs of goods and services are determined by demand and supply.’’
Is there a reason for governments to be in charge of money?” asks Paul Kemp-Robertson Judging by the new raft of alternative currencies—from digital coins to point systems that reward customers of a certain brand—the answer might someday be “no.” As Kemp-Robertson suggests, many people seem to trust brands more than governments these days. Since currency is, in a sense, an expression of the brand value of a government, why shouldn’t commercial brands also make currency?
“An alternative currency (or private currency) is any currency used as an alternative to the dominant national or multinational currency systems. They are created by an individual, corporation, or organization, they can be created by national, state, or local governments, or they can arise naturally as people begin to use a certain commodity as a currency. Mutual credit is a form of alternative currency, and thus any form of lending that does not go through the banking system can be considered a form of alternative currency.
When used in combination with or when designed to work in combination with national or multinational fiat currencies they can be referred to as complementary currency. Most complementary currencies are also local currencies and are limited to a certain region.
Barters are another type of alternative currency. These are actually exchange systems, which only trade items; thus without the use of any currency whatsoever. Finally, LETS is a special form of barter which trades points for items. One point stands for one worker-hour of work.
Often there are issues related to paying tax. Some alternative currencies are considered tax-exempt, but most of them are fully taxed as if they were national currency, with the caveat that the tax must be paid in the national currency. The legality and tax-status of alternative currencies varies widely from country to country; some systems in use in some countries would be illegal in others.”
I have been at a few points over the past few years feeling torn or seeing the choices between two worlds of value. In one there is very little currency or money, and in the other a lot of currency or currencies going on. In one there is very little fair trade or love, and in the other a lot of fair trade and love. I turned away from all of them into my own way. I ran to stand still. I saw love in the darkest places, places we are not taught it exists, the ones like where I live where people turn away from people because of perceptions and judgments.
I have learnt anyone can live without money, if they have other ways of obtaining all the resources they desire. Unfortunately, because of the way the western world functions on currency as power, as a means to ALL ends, many of us perceive our own value … the value of the heart, the soul, the spirit, the body itself …based on how we look presentable in all situations or under all circumstances no matter how different (and that costs a lot of currency or energy exchange that once one applies physically is not fair at all). This perception presents a dilemma of ‘am I worthy?’ and of ‘what is my capacity worth? Because of these perceptions I actually spent most of my life pushing people who cared, especially family, who gave me money away. I had no regard for it.
From my experience, of going alone into the mountains to live with a few people on and off the land who I did not know, with no money or idea what next, I can attest to the fact that these perceptions also affected the value of what I received in trades. I had good reasons to wonder between systems and ways of life, to never settle for any of it until love found me. Suppose you read a few books, and begin to forage for food – eating medicinal weeds such as plantain or purselane for example. You become good at this, so good in fact that you are no longer going to the shops for greens or any kind of food. You consider your accommodation and begin to build a house, but the work takes time and energy from foraging for food, recreating the need to go shopping. Imagine clothing, growing the cotton, spinning it, creating cloth, sewing it – all of it… Life can become stressful and cumbersome very quickly in that way. Not to mention the adjustments in the body, aches and pains one never even considered existing… Now if you are in the mountains with snowy tops in winter, like I was, alone, no money, no people, in a tent with all your clothing on and your body sore from the weight of that and the two blankets you have; anyone handing you a R100 note or bread or anything really is an illusion to hold onto. Alternative currency or money is literally what we balance our capacity to become super powerful or deserving of instead of human rights. Im pretty sure I would have preferred a nice big fluffy duvet on a comfy bed, not exactly something I could carry alone. In a weird way alternative currency or money does create community, because we come together to trade based on different reasoning, and we need each other to complete the trade.
In my experience I learnt to let go of material things, to not need that many t-shirts or dresses, only two pairs of shoes, use everything to its potential, recycle, upcycle and be practical. It was beautiful, like some hippy arty fairy me was wild at play in such a world, but I was alone mostly in giving without want, receiving only to fulfill need. I awakened to a sadness being walked at or bumped into in the shops so whoever bumped me could get to something on a shelf first or without hesitation, picking up items almost glowing at the thought of how good they look with this but don’t deserve it because it is not affordable…. Hmmm and value of self? It cannot be determined by a currency or material possession. Neither can the value of love.
I was also awakened to anxiety, empathy and judgment on both a conscious and sub-conscious level. I wonder at the shame that I would not love myself enough to have a variety of everything to choose from at all times, or more that I could not even afford a packet of rizlas to roll natural tobacco in? The insanity that somehow I deserved this punishment to have to stop smoking, to rejoice also because of it, of being cut off…I was awakened to gratitude. I was awakened to loss. I withdrew from the system, wanting the hug or the eye contact from loved ones instead of the hundred rand notes. I cried asking for these things. I saw many alone right next to their partners, right next to their mothers and brothers and friends, so alone, so disconnected. I tried an alternative currency or two, ended up trading more than using any of these systems of value. I got angry. I wanted a variety of foods I couldn’t afford. I wanted more than I had the capacity to trade for. I got lost. I fell in love. I felt the loss of love without currency and the loss of love with currency. I am silenced in the anxiety of these separations… that so much is lost just because of lack of either capacity in one world or currency in another. I shed so many tears for those people so alone, and for the humility and conformity within me that surfaces because of love, though I might have lost it.
I have learnt that money is just an exchange system. It is as efficient a way of trading goods and services as any other alternative currency e.g bitcoin, talents, ebucks, starbucks… the list goes on and on and more and more alternatives arise. These are just perceptions of value but never the value itself. Ive heard so many people say , ‘My time is worth more as a call out because the client is rich’. Ive seen good rich people honored in my slum so to speak. Ive seen people judge and turn away from people they connect with, with and without words based on perceptions of currency being value and capacity.
There is so much confusion about what I do at Pirates, you would have to really stalk me or walk a bit with me to know completely. I am growing in all ways. I want to sit in restaurants and watch movies, step into my power again, LIVE. I want to create a life where the price of my organic food and medicine is not a concern, I want to share what I know and I have done my best with this blog… but I do need to make money or a alternative currency in order to make society, past friends and family perceive my capacity and my value to far outweigh the value of where I sleep at the moment. At least where I sleep is only acceptance in whatever form my wallet is in. I live in my body and want to make a home.
This journey over the past 7 years of my life has led me here, through all the circles, to Pirates ground to see so many things from so many perspectives… to hoe out all anger, all my awakenings, and wonder yes I wondered why no one has put me in a straight jacket or given me a means to continue more efficiently… yet nothing can really manifest unless I am clear … and now that Im clear about this worlds perception of capacity and value I am choosing to conform and chase the money instead. I am tired of getting half measures, lack of commitment, second hand everything you can imagine. Unfortunately, I will lose a lot of love and respect because of this change in me. I hope we all grow together no matter which form of exchange is preferred. I choose to always base my capacity and value on the state of my being – mind, soul, spirit, body. I choose one world because all of them actually have this same perception in all of the different worlds of different groups exchanging alternative currencies and trading.
In this world it is as simple as if you are good at one thing it comes from practice, for this reason its best to focus on one or two things only which is something you can always exchange for goods and services or use money. I have never focused, but I am working on it.
I have no money again so do show some support and buy something so I can grow more herbs or paint or write or restore something and pay some rent. I am sure that all the pages on this blog can indicate some kind of capacity and value I possess.
I harvested quite a bit of Black Raddish and Dicon seed from Pirates, both look similar to the image above. Below is an image of Rainbow Red Spinach seed, also harvested from Pirates. These will all be planted in the new garden at Pirates.
Cauliflower seed
Onion seed
Onions for planting this week
Peruvian Amaranth, makes excellent porridge
Freshly harvested Amaranth seeds
You should leave the heads to dry out before doing this next part, but I had little space, so I did it, it means I have a lesser yield of fully developed seeds but enough to have a way better kick start on this land than before.
Isn’t it just beautiful?
I am shaken free
From the core of my deepest dark space I cried out
Surrendered
Swore and swirled around
Unfamiliar ground finally sound
Mind seized
Hearts turn to stone
Discarded…
I am pushing still
From the core of my deepest grace I sing
Wash away
Wash it away …
In the morning I changed
In the evening I changed
The freedom gripped me
I swirl in and out of this dark place inside me
I feel the heaviness of this heart
Of the lives it has lived
Of the body that has drained it
Of the decay beneath this desolate desert
And I rest or rush
Continued despite such sadness and anger
… without reason
Because even reason is temporary
We must learn to swirl, surrender and push
To live
To grow
Reason can only be LIFE
And our currency LOVE
Hearts turn to stone and HURT
I have hesitated posting this post, and was happy to see a new fan liking all the Scaping Cultures Interactive Gardening @ Pirates – 14 likes from one person in fact. Sadly Scaping Cultures or rather the idea of it will remain an idea, and unfortunately this post is not going to be a happy one, but it has many lessons, which hopefully make up for it and will explain my lack of interaction over the holiday season and dedication to continue to do what I do at Pirates instead. I really just want to make tea and paint pots, talk about herbs and medicines, share, enjoy, get a canoe… So here is the perspective I am at, in my journey. It is easy to find small companies or people struggling and get a garden done and sorted for anyone who offers money for it. However, I do not see myself sitting in traffic, rushing from site to site, never really doing any gardening for everyone else. I need to farm my tisanes. I am also not that attached to money or material possessions.
On a Friday Jess and I picked up a friend of mine, some stuff, or ‘shit’ if I may, went down throughout the morning. Jess and I ended up arguing outside the property, and a trigger was set off with one simple phrase in which I retaliated from my darkest place – instantly losing a new friend and business partner. Ironically I am grateful for it. As many tears as I shed, I shed off years of aging that this nonsense already started…and I walk through Greenside back to Pirates, to clean up the beautiful mess I made. It makes me feel similar to the way I felt when I tore up an amazing painting I did, because it hurt someone I loved.
Don’t we usually all have this problem, at some point? Being unprepared, rushing in to keep our word to those who don’t keep theirs? All for our name’s’ sake, for money? Its funny that so many think money relieves stress – walking away from it has proven many times for me to be a far greater release. Yet, a lack of money causes stress, and sacrifices people do not understand or ever speak of. The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it, according to Henry David Thoreau. I think our currency should be love, not money, simple kindness goes a long way.
I am one of those people who has worked so hard that I actually have 3 rows of callouses on each hand, who has been brutally honest, open, liberal, broken, misunderstood and completely dismantled throughout various expressions in art, poetry, and gardening. I have somehow got something on my side, as I managed to trade for land for a long enough period hopefully to create a tisane producing business. My focus will not be deterred again. I have been swung by my dreams and collaborating them with the dreams of others, all because one must exchange money or become someone’s bitch or be ok with being suppressed as a child for space to sleep – this, unfortunately occurs on the streets amongst the homeless, in volunteer projects and also in larney people’s’ homes, depending on how psychotic they are or how long one stays. I have failed in the art of making money but I have my freedom. I can eat very little, I can eat things you walk all over all day. I have put fractions of what I can do out there, scattered like stars, fragments of beauty that have inspired so many and I am still on my own.
I have noticed that those who try create other people’s dreams, as if they are their own, have clearly not been taught that the dream belongs to the dreamer…. if you try live someone else’s dream, it can become a nightmare. Everyone has their own demons to confront in such nightmares, even the dreamer that shared the dream – quite ironic ..
For all of the above reasons I am sticking to Art of Craft, and changing the name of the gardening facebook page again…. here it is if you are still not on the same page as me…. Art of Craft Interactive Gardening @ Pirates
Jess is a fantastic landscaper and designer, she is practical and uses all the materials, even the waste to its potential. I have seen images of the transformation she is capable of managing. Please contact her for your landscaping requirements on 083 336 5177
The about section on my facebook page for Art of Craft says – “Showing off skills as I acquire them, and make use of them in expressions of almost ANYTHING in an effort to educate and empower”. These blog posts have and will continue to do this for many, its my path to sustainability in original ways. Most people need to keep the blinkers on in order to survive or maintain sanity, I need to discard them, because once you see it is actually a painful experience to regress and put those blinkers on again. Im sure that makes sense to a few people.
I have had wonderful times with volunteers, I learn alot letting people in, exchanging information. People think I am paid lol or well off based on the perception that my expressions create. I cannot change that. I cannot lie or tell enough truth to convince those who judge me that they are wrong either. I can only keep working this land, keep an open mind and heart toward those who enter. Alot can happen in 3 years, but look at what happened in 7 months (all recorded in this blog) – so many highs, so much to indicate success and prosperity based on perceptions and still nothing constant or permanent, except for a few supporters and people who remind me never to give up. Nothing is permanent, nothing is as it seems. This is deeply and completely shit to a degree, but very much a part of the reason I continue regardless of dinner on my plate or not. Thank you to all of these people.
I hope to see you again, in the garden
