Leisha What are we up to? The project has launched and Living Ground, Suelo Vivo is carefully placing one foot in front of the other and walking carefully, gently and purposefully forward. As all we do is about the microbes and the micro world of the soil, it is important this be the primary focus.
September 1st, we began by launching a Microbe Compost production site in our home town of Masanamaca, Southern Ecuador. There are 9 soil squad members actively focussing on the creation of the microbe rich compost. A market garden and two medicine gardens (one dedicated to plants for essential oils) have been sprouted. Our team is actively doing Laboratory Soil Tests and Client Land Consultations. Our focus and attention is acute and dedicated to this important work which, we feel, will save the world.
When we put our attention and our powers of observation onto something, we imbue it with our energy. We begin to see through the veil of separation. We can use all of our senses with our minds wide open. And perhaps learn something.
KNOW THE BASICS
There are some basic principles that apply to everyone who wants to grow nutrient-dense food
- Use only life-affirming methods. Abandon the use of toxic chemicals and poisons whether chemical or organic. Cause life to flourish as Nature intended
- Use your powers of observation. This may require getting down on hands and knees. Or standing back and squinting. Or not listening to the story in your head. Our tool is the microscope.
- Do what works and be cautious. And observe, observe, observe. Understand that organic is not enough anymore.
- Find out everything you can about your own situation. Our consults take you deeper into natural understanding
KNOW YOUR LOCATION
Be curious! As you understand more about your own place, you become more a part of it.
- What are the limiting factors? Extreme temperatures? Lack or overabundance of water? Fertility? Shade? Drainage? Bugs? Gophers? Wind?
- What are the biggest advantages? Close to the kitchen? Wide open possibilities? Food security? Medicines in your garden?
- How does your growing style fit into the larger community? Will/do you grow mostly for yourself? Or do you share/sell surplus? Do/can you have special crops others don’t grow? Our project encompasses working with land owners to become a community of collaboration
- What was the land like a generation or two ago? What native plants? What native waterways? Was it forest? Was it wetter then? How many people did it support?
- What is the underlying geology of your area? How was the soil built? By wind? By flooding? By truck? How old is the rock beneath your soil?
- How much rainfall do you get in a year? Over 40″? Under 40″? How can you utilize this water so it doesn’t leach the nutrients?
- If you irrigate, what’s in your irrigation water? Is it contaminated? Is it full of calcium carbonate (hard)? How much sodium?
- What has the land been used for in the last 100 years? Do you have long-term neighbors who remember?
KNOW YOUR SOIL
This is the core mission of Living Ground, Suelo Vivo. Soil is foundational to a healthy plants and humans. Our project is launching and we envision a future where all we do is focussed on the good “little guys” that live beneath our feet. We are creating a swirl of activity from market gardens to gourmet products, land rejuvenation and reforestation, apprenticeships and education , health services, eco-tourism …. all focussing on the good guy microbes. It is foundational work for health!
So, go and dig a hole as deep as you can, just to see what is down there. Is the soil the same all the way down? Are there rocks? Is the soil on top imported (this happens frequently in suburban housing developments)? Do you run into an impermeable layer of clay or rock? Hire Living Ground to assist you with bringing back the microbes. They are the key to our foundational health.
