Conner and His Reflection
During last weeks reflection I realized that my purpose is to meet my goals for health and happiness, contribute to my community, and restore and enjoy the natural world. Then, merely days later, we met a bunch of people in Patagonia that are living their life like this. This was really inspiring to me, meeting these people gave me a model to work towards. I have never really set goals in my life, so it feels hard to start. But, I think I am on the right track. I think I will really start to feel good about that when I start to take action.
Social justice has never been a huge passion of mine, but after this trip I want to help people who have not had the same opportunities as I have. I believe that since I have such a privileged life it is my responsibility to help others without the same privilege as me.
Also, this trip has me rethinking my summer plans. I think I want to do something more connected to last week’s epiphanies. I want to give back to my community or the natural world near my home, through outreach or restoration.
Seeing all these cool farms in Patagonia has me daydreaming of a permaculture plot of my own. I wrote down some plant names that would do well near my home because I had to create some outlet for my ideas. I think I am going to create a design for one of the marine terraces in Davenport just for fun. In addition to permaculture inspiration, Deep Dirt Farm gave me some restoration ideas for a gully that is “unzipping” the land near my house. I want to go to the landfill and grab some busted up concrete to create check dams and slow the erosion that dumps mud onto our streets. The trip makes me want to take action and affect my landscape positively.
Jackson and I were talking about how we want to live our values. While I think that going to school is living one of my values, I want to do more. I plan on joining Prescott Resist to speak out about my political values. Additionally, I think that joining the Butte Creek Restoration project would be beneficial to my psyche.
After losing against Jake at chess ten or more times I have chess analogies on the mind. I have been thinking it would be good for me to think of my life as a game of chess and how each move contributes to my end goal. This is why I am rethinking my summer plans. I figure that if I can find some sort of restoration work or social justice work that I can begin to practice for my work as an adult.
Another thing that has hit me after this trip is that we are coming to a crisis point. If we do not change the way that our society functions then we will run out of the resources that we depend on. Global warming continues to demand attention and not many are giving it the attention it deserves. Baby boomers have been telling me since I was a kid that their generation failed me and it is up to my generation to fix the world. It feels like now is the time to start fixing, but it is a very intimidating task. I am trying to think of it like eating dinner. I cannot finish it in one bite, but it is easy a little by little. Yet, this feels slow in a time when we need to move fast.
All in all, this word vomit has helped me to process some ideas. Hopefully it reads okay, but if it does not, now that at least I got something out of it.
Social justice has never been a huge passion of mine, but after this trip I want to help people who have not had the same opportunities as I have. I believe that since I have such a privileged life it is my responsibility to help others without the same privilege as me.
Also, this trip has me rethinking my summer plans. I think I want to do something more connected to last week’s epiphanies. I want to give back to my community or the natural world near my home, through outreach or restoration.
Seeing all these cool farms in Patagonia has me daydreaming of a permaculture plot of my own. I wrote down some plant names that would do well near my home because I had to create some outlet for my ideas. I think I am going to create a design for one of the marine terraces in Davenport just for fun. In addition to permaculture inspiration, Deep Dirt Farm gave me some restoration ideas for a gully that is “unzipping” the land near my house. I want to go to the landfill and grab some busted up concrete to create check dams and slow the erosion that dumps mud onto our streets. The trip makes me want to take action and affect my landscape positively.
Jackson and I were talking about how we want to live our values. While I think that going to school is living one of my values, I want to do more. I plan on joining Prescott Resist to speak out about my political values. Additionally, I think that joining the Butte Creek Restoration project would be beneficial to my psyche.
After losing against Jake at chess ten or more times I have chess analogies on the mind. I have been thinking it would be good for me to think of my life as a game of chess and how each move contributes to my end goal. This is why I am rethinking my summer plans. I figure that if I can find some sort of restoration work or social justice work that I can begin to practice for my work as an adult.
Another thing that has hit me after this trip is that we are coming to a crisis point. If we do not change the way that our society functions then we will run out of the resources that we depend on. Global warming continues to demand attention and not many are giving it the attention it deserves. Baby boomers have been telling me since I was a kid that their generation failed me and it is up to my generation to fix the world. It feels like now is the time to start fixing, but it is a very intimidating task. I am trying to think of it like eating dinner. I cannot finish it in one bite, but it is easy a little by little. Yet, this feels slow in a time when we need to move fast.
All in all, this word vomit has helped me to process some ideas. Hopefully it reads okay, but if it does not, now that at least I got something out of it.
Sophia Malonson's Field Learning Journey Reflection
Our time in the Borderlands of Arizona and Mexico has provided me with new, exciting and perspective shifting information, resources and concepts that I am still chewing on and digesting with time and integration. What an intensely beautiful exploration for us All! We dove into so many experiences, aspects of resilient community, permaculture techniques and planning processes on our trip. I feel extremely enlivened by certain topics such as natural straw bale building, repurposed design, and local seed saving/plant nursery practices. There is truly so much I could talk about in this reflection, because there was copious amounts information that I downloaded… and that is still spiraling around inside of me. I chose three main personal takeaways to talk about that I find encompass many discoveries and insights. These main ideas have particularly struck me as critical to apply to my life immediately, although many more things seem to sing on the horizon.
First of all, the concept of Restoration Economy, Ecology and Community is a complete paradigm shift to my way of relating to the subject of economics. I think for me the economy can seem like a frightening subject because of its undeniable link that is the fueling foundation of social and environmental issues facing the globe. Obviously for many reasons, I have met a lot of like-minded people in relation to me that tend to shy away from it or oppose looking at money in a positive way completely. And this is all based on an extraction economy. I am realizing, through the Borderlands and other Restoration Economy models, what a great tool that the economy truly is, and how integral it is in the envisioning a holistic and bright future. I have questioned this for a few years now and find that having models and terms for these ideas is helping my mind fathom connections and dreams about its integration easily. A monetary system that helps us and the Earth thrive opens up so many novel and innovative opportunities. This coming semester, I will be part of a mentored study focused on How to Build an Eco-village and am inspired to study restoration economy in more depth as well as the monetary/eco-business aspect of intentional communities because although it is not the most glamorous aspect of communal earth-based life I feel that I need to step into understanding it in order to create and support the future I want to see.
The ceremony that we were so privileged to be a part of with Pastal, Balty and the Dansa children reaffirmed and confirmed so much in my heart and hands as I continue to walk my path of Work. I really resonated with the rules of knowing self, knowing others, interrelating and working. The simplicity balances the immense wisdom. That gathering was a beckoning call to action with remain with me as medicine that has been brought forth through all the facilitators and participants. I experienced clear sight in many aspects and know I must keep on this path with dedication and confidence, connection, dance, and work. To be encouraged in grounded/practical Earth work, Social work, Health and Medicine. I am very grateful for this experience and opportunity we were able to engage with! It was a strong reminder for us all.
The third main experience I am taking with me is a deeper understanding of community-engaged process, decision making, and design planning. I felt really supported while going through these communal and collaborative processes as well as presenting plans for further clarification and future refinement. This practice and play is what I need to grow, especially practicing through jams and in fun and engaged ways with others. I found so much of the Work not only residing in the mental manifestation of planning and designing, but also leaning into uncomfortable feelings, disagreements, divergences, the pain of the current world-state. The work I am dedicated to is being completely present with all of the feelings that arise in myself and my community’s reality.
First of all, the concept of Restoration Economy, Ecology and Community is a complete paradigm shift to my way of relating to the subject of economics. I think for me the economy can seem like a frightening subject because of its undeniable link that is the fueling foundation of social and environmental issues facing the globe. Obviously for many reasons, I have met a lot of like-minded people in relation to me that tend to shy away from it or oppose looking at money in a positive way completely. And this is all based on an extraction economy. I am realizing, through the Borderlands and other Restoration Economy models, what a great tool that the economy truly is, and how integral it is in the envisioning a holistic and bright future. I have questioned this for a few years now and find that having models and terms for these ideas is helping my mind fathom connections and dreams about its integration easily. A monetary system that helps us and the Earth thrive opens up so many novel and innovative opportunities. This coming semester, I will be part of a mentored study focused on How to Build an Eco-village and am inspired to study restoration economy in more depth as well as the monetary/eco-business aspect of intentional communities because although it is not the most glamorous aspect of communal earth-based life I feel that I need to step into understanding it in order to create and support the future I want to see.
The ceremony that we were so privileged to be a part of with Pastal, Balty and the Dansa children reaffirmed and confirmed so much in my heart and hands as I continue to walk my path of Work. I really resonated with the rules of knowing self, knowing others, interrelating and working. The simplicity balances the immense wisdom. That gathering was a beckoning call to action with remain with me as medicine that has been brought forth through all the facilitators and participants. I experienced clear sight in many aspects and know I must keep on this path with dedication and confidence, connection, dance, and work. To be encouraged in grounded/practical Earth work, Social work, Health and Medicine. I am very grateful for this experience and opportunity we were able to engage with! It was a strong reminder for us all.
The third main experience I am taking with me is a deeper understanding of community-engaged process, decision making, and design planning. I felt really supported while going through these communal and collaborative processes as well as presenting plans for further clarification and future refinement. This practice and play is what I need to grow, especially practicing through jams and in fun and engaged ways with others. I found so much of the Work not only residing in the mental manifestation of planning and designing, but also leaning into uncomfortable feelings, disagreements, divergences, the pain of the current world-state. The work I am dedicated to is being completely present with all of the feelings that arise in myself and my community’s reality.
Michelle Ouellette - Field Trip Reflection
I have learned so much over this past week, it is hard to narrow it down to only three main take aways. I am definitely still processing all of the information that I took in on the trip. I truly am in awe of all of the beautiful things that are going on around that area and all of the beautiful souls that we met, not to mention how intertwined their journeys are, even with our own.
One thing that I will keep with me, like a little seed of hope, is the idea of a restoration economy. I can't help but believe that, if we made the paradigm shift into a restoration economy, healing the Earth would not only be easy but it would be fast. There are so many humans out there, so much potential energy to be used for good. The resiliency of the Earth is awe-inspiring, and there is so much potential to transform the lives of people through giving them truly fulfilling work that nourishes all life. A restoration economy is a beautiful solution to the worlds complex problems. I look forward to seeing this idea spread as the healing of the planet becomes more and more crucial, and more and more people wake up.
Another big idea that I took away from the trip was from the dancers that we watched and participated with. Pastal had so much wisdom and fire within him. Participating in that dance made me feel so alive. I can hardly describe how that ceremony made me feel, it was such a mixture of joy, sadness, anger, and hope. The main idea that I hold in my heart now is waking every morning to do the dance. What I interpreted is that this means constantly looking for opportunities to work and use your personal power for good in whatever way possible. It is the opposite of complacency. It means not just observing but actively participating in the the opportunities you have. It means fighting for the cause instead of just supporting it.
Lastly, I loved learning from Kate and seeing her land and what she had done with it. The idea of salvage has always been extremely exciting for me and seeing all of her beautiful and functional structures created out of materials that would have been populating landfills filled my heart with joy and inspiration. I think that the most valuable bit of information that I took away from her was in the greenhouse when she said that the health of the soil is directly related to our body's health. This statement is something that I have always known intuitively, but had allowed my conscious mind to forget. Her reminder will stick with me for a very long time. I am now strongly influenced to try to source my food from local farmers and pay even closer attention to my eating habits, both for myself and the Earth.
Overall, this trip has provided almost countless valuable insights and more and more come to my mind each time I think about it. I am so grateful for this experience and I hope that I will have another opportunity to visit and work with that beautiful place again soon.
One thing that I will keep with me, like a little seed of hope, is the idea of a restoration economy. I can't help but believe that, if we made the paradigm shift into a restoration economy, healing the Earth would not only be easy but it would be fast. There are so many humans out there, so much potential energy to be used for good. The resiliency of the Earth is awe-inspiring, and there is so much potential to transform the lives of people through giving them truly fulfilling work that nourishes all life. A restoration economy is a beautiful solution to the worlds complex problems. I look forward to seeing this idea spread as the healing of the planet becomes more and more crucial, and more and more people wake up.
Another big idea that I took away from the trip was from the dancers that we watched and participated with. Pastal had so much wisdom and fire within him. Participating in that dance made me feel so alive. I can hardly describe how that ceremony made me feel, it was such a mixture of joy, sadness, anger, and hope. The main idea that I hold in my heart now is waking every morning to do the dance. What I interpreted is that this means constantly looking for opportunities to work and use your personal power for good in whatever way possible. It is the opposite of complacency. It means not just observing but actively participating in the the opportunities you have. It means fighting for the cause instead of just supporting it.
Lastly, I loved learning from Kate and seeing her land and what she had done with it. The idea of salvage has always been extremely exciting for me and seeing all of her beautiful and functional structures created out of materials that would have been populating landfills filled my heart with joy and inspiration. I think that the most valuable bit of information that I took away from her was in the greenhouse when she said that the health of the soil is directly related to our body's health. This statement is something that I have always known intuitively, but had allowed my conscious mind to forget. Her reminder will stick with me for a very long time. I am now strongly influenced to try to source my food from local farmers and pay even closer attention to my eating habits, both for myself and the Earth.
Overall, this trip has provided almost countless valuable insights and more and more come to my mind each time I think about it. I am so grateful for this experience and I hope that I will have another opportunity to visit and work with that beautiful place again soon.
Jakob Pasdertz
Since returning home from Windsong Peace and Leadership center I feel as if I have been decompressing and self debriefing the experience of the trip. In this, some things have sat strongly with me. In this moment I am willing to share them as is, but I believe as I continue to debrief that new lessons will reveal themselves to me. That being said my first take away is my re-ignited passion to educate. This passion is one that burns strongly within me. In my educational journey I find twigs, sticks, and whole logs being added to this fire. They come from the experiences I have, the people I meet, and the things they share with me. At Windsong a large log was added to the fire when the children from Mexicayotl Academy came and invited us to work with them. They taught us the dance of sowing the seeds of education to children and how that is a thing to be celebrated. To see that the calling of education is not only a necessity but of value led me to feel affirmed and supported in my choice of path. They also shared with us the wisdom of their practice, and goal of knowing oneself, knowing others, being willing to establish community, and work. This coupled with the dedication the children showed by being part of something that took them everyday of their life really empowered me to pursue my path with a new vigor.
The second thing that is currently resonating with me is the simplicity of Permaculture. In the time since I have been back several things about Permaculture have resonated with me. The first of them is that Permaculture weather well done or not is everything. The natural world is trying its hardest to establish healthy cycles, and our trying to be part of that is naturally the most healthy thing. I was once told that the four rules of ecology are everything goes somewhere, everything's connected, nature knows best, and there is no such thing as a free lunch. I think these apply very easily to Permaculture because of Permacultures almost synonymous existence with ecology.
The second thing I have noticed is that if one takes time to consider things such as earth care, people care, and fair share as a mindfulness practice they will find fulfillment in and of it. In this I have seen that Permaculture beckons us to consider the earth, each other, and the validity of both those things. It begs us to heal the scars and afflictions we have cast upon it with extraction by using the soothing hands of restoration. It commands us to look around us and take the time to notice what is, consider what that means, and decided what to do about it. These ideas are not only uncomplicated but innate. I believe that coming to this understanding is of great benefit, and boon to me. I have begun my journey towards understanding things like Permaculture, Agroforestry, and Arcology. I feel as if I have summited a mountain only to look out and see many much taller and in many different directions. I am excited by, and thankful for this because I feel as If I can pursue any number of paths and they will only bring me to greater things. Because of the inspiration I have found to teach, and my reaching of the first summit on my path to understanding Permaculture I have begun to see the path that I can take to incorporate Permaculture living skills into being an Outdoor Educator.
The second thing that is currently resonating with me is the simplicity of Permaculture. In the time since I have been back several things about Permaculture have resonated with me. The first of them is that Permaculture weather well done or not is everything. The natural world is trying its hardest to establish healthy cycles, and our trying to be part of that is naturally the most healthy thing. I was once told that the four rules of ecology are everything goes somewhere, everything's connected, nature knows best, and there is no such thing as a free lunch. I think these apply very easily to Permaculture because of Permacultures almost synonymous existence with ecology.
The second thing I have noticed is that if one takes time to consider things such as earth care, people care, and fair share as a mindfulness practice they will find fulfillment in and of it. In this I have seen that Permaculture beckons us to consider the earth, each other, and the validity of both those things. It begs us to heal the scars and afflictions we have cast upon it with extraction by using the soothing hands of restoration. It commands us to look around us and take the time to notice what is, consider what that means, and decided what to do about it. These ideas are not only uncomplicated but innate. I believe that coming to this understanding is of great benefit, and boon to me. I have begun my journey towards understanding things like Permaculture, Agroforestry, and Arcology. I feel as if I have summited a mountain only to look out and see many much taller and in many different directions. I am excited by, and thankful for this because I feel as If I can pursue any number of paths and they will only bring me to greater things. Because of the inspiration I have found to teach, and my reaching of the first summit on my path to understanding Permaculture I have begun to see the path that I can take to incorporate Permaculture living skills into being an Outdoor Educator.
Anya's Top 3 Takeaways From The Field :D
For me our learning journey was a lot. It was a lot of beauty, a lot of information, a lot of information, a lot of feelings, and a lot of new experiences. It was extremely overwhelming at times and extremely beautiful at others. A couple highlights were the feeling of waking up on a farm, doing ritual under the moon, getting to take in the market place, being in the mountains, and sharing Shabbat with everyone. A few lowlights were anxiety inducing design processes, seeing the border wall, and the sense of over-stimulation I often felt. With all of that, everything in between, and everything we saw and did, there were three major takeaways that I am coming home with.
The first major lesson I want to take away from our journey is the importance of harvesting water. When I think of permaculture my mind goes to two of my favorite things in the world. Those things are plants and community. I think about what seeds to put in the ground and what structures to put upon it. Rarely do I think about the shape of the ground itself and how that shape carries water. Almost every site we went to, this was mentioned. The wise permaculturists we visited all knew to start with shaping the land before even thinking about plants. This lesson is especially potent in the desert where water is sacred and scarce. It is obvious down here that any land owner that cares should be using their land to harvest as much water as they can for the water table underground before it can be polluted or evaporated. “Slow it. Spread it. Sink it” seemed to be the motto in the borderlands and through contour, burms, swales, rainwater catchment tanks, and rock structures everyone is doing as much as they can to harvest this precious resource. I will keep in mind the value of water even more after this trip and remember to do what I can to harvest it too. Water is life. Water is sacred.
The second major lesson I understood from this trip is the depth of the pain caused by the border. I first felt this when we saw the little lights off in the distance on our drive up to windsong and learned that we were seeing Mexico. It was kind of shocking to know how similar we are. We have lights and they have lights, not that lights matter, but just knowing that a city who appeared just like any of our cities was for some reason viewed as being on another side then us was upsetting. In that moment I remember thinking there is no way I would want any harm to come to the people with those lights. They are just like us. Hearing stories of shootings on the border drove that in so much deeper. How crazy is it that a drawn on, made up line causes so much violence, political tension, personal pain, and division of families. It sucks. It was very painful to see the literal wall that is there. After getting used to seeing sweeping mountain ranges and flowing hilly grasslands it felt so sharp. It cuts right through mama earth. Right through families of animals and plants and humans too. It is so imposing and upsetting. I know understand the pain of the border on a much deeper level.
My final takeaway is the call to action that came from the ceremony with the Mexicotyl (Sp?). The call was so loud and so clear. The drum beat planted that call in each of us and the smoke carried the commitment we made in that moment off to the ancestors. Participating in their ceremony I felt so passionate, so awake, and so ready to fight. I almost felt like I was tripping, so wrapped up in this strong objective truth. The truth is that there is immense work to be done. We must stay awake. This ceremony reminded me of that and drove it deep into me. Ever since I have been questioning if I am doing enough. Moment to moment. Am I awake enough?
For me our learning journey was a lot. It was a lot of beauty, a lot of information, a lot of information, a lot of feelings, and a lot of new experiences. It was extremely overwhelming at times and extremely beautiful at others. A couple highlights were the feeling of waking up on a farm, doing ritual under the moon, getting to take in the market place, being in the mountains, and sharing Shabbat with everyone. A few lowlights were anxiety inducing design processes, seeing the border wall, and the sense of over-stimulation I often felt. With all of that, everything in between, and everything we saw and did, there were three major takeaways that I am coming home with.
The first major lesson I want to take away from our journey is the importance of harvesting water. When I think of permaculture my mind goes to two of my favorite things in the world. Those things are plants and community. I think about what seeds to put in the ground and what structures to put upon it. Rarely do I think about the shape of the ground itself and how that shape carries water. Almost every site we went to, this was mentioned. The wise permaculturists we visited all knew to start with shaping the land before even thinking about plants. This lesson is especially potent in the desert where water is sacred and scarce. It is obvious down here that any land owner that cares should be using their land to harvest as much water as they can for the water table underground before it can be polluted or evaporated. “Slow it. Spread it. Sink it” seemed to be the motto in the borderlands and through contour, burms, swales, rainwater catchment tanks, and rock structures everyone is doing as much as they can to harvest this precious resource. I will keep in mind the value of water even more after this trip and remember to do what I can to harvest it too. Water is life. Water is sacred.
The second major lesson I understood from this trip is the depth of the pain caused by the border. I first felt this when we saw the little lights off in the distance on our drive up to windsong and learned that we were seeing Mexico. It was kind of shocking to know how similar we are. We have lights and they have lights, not that lights matter, but just knowing that a city who appeared just like any of our cities was for some reason viewed as being on another side then us was upsetting. In that moment I remember thinking there is no way I would want any harm to come to the people with those lights. They are just like us. Hearing stories of shootings on the border drove that in so much deeper. How crazy is it that a drawn on, made up line causes so much violence, political tension, personal pain, and division of families. It sucks. It was very painful to see the literal wall that is there. After getting used to seeing sweeping mountain ranges and flowing hilly grasslands it felt so sharp. It cuts right through mama earth. Right through families of animals and plants and humans too. It is so imposing and upsetting. I know understand the pain of the border on a much deeper level.
My final takeaway is the call to action that came from the ceremony with the Mexicotyl (Sp?). The call was so loud and so clear. The drum beat planted that call in each of us and the smoke carried the commitment we made in that moment off to the ancestors. Participating in their ceremony I felt so passionate, so awake, and so ready to fight. I almost felt like I was tripping, so wrapped up in this strong objective truth. The truth is that there is immense work to be done. We must stay awake. This ceremony reminded me of that and drove it deep into me. Ever since I have been questioning if I am doing enough. Moment to moment. Am I awake enough?
Noah Baker
My biggest takeaway from our trip to the borderlands was really feeling the weight of the border on the area. I grew up next to the United States Mexico border but I had never felt so emotional about it until this trip. Before we even went to the border I was emotional about it and how much it destroyed the way of life in the areas it surrounds. Something I have recognized in myself over my lifetime is I have a very distinct lack of passion in just about anything except the environment. However on this trip I felt very passionate about the stupidity of the border and the changes it will experience in the near future. When we finally got relatively up close with the wall in Nogales I was very angry especially because it cuts through the center of a city dividing so many people. I really appreciated going to the market just down the street because I got to see how optimistic the people who live in there are. The people we met at the market made me feel that all was not lost and that we could still change. The biggest takeaway from this experience was when I asked a local how I could personally help improve the situation. He told me that the biggest way that I could help was by educating others about the situation and by showing them that “We are not criminals, we are just people”. This deeply resonated with me and made me realize that so many problems can be fixed by simply educating people instead of letting them wallow in their own ignorance.
The Idea of a Restoration Economy is an amazing one. I had never even thought about this before we were told about it. Thinking about this topic really highlighted how much of a consumerist society we live in. A Restoration Economy is the Idea that instead of creating jobs by destroying the environment (Mining) we instead create jobs by working on restoring the environment. In Patagonia AZ there is already a very small restoration economy already in place. Borderlands Restoration actually provides jobs to high schoolers by paying them to do restoration trail work. Although a Restoration Economy is basically the polar opposite of our current economy, I think one day it could be successfully implemented at a large scale. The entire Idea totally blew my mind because ive always thought you have to have some kind of physical product in order for there to be flow of money.
When we went to Deep Dirt Farm and talked with Kate, my mind opened to a whole new world of possibilities. Seeing what Kate had made with stuff that would normally be referred to as trash was fantastic. She used so many items that I would have never thought could be used in the way she was using them. I especially liked her use of old satellite dishes as roofs. Seeing her use these things in such effective ways made me realize how wasteful our world is. Imagine all the things that could have been created if we reused our recyclable waste instead of shoving it into the ground. Im now currently trying to develop a way of thinking that is based on the words “If you think its broken, its probably not”. Another thing that I took away from my experience at Deep Dirt farm was that we are the future. This was something I already knew but the magnitude of which never really set in until Kate was talking to us about it. I vividly remember driving away from Deep Dirt and thinking “If we dont do something soon there might not be a future”. That thought really empowered me to do better.
The Idea of a Restoration Economy is an amazing one. I had never even thought about this before we were told about it. Thinking about this topic really highlighted how much of a consumerist society we live in. A Restoration Economy is the Idea that instead of creating jobs by destroying the environment (Mining) we instead create jobs by working on restoring the environment. In Patagonia AZ there is already a very small restoration economy already in place. Borderlands Restoration actually provides jobs to high schoolers by paying them to do restoration trail work. Although a Restoration Economy is basically the polar opposite of our current economy, I think one day it could be successfully implemented at a large scale. The entire Idea totally blew my mind because ive always thought you have to have some kind of physical product in order for there to be flow of money.
When we went to Deep Dirt Farm and talked with Kate, my mind opened to a whole new world of possibilities. Seeing what Kate had made with stuff that would normally be referred to as trash was fantastic. She used so many items that I would have never thought could be used in the way she was using them. I especially liked her use of old satellite dishes as roofs. Seeing her use these things in such effective ways made me realize how wasteful our world is. Imagine all the things that could have been created if we reused our recyclable waste instead of shoving it into the ground. Im now currently trying to develop a way of thinking that is based on the words “If you think its broken, its probably not”. Another thing that I took away from my experience at Deep Dirt farm was that we are the future. This was something I already knew but the magnitude of which never really set in until Kate was talking to us about it. I vividly remember driving away from Deep Dirt and thinking “If we dont do something soon there might not be a future”. That thought really empowered me to do better.
Deanna Mazzella
The three most insightful things I took away from our trip to Patagonia Arizona were 1) the observation and skillful use of materials at Deep Dirt, 2) the practical application of sustainable living and career paths, and 3) how to make an impact. First, at Deep Dirt, Kate taught us about observation, one of the principals of permaculture that is essential before you begin working on any of your designs. Her application of permaculture went further than just looking at season’s change and weather patterns though. Kate was able to observe materials that came into her possession and recycle them into sustainable and useful parts on her farm. I was inspired by her ability to use anything within her means, and utilize everything that she had. Even throughout our trip though, the theme of observation and resourceful use of materials consistently came up. Building straw bale homes is very inventive, making clay balls for protecting seeds when dispersing them is ingenious, and using berms and swales to return moisture to the soil is creative. My second insight was in how many of the things we experienced were things that people have adopted into their life or done, and is therefore possible and probable. Meeting Caleb and Ron gave me information into where I could take my learning and degree after school. The same goes for meeting Francesca. When I saw that she gets to manage a green house, I was so enthusiastic for my future opportunities. Her love of plants reminded me how much I love plants as well. And we were introduced to multiple internship opportunities through these groups such as with Borderlands Restoration and Gary Nabhan. Seeing that these people actually followed through with permaculture principals and created something that is sustainable and useful is heartening to witness. Also going to the Canelo project was another source of inspiration. The Steen family creating these homes out of straw bales and perfecting this skill is so fascinating to be able to see. And the fact that they hold workshops for how to build these straw bale homes is more encouragement that these ideas can be an actuality in my life and other people’s lives. Lastly, making an impact by simply doing the work was something I got from the Mexicayotl Academy. The kids that go to that school are so bright and hard working. It was motivating to see them dance for us and share with us inspiring words. So many points were made about what needs to come of us. I know that I am so privileged to have experienced all of these things and I need to take action and do something with my education. It was meaningful to me that the Mexicayotl don’t learn about nature, they live it on a constant basis, exactly how we should. To me the most notable principal they live by is work. When we participated in the dance, one of the movements represented that. Even Jeff Stein mentioned to us, how do you make your dreams come true? The answer is to wake up. People always talk about how they have these passionate goals, but what are theories if they don’t inspire you enough to actually take action. I think sometimes people become intimidated by how much they want to do or how much they think is necessary to do for their actions to even matter. I think we need to step back and realize, we can make more of a difference if we just start doing instead of dreaming. Baby steps are okay. Joshua even mentioned to us, we have this clean cut vision of what success is, when in reality, the journey to success is a lot messier than we had originally planned. Therefore a big take away from this trip for me was DO.
Week 2: Learning Journey Reflection
Sara Davidson
Over the course of this weeklong field journey, the paradigm that I have for the world was greatly shifted. Learning more about the kinds of restoration work that is taking place in the Borderlands was more than just informative, it was inspirational. At the beginning of the week, I had little faith in myself that I would be able to achieve this kind of high level of environmental justice that the Borderlands Restoration team was achieving. The Danza Dance group from Mexicayotl Charter School made me realize however that it is not about whether I have the strength or ability to perform a high level of environmental justice, it is an unquestionable responsibility to protect the First Citizen’s rights. Regardless of what level I am able to help the First Citizen in my lifetime, I must try my very best. Moved by dance group’s dedication and devotion, I decided that I should take this responsibility with the same kind of integrity. At the start of the field journey, I was overwhelmed with hopelessness when coming to terms with how much abuse the First Citizen has faced. However, after spending time with the Mexicayotl, I was motivated to not give up but to work harder than ever before. Not only did this realization of having an unquestionable responsibility to protect Mother Earth change my paradigm of the world, the power of observation and working together did as well.
After getting my hands dirty at Deep Dirt Farm and having the opportunity to hear wonderful words of wisdom from Kate Tirion, I realized just how important observation and patience is when restoring the land. The first 6 months Kate owned the property, all she did was spend time getting to know the land beneath her feet. Then only could she decide how she was going to rehabilitate the overgrazed land she purchased with her husband. Observing how the sun, wind, and rain interacted with the grassland was key to deciding where there needed to be a replenishment of groundwater or erosion control. With the help of many school groups, Kate was able to make the restoration project an opportunity for others to learn, observe, value and respect the land beneath their feet. The rehabilitation process is seeming to flourish greatly because of the extra time Kate spent reading the land. An example of her great dedication in observing was demonstrated when she hired a pilot to fly her over her property to correctly determine the best direction for the road to meander.
With the extensive problems our world faces today, it is imperative that people join forces and work together to tackle these issues. Of course I felt overwhelmed with helplessness at the beginning of the field journey, I knew I could never achieve any level of environmental restoration without quite a few other hands assisting me in the process. I believe the most valuable insight that I gained on this journey was the power of working together. The power of working together acts as a catalyst for impassioning people’s hearts. Once people join forces, a fire will be kindled and the First Citizen will get the justice she deserves.
Week Two Reflections: Jackson
“The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.” -Paul Valery
This past week has been chock full of amazing opportunities to learn and grow, both in my intrapersonal actions and beliefs, and also in how I function as part of my greater communities and circles. I feel so fortunate to be able to have met, and engaged with, some of the most inspiring people I have ever met. From the beginning, Windsong, Deep Dirt, Borderlands Restoration Institute, Native Seed Search, Gary Nabhan, and being with Mexicayotl Academy, among others, have engaged with us in beautiful, loving ways. But, these organizations and communities wouldn’t be thriving if it weren’t for the dedicated, driven, and hard-working individuals of all ages that make their work thrive and have powerful impacts. Of the many awakenings I experienced in Patagonia, some were more potent and sunk deeper into my mind.
“Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.” -Khalil Gibran
Passionate, dedicated action was one of the largest pieces of my journey in the borderlands region. Every single person we interacted with spoke with passion, and humility, of their successes and processes moving towards their goals of larger, systemic changes. They were speaking about how being a permaculturalist manifests in their lives. Many of the journeys that they had traveled were slow, methodical, and ended with real, positive change. For example, at Deep Dirt, Kate was restoring a part of an ecosystem while simultaneously growing food and providing for her community. Similarly, Native Seed Search started with a big idea and continues to grow and develop towards their immortal dream. It’s all there, our dreams can be realities, and when we take it seriously and devote our lives to our truths and causes, when we pour our blood, sweat, and tears into the present moment, the beautiful world of tomorrow shows up on our doorstep a lot sooner.
“You need to know it's your actions that will make you a good person, not desire.” -Matthew Quick, The Silver Linings Playbook
The idea that values don’t matter unless we strive to execute them on a daily basis isn't news to me by any means. I find myself thinking about how much I don’t truly live many of my values, or that I pick and chose when I want my values to matter. It’s certainly a tall order to ask anyone to live their values all of the time, that would be impossible. In my own life, I think I always consciously recognize when I betray my heart and act in opposition to what I believe is important. But even so, I will make decisions that do not line up with my best self. Throughout the week, time and time again, we were participating in the many different ways that everyone lived their values. From small actions all the way to working towards an end goal, the people who spent their time with us were passionately DOING the things they believed in and made them better people. It was especially poignant for me when Pastel was talking to us and, with some derision, mentioned that we Prescott College students do talk a lot about what we believe in, but it is a hollow conversation without our actions following suit.
“Educate, basically educate.” -Man with camera at Noagles Marcado
It’s really the final piece for me. Though I don’t know the name of this guy, I’m sure someone else in the class remembers, he was responding to Noah and Jake’s question, “what can I do?” Experiencing the feeling of powerless can be very debilitating and destructive to growth and it definitely will eventually bereave me of hope, but there is always something to be done. At the very least, I can always spread the information I have learned in the hopes that it connects with someone else. For almost the entire week I was being taught and trying to absorb what sometimes felt like a deluge of informations. The man at the market was reflecting that one of the most powerful tools we possess is being able to educate others with our voices, in whatever way we personally can. Nothing is original. Everything I say is something I learned somewhere else, and if I chose to live my values while I chase my dreams, spreading and teaching good things is my responsibility.
This past week has been chock full of amazing opportunities to learn and grow, both in my intrapersonal actions and beliefs, and also in how I function as part of my greater communities and circles. I feel so fortunate to be able to have met, and engaged with, some of the most inspiring people I have ever met. From the beginning, Windsong, Deep Dirt, Borderlands Restoration Institute, Native Seed Search, Gary Nabhan, and being with Mexicayotl Academy, among others, have engaged with us in beautiful, loving ways. But, these organizations and communities wouldn’t be thriving if it weren’t for the dedicated, driven, and hard-working individuals of all ages that make their work thrive and have powerful impacts. Of the many awakenings I experienced in Patagonia, some were more potent and sunk deeper into my mind.
“Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.” -Khalil Gibran
Passionate, dedicated action was one of the largest pieces of my journey in the borderlands region. Every single person we interacted with spoke with passion, and humility, of their successes and processes moving towards their goals of larger, systemic changes. They were speaking about how being a permaculturalist manifests in their lives. Many of the journeys that they had traveled were slow, methodical, and ended with real, positive change. For example, at Deep Dirt, Kate was restoring a part of an ecosystem while simultaneously growing food and providing for her community. Similarly, Native Seed Search started with a big idea and continues to grow and develop towards their immortal dream. It’s all there, our dreams can be realities, and when we take it seriously and devote our lives to our truths and causes, when we pour our blood, sweat, and tears into the present moment, the beautiful world of tomorrow shows up on our doorstep a lot sooner.
“You need to know it's your actions that will make you a good person, not desire.” -Matthew Quick, The Silver Linings Playbook
The idea that values don’t matter unless we strive to execute them on a daily basis isn't news to me by any means. I find myself thinking about how much I don’t truly live many of my values, or that I pick and chose when I want my values to matter. It’s certainly a tall order to ask anyone to live their values all of the time, that would be impossible. In my own life, I think I always consciously recognize when I betray my heart and act in opposition to what I believe is important. But even so, I will make decisions that do not line up with my best self. Throughout the week, time and time again, we were participating in the many different ways that everyone lived their values. From small actions all the way to working towards an end goal, the people who spent their time with us were passionately DOING the things they believed in and made them better people. It was especially poignant for me when Pastel was talking to us and, with some derision, mentioned that we Prescott College students do talk a lot about what we believe in, but it is a hollow conversation without our actions following suit.
“Educate, basically educate.” -Man with camera at Noagles Marcado
It’s really the final piece for me. Though I don’t know the name of this guy, I’m sure someone else in the class remembers, he was responding to Noah and Jake’s question, “what can I do?” Experiencing the feeling of powerless can be very debilitating and destructive to growth and it definitely will eventually bereave me of hope, but there is always something to be done. At the very least, I can always spread the information I have learned in the hopes that it connects with someone else. For almost the entire week I was being taught and trying to absorb what sometimes felt like a deluge of informations. The man at the market was reflecting that one of the most powerful tools we possess is being able to educate others with our voices, in whatever way we personally can. Nothing is original. Everything I say is something I learned somewhere else, and if I chose to live my values while I chase my dreams, spreading and teaching good things is my responsibility.
Lara's Reflection
Week Two
During this one week trip to learn and experience more about permaculture and sustainable living, there was honestly so much that was portrayed and it all happened so fast. It was not easy to pick only three highlights because the whole trip was amazing and meeting the people during that trip was extremely inspirational and beautiful. However taking time to think, I was able to come up with three special highlights during this whole time spent next to the borders of Mexico and the United States.
The first trip we made to look at another permaculture site was at a place called Deep Dirt and it was facilitated by an amazing woman named Kate. She was extremely inspirational to me and I could see the hard work and dedication in her life just by looking at her as a person, before even hearing her speak. It was super enjoyable getting to hear her life story and where she used to be with the hardships she had to endure to where she is now with the project she has created. It was wonderful touring her area and then being able to help her with projects that needed to be worked on and afterwards looking at the outcome of our hard work. It is inspirational seeing a woman of her age to be so strong and independent and happy with her life, especially after enduring hardships, she just managed to move on and start something new for herself. By doing the work I managed to learn so much and gain the proper experience.
Second highlight was meeting Gary Nabhan, a graduate of Prescott College and now an agricultural ecologist and author of many books. Before meeting him I only really knew of his name because he was mentioned to me multiple times and I knew that he had Lebanese roots which was a definite interest to me because I am from Lebanon. Being able to know of someone living in the States who studies agricultural ecology, permaculture and sustainable living who also comes from my part of the world was exciting to hear about. I never actually thought I would be meeting him but when my instructor mentioned that during our class trip we would be, I was very excited. It was a pleasure meeting him and seeing where he lives and that he definitely practices what he preaches. It was another inspiration for me and a large encouragement for me to bring back to Lebanon what I learn here in Arizona from my college and the amazing people I end up meeting.
Third and most amazing highlight for me was meeting the Mexicayotl School. I will forever be blown away by the beautiful ceremony they held for us. Every second of the whole ceremony from just first glance of the people to the actual start of the ceremony until the very end was simply awe inspiring. The dance performance made my heart leap with excitement; the beautiful and important words that were spoken from the teacher gave me goosebumps as well as filling me with an infinite amount of emotions that left me in the state of wanting to break out into tears. I was blown away to see children from the age of 8 to have an insane amount of passion for the environment and fighting for what is right all through different expressions and actions. It was inspirational to see a 75 year old man being able to have such beautiful and explosive energy through dance and voice. It is indescribable the amount of respect I have for them and they will forever remain in my memory.
The first trip we made to look at another permaculture site was at a place called Deep Dirt and it was facilitated by an amazing woman named Kate. She was extremely inspirational to me and I could see the hard work and dedication in her life just by looking at her as a person, before even hearing her speak. It was super enjoyable getting to hear her life story and where she used to be with the hardships she had to endure to where she is now with the project she has created. It was wonderful touring her area and then being able to help her with projects that needed to be worked on and afterwards looking at the outcome of our hard work. It is inspirational seeing a woman of her age to be so strong and independent and happy with her life, especially after enduring hardships, she just managed to move on and start something new for herself. By doing the work I managed to learn so much and gain the proper experience.
Second highlight was meeting Gary Nabhan, a graduate of Prescott College and now an agricultural ecologist and author of many books. Before meeting him I only really knew of his name because he was mentioned to me multiple times and I knew that he had Lebanese roots which was a definite interest to me because I am from Lebanon. Being able to know of someone living in the States who studies agricultural ecology, permaculture and sustainable living who also comes from my part of the world was exciting to hear about. I never actually thought I would be meeting him but when my instructor mentioned that during our class trip we would be, I was very excited. It was a pleasure meeting him and seeing where he lives and that he definitely practices what he preaches. It was another inspiration for me and a large encouragement for me to bring back to Lebanon what I learn here in Arizona from my college and the amazing people I end up meeting.
Third and most amazing highlight for me was meeting the Mexicayotl School. I will forever be blown away by the beautiful ceremony they held for us. Every second of the whole ceremony from just first glance of the people to the actual start of the ceremony until the very end was simply awe inspiring. The dance performance made my heart leap with excitement; the beautiful and important words that were spoken from the teacher gave me goosebumps as well as filling me with an infinite amount of emotions that left me in the state of wanting to break out into tears. I was blown away to see children from the age of 8 to have an insane amount of passion for the environment and fighting for what is right all through different expressions and actions. It was inspirational to see a 75 year old man being able to have such beautiful and explosive energy through dance and voice. It is indescribable the amount of respect I have for them and they will forever remain in my memory.
Learning Journey Reflection Two
Lily Caster 1-31-17
Values without actions are hollow and meaningless. This became very clear to me after spending a week in Patagonia, Arizona. As Kate Tirion, founder of Deep Dirt Farm Institute, put it, you can envision anything you want and dream endlessly, but until you take action and apply your ideas in the real world, they do not exist. The necessity of motivated, passionate initiative along with community support/involvement, and the power of education, are just a few tools that were shared with me during my time in the Borderlands.
It is one thing to see plans, dreams, visions, or masterpieces drawn out on paper sitting on a table. However, it brings you to an entire new level of excitement, appreciation and awe to see them integrated into the land and applied through the hard work of many hands and minds. At Gary Nabhan’s house we saw all the principles we had read about come to life. It was fantastic to be able to see the formula thriving in the real world in the form of berms, swails, passive solar, water catchment systems, greenhouse operations, food production, land restoration, and endless amounts of hard work and planning. We got to witness first hand just how powerful and effective taking action is. Another valuable piece of the puzzle that I came to realize is the follow through and commitment of this initial action. So often there is such massive amounts of excitement and enthusiasm built up for a new project, that we start off on too large of a scale with an overly ambitious goal. In these instances, the plan usually fizzles out and loses momentum before it can be successfully completed. This proves just how important it is to start at a slow and manageable pace so that you can gradually grow and expand. We saw this implemented at Gary’s as well as at Kate’s, the Canelo Project, and Windsong. We must put our words to action, start small and gradually build up, and follow through with motivation and commitment.
This level of commitment and momentum that is so vitally important for permaculture success is however practically impossible without community support. While in Patagonia I observed how involved and connected the community was, and realized how important this was to create a significant impact. There was the Native Seed Search who harvested, protected and grew native plants in order to maintain biodiversity and restore natural habitat; Deep Dirt Farm which brought outsiders into the loop by educating and facilitating engaging workshops; the Canelo project which took sustainable building to a new level, Windsong Peace and leadership Center which empowered youth and taught fundamental lifestyle principles, and so many other individuals and organizations that all supported each other and worked toward a common goal. In order to move forward, community involvement/support/interaction is key. You can not build a sustainable village, if you have no villagers.
How do we get members of the community involved and interested in sustainable living or implementing a restoration economy? Education. To be informed and well educated can make all the difference in the world. Windsong demonstrates just how completely fulfilling and inspiring education can be. By hosting multiple camps each year, young minds are exposed to new and empowering lifestyle choices and practices. By engaging youth and building enthusiasm for sustainable living, these ideas will be shared and spread in a positive and effective way, which will pull in the majority of the surrounding community. By providing examples, cultivating curiosity, implementing hands on learning, having fun and encouraging leadership and initiative, education is a hugely powerful, yet underutilized tool. To see this resource being applied and thriving in Patagonia was truly refreshing and inspiring. This entire trip left me with hope and passion for the future of our planet and mankind as a species.
Lily Caster 1-31-17
Values without actions are hollow and meaningless. This became very clear to me after spending a week in Patagonia, Arizona. As Kate Tirion, founder of Deep Dirt Farm Institute, put it, you can envision anything you want and dream endlessly, but until you take action and apply your ideas in the real world, they do not exist. The necessity of motivated, passionate initiative along with community support/involvement, and the power of education, are just a few tools that were shared with me during my time in the Borderlands.
It is one thing to see plans, dreams, visions, or masterpieces drawn out on paper sitting on a table. However, it brings you to an entire new level of excitement, appreciation and awe to see them integrated into the land and applied through the hard work of many hands and minds. At Gary Nabhan’s house we saw all the principles we had read about come to life. It was fantastic to be able to see the formula thriving in the real world in the form of berms, swails, passive solar, water catchment systems, greenhouse operations, food production, land restoration, and endless amounts of hard work and planning. We got to witness first hand just how powerful and effective taking action is. Another valuable piece of the puzzle that I came to realize is the follow through and commitment of this initial action. So often there is such massive amounts of excitement and enthusiasm built up for a new project, that we start off on too large of a scale with an overly ambitious goal. In these instances, the plan usually fizzles out and loses momentum before it can be successfully completed. This proves just how important it is to start at a slow and manageable pace so that you can gradually grow and expand. We saw this implemented at Gary’s as well as at Kate’s, the Canelo Project, and Windsong. We must put our words to action, start small and gradually build up, and follow through with motivation and commitment.
This level of commitment and momentum that is so vitally important for permaculture success is however practically impossible without community support. While in Patagonia I observed how involved and connected the community was, and realized how important this was to create a significant impact. There was the Native Seed Search who harvested, protected and grew native plants in order to maintain biodiversity and restore natural habitat; Deep Dirt Farm which brought outsiders into the loop by educating and facilitating engaging workshops; the Canelo project which took sustainable building to a new level, Windsong Peace and leadership Center which empowered youth and taught fundamental lifestyle principles, and so many other individuals and organizations that all supported each other and worked toward a common goal. In order to move forward, community involvement/support/interaction is key. You can not build a sustainable village, if you have no villagers.
How do we get members of the community involved and interested in sustainable living or implementing a restoration economy? Education. To be informed and well educated can make all the difference in the world. Windsong demonstrates just how completely fulfilling and inspiring education can be. By hosting multiple camps each year, young minds are exposed to new and empowering lifestyle choices and practices. By engaging youth and building enthusiasm for sustainable living, these ideas will be shared and spread in a positive and effective way, which will pull in the majority of the surrounding community. By providing examples, cultivating curiosity, implementing hands on learning, having fun and encouraging leadership and initiative, education is a hugely powerful, yet underutilized tool. To see this resource being applied and thriving in Patagonia was truly refreshing and inspiring. This entire trip left me with hope and passion for the future of our planet and mankind as a species.