How do you create a yield that won’t degrade the system over time? How do you know your system is regenerative unless you accept feedback on how it’s doing?
Very few people understand the ecosystem they live in well enough to predict how to keep it regenerative under the range of circumstances we might be faced with. So we need a way to keep track of the health of the system.
One of the ways I do this is by noting the numbers of pollinators on my flowers. How does that change through the seasons and in different years, and over decades? Nature’s heartbeat can be generational.
Another feedback loop is the water retention of my soil. In a dry period, how long does it hold moisture? This can be measured with a moisture meter or by visual and tactile observation.
An obvious feedback loop is how many pounds of fruit or veggies get produced. But these less obvious feedback loops can give you some prediction on the overall health of the system that you might not otherwise have.
This also includes feedback on how you’re doing. How balanced is your life? Are you giving yourself recharge time? Spending time weekly to actually look at how things are going personally and on your site can be very helpful.
One of the most valuable ways to construct a feedback loop is with controlled scientific experiments, using the scientific method. This is a disciplined way to observe and interact. It is not the only way by any means, but it is a very effective way of creating a feedback loop that is accurate. One of the characteristics of this method is that your theories are tested, preferably by others. How well does your growing method work compared to other approaches (for example)? How well does it work in different soils or climates or seasons?
Another characteristic is that there is no penalty when something doesn't work. It is considered part of the learning process. The only penalty is not observing when something isn't working.
We are often penalized for having the "wrong answer" but in science (as in life too!), multiple wrong answers can eventually lead to a right one because you are eliminating the things that don't work.
Hands On Activity
Read the diagram on scientific method (image below) and write a short essay on how you could use this for one action on your site. How could you test your hypothesis? Note that this is a simple explanation for how the scientific method is used and it omits steps, but it gives you an idea of how you could test your ideas.
Hands On Activity
Name at least one way that is meaningful for your goals that you can track or assess how your site is doing over time. Topsoil depth/health? Fruit yield? Hours spent vs yield?
Name at least one way you can track and assess how you are doing, based on what is important to you. Hours of pleasure vs hours of frustration? Desirable yield for time spent?