Ardisia squamulosa

Common Name:

Family: Primulaceae

Origin: native to the Philippines

This small tree came from Cel Tungol. We planted it in 2012 at a very open planting area with no other trees nearby. The site is supposed to be a bridge between the the areas with trees. The trees at this site needed watering for the first couple of summers. Later on we stopped planting in open areas and started planting inside existing tree lines.

Bagras

Eucalyptus deglupta

Family: Myrtaceae

Common Name: Bagras, Mindanao Gum, Rainbow Gum, Mindanao Eucalyptus

Origin: indigenous to Mindanao, also found in Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea

Reference: Philippine Native Trees 101

This is the only species of eucalyptus that is native to the Philippines. Bagras is found in Mindanao. It has an unusual and beautiful multi-colored bark.

This was a gift from Lydia Robledo in 2014. We planted it near the house so we could keep an eye on it. At one point we thought it died. It turns out that it was just hidden from sight by a guava tree that was growing right beside it.

Beauty Berry

possibly Callicarpa pedunculata

Family: Lamiaceae

Common Name: Palis, Tigao (Visayas), Beauty Berry

Reference: Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines Facebook group

It grows like a vine. The flowers are small. Each tiny pink flower has 4 stamens and 1 pistil. The leaves are serrated and pointy at the tip.

Why Permaculture?

You know how kids nowadays are encouraged to be curious, ask questions, be creative, and think out of the box? Attending a Permaculture Design Course is like that, but for grown-ups who are interested in farming, nature, and the environment.

Learning conventional farming is like going to a traditional school. You learn formulas and schedules. I haven’t learned conventional farming, but that’s what I imagine it’s like!

Attending a two week Permaculture Design Course is like going to a progressive, non-traditional school where you learn how to learn. Instead of formulas and schedules, you have ethics, principles, and prime directives. You learn how to recognize patterns, read the landscape, assess needs and resources, find your own solutions, and see problems as opportunities. We were also introduced to skills like grafting, knife sharpening, bamboo building, cooking, and more.

Permaculture design is the practice of designing sustainable human habitats by following nature’s patterns

We came home very inspired and after attending the two week Permaculture Design Course hosted by Kul Kul Farm in Bali in April 2017. We also felt more focused, determined, and excited by all the possibilities!

Here’s permaculture in action!

The Bombax ceiba was getting choked by the grass and vines. We are using the leaves of the very abundant Gliricidia sepium as protective mulch for the Bombax ceiba.