Chicken and Hydroponics December 8, 2008
Posted by Ken Newton in : Life in Panama , trackbackYesterday we did church at someone’s home in Boquete. There were about 30 of us, and with desserts and coffee starting off the occasion, we then sang a bit, watched a Brian McLaren video, discussed it, prayed for one another, then continued to enjoy one another’s company. Lynda and I met some new people, and enjoyed sharing stories of our journey to Panama.
Today I got to spend most of the day with Steve. Steve is behind the concept and development of a retreat center called Selah. It’s primary purpose is to provide a place of refuge and restoration for church leaders who find themselves in a state of burn-out or need for new inspiration. A few days ago Steve heard of a great deal on some wood that was surplus to a shipment to France. Beautiful, exotic red-colored wood that was in sufficient quantity to be crafted into doors using a local mill and craftsmen. He bought it, and it was dumped on his property in El Frances. I texted Steve this morning offering to help him carry the wood into his bodega so as not to be damaged by rain. I had no idea what lay in store.
This was not a pile of 2X4’s. It was rough-hewn lumber, in lengths that weighed in at about 300 pounds, I figure. It totalled about 1300 linear feet. Four and a half hours later, we had moved it the 50 feet or so into the bodega. Another 4 hours later, as I sit at the computer typing, I realize how badly out of shape I am. The good news is my heart is still beating, but the rest of my body would probably prefer to take a hiatus.
While with Steve out on his property, which is probably about 20-plus hectares in size, he showed me the work-in-progress of his hydroponic farm, which will be a major source of food supply for his family, neighbors, and Selah. Steve has figured out how to create this symbiotic connection amongst chickens, fish, algae, and vegetable plants. Personally, the only thing green I can actually say I like to eat is asparagus, but the simplicity of this farm, and its incredibly low cost of construction and operation, continued to solidify my shift in things that matter and their worth. Life does not have to be complicated, costly, or with an imbalance of surplus. Community and care easily connect in with life basics. Pleasure can be derived in dividends through simple solutions. The cycle of life gives itself readily to our needs.
I have started thinking more seriously than ever of what life would be like here in a more formalized manner. Finding a piece of property, building a house, living in community that stresses self-sufficiency and the additional capacity to add value to the lives of those in proximity. To participate in developing concepts and be part of exhilarating opportunities to engage the land and help people in ways other than a financial contribution to a missions appeal. Real life without sacrifice once you figure out that little in life has anything to do with sacrifice. Live as you need to live but while assuring the greatest capacity to care for others. Most of us live as we want to live, typically above our needs, and with nothing remaining for the greater need about us. I am not excluding myself from this observation.
Until now, I hope. It is a hard change. I think it is for the most part impossible while resident within the american norm. Too many options and too many better things to acquire. But if one could only place some distance between that and come to experience a different culture like Panama, I believe the chance to change increases. I like what I am experiencing, and how my values seem to be changing up. Moving wood and seeing a chicken coup being constructed for the purpose of impacting lives has moved me forwards towards a yet undefined destination.
Comments»
I am so thankful that God allowed me to read this. We are planning on checking out Boquete in Dec. for the very purpose you have written. My husband, Jim Schryver, is a missionary with Crown Financial Ministries and we are hoping to work there in the near future. I will try to locate Selah now that you have told me about it.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this information so we can meet these wonderful likeminded people.
Please tell me did you end up living there?
Blessings,
Crystal Schryver