The Mini Milpa

Mini Milpa: Part One posted Jul 22, 2011 on the Casita Dos Arbolitos Website

While we are waiting to sell our houses and lots here (the purpose of this Website, of course), we are fully living our lives, as we imagined them. We are just putting the last touches inside of Casita Laberinto; touches of paint, getting the Inner Patio Fountain running, a detailed cleaning to rid the house of Construction dust and rubble. And, again at Casita Laberinto, we are working on the last major project, the Outdoor Patio. We are paving the ground with the red bricks known as tabiques and putting up a shaded area, made of Carrizo.
And we are Gardening at both places. At Casita Dos Arbolitos, our Shelter Gardens have been providing Greens, Lettuces, Basil and Herbs. Our covered Terraces have started to produce Cucumbers; and the tomatoes are green and growing. The Beans are just beginning, but look healthy and ready to climb the trellises. In the Orchard, lots of Citrus, especially Limes; and, on the ground below, the Butter Squash have already been producing and are maturing in the field. And our Zucchini has given us its first fruits, which we promptly turned into Zucchini Pancakes.
Most of the planting at Casita Laberinto has been for infrastructure. There are exceptions to the rule, however, most of them accidental. In many of the places that we used our neighbor, Don Camarino's compost (rich from mixed animal manures), there are squash and melons growing without plan. We'll find out what they are, once the fruit begins to develop. The other area that is growing something other than infrastructure is my Mini-Milpa. This is to say, a small patch, turned into a cornfield. For the whole story on growing and harvesting corn, see: https://sites.google.com/site/casitadosarbolitos/SMA/journal-blog/makingthepefecttortilla. For more on what to do with the corn afterward, see: https://sites.google.com/site/casitadosarbolitos/SMA/journal-blog/makingtheperfecttortillaparttwo.
My mini-milpa is one last opportunity to watch the age-old process, which has gone on, in some form, here in Mexcio, for millenniums. The corn I'm using is from our neighbor and part-time worker Genaro. It is a native variety, which is well adapted to this climate, environment, rainfall and altitude. Genaro uses the same corn every year, having saved seed from the previous harvest. The proof of its strength is in yearly yields, which are high, its natural ability to resist pests, and the fact that, because the typical Campesino dry farms, it requires little or no water other than the rainy season itself, which can and has gone several days without any rain at all.
Once I worked the soil and planted the seed, a week ago yesterday, there was, indeed little or no rain. On Monday, when Genaro came to work at the Casita, I expressed my concern regarding the rain. He grabbed a handful of soil and felt and then told me that---although it felt pretty dry to me---it was "humido," which is to say, moist. Since he's been doing this for decades, since working along side his father, as a small child, I deferred to him. Since then, there have been a couple of measurable rains and the corn has started to break ground. Below are the first pictures of the Milpa. More update and comments, as the process goes along.

Mini Milpa: Part Two posted Aug 21, 2011 on the Casita Dos Arbolitos Website

Well, it's been a few weeks since I planted my Mini Milpa. Each week, when Genaro, our neighbor and part time worker, comes for his 4 hours a week, we take a look at the Milpa and he dispenses a bit of country wisdom about how to care for it or what it means to be growing corn out here, in the the "campo." Now that the Corn and Beans are starting to grow (though we could use a little more rain, at this time in the cycle), Genaro told me that it is time to bank up the Corn/Bean Rows. This means weeding and then pushing the dirt up on to the rows so that it supports the growing Corn Stalks better and also keeps the moisture in the ground.
Because we have had a couple of weeks of dry weather, a lull in the Rainy Season, some of the Corn Fields look a bit thirsty. Still, others look as if they are flourishing. Genaro says that this is because some of the campesinos have been experimenting with Chemical Weed Killers (a new phenomenon, here in the countryside). Genaro suggests that the weed killer has a two-fold effect. First, it is his observation that the chemicals work fine for killing unwanted greenery, but that they make the plants thirsty. This may be true. However, Genaro's other observation may be most accurate (or, certainly, it may be a combination of the two). Those people growing Corn that are practicing the old fashioned methods of weeding and banking the dirt, are protecting the soil from excess evaporation, as well as given extra support to the stalks.
This week, I'll be banking the rows of my Mini Milpa. In growing this Corn (and Beans), I am, according to Genaro, linking myself to the land and culture. Genaro tells me that there is a dicho, a saying that, in translation means, "that wherever you see some Corn growing in a person's yard, you know that there lives a Mexican.


For A Slide Show of the Milpa, at this Stage, Click Here!!

Somewhere [Here, actually] There Was A Rainbow.

After a long Dry Season (See: Land and Seasons), we have now had two weeks and over 5 inches of Rain. Dry Season starts when the Rains Stop. Usually, this is sometime in September. Last year, the Season started at the beginning of September, stopping a couple of weeks short of normal. Usually some time during the months of the Dry Season, there are traditional rain periods; often, a few days in November, a couple in February and/or March. This past Season was marked not only be its early beginning but, also by its lack of "traditional" rain breaks. Besides the lack of rainfall, the daytime temperatures were also hotter than usually, for a longer period of time. It was a topic, in every conversation I had with my neighboring villagers. "Que calor! (How hot it is!), Cuando viene la lluvia? (When is the rain coming?)."
This made of a long wait for the rains. It meant more watering; and more considered use of gray water. For the campesinos, it meant having their cornfields ready to plant, but not having a starting date. This last, because, traditionally, the corn is planted after the rains have soaked down a few inches into the clay soil; and this takes a few rains to accomplish.
While they were waiting for the rains, the farmer-campesinos used various forms of rain requesting, depending on their faith-orientation. Most farmers are Catholic by upbringing and part-Native American by birthright. The Catholic part followed the religious traditions of petitioning God in specifically designated masses. The "indio" (i.e., Native American) part performed dances for and set of fireworks and rockets to the gods/God, in the folk tradition.
It would appear that the prayers/petitions were answered. Now we have had an abundance of rain and those who were first to plant their corn (everyone has a mini-tradition as to the exact appropriate time), are seeing the first corn shoots breaking through the soil.
And the cornfields are not the only place that Green is breaking through. Grasses are emerging everywhere. And this includes everywhere in our Garden, as well; though we call them weeds, there. And the Nopal cactus paddles that had looked drawn, almost dessicated, two weeks ago, have plumped right up and the new leaves will be ready for making side dishes, filling, or salads. And their fruit, the prickly pears (called "tunas," here) are filling out and will be ready to eat raw or to be used in making jams or desserts.
Inside Casita Dos Arbolitos Walls, the Gardens have plumped up as well. Things that were taking their time to while the rains failed to appear, have had growth spurts or have stepped up production. Our squash plants, which were being well watered, seemed to wait until the rains to burst out with flowers and fruit. Our fig tree, which was giving us a few figs every couple of days, is producing about a pound of ripe figs per day, now. Back outside the Walls, plants like the una de gato and trees like the palo dule are starting to send out leave buds. With Summer, the Rainy Season has arrived and the High Plateau is turning Green.
Whether the rains have come as part of a cycle, the whims of nature or as petition to the gods or God, there is beauty emerging as these high drylands turn from dusty golden varying shades of greens, with blushes of ripening. One afternoon, as the clouds were passing overhead and bringing showers, there were enough spaces in between the clouds to allow the Sun to get some light through. And with the light came the arco de Iris, a rainbow. I'm sure many of the petitioners took it as a sign that their prayers had been heard and affirmatively answered.

It's Not Easy Being Green: PartThree

Being Green in the 21st Century is not easy. It's not that developing a green lifestyle is particularly difficult. How-to's, organizations, websites, government agencies, clubs, schools, individuals are all in place to help someone develop their own Green viewpoint. Companies have developed products, from solar panels to electronic composting toilets to electric cars to new age "cosmic" life enhancements. Service companies can come to your home and set up systems and maintain your Green home and deliver the latest in Organic produce and home care products.
Where being Green isn't easy is when you decide to maintain that lifestyle for a lifetime. When you decide that it's really up to you to do your part and pay attention to the process and the outcome. Then, a Green lifestyle gets a bit more difficult. You can be a Green consumer and still not understand the link of your actions to the welfare of the inhabitants of the Earth.
Green means making the choices that will least effect the planet. Processed foods, even in health food stores, even "produced and [especially] packaged in the US," may have traveled the globe to get to the shelf. For example, I was talking to someone who produced a tofu-"meat" product. This, for vegetarian, holiday consumption. It turns out that he made the product in vats in the US, shipped it to Taiwan, where it was pressed into molds and packed in containers; then it was shipped back to the US for labeling and marketing. In the name of health, this product's carbon footprint was huge.
Organic chips and crackers, and cereals and ready-made consumables can be delicious, but almost all of them [locally produced and locally marketed can be the exceptions, here] are made in some central plant and shipped throughout the nation. The alternative?? Make them yourself. Recipes abound for crackers, cereal, dinners, lunches, breakfasts. If you think you don't have the time for this, or some of this, maybe you need to pay attention to your use of time itself. Being Green means taking care of the planet, starting with yourself.
And being Green means paying attention to the the income and outflow of utilities, water and sewage, electricity; packaged products in and where the packaging goes (i.e., is it recycled or put in the trash---which is the larger outflow of the two?). And kitchen "waste." Is it being composted or thrown away or sent down the drain? And green "waste." Is it staying on your property to be composted, or is sent to the green recycling, or is it "trash?"
Being Green is not difficult because there are resources, being Green is difficult because you have to tap into your inner resources. And keep tapping into them. And keep paying attention. And keep on doing it for your life time. But it's worth it.

It's Not Easy Being Green: Part Two.

So, when last we left the Sustainable Household, we were discussing Water. Most Important. And then there are other elements to make a House a Home that is more livable. When Casita Dos Arbolitos was first inhabited, the Solar Electric Panel were still months away. Thanks to Brian, from Apollo Electric (see the Technologies in MapaVerde), when the Casita did get solar electricity, it exceeded the needs of its inhabitants.
Before the solar electricity was installed, there were chores that were best served by human power. For example, everyday, the roof tinaco had to have water carried up to it, so that the shower and sinks would be functional. This was about 5 to 6 5-Gallon Buckets a day; first, while the stairs were being finished, up a ladder; then directly---and more easily---up the stairs themselves. [This, by the way, turned out to be a competent way to measure water consumption] And then there was laundry; this, done with buckets of water, a grape/clothes-stomping method o agitation, and hand-wringing. Both of these above activities were labor intensive. But they made the solar electricity seem that much more magical and gave the people at the Casita 9 an appreciation of what it was like before relatively "modern times. [A Note: Even(i.e., Eddie and Kathy) as most residents of the Sustainable Neighborhood of San Jose de Gracia have solar electricity, not everyone in the Village of SJdG has electricity in their homes yet. And many of those that do, don't have ll of the modern conveniences, such as a washing machine]
Refrigeration was another issue at the Casita, before the panels were installed. This meant going to town every other day to supply ice to keep things cool. To one who is trying to live sustainably, this continual trekking to town is not conducive.
When Brian from Apollo installed the system, he warned the owners that the system was small (at that time 350 Watts) and that it was only good for lighting and some general uses such as a washing machine during daylight hours. No refrigeration, for sure. [It must be noted here that Brian, considered one of the best Solar technicians in SMA, is also known to be an energy fascist] After monitoring the system for two months, Eddie and Kathy bought a small refrigerator, which they used for some month before upgrading to a larger refrigerator (again, after monitoring usage). The point here is that a little electricity, monitored and used moderately, goes a long way.
With the addition of another panel, Casita Dos Arbolitos now has about 500 Watts of solar which is more than adequate for the needs for both it and the Guest/Garden Room). A system like this costs about $8000 USD; larger system, of course, cost more, but can served the needs of those who would prefer to not spend as much attention (though, in living the sustainable lifestyle, paying attention is a plus). The system a the Casita has 8 batteries for storage and a 1500 Watt Inverter to change the DC electricity to AC. There is room for more panels and batteries. Recommendations for a solid system would be to have the 8 batteries, 600+ Watts of panels, and a larger---1800+---inverter.
More on Living Green, later.

It's Not Easy Being Green.*

*Citation: Frog, Kermit the, 1969.

When considering undertaking a Green Lifestyle, it behooves one to remember Kermit's lament. Although there are numerous rewards in Being---that is, "living"---Green, it takes more than just a casual commitment. Green is a way of life that requires conscious, not casual awareness.
Many of the environmental problems over the past decades have been caused by two important issues. One is the heavy reliance on petroleum products, gas, oil, plastics. The other is the reliance and ignorance of how one obtains the "basic" necessities, such as water, electricity and disposal of wastes. These two create a culture that doesn't understand and doesn't want to think about the wheres and hows of ordinary living.
When one makes a commitment to live Green, these basics of ordinary living come more sharply into focus. The next few posts will offer a few examples of basic living practices as practiced at Casita dos Arbolitos, a Homesite in San Jose de Gracia:
1. Water. Casita dos Arbolitos (CDA)has a total of 1850 Gallons (70,000 liters) of water-capturing/water-storage capacity , in two concrete Cisterns. This is the average amount of water, per homesite; with both smaller (approximately 30,000 liters) and larger (approximately 109,000 liters) in other sites. The rains come, the water flows into the Cisterns to be used as need. When the rains come, monitoring the Cisterns allows for distribution. The smaller cistern fills quickly and then extra water is pumped into tanks or back into the larger cistern. During the dry months, monitoring informs whether the amount of water captured will serve the needs of the homesite until the rainy season.
Water is used directly for washing bodies, clothes, dishes and for watering edible plants. "Gray water," from washing, is distributed directly, by hose, to trees and bushes; and by bucket to other plants and smaller trees not accessible by hose. Because of the human waste disposal method at CDA (more on that in a future Post), there is no creation of "black water," or the extra measures that are required in its handling. All water is used, then reused, and kept on the land.
Another, important water-management issue is Keeping rain water from eroding the land and washing the soil away. To mitigate erosion and to keep both the soil on the land and to help keep the water from rushing away without serving the property, the area around Casita Dos Arbolitos has had several types of simple barriers set up to slow water down and let it sink into the ground. Swales, a series of relatively deep (2 feet) ditches were dug across the open areas of the property; rainwater, as it begins to move downward on the property, falls into the swales. Berms, made either with rocks or mounds of earth, also slow the water as it flows downward. And a third method, free-standing rock terraces, capture both water and soil so that, y the time the rainwater reaches the arroyo at the bottom of the property, it is traveling slowly and without having taken away the basics structure of the land.
For more about Casita Dos Arbolitos and Mexico, visit the CDA Blog: https://sites.google.com/site/casitadosarbolitos/SMA/journal-blog

SMA Green

In the past Twelve Years, since the beginnings of the Permaculture Neighborhood in San Jose de Gracia, San Miguel de Allende has begun to more completely develop its Green Consciousness. Green festivals, numerous natural foods stores, organic farms and municipal governments which not only encourage recycling but are also reforesting and, with the partnership of such organizations as Via Organica are making Green a way of Life and Education at the Municipal Nursery.
Solar Energy is now a thriving business in SMA. Listed in MapaVerde, the website which tracks the Green Movement in SMA, are 8 Solar Energy Businesses. Both the Federal and Municipal Governments are supporting efforts to make SMA and Mexico itself, less dependent on non-renewable resources such as oil.
Here in San Jose de Gracia, the residents are doing their part. In other areas, communities, not just neighborhoods, are dedicated to building and living Green.

There Really is A GREEN Neighborhood in San Jose de Gracia

A View to the East in Section One

Although this Blog has been inactive for almost 3 years, that hasn't stopped the Green neighborhood of SJdG from expanding. When this Blog was envisioned, there were only a few houses in each Section of the Neighborhood. In Section One, there was only two completed and two more being built. Since then, The first two have been improved, the two on the way have been mostly completed and two others are works-in-progress. And another has been planned.
In Section Two, there were Seven completed and another started. Now there are Ten Homes completed and Two are works-in-progress, near completion.
Not all of the neighbors agree on every aspect of green living. Still, most have water catchment, solar electricity, and some form of grey water disbursal. Most built with some or all of their materials coming from natural or renewable resources, such as adobe or stone. And everyone has built according to their particular vision of Green, even if it didn't live up to the first ideas of Permaculture, which were the early driving force.
The Green Neighborhood here, is taking some first steps in shrinking the Carbon footprint. We invite everyone to follow in our footsteps and begin shrinking theirs.