Holy water! Seminar on water retention in the landscape
Water, the messenger. Water falls, irrigates, flows, infiltrates, is distributed and gives life.
In the seminar on Water Retention in Landscapes that took place from 19-21 May 2023 in the ecovillage project IKI-GAIA, we learned with a group of over 35 attendees how to pacify water and make the best use of this natural resource to generate abundance.
Under the guidance of Daniel Stocker and Seth Thompson, we learned the principles and techniques of water management in landscapes. In addition, we were able to practice what we learned on IKI Gaia's land where we measured, dug and planted an infiltration trench, made clay mounds to see in a small model how different water retention techniques can be applied in the landscape, etc.
Guided water meditations and group dynamics helped us to establish a deep connection with water and with each other and the integration of the 2 hemispheres of the brain to favour a more effective learning (to know more about the techniques of the Schetinin pedagogy that we are bringing to Spain, click here).
This seminar was the 4th Module of the cycle of courses on Permaculture organised by Permaneser, a collective of Permaculture educational projects in the province of Malaga.
We would like to thank all the Permaneseres for this wonderful weekend, full of learning, laughter and water, blessing us from both earth and sky!
CONNECTING WITH THE ELEMENT WATER
Guided meditation with the sounds of our spring accompanied by double bass
LEARNING ABOUT THE 4TH PHASE OF WATER
Learning about EZ water and the magic of water
GROUP DYNAMICS AND ENERGIZERS
Activating the 2 hemispheres of the brain with Schetinin pedagogy techniques
LEARNING TO MEASURE CONTOUR LINES
Learning to measure contour lines with A-frame, water tube and laser level
DIGGING A SWALE
A swale can be dug with hand shovels or with large machines
PLANTING SHRUBS AND TREES
A swale only performs its function of retaining water when planted with shrubs and trees
SWALE FILLING UP WITH WATER
Thanks to the surplus from our fountain, we can infiltrate a lot of water
DESIGNING A 3D MODEL IN THE FIELD
Through the small model we can see how different water retention techniques can be applied in the landscape
LEARNING ABOUT TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS
Finding the "hotspots" on the map and delimiting their catchment areas
BLESSING THE NEWLY PLANTED PLANTS
Thanks to the rain over the weekend, the new plants rooted very well
MINI TOUR OF THE 240 HECTARES OF IKI-GAIA LAND
Visiting the 2 water reservoirs of 100.000 liters each to irrigate IKI-GAIA's vegetable gardens
CLOSING WITH A FAREWELL PAELLA BY THE FIRE
Enjoying a delicious paella on the fire on Sunday in one of the stables in the heavy rain
