Previous Projects
Hier ist eine Übersicht über bisher durchgeführte Projekte und dabei durchlaufene Erfahrungen, welche die heutige Arbeit von Gaia Guidance beeibflussen. Details zu den einzelnen Projekten findest du weiter unten.
Compost Paradise
Development and realization of a concept for composting organic waste from a farm.
proto.topia
Designed an area for market gardening proto.topia with regard to production, soil fertility, fire protection, and water retention.
Maitreya Healing Biotope
Development of a land use plan and strategy for converting a conventional almond plantation to a regenerative polyculture.
Water – Our life and our responsibility
Development and conduct of a 6-day course on the topic of “Water retention in the landscape” in theory and practice.
Berrie – Traveling Rewilded
Planning and conducting a joint voyage using Dragon Dreaming.
Compost Paradise
Development of a composting system
September 2020 – July 2021
I carried out my first Permaculture project at the Weidenhof farm near Gernsbach as part of my advanced training at the Permaculture Academy. It involved the productive use of organic waste produced on the farm. As part of the project, I developed a system for the safe composting of the material, which also included the management of the raw materials and the design and placement of the storage sites. Ultimately, this was followed by a concept for composting toilets and their integration into the farm's operations.
Erfahrungen, welche in neue Projekte einfließen
- Walking through a Permaculture design process
- Application of design tools
- Insight into various composting methods (hot composting, bokashi, vermicomposting, Berkeley method)
- Screening for public law requirements and regulations
- Coordination of earthworks with the machine operator
- Construction drawings of storage units for raw materials and a composting toilet
- Client meetings
- Utilization of dynamic accumulators, chop and drop method
- Root propagation
- Reading landscapes
- Animal observation
proto.topia
Design-Praktikum
August 2021
For about three weeks, our team worked on a Permaculture design for the market garden proto.topia near Jüterbog. Under the guidance of the internship supervisor, we focused on getting to grips with the design process, trying out new methods and consolidating those we already knew. The requirement from proto.topia was to bring a largely unused area into production, while incorporating fire protection, water retention and soil building. The result included water retention elements, road layout, and vegetation that has fire-retardant properties, produces biomass, and has marketing potential.
Erfahrungen, welche in neue Projekte einfließen
- Walking through a Permaculture design process
- Application of design tools and methods
- Insight into fire-retardant design elements
- Land surveying with an A-frame
- Positioning and installation of water retention elements
- Reading landscapes
Maitreya Healing Biotope
Healing people and nature
October 2021 – July 2023
At the invitation of Maitreya, I created a Permaculture design for an approximately 20-hectare section of the existing almond plantation. In the past, conventional farming methods had led to severe soil degradation. The community project wanted to pursue a new approach by establishing a retreat for alternative healing methods and required a design that would meet the new requirements. The result was a concept for the regenerative management of the existing almond plantation and a land use plan that addressed the needs of a retreat and community center. The aim was to connect the healing processes of humans and nature.
After that, I accompanied Maitreya as part of the community for about a year and a half during the implementation phase. During this time, I started and managed a vegetable garden and a tree nursery, carried out water retention work and road repairs, and coordinated tree pruning and harvesting activities.
Erfahrungen, welche in neue Projekte einfließen
- Walking through a Permaculture design process
- Application of design tools
- Designing in an agricultural context
- Intensive work with GIS applications
- Working out garden plans for mixed cultivation
- Working with Mediterranean crops in semi-arid climates
- Insight into community-building processes
- Volunteer coordination
- Tree & plant nursing
- Pruning of various crops (olive, almond, grapevine, pomegranate, citrus fruits)
- Coordination of harvesting activities
- Soil building & water retention measures
- Reading landscapes
- Animal observation
Water – Our life and our responsibility
Conceptualization, organization, and conduct of a course
November 2023
Zusammen mit meinem Kooperationspartner Nikolas Mews fand der erste Kurs zum Thema Water Retention im Maitreya Healing Biotope statt. Der Kurs behandelte Theorie und Praxis zu Wasserretention in der Landschaft, wassersparender Bepflanzung und Grauwassernutzung. Die semi-ariden Bedingungen von Südspanien boten dafür einen authentische Rahmen. Nach den Theorieeinheiten am Vormittag probierten wir verschiedene Methoden zur Geländevermessung und -ansprache, bevor wir gemeinsam an der Umsetzung von einem Swale und mehreren Half-moons arbeiteten. Diese dienten dazu, Wasser von einer nahegelegenden Straße aufzunehmen, wo es Erosion verursachte. Außerdem wurde die Gesamtinfiltrationskapazität von Maitreya erhöht und das Wasser zur Bewässerung des exponierten, besonders trockenen Hügelkammes genutzt. Zum Schluss wurden die geschaffenen Retentionselemente nach dem Vorbild syntropischer Agroforstsysteme bepflanzt. Über die Woche verteilt gab es ergänzende Angebote zu Gemeinschaftsbildung, naturverbindende Übungen aus der Wildnispädagogik, Yoga und eine Sound Journey.
Erfahrungen, welche in neue Projekte einfließen
- Planning, organizing, and conducting a multi-day course
- Contour line surveying with a hose level
- Promotion
- Organization of materials and tools
- Coordination with the course venue
- Pricing
- Development and preparation of course content
Berrie – Traveling Rewilded
Tailoring a dream trip
January 2024 – December 2025
For a journey with my partner, we used the Dragon Dreaming design process model to create successful joint projects. Adapted to our needs and context, we held a dream circle and worked our way towards our joint roadmap, the Karrabirth. The design process helped us to structure ourselves and gain clarity about the steps necessary for the smoothest possible travel experience. Although the process led us to an unexpected result, it supported us in honestly exchanging and integrating our respective needs.
One of my intentions for this trip was to engage further with Permaculture with a view to my professional development. Accordingly, I spent a considerable amount of time in Senegal and Colombia, where I not only gained insights into the respective flora, fauna, and culture, but also became involved in local Permaculture and forest garden projects.
Erfahrungen, welche in neue Projekte einfließen
- Anwendung von Dragon Dreaming als Gestaltungsprozessmodell
- Becoming familiar with (sub)tropical (cultivated) plants in their natural environment and working with them
- Planting & management of (syntropic) forest garden systems
- Conduction of workshops
- Guidance on management measures for syntropic systems
- Production of biochar
- Digitization/cataloging of existing plantings
- Consulting
- Establishing a seed bank
