Art of Craft

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.

nettle urtica dioica, u. urens

Nettle, can be useful in the treatment of joint injuries, and nerve pain or sciatica by using the fresh plant to sting the area over the injury or pinched nerve.  I have tried this for several pinched nerves at once on my back.  I healed within 3 days in comparison to two weeks a previous time and 4 weeks another time on various anti- inflammatory remedies. This way of using stinging nettle is called “urtication”, and was once traditionally used to address injuries resulting in impaired nerve function, loss of sensation and paralysis.  I’ve also met people who used it to address inflammation in joints; it is specifically useful in tendonitis and other repetitive stress injuries, and has been used effectively in various forms of arthritis as well.  It works by calling blood to the area affected and because the sting can be uncomfortable, people have shunned this use, but I have found this plant calling many people for a wide array of ailments.  Stinging Nettle is also rich in iron, and can assist in treatment of menstrual pains or cramps and associated headaches.

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Inflammation can also be a cause of pain, though its initial occurrence is really a part of the body’s healing response.  The “heat” of inflammation is generated by an increase in activity in the area affected.  So, when we injure ourselves, the body increases the cellular activity in that area to heal itself.   It is therefore recommended within my own being to also take an anti-inflamatory when I use stinging nettle to sting my pains away ;-0  I usually make some golden milk.

There is a really beautiful monster that thrives on Stinging Nettle which I look forward to meeting, as I allow my Nettle to go wild for a bit.  The Stinging Nettle Slug Caterpillar or Cup Moth, Limacodiae is custom built with every conceivable self-protection device imaginable. Bright, garish colors which are like danger signs in nature saying “I taste awful” or “I am loaded with poison; multiple stinging barbs which inflict painful and persistent burning rashes (on humans anyway); false eyes pointing in every direction to say ” I see you, you can’t surprise me”; a head end that looks the same as the rear end so there can be no potential surprise attack from behind; and specific to the Limacodid caterpillars (who actually have no true legs, hence the slug in their name), a sticky adhesive underside that makes them very difficult to prise off their food plant. With that in mind, stinging nettle caterpillars are often not hard to find. They don’t conceal themselves day or night and will often be in the most conspicuous of locations. Basically, they have little to fear.  I love the heart shapes in this image …

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Do not forget Stinging Nettle is really great as a compost activator too, and can be eaten …. make a soup, or cook it like spinach or make a pesto pasta as below.  Love and light ;-)

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I discovered in researching medicinal benefits, other than for kidney functionality, of Cinnamon that most of what is labelled Cinnamon on the shelves in our stores is actually Cassia.  It all boils down to the same issue as Mint with all its varieties, i.e. that mint is simply mint and few know the difference between mint and peppermint too…. all this variety gets boxed, and we are filing away the knowledge we seem to seek access to in this box.  Cinnamon is the name for perhaps a dozen species of trees and the commercial spice products that some of them produce. All are members of the genus Cinnamomum in the family Lauraceae.  Only a few of them are grown commercially for spice.  Often a variety is ground and mixed, just labelled Cassia.

The taste is very similar, but the difference is clear, once you know what to look at.  Ceylon Cinnamon can be easily ground and looks more like a flake to me.  Cassia Cinnamon makes only one or two folds and is more pungent, but difficult to grind.

HERE is a link to an article explaining in detail why knowing this is important for your health.

Remember Cassia Cinnamon can do damage to your liver, whereas Ceylon Cinnamon is beneficial to your liver and kidneys.

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cassia and cinnamon differ

I have not posted step by step what Ive been up to due to no internet access and very little cash, with no income since my last posting.  Someone once told me that when you are on an island alone and a storm is coming you first consider shelter, then water then food.   Being in a city now its a given, even with water restrictions, that water is not scarce enough to be concerned with and I trade and balance out with cash where I sleep most of the time… my concern was food.

A friend of mine is involved in a soup kitchen project and has an agreement (now being reviewed 2016) that some of the almost expired and expired goods from a fruit and veg store can be taken and distributed off the grounds of the business.  I joined in on the dumpster diving thinking an exchange of waste to bokashi for the compost and the runoff for fertilizer or drain cleaner was lucrative enough, but food was my main concern.  I watched people in the streets and parks and at the rivers as I walked, wondering how many needed a banana or apple or just some kind of smile ;-)  I agreed to distribute some food waste in my area.  This is what we gathered in less than an hour … very greatfully ;-)

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This is how I made my bokashi – using almost fermenting fruits and breads.  I particularly loved walking around the block with a giant polystyrene container and backpack of cakes and sandwiches to give away.

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On another occasion, I made a poster and displayed it in the park with food for anyone to take home and eat.  This particular store cut us off from the dumpster area a few weeks before Christmas, leaving approximately 180 people wondering where the soup is.  They want to recycle the food waste now and sell it, honestly I think there is way to much and it is way too costly a process, even on such a scale to make any profit.  Our earth needs some bokashi, our people need food but one 150kg drum is costly and there is alot of waste in one skip.  If you have any ideas please contact me 072 146 9017

I think that people should re-evaluate their morality or system or value or perception of value. just love each other as in see the need fill the need if you can, and if not acknowledge that you know that need… it connects us all despite our lifestyles.    I think that doing this creates a force of love, a sense of community returns, crime decreases…. why dont people working in these stores take the waste home and give it away on the way home?  why doesn’t anyone bother to make a buffet in the park with the veggies in the compost instead? why look away at the waste and at the man at the traffic lights with the sign asking for mercy in so many ways?  where is humanity’s humane nature lost?

food waste solution and benefit

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I had no money, few people and no hope of income other than some artwork at a street vendor in the city and I am still here lol love is a great force ;-) embrace it.  Money and a lifestyle is a choice – make it.

Its time for me to make some awesome tea again too… please keep an eye on the Art of Tea page too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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.

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Cauliflower seed

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Onion seed

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Onions for planting this week

 

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Peruvian Amaranth, makes excellent porridge ;-)

 

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Freshly harvested Amaranth seeds

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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.

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Isn’t it just beautiful?

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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

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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 ;-)

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Jess Ranking is a young landscaper, who volunteered in the Pirates Garden one day.   We have since, put our heads together and created Scaping Cultures.  Our pamphlet below says its all ;-)  We will offer a discount on quotations and reports, as a Chritmas gift to new clients from Wednesday 11 November 2015 till 15 December 2015.  Contact us for details.

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I assisted Jess, and some labor on a property with alot of random pots and we came up with the following results

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One of our next adventures is returning to the garden I started with the Suburban Farmer… these were the results, from when the couples’ dogs damaged the beds.  I am happy to report that some bits can be harvested already, and their new seedlings were delivered last week.  This garden is a garden that aims to achieve self sustainability, if not just juices for a family of 4, that does not mind sharing with their pets and neighbors ;-)

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WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU

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Energy captured, released…

Flowing through me

Each exchange entertaining flow

Far removed, almost in secret yet wide opened

I turned the keys

In came the sheep

The banshees

The bees

And way up in the trees the birds watched me…

Watched me weep, sweat and bleed

Watched me feed

Came close by and picked down at me

I looked into them…

Beyond the hollow veils within

Opened the gates

And walked away…

My heart sunk

And I reached for the keys

Seeing banshees and sheep

Under such beautiful trees

Gathered with the bees

And they picked at my heels

As I turned away through the hollow veils

Away from them

Closed the gate

And I wish I could throw away these keys…

Yet more keyholes appreared

And I turned the keys

Along came the bees

And the birds in the trees -

Shuffled and some came down

This time to smile…

Together for a moment we weep, sweat and bleed

Together for a moment we feed

Looking into each other

Beyond the hollow veils within

Opening gates

My heart SOARS and sinks still…

As I reach for any keys

Any reason

Anything REAL

…And the birds went away

The bees are up in the trees

I walk away battered

Shaken

Greatful and IN UTERO

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Please note that this is a tweaked version of a report and agreement on a personal project of mine…. ive tried to keep the ideas in place….

Introduction
This document is meant to communicate to the Sports Club the plan, and intention for the construction of the Energy Exchange garden at the club grounds.

To establish and grow a garden, without funding, takes more time, lots of dedication and listening. Tasks such as building up the soil, planting of seeds and plants, garden design, harvesting, selling and getting organic certification have happened anyway… right through winter 2015. This in itself is miraculous to many people.

Vision

This vision statement is given to describe the vision for the future of the Garden.

1. The Sports Club garden will be a space of love and wonder, learning, listening, connecting, nourishment and joy for all members of Sports Club. The produce of this sustainable organic garden will be the freshest healthiest possible  pick it with me, when in abundance  to support a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
2. The garden is set up using only permaculture techniques. This regenerates the soil back to a pristine organic state without exceeding the fertile condition to safeguard the health and healing properties of the fruits, vegetables and herbs.
3. The garden will create a beautiful place to engage club members and attract more people from surrounding suburbs in an inspirational place where they have access to locally grown food, medicinal plants and affordable workshops at good prices for their health and environmental benefit.
4. The garden will supply edibles that can be harvested firstly to volunteers, and as trade for seeds, plants and other materials. ……… shows keen interest in becoming permanently involved as far as volunteer labour goes. (Please note that without funding, being reliant on seedy saturdayz trades, I cannot guarantee what the garden can supply anyone. I do however have faith that it will produce what those who assist in it need, as no garden I have ever done has not done this for me.)
5. The garden will provide medicinal plants and herbs to Netanya in the future for her product range.
6. Joining a co-operative or creating a food hub in the area will be advantageous to the community and surrounds, as it will allow jhb urban farmers to distribute their produce through shops like ………………setting up a kiosk at the club for this purpose. This requires funding or joining a co-operative such as …………., which is a banking system without interest, and are willing to assist in setting up a greenhouse and kiosk.

Achievements

Establishing of the winter garden
The garden contains a variety of plants which can be found in the annexures of this document. These plants also have been adding value as being medicinal, edible, maintaining and adding to the health and fertility of the soil, creating fertiliser and anti-pest and anti-bacterial sprays.

The growing movements of ‘overgrow the system’, ‘grow food not lawns’ and ‘Food is free to all’ is taking root in the community and surrounds, in fact, all over the world. This means that eventually large food sections in our Pick n Pays will either be provided for locally or completely eradicated, as more people are now growing food and trading. From experience in community farming in urban environments, the problem was distribution, not lack of produce.  Let the community bring in the food, and grow ourselves if that is what you want me to supply the members its can be done using jhb urban farm produce in a kiosk at the club.

Ivy
The ivy area is partially layered over with hugelkultuur. To be continued with volunteers.

Compost
Construction of a compost site, near the storage and staff house.
Training of two members of the staff to maintain the composting (or just watering the piles), or employing two labourers once every two weeks to turn the compost piles and layer bokashi.

Pest Control
Big hugel has been conquered, no more rats.

Weed Control
Most weeds are medicinal, and controlled by removing them root and all after the rains. Cardboard is layered underneath each bed, making it difficult for weeds to push through and take over.
Plants that attract bugs are introduced to attract bugs that eat weeds. Ecosystems restored or created, enhancing quality of soil and yield of harvest.

Organic certification of the garden
Netanya was approved by PGS, and granted a certificate for Naturally Grown Produce. This certificate will be reviewed in winter of 2016 again, after 36 months of farming the land it is deemed rehabilitated and Organically Certified. What does PGS certification mean? PGS South Africa operates according to the guidelines for Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) 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. Many established organic producers are certified by third party certifiers. It is the system most countries require for organic certification. Third party certification can be quite costly and requires onerous record-keeping and infrastructure beyond the means of most small farmers.
THE STANDARD: Growers are assessed according to a set of Basic Production Principles. These principles are based on the AFRISCO Organic Standard and in compliance with PGS requirements in the South African Draft Regulations. It must be noted that PGSSA has no relationship with AFRISCO and that AFRISCO neither supports nor endorses PGSSA. The choice to use the AFRISCO Standard as baseline is due to the fact that the standard is in general use across Southern Africa and is accredited by IFOAM.

Connecting/Networking

I have brought in …………….. to advise and they are happy to have me as an agent that makes use of the product that usually goes to community farms. This process of sourcing restaurants in the Green – strip, and waiting approximately 3 – 4 weeks for food waste to ferment, will determine the time of re-starting the layering of the compost. In the interim, shade cloth can be erected and successive workshops organised.

Netanya has traded for or self seeded everything in the garden. Only compost was purchased and is still short by about 80 cubes. Cost is estimated at R900 per cube if delivered, one avenue where funding is required if the garden is to be completed over a short period.

Awareness and Education – START A BLOG
A record of all activity is available in blog posts on the Art of Permaculture page of Netanya’s blog www.artofcraft.co.za

Garden Planning

What will be done
• The garden will be completed (plants are in the annexure)
• The ivy area will be layered over with hugelkultuur and various edible and medicinal plant seeds raked into it, aloe varieties and alfalpha to be planted on the slope and transplanted into bags over 6 months replaced by edible and medicinal plants.
• Community involvement – 8 permanent volunteers who assist in creating a record of all activity in the garden, which will be used to design a model for small families to be self-sustainable off the size of land allocated
• Community involvement through networking (share and like on facebook), journalists in area can write articles, use of community green waste if compost can become what it can become, also bokashi, allotment gardens can be set up to supply club and restaurants in the community
• Continued use of recycled waste from the bar (planters still in the back of my mind)
• Suggested fundraiser talk of taboo surrounding owls and medicinal infusions
• Netanya will focus of planting food for assistants and herself, as well as medicinal herbs and plants for her income only.
• FAIR TRADE and RESPECT at all times.
Activities to be done

Short term, within 3 months

Engage the community by offering more workshops and interactive gardening days with a tea garden in the garden.

Soil testing for PGS

Irrigation extended hose or sprinklers
Tool shed/storing tools, supplies, materials.
Drying herbs

Shading area
Signage: what is what, maybe some simple garden rules, guide participants e.g. no unsupervised children allowed or Im a plant I have properties ;-)

Connecting area
Picnic table for teas and gathering
Middle term, within 6 months

Fruit trees
Set up complete

Long term, 36 months

Bringing the garden to full capacity, self seeding plants, food forest attributes established

Rain water harvesting

Eco village hub – food collection boxes, kiosk, greenhouse

Organic certification

Planning

The Sports Club Involvement

The Sports Club Benefits
Attractive food and medicinal herb garden onsite
Healthy food
Organic medicine
Place of connection and community involvement
Organic waste recycling
Positive publicity
Eco – Friendly

The Sports Club Involvement
Continuation of the use of the land allocated, and waste for 36 months
Newsletter and Gazette reports connecting with members

Composting site
Please advise whether your staff have the capacity to maintain the piles with approximately 2 labourers 1 day a week or if I should seek a means to employ labourers to maintain the piles, and offer to take community green waste into the compost area so people can come drop off stuff and pick up compost or trade for materials they are short of in their own piles at home. We need a lot of soil for the grounds…. Either two people get paid or it becomes a workshop space, doing the same thing over and over, or its kept a two-man job for at least 6 months, then compost can become a product from the garden to club members.

Annexures
Planted To be planted Companion Plant
Angelica x 1 Angelica x 7 Hellebore, Ferns, Epimediums
Alfalfa
Amaranth White and Red Corn, Tomato, Onion, Potato, Strawberry
Aniseed x 8 Coriander, Broccoli, Various Plants
Apple Mint x 8 Brassicas & kale
Asparagus x 8 Dill, Coriander, Tomato, Parsley, Basil, Marigold, Comfrey, Strawberry
Broadbeans Corn, Sunflower
Baby Marrow x 8 corn, beans
Basil x 1 Basil x 7 Pepper, Tomato, Marigold, Asparagus, Oregano, Petunias
Bright lights spinach red Succession crops / rotation Cabbage, Celery, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Strawberry, Faba Beans
Bringal x 8 Bush beans
Bright lights spinach yellow Succession crops / rotation Cabbage, Celery, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Strawberry, Faba Beans
Black radish Succession crops / rotation Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrot, Cucumber, Lettuce, Melons, Peas, Squash, Nasturtium, Chervil, Melons, Parsnip, Spinach, Broccoli
Borage x 2 Borage x 6 Tomato, strawberry, fruit orchards, Squash
Bunching Onions anything
Calabash x 30
Catnip X 1 Catnip x 7 Eggplant, Beet, Pumpkin, Squash, Hyssop
Cinnamon Tree x 3
Calendula x 50
Chamomile German Cabbage, Onion, Cucumber

Creeping Sage x 1 Creeping Sage x 7
Comfrey x 10 Comfrey x 30 Avocado, Asparagus
California Poppy
Feverfew x 3 Feverfew x 5
Fennel x 2 Fennel x 20 dill
Foxglove x 8 Apple, Potato, Tomato
Garden Mint x 1 Garden Mint x 20 Tomato, Cabbage, Beets
Garlic Rose, Carrot, Tomato, Beets, Raspberry
Green Sorrel x 1 Green sorrel x 5
Gotu Kola – Centella x 8
Horse Raddish x 8 anything
Hops x 8
Jerusalem Artichoke x 10 Asparagus, Sunflower, Corn, Tarragon
Kale Succession crops / rotation
Red winter kale x 8 Thyme
Kohlrabi Beet, Onion, Oregano, Mint, Sage, Thyme
Liquorice root
Lovage x 1 Lovage x 7 Cucumber, Asparagus, Bean, Beet, Brassica, Onion, Leek, Peas, Potato, Lettuce, Squash, Zucchini, Corn, Tomato
Lazy Housewife / Contender Beans x 20
Lemongrass x 2 Lemongrass x 6
Lettuce Mix x 30
Lemon Verbena x 1 Lemon Verbena x 7
Lemon Balm x 1 Lemon Balm x 7
Mustard Succession crop / rotation Cabbage, Brassica, Radish, Brussel Sprouts, Turnip, Collard, Kohlrabi
Meadowsweet
Mugwort x 1 Mugwort x 7
Mullein x 1 Mullein x 9
New Zealand Spinach Cabbage, Celery, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Strawberry, Faba Beans
Naustersium x 2 Naustersium x 6 variety Cucumber, Radish, Squash, Broccoli, Cabbage, other vegetables, fruit trees
Oregano x 8 Squashes, peppers, cabbage
Purple Carrots Pepper, beans, chives, garlic, basil
Peas Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrot, Corn, Cucumber, Radish, Turnip, Celery, Chicory, Spinach, Parsley
Pelagonium Mint x 8
Parsley x 1 Parsley x 7 Tomato, Asparagus, Carrot, Rose, Onion, Chive

Purple cauliflower x 6 Succession crop / rotation Oegano,sage, spinach, onion
Potatoes Variety x 50 Bush Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Flax, Horseradish, Marigold, Peas, Petunia, Onion
Pineapple Sage x 8 Carrot, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Rosemary, Cabbage
Pineapple mint
Peppermint
Rose Scented Geranium x 1 Rose Scented Geranium x 7 Cabbage, Corn, Grape, Rose, Tomato, Peppers, Eggplant
Rosemary x 4 Rosemary x 5 Carrot, Cabbage, Beans, Sage
Rue x 8 Rose, raspberry, blackberry
Rocket x 1 Rocket x 7
Spaghetti Squash x 8
Sage x 8
Stevia x 1
Shallots
Sun hemp Cover crop
Spekboom x 20 Spekboom x 30
Artemesia Southernwood x 8
Salad bernette x 4
Tree Tomato x 8
Sweet Potato variety x 20
Swiss chard x 20
Wilde AlsArtemesia African Wormwood x 1 Wilde Als x 7
Wheatgrass x 6
Wild tomatoes
Viola x 2
Yarrow x 9 Yarrow x 20 Bee balm