My home - overview

From the Ground up, literally!!
We landed on the 16th of December 2018 ... a dream come true? ... or, a case of ...be careful what you wish for, it might just happen?
The land, perceived as paradise, started to show its personalities from the get go, west facing, steep sloped, abused through logging and cattle, with mostly bracken ferns (Pteridium esculentum) to be seen ... But, 3 majestic Cudgeries (Flindersia schottiana) revealed some of its past's glories and potentials!
It all started with the farm shed, a bit of steel to protect us from the summer's rain, but certainly not a cool place to hang out on a clear day!! We then progressed to work with the land, and if in doubt, start we the steepest, deadest piece of land you have, right? Maybe...
Well, thats where we went, the hill behind the shed, northwest facing, about 40% gradient, with some bracken ferns (Pteridium esculentum) and a wall of camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) with some native regrowth to the south-southwest. The place we now call Matata Hill, in honour of a majestic being that passed away just before we moved in!!
We then continued our journey, in a process that many times felt like Man Vs. Nature... Perhaps the steepest, and certainly the most rewarding, learning curve in our lives.
We had many ideas, but reality just kept coming and demanding that we grow to be flexible enough to accomodate the ever changing ebb and flow of nature's rhythm.
We kept going, and growing, and changing, and observing, and learning, and planting, and, and, and...
Although we have certainly harvested many carrots, beetroots, okras, pumpkins, tamarillos and passionfruits along the way, the journey has been rather adventurous and humbling. Being in control is simply not possible, and the sooner we've learnt to play together, the easiest things became.
Certainly our efforts have not gone unnoticed. The quality and quantity of consolidated life has grown visibly to the naked eye. To our delight and company (as it gets a bit lonely here sometimes) we are now sharing the land with many more birds, worms, wallabies, insects, plants and our beloved green tree frogs (which there were none when we've arrived).
So far, the most challenging part of the journey has been to include myself (and my family) in the natural process of Nature's unfolding. Nothing is static, everything is becoming... So, every night I have to ask myself, are you able to let go what you held to be true today when you wake up tomorrow morning?
I have now reached a point in our family's journey, that I feel I can help other human beings to move along their own pathway towards subsistence, resilience and most importantly freedom.
I also believe that Livingness, which is our home, school, lab, temple, workplace... has much to aid in that process. It has a story to tell, which goes way beyond our arrival, that is spoken through its gestures, colours, shapes, sounds and inspirational qualities.
We hope to have you here one day soon!!
www.syntropicgardener.com

[@glenpryce]

Love your vlogs on this subject mate. Better than most😊