Nate Freer

Thanks Amarynth, I look forward to meeting you and other neighbors and hopefully becoming part of the community. I'm not sure why I feel such connection and peace with those woods, but I do. One theory that I have is that the biomass is an oxygen and negative ion generator, much like the sea (I am also a sailor), and so shares similar psychotropic effects. Or maybe it's a past lives thing, who knows.

I do have a neighbor down the (bumpy, dirt) road who is a great guy and traditional Melipona tender. I hope that when I get down there, probably after the first of the year, we can meet up and maybe go visit him if you would like. I'm hoping that he'll be able to help me on my farm (rancho? project?) as he has a rather large family. They are the only other people that I'm aware of that actually live out in the woods, most folks "commute" by bicycle to the village and come out to their fields or woods during the day. I heard second hand that they had expressed a concern that I might be eaten staying out there, but I'm not too worried. There have been so many Maya hunting in those woods for so long that there really isn't a great deal of wildlife in general and doubt if any/many large predators could be supported.

Produce for market isn't something that I have been thinking of- maybe I should. In addition to the bees, I've been thinking maybe dairy goats- any opinions about the possible success of them? We certainly have enough "browse" for them! See also large predator theory above; although I think that they would require shelter at night anyway. I don't know much about them, or anything else to do with farming for that matter! But I'll keep studying and I'll look at all the links provided. Thanks again!

Hello, Thanks for looking at my post.

I have 250 acres in the woods in the Yucatan, in Yucatan state, about 20 miles south of Valladolid. I hold private title in my name. The property is almost all treed, with mostly smaller trees averaging maybe 30 ft high, although there is variation according to when it was last cut. I believe that the property had been milpa farmed for many years.

There is a wonderful cenote on the property with fresh water but you have to (or you get to, depending on your POV) rappel down 20 meters or so to go swimming, and ascend back up the rope. This is not as hard as it sounds, the techniques and equipment have been well developed. Anyway there is plentiful water but from a single point unless additional well(s) are placed.

The forest is classified as a dry deciduous tropical forest. The only thing that I have done so far is to plant the last milpa field of about 8 acres with agave at the rate of 1200 plants per year, for personal tequila use when the sections (about 1/2 acre each) start to reach maturity in 5 more years.

The reason for this post is that I would like to solicit advice and get pointed to knowledge resources if possible for starting a long term permie project on the land. A perfect outcome would be to wind up with a sustainable cycle of inter-related projects.

One goal would be to derive enough food and income to live simply. I am considering beekeeping as part of that, there are Melipona (stingless, native bees) beekeepers in the area and I would love to do some of that, but I am also advised that for commercial purposes Apis (Euro) bees are better. I have to decide to go with one or the other or both. I'm also thinking of perhaps some dairy goats, there is endless underbrush in addition to providing fertilizer; as well as limited crop planting, wildcrafting, and anything else that I can think of to provide personal food and a small income. But I don't know what would work and what wouldn't work in this climate and environment.

Longer term, I would like to manage the forest in such a way that it will eventually return to as close as possible to an old growth state for most (>90% probably) of the property. I don't really know how much if any active management I should do- should less desirable trees (the ones that would not survive an old growth setting) be cut or just let it go?

As a total green pea newbie on all of this, and I would appreciate any advice. Also, if anyone would like to participate in any way I would be open to that- some kind of community would be totally cool. Other Yucatan expats, let's get in touch and share resources!

Thanks again, Nate