by the Artesia family

We started with three open acres of pasture with really depleted soil. There were strong prevailing winds, moderate rainfall, and an easy slope toward the ocean. The trees on the surrounding properties were mixed and not very exciting. The prevailing message was obvious; we could build a big house and grow cattle. That’s what many people on the big island of Hawaii do.

But having the advantage of a multi-dimensional mind and lots of training in visual language we could see in our imagination that there could be many more layers of valuable activity on this landscape. Over a period of about fifteen years we were able to craft many other major options into what was once just pasture. Primarily that was because comprehensive design was a natural part of our skill base. We think in layers.

We imagined the beauty of a botanical garden everywhere. Could we feed ourselves too? Could we grow medicines, flowers, and cosmetic plants ? What about a homestead for ten? Could we host an extended family with symbiotic interests and skills? Could we mix architectural styles on the same buildings ? Could we create an amphitheatre for our community? Could we include a sanctuary feeling everywhere to support a comtemplative lifestyle? Could we include spa like resources for the residents? How about spaces for art and creative work? Would that include a shop and studio to become more self-reliant and support special construction needs? Could there be animals? How about wonderful bird life? And habitat for bees ? Could we catch our own water and then have lotus ponds? Could we have enough timber to support our need for building and also have some firewood? Would the place have a healthy amount of biomass but not block out all the views. Could we make portable structures that we could move around and add on to when needed? Could there be storybook pathways and magic grandfather trees ? How about some temple buildings and lots of sculpture all around ? Could we tell our story and the story of the land at the same time?

This is what we mean by comprehensive! And the answer so far has been yes to all of these desires? …and of course we are still at work on the details … but everything’s in the pot and cooking right along.

Needless to say being able to sketch things out so we could make the right place for everything was necessary. It was also important to work with nature. Every year in addition to the plantings we would install … she would deliver another third of the flora as volunteers. We didn’t keep them all but many now have become staples and are
procreating off spring we sell or give away. We also change our minds about where things end up because mother nature has her say and we listen! Yes, and the fruiting trees take years to get up and producing but there is plenty to do in the meantime.