Seven Sages Design

Mark 🤓 Unless noted all photos: 🚾, Inland E. Bay Area, N. California. Ohlone Land. Zone 9b.“The earth & skies are my clothing—what are you doing in my trousers?”

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Apparently back in Spring I planted the plastic medical display from “This Is Joe’s Heart” 🤔 . Remember kids: eat healthy & harvest according to the seed packs or you’ll get care-rot 🥸 . #WhatsUpDoc #Scarrot #HealthyEating #BigAssCarrot #CarrotsOverCarats #IAmJoesHeart #Carrots #人参#carotte #RaisedBedGardening #RaisedGardenBeds #BecauseFUGophers #NorCal #FallGardening #Zone9bGardening #Zone9b #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/CkXBP_ZJF0y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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While backpacking up to the Big Pine Lakes & Palisades Glacier early October, I paused to pay tribute to the Altar of the Aspens, & all the amazing aspens along the trail. . Very warm this late up here, so aspens were just shifting into yellow on the way up, & with a red tinge on the way down. Last year late September many aspens already well red with snow in the air—this year still hot hot hot. . Aspen leaves can catch & dance in faerie breezes not even a bare wet bum can feel. . #KissMyAspen #AltarOfTheAspens #RockOn #TunnelOfLeafLove #Yellow #Aspens #Fall #Autumn #BigPineLakes #BigPineNorthFork #InyoNationalForest #Backpacking #Camping #EasternSierra #EasternSierraNevada #MovingMeditation #LeafMeAlone #NorCal (at Big Pine Lakes) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkCWexepytc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Big Pine North Fork Lakes & Palisades Glacier Trail: One dude, two nights, three days, 24 miles, & 6,000’ elevation gain (up to glacier at 12,500’) 🥳 . Unusually warm. Full moon out early. Very few backpackers (until Saturday). Blue lakes. Brown lakes. Yellow aspens almost red. Grey boulders. Black coffee. Hot ramen. (C)old glacier. Sore legs. Happy heart. . Will share the aspens in a separate post 😍 . #DontTakeNatureForGranite #Perspective #RocksSoHard #SoInTents #NeverAdmitDaFeet #TrailDustInTheWind #CarryOnMyWaywardSun #SoloBackpacker #JourneyNotDestination #ButThisPlaceIsAmazeballz #BigPineLakes #BigPineNorthFork #PalisadesGlacier #SecondLake #FifthLake #InyoNationalForest #EasternSierra #EasternSierraNevada #Backpacking #Camping #NorCal https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj_yUZwp-pN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Came back from a week away from the garden to a poppin’ pepper party 🥳 . L-R: Pope’s Hat, Kalugeritsa, Lemon Drop Hot, Thai Dragon, Buena Mulata, Gyopo Gochu . #PickedAPeckOfPoppinPeppers #DropItLikeItsHot #PepperMeWithHotLove #AHunkAHunkOfBurningLove #PepperParty #HotPeppers #Peppers #唐辛子 #Piment #RaisedBedGardening #RaisedGardenBed #BecauseFUGophers #NorCal #Zone9bGardening #Zone9b #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/CjjgEbHLBYF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Makin’ Cob: the other kind of Dirty Dancing 😏 . Have been following Brennan Bird & his @solution.craft work for awhile, so was over the quarter moon at the opportunity to join his fab natural building workshop last week cobbin’ a compost toilet in the magical Santa Cruz mountains 🤓👍 . Brennan, in addition to being deeply knowledgeable & passionate about natural building, is also a lovely person who creates positive community wherever he goes. If you have an opportunity to participate in a @solution.craft workshop, do it! For yourself & the planet 🤓👍 . #CornyOnTheCob #DirtyDancing #ItsADirtyJob #Cob #Natural Building #CompostToilet #ClosingTheLoop #NaturalBuildingWorkshop #SustainableLiving #NorCal #SantaCruzMountains #PermacultureDesign #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/CjTZC6fP17w/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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This rainbow gonna be hot af. . #TasteTheRainbowHeat #SomeLikeItHot #ColorfulCrap #HotHand #LemonDropHotPepper #ThaiDragonPepper #BuenaMulata #PepperParty #Pepper #HotPepper #唐辛子 #Piment #RaisedBedGardening #RaisedGardenBeds #BecauseFUGophers #NorCal #PermacultureGarden #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/CiqySz8pLEC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Applying a scratch coat of clay plaster to an outer wall during the Natural Plasters workshop at @abuelagardens this week. . This wall, outside the apothecary we plastered both base & finish coats inside, was created at a workshop with Michael G. Smith last year to demonstrate four different construction methods: strawclay infill (lower right area of wall), rice hulls & clay slip (upper right), reed matting over strawclay (center), & “cobsquatch” redwood bark & clayslip (left). . The cardboard rectangles block out future “truth windows”–sections not covered with clay plaster to show off the wall construction materials. . These walls will be enclosed as storage space & so will not be exposed to the elements that erode earthen surfaces. . Thanks to @earthenshelter & Michael for the amazing & inspiring instruction & guidance over the course of the entire workshop! Definitely feel like the process is accessible & doable for all sorts of future natural building projects 🤓👍 . #GetPlastered #TalkDirtyToMe #ItsADirtyJob #DirtyHands #Cob #ClayPlaster #NaturalBuilding #EarthenPlaster #ClaySlip #StrawClay #ScratchCoat #BaseCoat #Clay #Handiwork #Permaculture #NorCal #OffGrid #Timberframe https://www.instagram.com/p/Cinp2CfP27T/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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The Natural Plasters workshop was held at @abuelagardens, a 40-acre off-grid land & community stewarded by the incredibly compassionate & spritely soul Blair Phillips. . Just east of Willits, CA, Abuela Gardens weaves together indigenous land stewardship (including proscribed burns), permaculture principles, & natural building practices to create a community that nourishes mind, body, & soul. . Here are a bunch of non-workshop photos to share just some of the AG magic. . Can’t wait to return! . #NaturalBuilding #GrowingCommunity #Permaculture #Gardening #GrowYourFood #Chickens #OffGrid #OffGridLiving #NorCal #Community #PermacultureLiving https://www.instagram.com/p/CinlpjzvkCr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Just returned (much too early 😢) from a fab natural building workshop on earthen plasters with Michael G. Smith (the artist troweling in video) & @earthenshelter (🤯) at @abuelagardens 🥰 . Learning to turn the dirt below your feet into healthy, hearty & heart-full homes at a homestead dedicated to share & grow living & spiritual knowledge, connection, & community. . Will be posting many more photos / videos of the past 5 days soon—check out @abuelagardens for more magic from the days I missed. . #GotPlastered #ItsADirtyJob #HeresMudInYourEye #DontThrowInTheTrowel #NaturalBuilding #Cob #NaturalPlaster #Mud #Straw #Strawbale #ClaySlip #BaseCoat #FinishingPlaster #Permaculture #PermacultureDesign https://www.instagram.com/p/Cijd57Vu5_U/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Aw rats! After finishing off the first unripe Valencia tomato last night, little dude is back to dig into the second! . Shows off various tearing & nibbling techniques until interrupted by a surprise visitor to the garden!! . Given all the coyote & bobcat presence the past few years, I haven’t seen a Garden Guest like this in a while! Please come back soon! . Spiced up the bite tomato to see if the little rat dude will leave it alone or just order a margarita 🥸 . #AwRats #Rats #NightMoves #MidnightSnack #IPM #Rat #ねずみ #鼠 #Raton #Tomato #Tomatoes #トマト #Tomate #Cat #猫 #Chat #RaisedBedGardening #RaisedGardenBed #BecauseFUGophers #NorCal #Zone9bGardening #Zone9b #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/CiF9YCePApt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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A large, unrip Valencia tomato at the bottom of the vine was being slowly nibbled out of existence. . Wasn’t sure if rat or ? because usually the rats go for the Japanese cucumbers next to the house. . So figured out how dad’s trail cam worked & set it out for the night—within 10 minutes the little dude came to the raised bed for a look-see 😆 . Appears to have enjoyed a late-night snack & then an early morning breakfast. . Dude’s already started in on the next tomato up the vine 🙄 . Will try some hot pepper spray tonight 🤞 . Music: “Protofunk” by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com . #AwRats #Rats #NightMoves #TomatoTime #Tomato #トマト #Tomate #Rat #ねずみ #Raton #IPM #NightVideo #NightPhoto #RaisedGardenBeds #RaisedBedGardening #BecauseFUGophers #NorCal #Zone9bGardening #Zone9b #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/CiDtKmlviUS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Big Dill Seed Harvest 🥳 . Before removing a single, 8’ tall dill plant that had self-seeded in my raised bed, I clipped off the seed bunches & stripped them into a bag—one plant produced hundreds of seeds! . Will winnow (one job that’s ok if I blow it 🥸) & then store in paper packets. . Looking forward to add dill to all my pollinator party patches all over the garden 🥳 . #BigDill #YouBeDillin #DillCommunication #Dill #デイル #Aneth #SeedSaving #Seeds #Herb #HerbGarden #RaisedGardenBeds #RaisedBedGardening #BecauseFUGophers #NorCal #Zone9bGardening #Zone9b #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/CiAyqBXvqSn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Aw Shucks 🫤 Aw Rats 😣 An amaizing disappearing act 🫥 RIP(E) corn 😢 . Was just thinking I should check on the @sandiegoseedcompany festivity corn & maybe harvest or bag as they got bigger. Then kids’ mom called me to say don’t bother 🙃 . Most probably rats, as stalks weren’t bent by heavier raccoons or possums. . Next year ✊🏻 . #AwShucks #Rats #RealityBites #CornyJoke #KernelOfTruth #Corn #コーン #Mais #RaisedBedGardening #RaisedGardenBed #BecauseFUGophers #NorCal #Zone9bGardening #Zone9b #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch8ioTWLNW_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Just a romantic, sunset dinner of Aphid á la Orange for The Ladybug & The Tramp 😍 . While @girl_who_gets_dirty gifted me the hairy balls, I’m proud to say I created this aphid farm all myself 😝 . Took about 3-4 weeks for the ladybug larvae to show up & start chowing down 🤓👍 . The aphids have kept to the hair ball milkweed, & have left the espaliered asian pear & recently planted figs alone. (Probably part of the aphid-gopher treaty to divvy up my garden 🙄) . #BuggingOut #HairyBalls #APhidManyPhidsHellaPhids #HellaPhids #Aphids #アブラムシ #Puceron #Ladybug #天道虫 #Coccinelle #GuardiansOfTheGarden #HairyBallsMilkweed #Milkweed #IPM #NorCal #Zone9bGardening #Zone9b #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/ChvvcOirpH5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Praying for a Sweet Corn Harvest! 🙏 . Haven’t grown corn since I was a wee lad, so was excited when sweet corn showed up in my @sandiegoseedcompany “Seed o’ the Month” packet. Thanks @girl_who_gets_dirty for the hookup 🤓👍 . Stalks now 8-9 feet / 2.5m tall, with plenty o’ corn showing off their golden tassels 🥳 . Prepare to bug out with all the amaizing corny jokes 🥸👍 . #AwShucks #CornyJokesAreTheMostTastefulJokes #Corn #SweetCorn #コーン #Mais #PrayingMantis #カマキリ #ManteReligieuse #GuardiansOfTheGarden #IPM #Insect #虫 #RaisedBedGardening #RaisedGardenBeds #BecauseFUGophers #NorCal #Zone9bGardening #Zone9b #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/ChioczcvPGA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I got Zuked! 🙃 . Hadn’t checked the garden for a few days, & while passing by the zucchini bush I felt a chill & the presence of a large, dark creature lurking in the shadows. . Parted the leaves to discover this Green Beast ready to zuke me back to the stone age. It already had sucked the lifeforce from the little zucchini behind it. . Fortunately I was able to “gift” it to a friend who will now be enjoying zucchini until late November 🤔👍 . #GotZuked #Zuked #GadZukes #ZukularFallout #ZukeEmAll #Zucchini #ズッキーニ #Courgette #Zucchinigeddon #ZucchinisOfInstagram #ZucchiniRhymesWithWeenie #RaisedBedGardening #RaisedGardenBeds #BecauseFUGophers #NorCal #Zone9bGardening #Zone9b #Permaculture #ShareTheBounty https://www.instagram.com/p/ChiUd3LvaaJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Happy Mystery #TomatoTuesday! . This volunteer sprouted in the raised bed waaay before my seedlings got going, & now has these interesting striped green toughies. . Somewhat similar to the @artisan.seeds Green Bees that the rats enjoyed so much last year here, but more elongated than the rounder Green Bees. Very thick stem & leaves, too. . Perhaps this is the lowbrid 🤓 . Tried one today. Mos def not ripe 😆 . #MysteryTomato #ItsNotEasyBeingGreen #ToGreenBeeOrNotToGreenBee #Tomato #Tomatoes #トマト #Tomat #RaisedBedGardening #RaisedGardenBeds #BecauseFUGophers #NorCal #Zone9bGardening #Zone9b #Permaculture https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgf2e4LLCvh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=