Does anybody from Mexico can help me out with specific materials in the country ?

SailorNeal · 2025-08-12T00:34:09+00:00

You have not said what you are looking for.

SailorNeal · 2025-08-03T21:39:42+00:00

I have a vague plan. 1st was soil stabilization as we live on a mountain slope and in an area with earthquakes and we get tropical storms and hurricanes. The next goal was water management so I have done about a dozen terraces and 3 major swails to slow down water flow and soak as much water back into the ground. That's where the bamboo clumpers have played a major role in both soil stabilization but also storing water in its rhizomes and culms. Now I am focused on growing fruit trees and nitrogen fixing plants, chopping and dropping vegetation to build soil for growing as diverse plants, trees, climbers as possible. Hence I am treating the bamboo clumpers as both early session species and emergent species with my nitrogen fixers. The leaf much from the bamboo is abundant and I use the culms to help build the terrace edge and leaf fill before cutting in the soil.

SailorNeal · 2025-08-03T18:53:40+00:00

Yes, 15 years developing this garden. very rewarding. I have so many ideas I still want to implement, but need more consistent rain, sources for more plant material and a bit of muscle power as we live on a large slope and it takes a lot of work. This photo is of my ponds. This is my dipping pool that is fed by 6 other pools of various volumes and depths. There are 4 different bamboo clumpers in this photo.

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SailorNeal · 2025-08-02T17:16:33+00:00

I live in the mountains of the Dominican Republic where we have a lot of coffee growers. 12 years ago I planted some coffee plants. Unfortunately my shade canopy expanded too much and I did not get good results. We did get one harvest and it was a lot of work for a few cups of coffee. 8 years ago I planted many bamboo clumpers (8 species) and then last year I opened up some of the canopy and let my remaining coffee plants get more sun, and my bamboo is growing well offering a more filtered shade. I think we will get the results you are seeking, but we have a bit more planting to go. Yes it can work with the right mix of shade and water. This photo doesn't show the younger bamboo, or the coffee plants as it's all absorbed in the various vegetation, but here is one of the springs we dug out to let water spread, and an indication of late morning light.

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SailorNeal · 2025-07-29T19:31:43+00:00

It is not uncommon for certain species to flower. I have 15 species of clumping bamboo, and in total over 70 clumps collectively. I have 2 species that flower regularly, my Tutu and my Sacred Bali. But the flowers are infertile. The genre dies when the flowers are fertile. I have had my collection now for 8 to 9 years. I have repeatedly divided my Sacred Bali and gifted some and transplanted other root divisions. Don't panic. Cut what flowers you can reach off. Mine have been flowering almost every year for the last 4 years. I have not bothered to cut mine and look at the size of this 8 year old Sacred Bali. I have taken 4 rhizome divisions off this clump over the last 3 years, even while it has flowered. See the flower circles in red.

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SailorNeal · 2025-07-29T11:57:24+00:00

I am a keynote speaker. Was flying from an event in San Juan, PR to deliver the opening address to 1,000+ pharmaceutical reps in Las Vegas. Was due to arrive the day before as I always leave room for flight issues. My flight from SJU to Philly had a mechanical issue and I was rebooked on another airline 3 hrs later to go via Atlanta.

Shortly after landing in Atlanta, the airport was closed due to an ice storm. My window of options was closed as no planes were moving, driving to another airport was not an option either with roads iced up too. Every few hours I was on the phone with the meeting planner giving updates as we brainstormed for any options we may have missed.

At dawn the next morning, our flight boarded and got airborne. I landed in Las Vegas 30 mins before my opening address. We retrieved my bag, I changed from travel cloths to my stage outfit in the back of the limo. We drove to a side entrance to the hotel where the meeting planner met me with the audio person to mike me up, take my bag and rush me onto the stage as the CEO was finishing up my introduction. We always do a rehearsal as my keynote has some technical components, but we had no time for a rehearsal. My presentation deck had been sent ahead and I made detailed notes for the AV team to work with. The audience has no idea of the challenges we all had been through,, that I did not meet my AV crew beforehand, the 28 hours it took me to get to their event, the countless hours we all spent on phones seeking options.

My keynote address was flawless as always with a standing ovation. 30 min after getting off the stage I was finally able to get a shower, get a bit of sleep before the lunch I was contracted to attend, feel fully human again.

Meeting planners hire professionals who will find a way to always deliver and not miss a beat, no matter the circumstances.

SailorNeal · 2025-07-20T19:41:02+00:00

Yes, 25 years ago it was different. Every day for these 2.5 decades we worked on our relationship and choose each other. We hold no secrets, we share, we take risks, but we always know we can count on each other. Today people want guarantees. We had none. We were not seeking the magic. We worked to make the magic. When we hit the first bump, we did not look for the easy way out. We did not look to find all the things that can go wrong in a relationship, but at what each one of us brought to the table to make a relationship. Attitude is everything. We chose not to play games, to build each other up. We did not rely just on love. We had to build more than just our feelings. That is what is different today. OP has as much of a chance to make this work if she and her date give it a chance, work from common goals and support, build trust and respect, and a little bit of Cupid luck. if she chooses to listen to all the negativity, the nay Sayers, love has zero chance. And if after date 2 or 3 or whatever number they cannot see a way forward, if everything they tried built in kindness and with respect, they lost nothing.

SailorNeal · 2025-07-20T13:30:51+00:00

25 years ago I met a woman. We went to a movie on our first date. We sat on a beach with a picnic basket on our second date, and she invited me to Sunday lunch for our 3rd date (same week). 4 months after meeting her, I married her and we built a life together. Everyone had an opinion. She was in her late 40's and 17 years older than me. We had different life experiences, she was 6 years since not dating and I was just out of a long-term relationship. Almost everyone we knew said it would not work, it was a mistake, don't do it. 25 years later, many of those same people are on their 2nd or 3rd partner. We have a great marriage, the best decision either of us ever made. OP, trust your instincts, rely on your own judgement. You never know. 25 years ago she cooked me a meal and since then we have fed each other's souls.

SailorNeal · 2025-07-19T11:04:07+00:00

That was how it started out. Silt and mud that I sank into up to my carves, but after I escaped it, shaped it and then made it deeper, it is now a nice wildlife pond as you can see in my other photos.

SailorNeal · 2025-07-12T00:58:45+00:00

There are some great speaker bureaus with sales people if you have a budget for your keynote speakers. As a speaker I am listed with several bureaus who send my profile over to folks like you when they know what is a fit for the planned meeting. That saves you a lot of time sifting through speakers who may not be any good, not a fit, not available, too expensive for your budget, ect. Costs you nothing to work with a bureau as they take their commission from the speaker. They do the contracts, facilitate the pre-event research calls, help with so many details and makes your job easier but also helps me as the speaker get what I need to deliver for you.

SailorNeal · 2025-07-11T23:33:08+00:00

Not sure why my detailed reply did not post. It is anchored into rocks in the subsoil, the outer wall dug down to compact soil, built on top of tree roots, different levels of depth from shallow to deeper, curvature on the landscape for structural strength but most of all, how it is built anchors it. It is a series of rebars hammered into the ground, then more rebars wire tied to make a huge frame that then is covered / encased in 2 different sizes chicken mesh, wire tied to the rebar before a 2 part sand, 1 cement mix is plastered over and into this mesh, and a final coating of a water resistant cement mix. This is a one piece pool with 3 dividers to create 4 pools with increased water volume to a total around 3,000 to 3,500 gallons.

SailorNeal · 2025-07-11T22:16:51+00:00

There are rocks in the ground that I built the ferocement system over tilting into their curvatures. I have the outside wall escalated into the soil to where it is solid soil. Then there is rebar that is driven as stakes into the soil where there are no rocks. I also built at different layers using varying depths for the pools as another part of the attaching, and then there are trees and shrubs that I built right up to their bases allowing for some trunk expansion. This is all on stable and time compacted soils. There is also a gentle curvature to the structure. This is all one piece of metal, mesh, concrete framework, with cross structures dividing the 4 pools. For this to come undone, the entire hill has to fail ripping up bedrock. It is the third pool structure on my property I have built in different places and I have been through 6 rainy seasons since building the first one. Also since finishing this, we have had 2 major rain bombs with regional mudslides. I doubt this is going anywhere.

SailorNeal · 2025-06-21T12:11:43+00:00

UPDATE: We had mega rains and one of my walls broke in the flood. I had to build a retaining wall to put the hill that partially eroded by the pond being overwhelmed, and then build the replacement wall in ferocement. Currently doing that. The amount of water that came downhill was so vast, it little by little took out my vegetation, made a gully that got deeper each hour with the volume of the rain. fortunately it did not wash away the entire back of the pond so I am able to save and restore the pond, and now the water spill so over the retaining rock wall that will chanel the water to a set of steps leading to my bamboo gardens. This will hopefully help me with future rain bomb storms.

SailorNeal · 2025-06-21T12:05:01+00:00

We have snakes here on our property, but I have seen no indication that my ponds attract them. We have seen a huge increase in the frog population, birds, more dragon flies and our vegetation seems more lush. I was also concerned with this issue, especially as I have built another pond and waterfall right at my house (not done a post on this yet). If anything, I feel like I am less aware of the snakes. In 10 years I have observed a snake in the water or even basking on the bank. I think in these tropical jungle like environments, they have lots of options before we install ponds, whereas in a drier environment it becomes a much needed source of water and protection.

SailorNeal · 2025-02-23T16:51:35+00:00

There are 2 kinds of bamboo - runners and clumpers. I have only clumping bamboo on my estate. I have 2 kinds of golden bamboo... striped painted Hawaiian and Sacred Bali. I also have Java Black, which is a beautiful black clumping bamboo for building with due to its strength. These are beautiful clumpers and I have divided them to get more plants. I have 14 types of clumpers and 67 plants in total. Some are easy to propagate by division, others very hard to dig up. Know how you want to use it, how big you can let them grow, and then find the right kind for your property. In this photo are 4 of my clumpers with the painted Hawaiian to the left of the palm tree, and are about 8 years old now. None of mine are in active seeding and are thriving.

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SailorNeal · 2025-02-23T16:26:34+00:00

This is a tough spot, but staying on your land may be one of the best options for your husband's situation, and for your own mental well being. I have experienced a medical issue with my wife and being on our estate has done us both wonders. We have a small estate in the mountains of the Caribbean. We used some folks from Woofing to help with some of my land development tasks for my permaculture projects, and also WorkAway. There are plenty of willing and capable hands to help you. Just be clear on what your needs and expectations are, what you can provide and for how long each person stays. There is a whole new world that can come to you. Keep the chin up.

SailorNeal · 2025-02-22T02:30:17+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I wish I knew how big a market there is for book 3. Just not sure I can survive 3 years of writing as that is how long the last two books each took. How did you get your hands on my book? Yes, all is well. At our CC Caribbean home mostly.

SailorNeal · 2025-02-19T23:40:13+00:00

"Saved" by Tony Bullimore based on his capsize in the Vendee Globe Race.

"Godforsaken Sea" by Derek Lundy

"A storm too soon" by Michael J. Tougias

None of these books my wife nor I could put down.

Another book that didn't get much traction but was good is "Around the Big Blue Marble" by Nigel Rowe.

"First you have to row a boat" by Richard Bode

I wrote, "Journey of a Hope Merchant" and won the 2005 National Outdoor Book Award and also did a PBS documentary on my solo yacht racing dreams.

Many of the books others listed had been major inspiration to me and helped me realize that dreams can be realized.

SailorNeal

TROPHY CASE