Patagonia | La Confluencia

LEAF

Farm and Gardens

Renewable Resources Construction & Energy

Visitor Participation

Farm and Gardens

Throughout the immediate region a uniquely mild micro-climate allows for local farming of hops, berries, and a multitude of other fruits and vegetables which otherwise could not be cultivated at this latitude.

Farm

The organic farm surrounds and defines La Confluencia with vegetable gardens and fields of rye, wheat, and hay, providing sustenance for inhabitants and visitors alike. Scottish Blackface sheep and Jersey milk cows dot the hillsides, while Pampa beef cattle (a local mix) graze and browse the higher mountains. Oxen are often still used to plow fields and haul firewood, timber, and other cumbersome loads over rough terrain. All of these animals are a source of food products, clothing, and manure. While the farm is not vegetarian, the goal is to encourage less dependence on a meat based diet, thus fostering a more sustainable circle of fertility.

Gardens

The Biointensive vegetable, herb, and fruit gardens of La Confluencia are a central feature of the farm. Fifty-five double-dug beds modeled after techniques developed by John Jeavons at Ecology Action are presently under cultivation. Kitchen-garden beds provide for daily salads while other beds are used primarily for canning, drying, and freezing for the winter ahead.

Orchards provide apples, pears, cherries, and plums in season and apple sauce and cider all year round.

In order to close the circle of sustainability, a portion of the garden is dedicated to growing crops specifically for seed saving and compost building purposes.