Martin

Germany
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Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Japan - from Oct 2023 until Oct 2024
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Description
Hello from Berlin,

I am interested in tree based polyculture concepts like Agroforestry as in Forest Gardens, Forest Landscape Restoration and principles of Nature Farming which values and fosters the soil microbiome. Robert Hart and Masanobu Fukuoka have been a great inspiration to me.
I like forests and trees, especially fruit bearing ones (lemon trees on top of this list!) and those with multi-purpose potential.

I studied again after 25 years of professional work in communication design. The slightly exotic name of my BSc. degree is »International Forest Ecosystem Management« which makes me neither a farmer nor a forester but something inbetween. My Thesis explored the possibilities of soil conservation with Agroforestry and Nature Farming methods. And although having gained some experience in the last years, I still have a lot - and would like - to learn.
That is why I would like to work with professionals or enthusiastic amateurs, with people who really know what they are doing, why they are doing it and doing it right. I am committed for a long term engagement not just a couple of weeks.

As part of my practical study term abroad I spend 6 months in Japan in 2019/20, and another 5 month until just now on a tiny island famous for a century of citrus farming. I had the honour to work with a small community of Nature Farmers here closely related to M. Fukuoka.

My project in Japan was to transform an abandoned, hilly and savaged citrus plantation of almost one ha into half a forest garden and half a more conventional agroforestry system and reclaim the surrounding forest. This involved a lot of plant research, experiments, water management and lots of weeding.
However, I was in Japan on a tourist visa since the first working visa application was rejected. Me and my potential employer, an NPO active in revitalising this overaged island with new concepts, tried again a few months ago but Japan immigration is not exactly permissive regarding jobs in environmental or ecoagricultural contexts - although Japan is in urgent need for that. Wether or not the visa will be granted is of yet unclear. Even if I will be allowed to return, I will have three months to reenter and would like to use the time inbetween for experiencing other (Forest-) farming environments.

This is why I am now focussing on European projects with similar approach, preferably on an island or in coastal areas of the south west like Portugal or Spain incl. Canary Islands (I like trees but I also like diving and a mediterranean climate…). I am available from July 2023.

I would like to work AND learn: anything with Food-Forests, Forest management, Olives, Permaculture, Lemons, Coffee, Reforestation, Winemaking, Fishery, Agroforestry systems .... would be excellent.

Would love to hear from you,
Best, Martin
Interests
Politics / Social justice
DIY & crafts
Vegetarian or vegan
Sailing / Boating
Water sports
Nature
Gardening
Carpentry
Cooking & food
Art & design
Sustainability
Farming
Beach
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Japanese: Beginner
More details about my language interests
I would really like to become fluent in Spanish and have a proper conversation. So far its only bits and pieces and most of it is from Flamenco or Cumbia songs...
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
Some knowledge of:
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
Able to teach about:
Gardening
Animal Care
More details about your skills
Forestry (Planting, Thinning, Maintenance), Agroforestry/Food Forests (Planning, Plant communities, Soil conservation methods, Fruit tree maintenance...), Animal husbandry (Goats and Poultry), Mechanic tools (Chainsaw, Weeder, Tiller, Chipper...); Basic wildlife management (Hunting license); Biofertilizer, Biochar
Age
59
What else ...
I have a diving-, a boat- and a chainsaw-license - if thats of any help...
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

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10 Sep 2023

Left by Workawayer (Martin) for host (Help regenerate soil and ...)

Catharina and Carlos (and Phillip) are extremely lovely people with a deep devotion to soil health and organic/regenerative and truly sustainable farming. I spend 5 weeks with them to expand my (mostly theoretical) knowledge about agroforestry systems and soil biology and learn new things: how does the Keyline system work and how to set it up, how… read more do you manage irrigation in an summer-arid climate, how is a Montado-Ecosystem functioning and what are the fundamentals of horticulture.
As Carlos rightly said in our excellent prep communication: 1 month is minimum, three month is good, one year will be perfect to not just learn but understand the processes and systems they apply.

I worked with him in the nursery where they grow local and introduced tree species that can tolerate dry stress, hot climate and eventually frosty winters; in the orchard a mile up the hills we thinned and pruned plums, peaches, pears and citrus (and harvested what was ripe - all of it delicious) and he introduced me to different bio-fertilziser preparations which Catharina expertly engineered. Both of them love to explain and do so in depth, there were truly no questions unanswered and if I still wanted more info, I turned to the library.
We picked fantastic figs and strawberries for breakfast, carrots, onions, herbs and tons of various tomato varieties for lunch and dinner, laughed a lot and shared the same irritation about the craziness of the global food system and what magic biochemistry happens in plants above and below. On the weekend, at least in summer, you can go for an one hours bus ride to the most fantastic and largest beach I have seen in a while and cool down in turqois atlantic waves. On top of it all, Freixo do Meio, the main estate features similar interesting projects on its ground, from Syntropic farming to Solar engineering and the people are happy to share.

Now that the seeding/planting season starts I had to leave to continue my project in Japan. Its a shame because not only is the place in the middle of a huge Montado estate a calming, quiet and somehow magic spot, now the oak pastures will turn green, the Pomegranates are soon ready to enjoy and planting new Agroforestry patches with the seedlings from the nursery would be an excellent practical and informative excercise.

A word of warning though to the laid back traveller: This is a place with lots of work already put into it but with much more potential. Carlos and Catharina know that it needs workforce and some investment to develop it to all its glory. Until then it is a place to work and its no work you do in trainers (or barefoot…), bring proper boots, gloves and enthusiasm. And prepare for simple but charming accomodation that partially serves as a storage, no running hot water, the occasional mouse in your kitchen, and because the whole house is running on solar panels, a fridge a mile away (it works fine with a camper cooler), and one sleeping room for three with a sleeping couch in the living room/library for the 4th (also works fine if you are in a hostel type of mood or a couple, neither of which I am).

I would like to return there and help them with the plenty of rewarding (besides the fantastic fruits and vegetables) work there is to do - and if I get the Europe-Blues in Japan, I certainly will.

(Excellent )

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