New to permaculture seeking community, connection and a soulmate, homesteading/sustainable living

Hi everyone, my name is Michelle, I'm new to permaculture, but not new to growing things. I've always surrounded myself with nature, had about 200 house plants in my home in Arizona and a lemon tree in my backyard at one point.

A little bit about me: I'm 54 years young, caribbean woman, I recently returned home to my birth country Barbados, after having spent the majority of my life living in America. I'm a Sagittarius, I love to laugh, dance, cook(always looking to try new vegan recipes) be creative( I make jewelry, sew, beginning woodworking) I love to learn. I'm plant based, I do not consume any meat, dairy, fish), no alcohol, smoking or drugs. I enjoy the occasional concert(maybe once a year) here in Barbados its Soca music, I love the Arts, museums, love to explore different cultures. I'm currently learning Italian. Would love to do more traveling and exploring the world. I lead a very healthy lifestyle, daily yoga, meditation, weight training. I love nature and I have a very strong connection to mother earth. My idea of having a homestead/living off grid, sustainable life, does not mean I want to be completely isolated from society. I love people, having community is very important to me, it's something I've actually never had in my life and I crave it very much. So I'm excited to explore here on Permies and absorb as much knowledge as I can and perhaps make some meaningful connections along the way. Maybe even my soulmate

So last month I planted some herbs, (thyme, celery, dill, parsley) and sweet peppers, and some baby potatoes( red, purple, gold). Also just planted some grapes as well (fingers crossed on that one). I am in the process of acquiring 5 acres of land and will be co-partnering with a few friends, doing full-time farming. We plan to run a fully sustainable organic farm with solar power and rainwater catchment system. There's a struggle from time to time with water shortages on the island.
Here on the island we are blessed with a bounty of tropical and exotic fruit like Sour Sop, Mangoes, Bajan Cherries(AKA acerola), Golden Apples, Mamie Apple, Guavas just to name a few. We also grow Breadfruit(one of favorites), Jackfruit, yams, cassava, edoes(AKA taro root),coconuts, pineapple, watermelon, gooseberries, plums, ackee(another favorite), the list goes on.

My goal is to be a part of the initiative to revitalize farming on the island and help my fellow Bajans become more self-sufficient. Right now we rely heavily on imported foods majority from the US, and I would love to bring us to the point where we completely eliminate that need. Especially when it comes to packaged "foods"(which is not real food) that are full of sugars, preservatives and chemicals. Unfortunately, like many Americans, the people in the Caribbean have become addicted to these foods and are struggling with many of the very preventable diseases that come along with the consumption of such.
It is my dream to see more people grow their own food, eat only from the earth and realize their own power and strength in living a self-sufficient, sustainable lifestyle. But I'm learning that you should never try to convince a person. The best I can do is live the example and hope to inspire, and refrain from judging or criticizing. I believe that every person on this planet wants to thrive, be happy and peaceful, but sometimes circumstances, mindset, limiting beliefs and societal conditioning plays a major part in creating obstacles that are very difficult for many to overcome.
Farming is hard work , it's not sexy and it takes time and patience and it's not a financial windfall and that makes it unappealing to many. Especially the younger generation who are enthralled by western culture and capitalism. How do we get them to see that real wealth is in nature, connecting to the land that's a part of us, growing our own food. Nourishing ourselves and the community physically, mentally and spiritually. And remind ourselves that we are all connected and we are meant to take care of one another.
Anyway, I don't want to rant on. That's all for now. Nice to meet you all.

Peace and love
Michelle

Wow..you're awesome...more power to you
..I love your vision...this is also my vision in my region...Colorado...more people growing food...
.i agree on everything...except...gardening is sexy...😁
Blessings on your journey and may you bring empowerment to the masses of Barbados.. if i ever make it that way,  I'll hit you up..

Blessed be,
~Wind ~

Hi Michelle,
I once spend three Barbados months in Rock Dundo, St. James, while I was a student. Loved the place, loved the island. I love the Bajan accent, it sounds musical to me. We had a big kitchen garden, and so did everyone else. Just wanted to say hello and wish you the best.  

Greetings Michelle,

  wishing you success in your vision, I would recommend to look at Syntropic Farming, korasn natural farming and jadam techniques, agroforestry, biodinamics and many more, the more you research the better it will serve you for your vision, also
take time and research  different farm land design, garden design, water system design.
hopefully your friends have the same level of excitement as you.
keep in mind that money will not fix problems that have been badly design from the start, I personally seen this mind set.
the best thing to do once you get your land is to practice observation and get to know the land different elevations, and make a map or google map
print out so you are able to design multiple versions of land design that you guy may envision, the more time you have with the land and have
experience the changes, ideally for one year the better it will serve you in your design process.
 
some samples
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99ON9XI0d1g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbO-x9dyZ_Y&list=PLba0q5T16c0VFr272n7yCtiR8QcnSgviS&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl1n1UVWZew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKZn_LutGJo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRAFcdMs6FU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdlrDHgJhBE&list=PLg-Juz__88TixFRygSXM6VCBv1eRbTVgL
https://www.youtube.com/@Brad_Lancaster_Water_Harvester/videos


most of the fail farming projects I been close to observe had to do with lack of knowledge, lack of clarity in the project, lack of creativity and this
idea to think things going to get going quick if they through money at it.

hope all this helps.
I have no idea about Barbados but looking at some landmass typology of Barbados  it looks like a very interesting place to farm.

Hi Michelle. Since you expressed openness to try new things that are vegan, I want to mention my way of making cooked meals with what I think is the best sauce for them. I alternate between things like cut up potato, quinoa, or whole grain pasta, with having leafy greens and several other vegetables cut up as needed, and I add hummus and medium salsa every time, with some healthy and tasty seasonings. I include nuts and seeds in them, I may add guacamole and a couple of times a week some bits of dried seaweed. Having a good variety up to thirty different foods from plants each week is the healthiest way. I found a lot is there about that online.

I would be growing all I can for this good way to live, on land with others with me living in simplicity away from cities to become as fully independent apart from all that as soon as possible.

John Clearwater wrote:Wow..you're awesome...more power to you
..I love your vision...this is also my vision in my region...Colorado...more people growing food...
.i agree on everything...except...gardening is sexy...😁
Blessings on your journey and may you bring empowerment to the masses of Barbados.. if i ever make it that way,  I'll hit you up..

Blessed be,
~Wind ~

Thank you Wind. Nice to meet you.

T. Smith wrote:Hi Michelle,
I once spend three Barbados months in Rock Dundo, St. James, while I was a student. Loved the place, loved the island. I love the Bajan accent, it sounds musical to me. We had a big kitchen garden, and so did everyone else. Just wanted to say hello and wish you the best.  

Hello and thank you. So much has changed on the island. I'm sure you would not recognize it if you returned

sacha tawa wrote:Greetings Michelle,

  wishing you success in your vision, I would recommend to look at Syntropic Farming, korasn natural farming and jadam techniques, agroforestry, biodinamics and many more, the more you research the better it will serve you for your vision, also
take time and research  different farm land design, garden design, water system design.
hopefully your friends have the same level of excitement as you.
keep in mind that money will not fix problems that have been badly design from the start, I personally seen this mind set.
the best thing to do once you get your land is to practice observation and get to know the land different elevations, and make a map or google map
print out so you are able to design multiple versions of land design that you guy may envision, the more time you have with the land and have
experience the changes, ideally for one year the better it will serve you in your design process.
 
some samples
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99ON9XI0d1g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbO-x9dyZ_Y&list=PLba0q5T16c0VFr272n7yCtiR8QcnSgviS&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl1n1UVWZew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKZn_LutGJo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRAFcdMs6FU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdlrDHgJhBE&list=PLg-Juz__88TixFRygSXM6VCBv1eRbTVgL
https://www.youtube.com/@Brad_Lancaster_Water_Harvester/videos


most of the fail farming projects I been close to observe had to do with lack of knowledge, lack of clarity in the project, lack of creativity and this
idea to think things going to get going quick if they through money at it.

hope all this helps.
I have no idea about Barbados but looking at some landmass typology of Barbados  it looks like a very interesting place to farm.

Sacha, thanks for the advice and info

Fred Frank V Bur wrote:Hi Michelle. Since you expressed openness to try new things that are vegan, I want to mention my way of making cooked meals with what I think is the best sauce for them. I alternate between things like cut up potato, quinoa, or whole grain pasta, with having leafy greens and several other vegetables cut up as needed, and I add hummus and medium salsa every time, with some healthy and tasty seasonings. I include nuts and seeds in them, I may add guacamole and a couple of times a week some bits of dried seaweed. Having a good variety up to thirty different foods from plants each week is the healthiest way. I found a lot is there about that online.

I would be growing all I can for this good way to live, on land with others with me living in simplicity away from cities to become as fully independent apart from all that as soon as possible.

Thanks, Fred