The Land
The Name:
When my B and I got together, we were living in San Sebastian, Spain for a few months and found a cafe that had just opened. It was right on the river and just towards the West, the open ocean. We spent at least an hour there everyday and it became a home base for our time in Spain. The owners and staff were beautiful, kind, inviting and loving and with them, we gained a deep sense of connection and friendship which anchored us in the unpredictable nature of traveling. The name of their cafe was called: Sakona, which in Basque means 'deep'.
We thought about what we might name our property for a while and kept our thoughts open to new ideas but once we remembered 'Sakona' it fitted perfectly. The sensation we experienced while being on our land was the same deep, meaningful connectedness we had experienced in the cafe. We asked our friends in Spain how they felt about our naming the land Sakona and they were generous and honoured. We now have a trans-global and forever connection with that amazing time in our lives.
(Outside Sakona in Spain)
The truth:
Although I am one to elaborate, exaggerate and story tell, B and I are grounded by the truth. What is the truth of how things work on this earth? When I was a child, I trusted the decisions society told me were right. Certainly, they wouldn't sell energy drinks, candies, and fast food if it was bad for you. Productions, factories, warehouses- they all seemed necessary for the society that I grew up in to function comfortably. As I grew and learned, I was first pulled to psychology to find out the truth of our minds and emotions. Through that, I have learned about health, diet, energies, and living in harmony with the land. B grew up on a farm and was closer to the truth then than I was. However, he did go on to become a corporate lawyer and resigned around the time we met because it wasn't consistent with his values.
What is consistent with our values and feels deeply true is permaculture, eco-building, living off the land, eating and shopping locally, creating meaningful communities and connections with people. We are still in a transition from being 'main stream' to 'off grid' and truthfully, we will probably be on the spectrum, albeit much closer to 'off grid'. That being said, our big choices have been honest.
We are designing the garden and the land under permaculture principles, buying organic seeds and saving seeds from organic foods. Operating completely spray free but using complimentary plants, animals and locations to create a cohesive environment in which to grow abundant healthy, honest fruits, nuts, vegetables and legumes. And once you've tasted real food, you can't unlearn the taste.
The process:
B spent an entire year, almost every day working on the land. We brought sheep, pigs, cattle, chickens and 2 horses onto Sakona, created paths from, our now, building site through the bush to the cattle yards, restoring and installing fencing around the property to try to understand and create zones that would work for us.
With a land that big (which is relative to what you're used to! I'm personally used to an apartment in LA), it can feel overwhelming at first to know exactly where everything should go. So, we have been brainstorming piece by piece and now looking back on the 2.5 years we've had Sakona, things are finally taking shape. The trees that B planted in the beginning are beginning to bear fruit, the garden beds are getting more and bigger, some vegetables are able to be harvested and there is a joyful satisfaction when your children are fighting over the last 'lolli pea'!
It all sounds so rosy, but there have been plenty of ups and downs on our way and we're only just beginning.
Stay tuned for more on the eco build, our lifestyle and dreams with the land. Thanks for visiting . :)
When my B and I got together, we were living in San Sebastian, Spain for a few months and found a cafe that had just opened. It was right on the river and just towards the West, the open ocean. We spent at least an hour there everyday and it became a home base for our time in Spain. The owners and staff were beautiful, kind, inviting and loving and with them, we gained a deep sense of connection and friendship which anchored us in the unpredictable nature of traveling. The name of their cafe was called: Sakona, which in Basque means 'deep'.
We thought about what we might name our property for a while and kept our thoughts open to new ideas but once we remembered 'Sakona' it fitted perfectly. The sensation we experienced while being on our land was the same deep, meaningful connectedness we had experienced in the cafe. We asked our friends in Spain how they felt about our naming the land Sakona and they were generous and honoured. We now have a trans-global and forever connection with that amazing time in our lives.
(San Sebastian)
The truth:
Although I am one to elaborate, exaggerate and story tell, B and I are grounded by the truth. What is the truth of how things work on this earth? When I was a child, I trusted the decisions society told me were right. Certainly, they wouldn't sell energy drinks, candies, and fast food if it was bad for you. Productions, factories, warehouses- they all seemed necessary for the society that I grew up in to function comfortably. As I grew and learned, I was first pulled to psychology to find out the truth of our minds and emotions. Through that, I have learned about health, diet, energies, and living in harmony with the land. B grew up on a farm and was closer to the truth then than I was. However, he did go on to become a corporate lawyer and resigned around the time we met because it wasn't consistent with his values.
What is consistent with our values and feels deeply true is permaculture, eco-building, living off the land, eating and shopping locally, creating meaningful communities and connections with people. We are still in a transition from being 'main stream' to 'off grid' and truthfully, we will probably be on the spectrum, albeit much closer to 'off grid'. That being said, our big choices have been honest.
The process:
B spent an entire year, almost every day working on the land. We brought sheep, pigs, cattle, chickens and 2 horses onto Sakona, created paths from, our now, building site through the bush to the cattle yards, restoring and installing fencing around the property to try to understand and create zones that would work for us.
It all sounds so rosy, but there have been plenty of ups and downs on our way and we're only just beginning.
Stay tuned for more on the eco build, our lifestyle and dreams with the land. Thanks for visiting . :)
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