Post - Kara Folkerts

after two weeks of living in the jungle taking my permaculture design course my heart has been cracked wide open.

finca tierra is a slice of paradise tucked away on an idyllic jungle landscape along the southern caribbean coast in the talamanca region of costa rica. I have been planning to take my 72 hour permaculture design course for the last couple of years and while already living and working remotely in costa rica, the time and opportunity came for me to learn and open myself up to these new experiences and knowledge!

so what exactly is permaculture design?

the research permaculture institute defines it below:

“permaculture integrates land, resources, people and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies – imitating the no waste, closed-loop systems seen in diverse natural systems. permaculture studies and applies holistic solutions that are applicable in rural and urban contexts at any scale.”

it’s a framework of design-based thinking around a harmonious and integrative relationship as humans with our natural environments. seeing ourselves as part of nature, rather than separate, and living with intention, awareness, and alignment with these principles. permaculture design ethics are based on the foundation of earth care, people care and fair share.

during the course, we covered everything from planting seeds, making biochar and adding it to our compost, sharpening machetes to use for pruning trees in the food forest, graphing fruit trees, planting root vegetables, harvesting fruit, making sugar cane juice, and everything in between. on an average day, we would spend our mornings out in the field getting our hands dirty, observing and learning about the landscape, and being active around the farm. our afternoons were spent in our outdoor classroom having open discussions and lectures on the principles, ethics and practices of permaculture.

the entire two weeks was an information overload of the most incredibly insightful knowledge and understanding from two of the most awe-inspiring people I’ve ever met. ana and ian came together years ago to create what is now finca tierra and have been sharing permaculture design courses and their own experiences with others from all across the globe. it was such a rich experience of inspiration and alignment. ana and ian are true examples of how we can live a simple life and thrive in a harmonious relationship with the earth, doing more good than harm.

and at the end of the day, that’s what the simplicity in growing our own food is all about. a peaceful revolution during a time when a deteriorating climate, capitalism, inequality, consumerism, deforestation, money, power and so much more have taken over. permaculture isn’t meant to oversimplify and make us complacent to the very real problems embedded in society today, but rather, be a framework of design that approaches systems in a holistic and integrative way to move towards a healthier planet and way of being for everyone. and not only does this have to do with growing our own food, but also by thinking outside the box and looking at all the systems in our world and becoming observers first and foremost to understand the environment and begin integrating more sustainable and regenerative practices in our lives.

permaculture has 12 foundational principles:

observe and interact: slow down, listen, and connect to your surroundings. the element of stillness is key to moving forward with a mindset of permaculture design.

catch and store energy: as part of your design, capture and collect renewable and abundant energy to minimize seeking resources from the outside.

obtain a yield: "you can't work on an empty stomach." make sure you are getting useful rewards from the hard work you put in.

apply self-regulation and accept feedback: self-regulation keeps us accountable and can empower us and accepting feedback gives us the opportunity to learn and grow.

use and value renewable resources and services: we need to reduce our excessively consumptive behaviour and not depend so heavily on non-renewable resources.

produce no waste: simply put, live an environmentally responsible lifestyle. be conscious of your ecological footprint.

design from patterns to details: stand back and observe patterns in nature and in society and then start filling in the details. this will make for more logical and efficient work in the long run.

integrate rather than segregate: this goes for our connection to the earth and to each other. recognize we are apart of nature, not separate. we must live in harmony with nature and all those around us to thrive. we are part of an inter-dependent ecological system, there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’.

use small and slow solutions: slow and steady wins the race. think of small-scale local solutions to produce more sustainable outcomes.

use and value diversity: diversity creates a healthy environment. this goes for diverse species in our gardens as it will become more resilient to threats from nature, but also valuing diversity among people to make for a more peaceful and equitable society. divert from narrow-minded thinking and draw upon diverse perspectives for new ideas and ways of understanding.

use edges and value the marginal: "don't think you are on the right track just because it is a well-beaten path." often, seeking alternative routes and methods of design can offer the most valuable outcomes. the interface between things can be where the most interesting things take place.

creatively use and respond to change: stay open, be adaptable, and respond to the ever-changing world with creativity and resilience in all aspects of life

at the end of the course, we were given an imaginary plot of land to plan out and create our own permaculture design. it was incredible to dream up, get creative, and apply the knowledge and principles we learnt from the previous two weeks on this project. we presented our designs to the entire group to draw on each other’s inspiration, goals, and ideas. after our presentations we received our 72hr permaculture design certificates and were blown away by how quickly our time together had been. it truly felt like some of the most informative and transformative two weeks of my life!

I’ve dreamt of growing my own food since I was a little girl. spending the weekend in my grandma’s garden picking the beans, peas, and carrots. walking barefoot in the dirt, spending long days out in the sunshine and fresh air, seeing my mom completely lose herself in the enjoyment and flow of her garden, and helping out in our backyard understanding the hard work and efforts involved in maintaining a garden.

taking my PDC was another step towards manifesting my dream of becoming that old, sunbaked, scraggly gray-haired, wild woman walking barefoot in her garden thriving in her simple little homestead. while my current nomadic lifestyle isn’t the most conducive to growing food right now, understanding the importance and being able to support others’ efforts that align with this vision while I am on the move is a huge value of mine. it builds excitement for my own thriving garden one day and also makes me appreciate locally grown food that much more, knowing the care, work, and consideration put into everything I consume.

this feels like only a small recap of my experience at finca tierra, but I know the new knowledge and understanding I’ve gained from this course will continue to seep into all avenues in my life moving forward. ultimately, permaculture is an ethically-based design framework for those who want to live in alignment with the natural world and play their part in bringing a more ecologically balanced, equitable and kind world into fruition. with my biggest passions of health, sustainability, connecting with nature, movement and community - permaculture feels like the missing link and something that I’m just beginning to see have the ripple effects of positive change in my own life and hopefully in the lives of others.

finca tierra permaculture design course

so what exactly is permaculture design?

permaculture has 12 foundational principles: