Conservation Consciousness

written by Delvin Solkinson
Photos by Poxin : www.poxin.org

Jumping from the
bucket into the world—
frog in the well

- kodojin

Feet wet from the morning dew, treading softly in along the mossy pathways of Mt. Elphinstone one may experience a whole ecology of wonder. Ferns and frogs, stones and streams, ancient trees and fairy swimming pools dappled in the warm glow of days first light. Here, if we look closely, we can see the world how it was: an interconnected web of life in which humans, plants and animals lived in a symbient circle of harmonic co-existence. Our human community is truly living in transitional times, today civilization is creating widespread ecological changes in which the destiny of thousands of species of plant and animals literally shudders with each new forest footfall.

In the little mountain village of Roberts Creek, an as offering and homage to this beautiful landscape and its conservation, is the Heart Gardens. Nestled downtown, in the Heart of the Creek, is a permaculture education site celebrating native plants with a history of use by Coastal First Peoples. Permaculture promotes intentional action utilizing small and slow solutions which make the least change for the greatest possible effect. With conservation and sustainable development as central ethics, permaculture works towards a globalization of the local practice of whole earth care. This living classroom is exploring sustainability education as a way Coastal residents can make changes on their own properties to conserve and create healthy habitat, soil, water and air.

In the Elphinstone there is a rich flora and fauna diverse enough to attract nature lovers from all over the world. Designed from nature, the 32 heart gardens represent a collective of different local microclimates hosting over 200 species of plants. With a special focus on teacher plants utilized by the cultures of the land for food, medicine, tools, clothing, and cultural creation, the gardens introduce people to plants that may not have survived in areas which have been clearcut all over this mountain home. Planting with native plants creates habitat and often encourages the presence of wild native plants, insects and animals, helping their 1000 year journey of succession until the Elphinstone is again a climax rainforest, as it was for thousands of years of sustainable human civilization. In addition hundreds of kinds of food plants grow naturally here with huge potential to create a more localized food security without the harmful impact of importing foods from faraway.

A teaspoon of soil hosts billions of life forms, and it indeed the soil ecology which feeds the plants which feed the animals and all of us. Surrounded by biodynamic heart gardens featuring permaculture power plants, is an integrated compost system. The beds are made from wood and brambles cleared from the property. Two untreated cedar bins transforms all the tender vegetation from garden weeding and hedging, as well as uncooked organic vegetable waste from the Roberts Creek Health Food Store into rich soil. A third bin holds leaves and other collected brown material to layer into the compost. Behind the compost is a raised vermiculture system with raindrops percolating through a worm farm to create rich liquid fertilizer. With biodynamically infused soil and organic fertilizer to feed the existing soil, the Heart Gardens illustrates the simplicity of cycling waste to create more soil and conserve the existing soil.

Living in a closed system atmosphere, we have discovered that toxins spread from one part of the world end up infiltrating every breath of our fragile air supply. Trees are the respiratory system for the planet, helping to clear and cleanse the air to create and conserve a healthy breathing environment for many life forms. Incorporating trees into the natural design of the Heart Gardens, illustrates the ease in which this invaluable solution can take place in our homes and parks, towns and cities.

With the creation of our modern sewage systems a huge percentage of rain is instantly flushed out to sea becoming saltwater instead of staying the ground and entering the atmosphere through the trees. This process ultimately creates more rain and supports our temperate climate which is home for the damp and dank creatures of the fern scaped rainforest. In addition a huge amount of energy is spent processing countless liters of clean rainwater before it is released into the ocean. The Heart Gardens is setting up a simple rain catchment system with barrels linked to roof outflow, in order to conserve water and reduce the energy required bring it in through the hose, creating a supply for watering during the dry season.

The Heart Gardens has recently birthed the Elphinhome, a free, open eco-education center sharing local media and information about bioregional ecology, native plants and permaculture. Here you can get a Heart Map with which you can do a self-guided tour of the gardens identifying the plants and exploring some of the features. It intends to educate people about how they can practice conservation and creation of habitat, lowering their ecological footprint and helping our community, culture and civilization transition into a more sustainable world.

re:sourcing -

www.thescca.ca
www.wwf.ca
www.ducks.ca