Executive summary – Project Phoenix
Introduction to Permaculture
Forestry – Priority 1
- Cut down alien invader tree species
- Replace each harvested tree with an indigenous tree or fruit tree along the border fences and in organised orchards
- Trees will be cloned by air layer method
Micro-Farming – Priority 1
- Fodder for livestock
- Leafy Greens on GroTowers
- Microgreens for poultry and human consumption
- Rotational camps
- Compost is dumped in a 10mx10m camp for chickens to forage and lay eggs in a mobile tractor coop
- Compost is distributed and sanitised by chickens who forage on the micro-organisms present in the compost
- Chickens add manure to the mix and this is called carbon sequestration
- No feeding cost for egg production and high quality of egg yield
- Incorporate livestock into different rotational camps and circulate the livestock every 2 days
Micro-farming training contract
Two individuals per GroSpace are required to be trained on site. After the completion of training each individual will be certified as a professional GroSpace grower. This certification will empower each individual to move between various GroSpaces and conduct professional service wherever said individual works.
GroSpace steps to succes – Plant, Water, Harvest
Plant
Seeds are planted according to a planned planting schedule.
How to plant seeds and seedlings
Depending on the seed, a GroSpace Grower should either soak seeds in water before planting directly into the GroTower. GroSpace Growers should refer to the planting guide for plant-specific information.
Water
Watering by upside down GroBottle will maintain a moist growing environment for each seedling, plant or tree.
How to mix GroTea for watering Seedlings
Mix a 1:1000 GroTea concentrate with water into the GroDrip for seedlings. Use borehole water if possible. If you use tap water let it stand for at least 1 hour in the sun to allow for the chlorine to break down else the chlorine will kill the micro bacteria in the GroMass. Maintain moisture in the GroMass for best sprouting results. Refill the GroDrip to maintain moisture.
How to mix GroTea for watering Plants
Mix a 1:100 GroTea concentrate with water into the GroDrip for plants. Use borehole water if possible. If you use tap water let it stand for at least 1 hour in the sun to allow for the chlorine to break down else the chlorine will kill the micro bacteria in the GroMass. Maintain moisture in the Gromass for accelerated growth and maximum yield. Refill the GroDrip to maintain moisture.
How to mix GroTea for watering Trees
Mix a 1:10 GroTea concentrate with water into the GroDrip for trees. Use borehole water if possible. If you use tap water let it stand for at least 1 hour in the sun to allow for the chlorine to break down else the chlorine will kill the micro bacteria in the GroMass. Maintain moisture in the GroMass for healthy root development and fruiting yield. Refill the GroDrip to maintain moisture.
How to water a GroTower
Place the GroDrip upside down into each GroTree. Refer to the instructions above for mixing GroTea.
How to water a GroBottle – Hothouse
Pour enough GroTea mix to moisten the GroMass. Refer to the instructions above for mixing GroTea.
How to water a GroBottle – Flip
Pour enough GroTea mix to meet the opening of the twist top so that the Gromass is in contact with water. Refer to the instructions above for mixing GroTea.
How to water a GroCanal
Place the GroDrip upside down into every fifth GroSite. Refer to the instructions above for mixing GroTea.
How to water a GroTree
Place the GroDrip upside down into each GroTree. Refer to the instructions above for mixing GroTea.
How to water a GroBed
Place the GroDrip upside down into each corner and place one GroDrip into the Centre of the GroBed. Refer to the instructions above for mixing GroTea.
Harvest
Harvest according to a harvesting schedule which is based upon the planting schedule.
How to Harvest Micro-Greens and seedlings
Simply snip microgreens close to the root mat with the appropriate cutting tool. Feed the root mat as fodder to your livestock. You can also Bukashi the root mat and consider feeding the root mat to your worms.
How to Harvest leafy Greens
Simply snip leafy greens close to young shoots to stimulate growth. Make sure to leave young buds unharmed however if the young shoots are snipped they will grow back with increased vigour.
How to Harvest Fruit from trees
Gently twist and snip with the appropriate cutting tool to seal and stimulate growth. Make sure to leave small and under-ripe fruit unharmed.
Woodwork – priority 2
Requirements
Tools
- Band saw to cut planks into size
- Wood planer for making planks
Medium scale farming – Phemi TBC
- GroCanals for fencing
- GroTrees for vertiponics over ponds and GroBeds
- GroBeds to save water
- GroShock Fencing for livestock camps
Aquaculture and Aquaponics
To teach and learn the tech behind IoT.
GroSpace builds urban farms and teaches young minds to build IoT devices using raspberry pi + modules to automate the urban farming experience.
The Autonomous system covers watering, feeding in the case of aquaponics and temperature control.
Requirements
Build basic round or rectangular fish tanks and earth dams with water run-off into hydroponic vegetable gardens to minimise fertilisation requirements and increase yield.
Tools
- TLB
- Rocks from the surrounding area
- Gunnite machine
Hydroponics
Hydroponic systems should be utilised to maximise yield
- GroTower vertical farm in a box
- GroCanals – vertical stacking wall
- GroBottle – Upcycled PET plastic twist top bottles
Vertiponics
GroTrees to be hung/stood in lines for maximum yield.
Poultry
- Free range poultry with chicken tractors
- Broiler Cobb 308, 708
- Layers
Piggery
Free-range piggery with GroShock electrified camps
Cattle
Free-range cattle ranch with electrified camps
Sheep
Free-range Sheep ranch with GroShock electrified camps
Goats
Free-range Goat ranch with GroShock electrified camps
Composting
Food scraps, wood shavings from forestry
Feeds free-range chickens on open pasture
Provides nutritious biomass for bio generator and for growing organic produce
Recycling
- Recycle all waste through separation and sorting
Upcycling
- Convert PET plastic bottles into GroBottles, GroBricks and drip water tanks for frere range camps
- Convert all feedbags into GroBags for growing rhizomes and tubers
Water saving
Harvest rainwater with GroTanks
Honey production
Use GroHive for catching honeybees and harvesting honey.
Sustainable Power Generation
Find any means necessary to produce power in the form of biodiesel, biogas, solar, wind, geothermal and hydro-electric. Utilise it to power implements, security and lighting throughout your space.
Biodiesel
Convert dirty cooking oil into biodiesel
Biogas
Convert biomass from cooking waste, compost and general organic waste into recycled methane which is burned and upcycled. GroBiogas is an excellent means of carbon sequestration.
Solar
Install SolarGrid panels to convert solar energy into stored potential energy to supplement electrical consumption.
Wind
Use a helically shaped set of GroTurbines to convert wind energy into stored potential energy to supplement electrical consumption.
Geothermal
Lay black pipes on hot surfaces to convert heat energy into electrical energy to supplement electrical consumption.
Hydro-electric
Convert moving water within pipes, that has been pumped from an underground source into electric energy and store in batteries to supplement electrical consumption.
Living space – design for purpose
Think about the seasons when it’s hot you need to be cool when it’s cold you need to be warm. Think about the wind direction think about the pitch of the Sun. Think about electrical supply as well as a location for a water source so that you have water pressure in the building to minimise electrical requirements for pumping
Securitisation
- Solar powered lights
- Movement sensors
- GroShock fencing to keep predators out & livestock in
- Set booby-traps
- Set alarm system
- Infrared cameras
- Raspberry pi network to set up Internet of things environment
- Autonomous turrets to ward off intruders
Maintenance
A maintenance contract is established to maintain the good working order of equipment, manage planting, watering and harvesting of GroTowers.
GroSchool
Christian Boarding school with Christian orientated camps during weekends and holidays
Entrepreneurship
Students are taught to develop a business plan. Students develop business plans and execute real-world businesses that are sustainable and profitable. Students are also encouraged to develop non-government organisations, nonprofit organisations and charities. Students that develop businesses and organisations of excellence are sponsored by GroSpace from whom they receive seed capital for growth. GroSpace invests up to 80% of the seed capital required for parabolic expansion and as such incubates such business ideas and develops them towards fruition.
Life coaching
Students are taught to think about the big picture. Students are taught to understand why they are doing any particular task. Students are groomed to be ladies and gentlemen of distinction.
Leadership
Leadership is a skill that students learn. Students are taught the art of leadership chivalry and honour.
Motivation
Students are taught motivational thinking. Students are taught about the impact that motivation has on their lives and the lives of people around them.
Free thinking
Students are taught the art of free-thinking and creative thinking along with critical thinking to make decisions that are logical.
IT – general literacy
Students are taught how to use a computer. General IT literacy includes the ability to utilise various operating systems text editors which include Google office suite, Microsoft office suite and Mac office suite.
IT – AI
Students are taught how to develop artificial intelligence and the application thereof in the real world. Students build AI robots and learning algorithms. Mind uploading is taught to students with the long term interest in the preservation of generational knowledge to support culture and remind the youth of ancient customs as it swiftly fades away whilst humanity enters the realm of the singularity.
We’ve always lived in a world where culture turns over with each generation. But what happens when the older generations never die, but remain just as active in society? There’s no reason to think that the living will have any political, economic, or intellectual advantage over the simulated.
Think of the jobs people have in our world. Many of them require physical action, and those are the jobs that will probably be replaced by automatons. Taxi driver? Publicly shared, self-driving cars are almost here. Street cleaners? Checkout operators? Construction workers? Pilots? All of these jobs are probably for the chopping block in the medium to long term. Robotics and artificial intelligence will take them over. The rest of our jobs, our contributions to the larger world, are done through the mind, and if the mind can be uploaded, it can keep doing the same job. A politician can work from cyberspace just as well as from real space. So can a teacher, or a manager, or a therapist, or a journalist, or the guy in the complaints department.
The CEO of a company, a Steve Jobs type who has shaped up a sweet set of neural connections in his brain that makes him exceptional at his work, can manage from a remote, simulated office. If he must shake hands, he can take temporary possession of a humanoid robot, a kind of shared rent-a-bot, and spend a few hours in the real world, meeting and greeting. Even calling it the “real” world sounds prejudicial to me. Both worlds would be equally real. Maybe the better term is the “foundation” world and the “cloud” world.Advertisement
The foundation world would be full of people who are mere youngsters – mainly under the age of 80 – who are still accumulating valuable experience. Their unspoken responsibility would be to gain wisdom and experience before joining the ranks of the cloud world. The balance of power and culture would shift rapidly to the cloud. How could it not? That’s where the knowledge, experience and political connections will accumulate. In that scenario, the foundation world becomes a kind of larval stage for immature minds, and the cloud world is where life really begins. Mind uploading could transform our culture and civilisation more profoundly than anything in our past.
Michael SA Graziano is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Princeton University
Graziano, M. (2019). What happens if your mind lives for ever on the internet? [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/oct/20/mind-uploading-brain-live-for-ever-internet-virtual-reality.
IT – Digital Marketing
Students take online courses and develop digital marketing skills to use to drive consumer engagement in their activities during and after their learning. Students are also encouraged to propagate media around GroSpace. Students market GroSpace through their learning and practical real-world training.
IT – coding
Students are taught how to code in python, Javascript, HTML, CSS, PHP and C#. These codebases will be updated to maintain a parallel line between modern codebases and the application thereof. Python is used for AI JavaScript HTML CSS and PHP are all used for web-based development. Python is an interpreted high-level general-purpose programming language. Its design philosophy emphasizes code readability with its use of significant indentation. Its language constructs as well as its object-oriented approach aim to help programmers write clear, logical code for small and large-scale projects. The HyperText Markup Language or HTML is the standard markup language for documents designed to be displayed in a web browser. It can be assisted by technologies such as Cascading Style Sheets CSS and scripting languages such as JavaScript. JavaScript is used for mobile development and web development. JavaScript is high-level, often just-in-time compiled, and multi-paradigm. C# is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm programming language.
Robotics
Students are taught how to code in python and how to develop robots. Students build robots and autonomous systems to improve the security and efficiency of the workplace through real-world applications. Through enhanced machine learning capabilities, robots gain increased autonomy, reducing the need for humans to plan and manage navigation paths and process flows.
Welding
Students are taught how to weld. Students maintain equipment through educational real-world projects.
Earth moving
Students are taught how to drive Earthmoving equipment. Students Drive earthmoving machinery to dig holes move earth and build foundations for infrastructure.
Farming
Students are taught the fundamentals of farming.
- Animal welfare
- Feeding
- Watering
- Housing
- Planting
- Watering
- harvesting
- Crop protection
- Technological practices to drive sustainability through innovation and efficiency
- Marketing and sales
Visit the link below to learn all about how to regenerate soil through carbon sequestration and natural micro-biome development.
Farming Pecan nuts
Consider farming Pecan nuts with pecan orchards under irrigation on 40Ha of land in the North Eastern Corner of the Magalies retreat Property. Consider deep ripping along contour lines and dumping windrows of compost or horse manure which is abundant in the area. There are 2 horse farms in the area, one next door and the other 2km down the road. Both produce around 1.5 cubic meters of manure weekly. By planting the trees into berms made from dumping compost/manure in windrows along contour lines, this will encourage excellent early root development and minimise water requirements.
IEB
Students are taught the IEB syllabus which is for primary and high school learners. The IEB syllabus is a private syllabus in South Africa. This is the preferred syllabus due to the depth of teaching and knowledge that students are exposed to.
Practical training
Students are taught with practical training along with theoretical training.
Benefits:
- Real world understanding and practice of what is learned in the classroom
- Better understanding of lessons learnt in the classroom
- Practical application of lessons that in the classroom
- Understanding why you’re learning a specific topic
- Increase productivity for the entire ecosystem
- Lessons that are practised and perfected are the lessons that are remembered
Woodwork
Students are taught woodwork. Trees are felled in the local area. The felled logs need to be processed into manageable workable shapes and sizes. Students learn to use different wood-based machinery to make furniture and structures that add value to themselves and to the sustainability of the eco-system where said structures are built.
Benefits:
- Upskilling in woodwork
- Learn to use a bandsaw
- Learn to use a chainsaw
- Learn to use a wood planer
- Learn to build furniture
- Learn to build structures with wood
Christianity
Students are taught about Christianity and the grace of God through Christian orientated learning. Church service takes place weekly. Prayer opens and closes meal times. Wonderment and questioning are encouraged to develop faith in the Lord Jesus. Bible study is a subject of study for all students.
Benefits:
- Learn about the grace of God
- Learn to appreciate what God has given to every living creature on Earth
- Learn the lessons offered in the Bible
- Learn to behave with grace throught the Christian principles described in the Holy Bible
- Learn about how to give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ our saviour
- Learn about charitable works of kindness and enlighten your soul
- Learn to live a happier life
Steel work
Students are taught the art of steelwork. Students are exposed to the industry standards surrounding steel and machining steel. Students are taught the physical principles that allow for heating, bending and moulding steel. Students are taught how to make steel structures and how to work with steel.
Benefits:
- Learn an understanding of the steel industry
- Learn how to work with steel related machinery
- Learn how to bend steel
- Learn how to mould steel
- Learn how to cast steel
- learn how to drill thorugh steel
- Learn how to recycle steel
Mechanic work
Students are taught about engines, gearboxes and other mechanical work. Students are taught how machines work. Students are taught how to build machines. Students are taught how to clean machines. Students are taught how to work with machines.
Benefits:
- Learn how to work with a motor
- Learnhow to work with a gearbox
- Learn how to clean a machine
- Learn how to build a machine
- Learn how to seal a machine
- Learn how to maintain and fix a machine
Sustainability
Students are taught sustainable skills to improve their lives and the environment that they are involved in. Students are taught to recycle, upcycle and repurpose material that is generally considered waste. Students are taught full-circle thinking. The Sustainable Development Goals or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.
Benefits:
- Clean the environment
- Build with sustainability in mind
- Learn to recycle, upcycle and repurpose materials
- Make more money by thinking sustainably
- Learn how to backward integrate
- Learn how to think about real world problems and develop sustainable solutions to problems
Recycling + Upcycling
Students are taught about recycling and upcycling. Students are taught to use whatever materials are in their environment to make something more valuable. Students are taught the value of recycling materials that otherwise would have ended up in landfills. Students are taught how to recycle at heart is there an upcycle materials that have been recycled into farming practices and many other applications.
Benefits:
- Learn what materials can be recycled
- Learn how to up cycle
- Learn how to up cycle materials in your area but otherwise would have no value
- Learn how to build a business through reciting and up cycling
Permaculture
Students are taught about the various aspects surrounding permaculture. Students are taught full circle holistic thinking and students are encouraged to develop permaculture designs for their own personal spaces. Students are taught to put develop project plans. Each project plan developed by a student is utilised and implemented in real-world systems. The systems are showcased as use case scenarios to encourage further engagements in the permaculture space. Students that exhibit exceptional talent in the development and execution of permaculture project plans are shortlisted into the GroSpace permaculture team. This action drives job creation and sustainable business development.
Benefits:
- Learn about Permaculture
- Learn why Perma culture is necessary for future sustainability
- Learn how to develop project plans
- Learn how to execute project plans
- Learn about Grospace permaculture
- Learn how to save soil and generate abundance
Theology
Students are taught about different religions so that they feel secure and make wise decisions regarding their Christian learning environment. By teaching students aspects of all theological principles, they can learn the humility required to evangelise people and save their souls for heaven.
Job creation + Entrepreneurship
Students that show exceptional talent, dedication and hard work are shortlisted for jobs and their business plans are open to a panel of business professionals where they are encouraged to look for financial investment for their future business plans. GroSpace is a place to grow and develop people and sustainable businesses. GroSpace invests in job creation and sustainable business ventures. Students are taught how to look for funding, how to develop a business plan, how to develop a project plan, how to develop a rollout strategy and how to develop a marketing strategy. Students are taught about accounting and finance as well as taxation and economics.
Benefits:
- Learn how to work hard
- Learn about discipline
- Learn how to run a business
- Create a business with seed funding and incubation
- Create jobs for postgrad students and build entrepreneur through business operation
- Earn money post graduation with a pipeline to potential jobs
Digital marketing
Postgrad students manage marketing campaigns to promote Grospace along with business ventures that GroSpace invests in through the GroSchool program.
Sustainability
Students engage in sustainable activities through the GroSpace Partner Network. These activities include teaching sustainability to schools of young people looking to enter the world. Their minds are fresh and receptive to a change of the status quo. Post Grad students are given the opportunity to travel and find new GroSpace Partners for the weGro4U campaign. Post Grad students Are encouraged to get involved with recycling, upcycling and evangelism.
Web development
Students that show exceptional skills are encouraged to develop their own websites and web platforms. This gives each post-grad student the opportunity to hone their skills post-GroSchool. GroSpace encourages post-grad students to join the web development department to build web based software for functionality and compelling design.
Writing
Students are taught how to write excellent stories, poetry and academic papers that are relevant. Postgrad students are encouraged to join GroSpace and write about what they are interested in.
Copy writing
Students are taught how to write excellent copy for their websites and post-grad students are encouraged to join GroSpace where they write about their interests in a manner that is captivating and share-worthy.
Course creation(digital)
Students are taught how to create courses to teach other students. Post Grad students are encouraged to join ThinkBrainwave where they can tutor online and in-person and earn money. Postgrad students can also engage in developing course material to earn from subscribers.
Volunteer program
GroSpace invites volunteers from around the world to visit and volunteer for a paid program similar to students engaged in the GroSchool program. The volunteers manage extramural activities, outings, school camps and they teach the local students about where they come from. Clap Global helps out with attracting relevant travellers.
Kibbutz(International only)
International volunteers will pay for a kibbutz experience to dive deep into the principles behind Kibbutz. Kibbutz life involves several hundred people who work together for the benefit of the community as a whole and all profits are shared. The kibbutz could be quite industrial and have one or more factories on-site, or it could be purely agricultural, or even a mixture of both. Live in peace and harmony and teach others love and grace.
Pipeline to training
Volunteers are given extensive training through online courses before they arrive at the volunteer program. This gives each volunteer some prior context for their activities during the volunteer program so that they can make logical decisions before joining the volunteer program.
General maintenance
Volunteers maintain tools and equipment whilst supervising the students and they engage in training of the students. This generates a friendly yet respectful bond.
