As the event ends and our group departs, instead of goodbye’s, dates are arranged for further meetings and contact details swapped. One of the key aims now is to nurture new connections to develop and start new or continue existing initiatives.
Here’s a brief outline of what we were able to achieve during the weekend together.
9.00am in the small organic garden in the corner of the Motel Gardens a group of about 20 people are standing in a circle by the chicken coop, discussing the principles of organic gardening, permaculture and the things we will be talking about throughout the weekend. Gillian and I introduced ourselves and the various parts of the garden whilst doing the daily missions of watering plants, feeding chickens and checking for any insect attacks.
We all set off to meet in the communal kitchen which was to become our base for the duration of the stay. Filling up on caffeine, mesquite pancakes and warm oatmeal, we each did a small introduction; what everyone want to gain from the weekend? What are each of our backgrounds? In a collaborative group what could each of us offer? As it turned out, there was a great mix, a brilliant range of resources that we all could pull from in order to achieve something greater.
A convoy moved to Allen Hayley’s garden, a larger, produce based garden, also with chickens where Jarrett gave a tour. Discussions opened up about the best ways to water and irrigate in this area, the potential for growing in rows against other methods and benefits different mulches and where to source them at a reasonable price if the garden is not yet self-sustaining.
A visit to the Co-op developed discussions into the larger scale: sustainable collaborative communities of Marathon town. The co-op itself and it’s not-for-profit organization, ‘Made-in-Marathon’ can be used as a space to meet, organize and share as well as being a support base to aid development of projects, small, home-scale businesses and resource networks to grow.
After a fresh, yummy lunch of cooked vegetables and salad from the garden at ‘La Loma Del Chivo’, Gillian lead us in a session on ‘The Human Element and Sustainability’. This involved a smaller group, exploring ideas about how to deal with people-issues that challenge collaborative projects. We used methods created by C.O.R.E Counseling such as; the creation of a ‘safe, support space’, dealing with pre-judgments, and identifying attitudes that can become obstacles. The outcome for me was a bonding to the group and to become more positive about initial steps to be taken within successful and sustainable collaborative groups.
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| Standing outside the Beehive at La Loma Del Chivo. |
Next, we met Zach Zniewski and his 4 donkey’s at the end of 5th Street to talk about the benefits to these beautiful animals in this part of the world. Conversations lead to societies dependence on oil and how much managed land would be needed to keep these animals and how they can be used as part of a sustainable community.
Eve’s garden was the next stop where Kate Thayer gave a tour around this Papercrete, permaculture palace, how the existing buildings work and contain the various businesses set up to run along-side each other as well as future developments to the complex including a large greenhouse. The rest of the group continued on here while Gillian, Kwamena, Efua and I went on a trip west on I-90 to Marfa where the Chinati Weekend was in full swing. We had a table set up in the bookstore (Marfa Book Co.) where we raised the question of Sustainability and Growing as Installation and Kinetic Art. We did this through a series of photo’s taken a the Motel Gardens of newly planted beds as things grow and die, and also through a set of questions including; alternative building = installation art, organic produce growing = kinetic sculpture and lifestyle choice as performance art. This was great as we were able to meet up with other, like-minded people - possible future collaborators who had been unable to join us at the open house in Marathon.
That evening we arrived back at the Motel to a wonderful meal created by Dancing Tree and more conversations about community experiments in organic gardening and how we can keep the energy level up for projects and events in the three main towns of Brewster County through inter-community sharing between Marathon, Alpine, Marfa and the wider Big Bend area.
Monday - Columbus Day, bought a quieter morning, we met Danielle behind the Co-op building to learn about Papercrete, it’s uses in this environment and the different techniques to from it…plain blocks, insulated blocks, panels to be cut into shape, poured into a form, slip formed…many possibilities. Brainstorming opened up about the ways different materials and processes can be used together within a hybrid house design to gain the best of the site, a responsive that creates closed-loop living systems throughout.
The remaining group congregated in the kitchen for a closing lunch and summary of what each of us had gained from the weekend. An important discussion was possible future options for collaborative projects and how best to stay in touch to organize ‘open-weekend 2’ and similar resource-pulling, networking events.
A great thanks to all involved.
Further resources:
www.marathonmotel.com - Courtyard & Garden - Our Farm
www.evesgarden.org
www.lalomadelchivo.net
www.greenbuilding.com
www.earthship.com
