Syntropic Farming

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!

Bamboo Immersion Experience

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

Mamo Re-visit EcoMaste

I had the pleasure of joining the Diamante Valley community at EcoMaste when the indigenous Mamos elders arrived. Masters at listening to nature and creating harmony with earth’s energy, this year they made offerings to the earth and held an open circle discussion for our heart tribe community. You could really feel the change in energy. As a frequent visitor of EcoMaste, I always love the family vibe, relaxed setting and abundance of nature. On their last visit the Mamos determined negative and positive stones on the property. They explained that all lands embody both masculine and feminine, positive and negative qualities. Negative or positive not being especially good or bad rather holding a specific charge. The co-founders of EcoMaste Amanda and Jose were instructed to not move the stones, acknowledge both the negative and positive and create a deep relationship with the land. On this recent visit they moved the negative stone, explaining that the stagnate, heavy energy of the land had been shifted and the land was calling for rock to be moved and erected. The positive stone was also positioned upright. The Mamos said that these areas were ready to be activated so their energies could flow harmoniously without obstructions.

I could feel it the moment I walked through the doors, the feeling was lighter. That’s one thing I’ve learned from Mamo's visit to EcoMaste, that each land has positive and negative energies. We don’t have to evade or cover up the negativity of the past or pain, but rather sit with it and listen to how the earth and what our bodies are telling us. There isn’t a lesser or better energy, they both need to be honored and given space to be fully expressed. Also, there is no need for excessive conversation about right or wrong, but rather the Mamo’s delivered a message of radical simplification and deep listening to self and land.

Famous for their role as “Big brother” and guardians of the heart of the spirit of the world, they told us that we as “the little brothers” are not lesser or bad, but simply the younger siblings who choose to travel the lands. They believe we have been gone too long and have lost our way home due to confusion. As members of the community asked questions of diet and why they are drawn to this place, the Mamos reminded us gently, if you ask the question you already know the answer. Don’t weave in confusion and doubt. Learn to listen to yourself. Even the most skeptical can learn to listen to our mother earth for she is telling us what she needs, what we need to survive.

We are all one family, the big brother, the little brothers, the waters and earth. We are earth people and this is our home. As little brothers we must learn to integrate and guard the spirits of the earth instead of just taking from our mother. We can stop weaving the ideas of profit, productivity and fear. When we think these things we create them in our physical reality. As humans we are thinkers and we are the creators of our own realities. We all will find peace and harmony as we return to the natural laws of our earth and live in alignment with our mother’s call.

Simplify, Listen, and Be Empowered were the main takeaways from the Mamo's message. As a community we made beautiful organic meals, some brought black bean cake, others made music and many just sat by the river and listened to her sing. It was simple and happy. We came knowing we have a lot of ups and downs to work through, to create the healing communities and destinations many of us envision, and we left united knowing that our careful thoughts and words could be the thread that can weave our visions together.

By Natalie Bankhead