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Welcome to our blog. We invite you to read our posts and feel free to leave a few comments! Your feed back is much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to learn about Natural Building and a little bit more of what we are up to at our sanctuary. If you have any questions or would like to connect directly, please send us an email at info@ecomaste.com

Wholeness, Much Love, and Pura Vida.

Seeds represent the foundations or building blocks of life. Just as many of us have lost our

connection to ourselves and nature, seeds have been lost too. 93 percent of native and criolla

seeds were lost between 1903 and 1993. It is believed that we have lost over 75 percent of

Earth’s forests due to deforestation and human activity.



“A seed is a forest inside out.”

—Matshona Dhliwayo


Through the preservation of seeds—planting them on our lands and storing them in seed

banks—we can exchange seeds, plant seeds, and bring back some of the biodiversity and vitality we have lost. Seeds are the foundation of all existence. As guardians of the land, we are seeds of change, regeneration, and love. Seeds are our connection to life itself; we cannot have life without seeds.


What types of seeds do we have today?


Local or Native Seeds. These seeds originate in the land or region where they are

currently cultivated. Ten thousand years ago, humans started to domesticate plants and

adapt to specific local conditions; their seeds adapted with them. 2

Criolla or Adapted Seeds. These seeds originally come from other regions of the world

but have adapted to the climate and soil where they are now grown. With the invasion of

colonization, and specifically the Spanish here in Latin America, many seeds have been

carried into the Americas—and all across the world.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Seeds. These seeds are bred not in a garden

but rather in a laboratory, using modern biotechnology techniques like gene splicing.

Scientists modify a seed’s DNA to ensure that the resulting plant produces desired

characteristics. Many GMO seeds are sterile, meaning they cannot produce seeds for the

next harvest.


1 Greenpeace, “Forest Destruction,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific (Greenpeace), accessed November 2, 2021,

https://www.greenpeace.org.au/what-we-do/protecting-forests/forest-destruction/.

2 National Geographic Society, “Domestication,” (National Geographic Society, October 9, 2012),

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/domestication/.



What are the benefits of Native Criollas Seeds?

Economic benefit: farmers don’t need to purchase seeds each year

Environmental: Conserve the biodiversity, respect of interdependence between animals and

plants

Cultural: Conserve the identity of culture & tribes

Social: Ensuring survival through healthy food for generations


What are the consequences of GMO Seeds?

Economic benefit – farmers need to purchase seeds each year

Environmental – Loss of biodiversity, Increased pests, desertification of soil

Cultural – Loss of security and food sustainability of agriculture/farmers/locals

Social – Public health is in crisis and increased sickness of humans





Why regenerative agriculture?

● Builds and feeds the soil

● Compost or heavy mulch covers crops

● Holistic management

● Many yields and companion planting

● Supports healthy ecosystems

● Zero or minimal tilling

● Sequesters carbon

● Chemical-free

● Cooperates with nature

Why not monoculture agriculture?

● Depletes soil and is extractive to the environment


● Heavy use of toxic fertilizers

● Reductionist

● Plants in mono crops

● Creates dead zones, poisonous waterways, and desertification

● Relies on chemicals for high yields

● Attempts to beat and conquer nature


We are the seeds

The solution is for cultivation of seeds in each household, schools, and public gardens. Also, to purchase from local organic farmers.





Protecting our seeds..

● PLANT SEEDS. Safest way to preserve seeds and empower communities.

● Create a seed bank, in a safe dry place.

● Exchange or share seeds with your neighbors.

Join us May 28th from 9am - 1pm for a seed exchange at EcoMaste in Fuerte Verde.

More Info: https://www.ecomaste.com/eventos


“When it comes to the love within us and surrounding us, it is so important for us to nourish it like a garden, starting at the core of love in our own hearts and rippling outwards to the garden surrounding us."


We are seeds, ready to sprout and then blossom; it is time for us to remember the love that is our true nature. We all have this seed deep within our hearts. The best way to cultivate our garden of love is to start planting seeds—within ourselves and in the earth—each cycle.


At the core of all beings is a seed of love. Love grows and flourishes within each of us,

especially if we can start our day with intention, appreciation of nature, and conscious

consumption. Love can be compared to the “flowering of a plant when the necessary stage of

maturity has been reached.” 3 We each hold the ability to love—this seed, this potential—within us. It is up to us to nourish this seed of love with compassion, hope, grace, and positive

affirmations.” Regenerate Your Reality Book, Your Guide to Regenerative Living.


3 Michael Soulé, “Love and Its Meaning in the World, a Lecture by Rudolf Steiner, Dec 1912,” Lead Together (Lead

Together , March 19, 2019), https://leadtogether.org/love-and-its-meaning-in-the-world-a-lecture-by-rudolf-steiner-dec-1912/




If what you read here resonates with you, consider buying your copy of best selling book:


A portion of proceeds will support the planting of three trees for each book purchased.

Thank you so much for reading! If you don’t know the project, Regenerate Your Reality

uses permaculture, agroforestry, and education to bring sovereignty and happiness to

our communities. ⁣It is our mission to restore the relationship between humans and the

earth and build a regenerative present. Share the mission and learn more at

www.regenerateyourreality.com.


Article Author : Jean Pullen is a multi-talented artist, gardener, cook, musician, writer, and

entrepreneur. Jean is best selling author of Regenerate Your Reality book, partner & director at Jungle Project, and a Soil Advocate at Kiss the Ground. Jean believes we can be part of the solution to the climate crisis, and that we all can play our part by living regeneration and coming back to our essence of love.



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Recently the Ecomaste family took a course at Rancho Mastatal with Thiago from Syntropic Solutions to expand their understanding of Syntropic Farming. This blog will go over some of the major takeaways.


To begin to talk about Syntropic Farming first let’s get an understanding of Entropy. Entropy is movement of energy from a complex form to a more simple form. Energy is dispersed and lost in the process going from order to chaos. Snytropy is energy movement from simple to complex. Energy accumulates moving towards order.


Syntropic Farming Foundations:

Principles/ Processes-*These never change

-There is a natural guiding force moving towards more complexity-snytropy, abundance, stability

-We are a part of a unified intelligence

-We are here to optimize the natural life processes


Ground cover

Maximize photosynthesis

Natural Succession

Stratification (light)

Management

Structure

Need a basic structure to perform a function

Context

Circumstance, time, resources, location, climate, mission, purpose

Systems

Create Systems to:

Maximize photosynthesis

High density planting

Proper Stratification (Light)

Time and space

Length x width

Covering soil, nutrient cycling

Biomass tree

Heavy mulching

Living ground cover

Syntropic Bed Basics

Placenta I- Veggies/herbs that fulfill function after 6 months-radishes, eggplant, salad greens, (plant densely) The seeds that don’t mature become food for other plants and increase biomass of the soil.

Placenta 2- Plants/ Fruits take up to 2 years to reach maturation-bananas, pineapples, papaya, moringa

Secondary 1-Fruits/ that take up to 5-10 years to reach maturation Guanabana, Jaboticaba, Pitanga,

Secondary 2- Fruits/Trees reach maturation in 10-15 years eucalyptus, avocado, mango, Madera Negro

Climax- Crops/Trees reach maturation in 20-40 years Roble de Sabana, Coffee, cashew



Clearing to Clearing

Is a key concept to understand. This idea is rooted around that everything in nature is a cycle. For example, Forests

they have their origin of simplicity from bacteria and fungi.

This is the colonization of systems which -Optimizes life processes and quantity and quality of consolidated life.


Then there is an accumulation of systems- More complex systems of life, insects, amphibians, birds, rodents, nutrient plant life.

The momentum continues and reaches the abundance of systems- the most complex systems of life big mammals, and densely nutrient food.

In Forests the ideal structure is density closer to the ground (ground cover) and low density at the top so photosynthesis is maximized. Once the Climax of the forest is reached the forest will start clearing.

System of accumulation

One accumulates and ends “clears” and the next one begins.

Plant life cycle

Seed to seeds… young to old “senseis” decaying and slows the system coming to an end. Plants give the best fruits at their end of their cycle.


How does this happen? When the structure of the forest starts to get out of alignment you will notice that vines will come and take over trees, winds, and other natural disturbances happen. You could think of this as nature’s pruning. The feld trees if left alone will decompose and the colonization of systems continues, following by the accumulation of systems and finally the abundance of systems.


No competition of plants

They occupy the same space at different times. When they grow together, they help each other


The key is to take the time to understand the specific plant in terms of function, life cycle, how to:

Maximize photosynthesis

Natural Succession

Stratification (light)

Management


Recap

From clearing to clearing, natural force (syntropy). Towards complexity, balance, accumulation of energy.

Humans are here to mimic the process and speed it up so we can use the system already in place!


Ecophysiology of plants

Functions

Certain plants draw energy in different times of the year and also give.


Synchronizing

Given the right environment each plant will grow at their rate and respect all other plants while doing their function

Benefits of Syntropic Farming

  • Increased land use.

  • Early harvests constant yields

  • More gains more saving

  • Applicable from small to large scale

The beautiful thing about Syntropy for us is it helped view both the micro and macro applications of this ideology.



Macro Applications

Observe and support our ecosystems. We can follow specific principles and processes that don’t change. The structure does vary to a degree but this is depends on the context. Through doing this we will optimize life processes. Moving in the natural direction of life itself from simple to complex life. Creating more abundance, life for external and internal ecosystems.

Micro Applications

How can be also observe our own inner ecosystems?

What we need to survive, basic needs will never change. Food, water, shelter, rest.

To thrive the list grows; food, water,


shelter, rest, love, creativity, passion etc.

The structures of these will vary depending on your own context. To discover your own context you must also inner-stand yourself as an individual.

Think Ecophysiology of people: at specific times we draw in more energy and at certain times we share this energy.

Holistic Observation- leads to knowing ourselves what are our needs, desires, skills, temperaments, constitutions, preferences in terms of THRIVING. We must accept that we are NATURE. We can nurture ourselves in a way to optimize our own growth and others growth while all doing a specific and uniquely needed function. Do you see the pattern? More abundance, life, and harmony for both our internal and external ecosystems!


Know thyself what is each living being good at doing? Find out and feed that!


In nature nothing is sustainable-its regenerative- we don’t just want to sustain we want to THRIVE!

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If you’ve been following the bamboo scene in Costa Rica you’ll know that Rodo and Trey are local legends. Rodo, a life-long bamboo master has crafted some of the most compelling structures in the country and studied with many master craftsmen from Asia. Trey, well known for his innovative stage builds and developing the bamboo industry in Costa Rica also brings his ecological knowledge of how the plant grows, stemming from his other hobby as a passionate fruit head. When I got the news that EcoMaste would be hosting a Bamboo Building workshop with Trey and Rodo doing hands-on-training while building their shower and cabina frame, I was stoked!!


A construction site and training workshop combined with a rowdy group of natural building enthusiasts from all over the world is a big vibe! I was even more stoked when I drove onto the gorgeous permaculture oasis of EcoMaste with a stocked pond, dozens of tropical birds, and a stunning local river surrounded by bamboo and Reina de La Noche flowers. Amanda and Jose, the guardians of the land there are heart warming permacuralists and herbalists who have the unique ability to make everyone feel at home immediately.


The vibe was high and every day our communal bamboo stoke kept building. We started out simply learning how to shape nails and the regenerative and structural glories of bamboo. Bamboo when cut can regenerate its growth to a fully mature bamboo shoot in just a little as four years. When treated Asper and other types of bamboo can last for 50+ years and is structurally just as strong, lighter and more versatile than trees. It’s a great solution to prevent local deforestation. We also learned how to identify various species and within no time were out in the jungle with a chainsaw learning how to care for and harvest this amazing regenerative resource.


We all got super excited when our phenomenal chef and kitchen team let us put our new skill to good use and prepare some bamboo cookers to make rice and jungle plantain stew over an open fire. Every meal was delicious and gathering in a circle to sing and give gratitude before each meal helped build camaraderie and a groovy after work vibe where we’d watch documentaries about bamboo and get inspired about other international projects.


On the last day, in celebration we devoured all you can eat jungle vegan pizza. Then built a bonfire under the stars and shook out all our heavy lifting with an epic ecstatic dance party. We shared our little side projects of chopsticks, bongs, necklaces, and Rodo even gave away a mirror we had designed and built in class.


We all left inspired and deeply connected to the vision of natural building and bamboo with only a few cuts, bruises and bee stings and a seriously phenomenal week of growth. EcoMaste’s open door and open minded community made it easy for workers and other bamboo enthusiasts to walk in the door and share. And you might want to stay a while there too see the fresh new natural building structures being built on their incredible land.


By: Natalie Bankhead


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