Winter Convalesce

The body of my project is earth. Tammie asked me a couple of months back, “If I identify plants with people, which of the plants do I identify myself with?” I have realized that it is the soil that I identify myself with. I am bringing all the different facets that heal the earth and by healing the earth I’m healing myself. Soil is the body of the project and until the body of the project is healed all other aspects of the project flounder. Luckily with a little research, I have found a few options that include natural homeopathic amendments created from local plants. Vermicomposting of worms are the savers of the project. They will feed the soil while I feed them scraps that would otherwise be put in landfills. The biochar project will also add to this and become natural fertilizer. All of these ideas have led me down paths I never thought I would follow.

February cover crop planting of soil loving plants.

“Because I want to sleep the sleep of apples…” -Garcia Lorca

Winter 2021

The project features a 32-foot diameter circle, surrounded by a swale to harvest water. In the center is one hügelkultur mound, surrounded by six radiating hügelkultur raised beds of earth. In the Fall of 2020, I planted the space with heritage apple trees and companion plants such as elderberry, garlic, and yarrow. This combination of plants is designed to work together for their mutual benefit. This planted feature started out as a combination of ideas including my work as a plein air painter and my wilderness pursuits. The goal is to understand natural systems and how they work together to regenerate themselves in a healthy balance. Asking each step what do the elements need?