AlmaOhana Microgradens are a beautiful combination of some aspects of the Huegelbeet, swales, guilds together with a beautiful spiritual and educational aspect and are an easy-to implement solution.
They collect water, host a “soil bucket” to improve soil quality in the dire hills, grow a (fruit) tree with cover crops and companion plants, provide habitat for insects and reptiles, are beautiful and make you feel looked at by the earth.
Our microgardens, small terraces on a slope in the shape of an eye, are a response to the many challenges posed by rapid climate change. To use an image: "climate" is the kitchen - and "weather" is the dish of the day cooked there. If the kitchen deteriorates and becomes more dysfunctional from year to year, then it is only logical that the dish of the day no longer tastes good, is no longer filling and, in the worst case, causes illness.
It gets warmer from year to year and often unbearably hot in summer, even at night. Droughts last longer and cover larger areas. Forest fires are breaking records year after year. Rain falls less frequently and when it does, it often falls in far too large quantities in a short space of time. The water no longer seeps into the soil, but instead erodes the fertile soil cover, the humus layer, with destructive force. As a result, biodiversity suffers and many plant and animal species disappear, some forever and the groundwater level is falling, wells try out.
Our microgardens are deliberately small interventions in the natural landscape. The longitudinal diameter of a garden eye is 2-3 meters and at its widest point it measures 80 to 120 cm. The eye, the small garden, is terraced and recessed so that water remains in place when it rains and can seep away slowly. Two 7 to 10 cm wide channels extend slightly uphill from the corners of the eye on the left and right for several meters. With their help, rainwater can be harvested and stored for use in the dry season. The "pupil" of the eye is a sustainable humus depot with which we heal the soil erosion the land has suffered. The depot is about 60 cm deep and has the same diameter. In the lower part is the "humus future", which consists of organic materials that has to be broken down and processed: chopped branches, rotten wood, cardboard, old (horse) manure that consists only of cellulose, used toilet paper from our composting toilets. In the upper part of the depot and in the entire eye is the "humus presence", a mixture of good soil, compost, stone dust, biochar and manure. The entire depot is composed of highly absorbent materials that store rainwater for a long time and keep it available for plants.
A tree is planted in the center of the microgarden. From year to year, it will provide more shade, stimulate and support the growth of the (vegetable) plants and herbs and hopefully bear fruit soon. The early morning mist will condense on the leaves, making water from the air available in a natural way. A multitude of insects, small creatures and microorganisms live on and under the tree. Biodiversity flourishes because there is shade, moisture and food where previously there was only depleted soil.
Creating an eye garden is easy. A skilled person only needs one day and three simple tools: a shovel, a hoe and a pickaxe. However, the material for the humus deposit must already be available. You often work on your knees when you are terracing, digging the hole for the humus deposit or building stones into the valley-side embankment. Then you suddenly see the earth's eye and experience: The earth is looking at me! It sees what I'm doing! Our microgardens are particularly suitable for educational projects. You can easily create them with children, schoolchildren and students and look after them in small groups. Over time, children and young people develop a new perspective and confidence. They work alone and together in a micro garden and experience: "My eye, my garden, my planet - my helping work."
As I said, our microgardens are small interventions in the landscape as opposed to large macrogardens or even plantations. We want to deliberately keep our agricultural footprint small, respectfully preserve the natural environment and develop synergies and symbioses with it. Microgardens are small - but when planted in large numbers, they can bring new life energy back to eroded, species-poor slopes: Rainwater is made available and can be stored; healthy and diverse soil is introduced and renewed; biodiversity benefits from shade, moisture and available nutrients; healthy garden fruits grow in small beds, shaded by friendly trees; we are happy about lively children working in the garden with all its surprising facets.
If you want to be actively involved when we create new microgardens, write us a message!
The Earth is looking at you. Look after her.
PS: Microgardens will also be connected with the Fog Catchers.