Emerald Village (EVO), an intentional community nestled just North of San Diego, welcomed the TPA Action Team and volunteers into their permaculture home. This eco-village features an aquaponics system, geodesic building, medicinal gardens, sacred space for meditation, a Mediterranean inspired pool area with massage tables, a tea lounge, a full kitchen, a tipi for healing ceremonies, as well as a sweat lodge. Our first thought, ‘when do I move in?’
A great turnout and the entire TPA brought a vibing energy to Emerald Village. The day started with mingling and an organic breakfast cooked by the gracious stewards of this exotic village. The Polish Ambassador, Ayla, Liminus, and Mr. Lif hung out with volunteers before going on a grand tour of the property and moving into the day’s projects.
ACTION DAY PROJECTS
1. Up first, the aquaponics feature. This system is used at the village to raise tilapia, grow tomatoes and edible greens! The action team worked to add a greenhouse over the structure to prepare for the winter months and ensure that the system can yield with lowering temperatures. We almost completed the cover, but the bees weren’t too happy with all the commotion and the group moved on to other projects.
PERMACULTURE FUN FACT
Aquaponics is a closed, cyclical, system that produces food and fish while cycling nutrients and cleaning the water through a symbiotic relationship.
Emerald Village is a pioneer eco-farm embracing technology to suit permaculture techniques. One of the managers of the property, Nick, is developing an interactive video game, SEEDS. This game is a collaborative, global effort to create the most abundant virtual and real environment where participants will go through a series of permaculture and growing games that demonstrate how to be better gardeners. Once the gamer reaches the highest level in that game, they are sent outside to complete the task in real life!
To find out more about SEEDS visit: http://seedsthegame.com/
Emerald Village is the only farm we have visited so far that has a residency program for those who want to volunteer.
If you are interested in learning more about EVO or volunteering with them, you can find all you need to know here: http://www.theemeraldvillage.com/
Click here to download the PDF – San Diego Permaculture Resource List PDF
