This is a a great exercise…. We have 8 forms of capital… Financial, Social, Living, Intellectual, Spiritual, Cultural, Experiential, and Material. Complete them for yourself .. and answer the following questions. Feel free to post below. What are your goals, vision, mission and ethics for yourself and your property? (A few things to consider when define these areas-It is not the final definition that matters, it is the process of thinking about these things that the real work happens) Define your 8 forms of capital and what feel you have in each. Are you lacking in some areas? Which areas do you see a need to make improvments? What should you do in each form of capital in order to maximize your potential? How wealthy are you really in the form of these 8 forms of capital?.     Utilize the fact that we have cognitive bias and that limitations within our brains limit our abilities to think with a broad scope. ( look up the cognitive bias codex) Considering this, how can you challenge your forms of capital? See what you come up!

Progression.. Working on your property, no matter the size is rewarding in so many ways. For me I think of growth emotionally, physically, and mentally. Of course the obvious is providing food and medicine to you, your family and community. But more then that, it makes me reflect on things like edge, shapes, imperfections, and impact. Edge— in permaculture the edge is a really important piece to consider.. it is where fertility is at its peak. It is where two ecosystems connect and collide to provide exchanges. This is where magic happens, where productivity and diversity are foundational. The soil is often richer, the plants and trees will be thriving and you can often witness multiple species of birds, wildlife, microbes, and insects. So what really is the edge? Think of the edge of a mountain to a meadow, a forest to the land next to it, water to the land, soil to grass, rocks to grass, pathway to forest, garden bed to pathway, fence to garden bed, rock wall to garden, and urban land to rural land. There are so many more, can you think of any? If we continue to push the edges on our properties, no matter the size, we can create a multitude of benefits. Can you see the edges of this newly developed garden bed? Can you see the other trees and plants that will be added and will be pushing the edges out further? 🦋💕🌿🐝

What are your favourite Native flowers, plants, berries and herbs to plant in your zone for guilds? Here in zone 3b, I love using: Strawberries Creeping thyme, creeping jenny Woodruff Yarrow Coneflower Veronica-Speedwell Borage Triangle flashback Calendula Beebalm (Wild Bergamot) Mint, oregano, parsley, dill, thyme, rosemary, sage , lemon balm, rosemary, lavender Basil-italian large leaf, cilantro-Calypso, German chamomile French Sorrel Catmint/Catnip Comfrey Anise hyssop Buckwheat Caraganna/Pygmie Cosmos Golden rod Chives Daffodils Salvia Echinacea Nettle Hosta Fireweed Shooting star Blanket flower Plantain Brown-eyed susan Paintbrush Wormwood Marigolds-Red Gem Alsike Clover Klondike Ladino Clover Common Peony Vining Nasurtium, Dwarf Jewel Mix, Giant Dahlia Zinnia Goldie Ground Cherry Mammoth Grey stripe Sunflowers Lamb's ears Rhodiola Garlic Chickweed Vetch Violets Kinnikinnick Periwinkle Pineberry Sagebrush Ostrich ferns Rhubarb Dogwood Showy milkweed Bachelor button Russian sage False Indigo Salvia Wormwood Onions Gooseberry Currants Lilac Yellow false dandelion Native grasses Nodding onion Asters Carolina foxtail Alyssum Canada anemone Columbine Sarsaparilla Arnica Wild Ginger False flax Alpine harebell Creeping snowberry Geranium Avens Sunflowers Alumroot St. John's wort Shrubby primrose Cinquefoil Buttercup Buffaloberry Pincherry Blueberry Pansy What do you like using?