ANALYSIS
Boundaries & Resources
PASTE Analysis
Sector analysis
Here you can see one of the first sketches I made, about how people and the elements could flow through and grow into the site. I'm starting to think about the shape of the paths and sides of the terraces.
The space does not have much sunlight due to two huge Mango trees that grow in it. It will be necessary to prune many branches to increase the amount of light for some species that need it and avoid the leaves, fruits and branches falling in the garden, thus preventing damage and maintenance work.
Also there is a house located very close on the south side of the garden that in the winter season stops many hours of sunlight passing into the garden.
The area does not receive strong winds, and the person who took care of the garden before set up a line of ornamental cactus that has create enough wind break to don't have to be much worry about that aspect.
The garden area is located in a place where many people move through, so it will be very exposed and seen by volunteers and visitors.
Also there is a house located very close on the south side of the garden that in the winter season stops many hours of sunlight passing into the garden.
The area does not receive strong winds, and the person who took care of the garden before set up a line of ornamental cactus that has create enough wind break to don't have to be much worry about that aspect.
The garden area is located in a place where many people move through, so it will be very exposed and seen by volunteers and visitors.
There is a notorious natural slope on the site, so I'm thinking to build terraces in a way that maximizes vertical water penetration ( rain water percolating through the soil profile and recharging ground water supplies), preventing water run-off, and therefore reducing erosion.
Threats
Being located in the tropics there is no risk of low temperatures or frost. The only threats I have to be aware are the moisture excess during the rainy season, and the fires made by my neighbours that can come out of nowhere. Because the local farmers believe that by burning their fields the soil becomes more fertile and it's a cheap and easy way to have a 'clean space', every year they set their fields and the surrounding forest on fire.
There is a great diversity of wildlife in the area, but they do not cause damage in the gardens of our community as most of them are reptiles like snakes or frogs. Having nine cats does not leave much room for mice and other pests.
There is a great diversity of wildlife in the area, but they do not cause damage in the gardens of our community as most of them are reptiles like snakes or frogs. Having nine cats does not leave much room for mice and other pests.
Vibrational Garden
Whith Quico Barranco at Vegetalia.
A few years ago I was introduced to the Nabajo Indians medicinal wheels by Quico Barranco from Mother Earth Organic seeds.
His spiritual vision of how to design what he call a vibrational garden (driving the energies of the site to the elements in it), gave me a lot of inspiration to one day create a space like this, where we not only count the production, visual or mathematical things, but also the energetic flows. This includes organic shaped beds such as moon-shaped terraces, curves or spirals, to direct the energies into and through the site.
The web page is in spanish language, but if you want to read more about the Quico Barranco workshops I attended, click (here).
His spiritual vision of how to design what he call a vibrational garden (driving the energies of the site to the elements in it), gave me a lot of inspiration to one day create a space like this, where we not only count the production, visual or mathematical things, but also the energetic flows. This includes organic shaped beds such as moon-shaped terraces, curves or spirals, to direct the energies into and through the site.
The web page is in spanish language, but if you want to read more about the Quico Barranco workshops I attended, click (here).
Contour
In the picture on the right I have tried to represent the contour lines on the site.
As there is not much altitude I have marked with a separation of thirty centimetres in height between lines. To see where the contours are I have used an A frame to mark the biggest areas and a spirit level to do the small bits. On the south side is the highest point with a soft slope going lower to the north, with approx one and a half meters of total slope difference. |
Zoning
I have analysed different zones regarding the placement of the plants.
I have counted some factors including:
I have analysed different zones regarding the placement of the plants.
I have counted some factors including:
- Visits per week
- Accessibility
- Maintenance
- Size (plant and space)
- Sunlight/ shadow tolerance
- Moisture
- Food production
- Medicinal properties for the garden and I
- Pollination
- Attraction of animals, insects, people...
Zone 0:
I restricted this like a recreational area where I will put flowers, ornamental plants, herbs, or fruit, to invite people to enjoy a place where they can have a moment for themselves. Zone 1: This starts growing around the paths, where I will locate the elements that need more attention, maintenance, and more frequent harvesting. Zone 2: Is distributed in separate different places, as many little areas. These are medium maintenance, here is where I'll put the most of the perennial plants with different functions, like chilli and basil for pest control or flowers to attract insects to pollinate all of the zones around. |
Zone 3:
Will be the most inaccessible areas which I will place low maintenance flowers and ornamental plants.
Zones 4 & 5:
See at my project review into the evaluation section by clicking (here).
Will be the most inaccessible areas which I will place low maintenance flowers and ornamental plants.
Zones 4 & 5:
See at my project review into the evaluation section by clicking (here).
The nursery
Because to the excessive rain during the monsoon I have improvised a small nursery at my house. This helped me to control and keep on track of the growth of the most delicate seeds, like tomatoes, courgette, and some veggies from my last trip to California.
This way I can see and learn better about some plants that I want to use for this project, before introducing them into the site. I organized the Panya nursery based on biodynamic groups. These are:
|