Permaculture at its best

As promised, I am back today to complete the post on my visit to Ras Ils. I was so pleasantly surprised when a few friends messaged with Ras Ils stories of their own. It's good to know he has been and is being recognised for his contribution to the retention of Bajan bush remedies.
Ras' land is the ideal model of permaculture....a system of agriculture which utilises maximum space with minimum effort. It is done by replicating natural forests. Tall trees shelter shorter ones which give way to shrubs with vegetables growing among and herbs underneath them. Ras' water is guided from springs to catchment pools and ponds which are home to various fish. Sheep manure is used as fertiliser, coconut husks are recycled for mulching...oh it is just so wonderful the inter-connectedness of it all. It really is agriculture as nature intended. I also love how he has mixed our indigenous jewels with new varieties and super foods.

 

The original "wild" basil...mother of ALL basil varieties. Flowers are almost blue!

Was so impressed with his quinoa seedlings!
Touted as a super food, this is sure to be a good investment in time.

Inflammation bush...I know .......you see it everywhere.

Horny goat weed. A favourite with men :)

Lovely elderberry shrub

 Cherry picking. 

The highest concentration of Vitamin C in any fruit is found in the Barbados acerola cherry!

I understand an international sports drink company has been to the island recently looking to develop this fruit. Hope we earn just rewards.

 Look, in the upper right hand corner, that prickly plant, look.....that's a date tree.

 A field of cassava. The foreground of this photo is a mod podge of herbs....celery, parsley, chives, eddoes, nettle.....

 

 Gorgeous heads of amaranth. Another super food.

Nettle and Papaya. 

Long okras and chili peppers.

When last did you see calabash?
When dried these are cut int half to make bowls.

 Ground cover keeping in the moisture.

I absolutely have to share the famous Bajan Black belly sheep and fish ponds with you.

These ponds are home to talapia, crayfish, goldfish and guppies.

These sheep eat strictly organic materials. Whatever fruit and veg drops to the ground becomes their food. Zero wastage! Meat must be delicious.
One more thing I MUST share is the original banana herb. Yes banana is actually a herb. Hence the soft aqueous sacs filling the soft trunk! The original banana grows upward and has really large seeds. It is also not as sweet as the grafted versions we eat today.

I find things like this to be so amazing!

However, to get a true sense of permaculture you have to take in the scene from top to bottom and with so many plants packed in it may be hard to identify each individual one but do appreciate the beauty of it all. See how many you can actually name!

Crotons, sage, sugar apple, figs.........

Trumpet tree, bayleaf, coconuts. guavas......

I love this tree. How old do you think it is? Hanging out with papayas, coconuts and palms.
All of those "trunks" you see were one skinny branches just dangling from above.

Camphor, dates, patchouli.......

Amaranth, golden apples, olive, bayleaf..........

Motherwort

Breadfruit, cherry, jamun.......

Despite these numerous photos, they only scratch the surface of Ras Ils labour of love. Not pictured were Wormwood, Wild jasmine, Wild cherry, St john bush, soursop, moringa, oregano, wiss, ....oh just too much to remember :)

My only hope is that you enjoyed this virtual visit as much as I did.....have a good one folks.