Site Analysis--February 2018

It was decided that we would start with a three phase plan.  Pictured here is the Phase One & Two Border of the Site Analysis.

Phase One: Get the Vet Building restored to the point where it could be occupied.           

Start watering the land south of the draw and nurturing whatever would emerge before the March winds arrived.         

Bring in additional storage and out buildings to accommodate facility growth and IC Population.           

Move the first annual Earth Fest Convergence (Earth Day Festival) from Forrest Park to the Studio property. Schedule for a big festival but allow what plans that would develop to emerge and flow around what was not ready.     

Start organizing an Introduction to Permaculture Class to be held in March of 2019.       

Do our Site Analysis.   Build Zone One Raised beds, Plan Zones 2-5.   Acquire  a temporary greenhouse structure for Starts and Containers.

Move Phase One as far as we could before the snow moon (Feb. 19) of 2019.

The Snow Moon of 2019 would be our re-group date.  This would give us a little over a year to move what would fall into place.  On that date we would set down with all the members and line out Phase Two and Phase Three.                   

Phase Two: would address the Development of the RBE through implementing our Subsidiaries. The building of  a Food Forest and Community Garden at the Studio Property.  To Initiate the build-out plan for the HUB on 7th St.             

 Phase Three: would address the Property North of the Draw.  The addition of any new concepts and wishes of the members. The possibility of a Crowd Funding to purchase addition acreage for a Permaculture Farm and Tiny House Village. 

    

Water Shed Map

Sulphur Springs Draw comes out of New Mexico, enters Texas through Yoakum County, continues south through Terry County into Dawson County, traveling on southward eventually ending up in the Gulf of Mexico.

Earth Mother Studio is located in the center of Dawson County right on Sulphur Springs Draw.  At our Location, the draw spans about 20' wide X 300' long and is about 4' deep.  It has been known to overflow and flood onto the 7-acre tract which we occupy.  We wish to include the reconstruction of the Draw for water harvesting into our overall Permaculture Design for the property. 

Sector Map

Red is Fire Sector flagged for wild brush and mesquite lands to the SE
Orange is Summer Sun on 6-21
Yellow is Winter sun on 12-21
Lite Green is Noise Pollution from Hwy.
Dark Green is Nature Wildlife Habitat
Lite Blue is Summer Winds
Dark Blue is Winter Winds

Zone Map  

These are Standard Zone Content Suggestions. Each Site Should be Self Adjusted.                                                             Red: Zone One--Domestic: Greenhouses, Workshops, Worms, Salad/Herb Gardens, Chickens                                                                                                                                               Yellow: Zone Two--Home Orchard:                    Barns, Animal Housing, Wood Storage, Fruit/Nut Trees, Berries, Veges, Chickens, Rabbits, Compost

Green: Zone Three--Farm Zone:                            Cash Crops, Veges/Fruits, Firewoods, Orchards, Pastures, Ponds, Hedgerows, Large Animals

Blue: Zone Four--Forage Zone:                              Hunting, Gathering, Mushrooms, Orchards, Pastures, Ponds, Hedgerows, Large Animals

Purple: Zone Five--Wilderness:                             

Site Design Phase 1

White lines are Dirt Road.                                      Yellow Arrows are Water Flow Direction.        

Zone one has Raised Beds, Spiral Beds, Keyhole Garden Structure, Greenhouse and Chicken Coop.

 Zone two is the Food Forest with Fruit & Nut Trees, Berry Bushes, Grapes, Under-story White and Red Clover, Root Crops with Free Ranging Chickens.     

Zone Three has the Main Pond, Ducks and Fish, Tropical Trees and Cattails, Fenced Barn with Goats and Rabbits, 

Zone Four is Old Growth Elm/ Mulberry Wildlife Habitat and Wood Harvest, East Section is Winter Wheat, Hay and Alpha with Small Ponds for Wildlife.

 Zone Five surrounds the Property is being left to Natural Growth. 

Zone One-Two-Three Close-up

Zone one raised beds on the south, east and west side of the building.  Two Spiral beds on the east side. 

Food Forest in Zones One and Two on North Side of Building entwined with a keyhole bed structure.  

Greenhouse and Chicken coop on the NW section of Zone one.

Zone Three has a small barn and a pond with Tropical Plantings.

Zone Four-Five Close-up 

Zone Four is Grains & Pasture planting.  Zone Five will be left to Wilderness and Wildlife.


Zone One Raised Bed: East Side

Cardboard Layer on the bottom, then newspaper, then straw, then compost, more straw, more compost and a final layer of straw.  This bed was built first as we had the area ready.  We want to watch this area for micro-climates before planting as it is the south-east corner.  The south raised beds will be built and planted first.

The Compost Pile Begins

Word went out to a the local landscapers to bring their yard trimmings here.  Future Hugelkutur Beds saved from the Landfill.

            The Restoration Begins     

In all the excitement we forgot to take pictures of all the  things that had been abandoned inside this building.  We recycled what we could and the rest went to the landfill.  
The Ceiling Comes Down

The Sheetrock on the ceiling was water damaged and had to be removed.  It was decided that a professional roofer would be called in to restore the structure.  Then top Insulation and a metal Roof would be Installed.  The Open Rafters would be refinished and left exposed. 

Maggie Mae,
one of our 4 legged sisters,
watches as Alex Parraz
Demos the Ceiling. This is where Maggie turned and ran out the front and Alex ran out the back. There was so much dirt on top of the ceiling that we could only do a small section at a time.  We would clean everything up and start over.  It took over a week to demo 50' of ceiling.