Hello world this is Adam Strubeck officially entering the blogosphere. That’s right I just paid the wordpress membership so get ready for some high-level content. There will be plenty of pictures, musings, ramblings, and maybe even rants. Hopefully among all this you can discover something educational and inspirational. I hope to use this blog as a means to share my journey into the world of sustainable agriculture, as well as document my experience living in Senegal during my Peace Corps service.
My agricultural journey started last summer when I lived and worked at an organic fruit farm in the Dominican Republic. The land in 2005 was a cow pasture, unproductive and barren. Since then the landscape has transformed into a lush, food-producing paradise through the principles of Permaculture, the design of self-sufficient agricultural systems. A shortening of “permanent agriculture,” permaculture is a set of ethics as well as technical strategies. By designing natural systems that align with the patterns of nature we can produce food sustainably, increase biodiversity, and strengthen communities.
Tree-Ripened Pink Guava Goodness at Taino Farm
Working with nature to produce sustainable food brings a sense of pride hard to experience otherwise. It is a lifestyle we hardly consider in the US, spoiled by proximity to a grocery store and busy lives. When I stepped away from that life to the farm, I was immediately inspired to continue down the path of sustainable agriculture. I read two central works to permaculture which changed my worldview:
The Permaculture Design Manual by Bill Mollison
Permaculture: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability by David Holmgren
I highly recommend these to anyone curious about how we can live in a world with over 7 billion people, feed them all nutritious food, and not have the global ecosystem collapse. While I believe it is possible to attain a sustainable future, we need more widespread awareness, and action regarding our current situation. The agricultural system is dependent on non-renewable resources and simply is not sustainable. We poison land and water, reduce biodiversity, and remove billions of tons of fertile topsoil from Earth each year; the human appetite still increases steadily.
Since my Dominican summer I have found myself hungry for more travel, more insight into the sustainable future of our planet. Come September 2018 I am going to Senegal as an agroforestry volunteer with the Peace Corps. I would be honored if you would follow my journey, share my successes and failures, and enjoy a unique view into the developing world.
-Adam
“The best time to plant fruit trees is yesterday, the second best time is today”
– a very wise friend
Adam Abroad 
Hi Adam! Your blog is very interesting and inspiring. I’m looking forward to following your journey in Senegal. Best of luck on your tour. Uncle Al
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Matt shared your photo ops on Facebook with us and your most recent being your ceremonial outfit made by your Senegal brother was awesome. Aunt Gloria is very impressed with what you are doing. All our love Uncle Al & Aunt Gloria
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Today is February 5, 2019. We’ve been introduced to your blog by your Aunt Gloria and must say have enjoyed your entries very much. I usually read magazines from the back to the front so it’s fitting I started reading your blog starting with the latest “peanuts” entry to the beginning. Like those movies that open with a present scene and then flash back. It gives you a different appreciation of the growth of this experience. We look forward to reading more. I might suggest you also go back and read your opening blogs and hopefully realize your own growth and catch a bit of the future in your present. Congratulations.
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