Ecology Action Field Trip

As part of the internship program Sarah sets up different field trips to local organizations which partake in some form of permaculture to further our education. This non-profit is the research arm behind bio-intensive farming. This technique is based upon the concept to be able to grow the most amount of food in the smallest amount of space. They have perfected the spacing factors and implement companion planting. This reduces the amount of water needed and helps reduce weeds, pests and disease. The founding principal is to not garden an area in which you cannot provide all the necessary compost. You want to grow topsoil not deplete it. At the SLI we have 10 different compost piles. All our yard waste, garden waste and food waste goes into our piles. I have been designated the compost manager for the site. Roby has been a big help. On our field trip we got some great tips on compost building and have since implemented them.

Our first stop was at Golden Rule. It is a sister project to Ecology Action located in an intentional community started on the homestead of where Sea Biscuit was raised. This farm provides all the food for the community and documents its analysis for Ecology Action. Our tour guides were a 40-something couple who were doing the same thing as Roby and I. They quit their jobs in San Francisco as a computer programmer and accountant to simplify their lives and learn the art of sustainability. They are on a 3 year apprenticeship with the organization. After our tour of the site they took us over to the community center for a dip in the pool.

Next stop the Home of Bio-Intensive-Ecology Action. It is nestled in the hillside outside of Willits. The interns and farm managers have quite a hike down to the garden from their homes. I want to work there just for the awesome shape I would be in after climbing up and down the slope everyday. We got a quick tour of the intern yurt definitely a step up from the SLI and then we headed down to the garden. They are definitely more intense than Golden Rule. Everything must be documented from the weight of the food to the yield produced. The goal is to determine the least amount of space needed to produce enough food for a person for a year along with growing the right crops to make your compost. These guys work their butts off. In addition to their chores they partake in classes and have homework and individual projects. All the interns were from other countries, one from Ecuador, Thailand, and two from Kenya. All of them have been operating farms in their own countries but wanted to learn the bio-intensive method to help promote a more efficient organic method and get Monsanto out.

After each field trip or workshop we take we become more inspired but our list of opportunities keeps getting longer. We want to be an activist in everything!