About…
About the author:
My name is Spencer Woodard, a northern California native, twenty-six years old. Since age sixteen, after relocating to Argentina for a year, I have spent at least half of every subsequent year (throughout college, now full time) living, working, and traveling throughout Central and South America (Europe, Africa and Asia to a lesser extent), expanding my knowledge and familiarity with useful tropical flora and how diverse species can be incorporated into dense, productive agro-ecosystems for the purposes of land restoration, reforestation, food production, resource renewal and the preservation/dissemination of local and non-local biodiversity. I hold a self-designed, multi-disciplinary degree from Antioch College.
I am currently under the employment of Island Planning Corporation, an exterior design firm specializing in ultra high-end residential and commercial projects throughout the world. Using native species and a practical approach, IPC creates mature, elegantly simple design solutions for logistically demanding projects.
Site Overview:
This weblog is intended to evolve into a database of information related to edible, medicinal and otherwise useful plant species and how they can be (and are being) integrated into diverse small and large scale agroforestry systems in both rural and urban environments. The core focus will relate to tropical plants, which has been my main realm of interest and work over recent years. Additionally, I will include information relating to plants from other ecoregions of the world. Typically, the information I am uploading will reflect plant species I have encountered, either somewhere I have recently been, somewhere I am (at the moment of posting), or flora I expect to encounter somewhere I will be visiting soon.
My name is Spencer Woodard. Currently, I am based in the colonial quarter of Panama City, Casco Viejo, building a diverse rare, endangered, native, and exotic plant collection mostly comprised of species with edible, medicinal, and/or other ethnobotanical significance.
Residing in an peri-urban landscape has geared my focus toward growing and experimenting with a wide variety of urban-adaptable food crops, both native and non-native. Compact fruit trees, culinary spices, medicinal plants, and nutrient-rich perennial leafy greens make up the majority of the 135 some odd species (a constantly growing number) that I am currently working with.
I am especially interested in experimenting with dense and diverse, stratified plantings, attempting to fit plants and trees together as efficiently as possible. Greater diversity can be achieved by incorporating plant species from similar tropical ecoregions of the world, thus I am open to working with virtually any tropical plant species that shows potential in this area. Some of the most productive, nutritious, popular and well-adapted species I work with find their origins in distant areas of the world, such as south east Asia, tropical areas in Africa, South America and Pacific Islands.
The integration of edible, medicinal and spice plants into the urban landscape has the potential to facilitate a huge degree of function and aesthetic spaces, such as plazas, streets, parks, and median strips. In addition creating attractive, inspiring and interactive models for urban agriculture, and in addition to producing oxygen and providing a supply of locally grown fruit, produce and spice, agroforested areas contribute to a network of botanical garden/seed banks, from which useful plant genetics can be improved and disseminated throughout the area.
Apart from collecting, cultivating and planting edible, medicinal, and otherwise useful tropical plants, my profound interest in complex agroforestry drives a continuous motivation and dedication to studying and employing pre-Colombian land management and resource renewal systems and models. Such systems have proven far more logical, productive and historically sustainable then the modern European colonial agricultural model.
The Flora category in the site consists of an evolving list of plant species accompanied by related discussion and photos.
I welcome readers to contribute to any article in any Category via the comment forum attached to the article. Upon receiving edit marks, criticism or additional information that was lacking I will make any due corrections or adaptations. To facilitate your navigation of past posts I have included an Index page (species list). Some species listed therein are linked to their respective entry. Those species that are not yet linked can be plugged into the search bar. There are many more species featured in the site archives then there are listed in the index. The index is due for an update.
Is this open to the public? Or only for residents?
The nurseries are both occupying enclosed spaces, although when I am there working I am always happy to receive interested visitors, show them around, answer any questions. The Clementinas area is also enclosed. I am currently in the process of conditioning to the soil and planting the space. If individuals wish to talk to me and see the space that can probably be arranged. Feel free to write: spencer.woodard@gmail.com, or w@islandplanningcorporation.com. These initial projects are acting as plant propagation facilities (Conservatorio, Santa Familia) and preliminary urban ag. models for the area (Clementinas), once they are established I look foward to having support to expand into public spaces. The plazas of Casco Viejo, for example, are in need of major revitilization.
Saludos..Mi nombre es Harold Valdés Me gustaria contactar al Sr. Spencer Woodart.
He inicido un vivero comunitario en San Juan de Dios, Antón,Tenemos poca experiencia, pero tenemos muchos deceos de aprender, la idea es lograr que las personas desarrollen un amor por la naturaleza y la vez logren beneficios de la agroforesteria. saludos
I was wondering if I could pick your brain and help me ID a few plants I photogaphed in Boquete. I work in the hort field in St. Pete, FL, but I was born and raised in Panama. Is there a way I could send you some pictures? Its not for an urgent reason, just curiosity. I’m all for your vision too dude, great website!
Hi Spencer! So wonderful to have seen you last year at Ian’s wedding. It looks like you are still doing well! What a lovely website and an amazing resource you are providing. Hope all is well and perfect~~
love and om
johana
Dear Spencer,
I live in Panama City and wish to publish a booklet on the medicinal, edible use of locally available trees / large shrubs, large vines and plants also. Contact me as I would like to discuss collaboration with you please.
I can be reached at the email.
Just thought you’d want to know about our new addition to the plant family.
Christina and Craig
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/act/998497870.html
Hello Spencer!
Thanks for visiting my blog Midoria. Allow me to link to your blog because I’m sure it will be a great reference for me and others. The photos you posted are great by the way…
Hello Spencer,
My name is Sandra Ramirez and I teach art at Colegio Isaac Rabin, located in Clayton, City of Knowledge, Panama.
I work in an interdisciplinary team with the science and social studies’ teachers, and we are exploring with a group of 7th graders the possibilities of edible gardens in the Clayton area, specifically in our school.
We have found your name and work through articles written in local papers about your project in Casco Viejo.
Are you in Panama at the moment? We would like to know if you are available and interested in sharing information and experiences with us. Right now we are planning the project so your input is welcome.
Thanks so much!
Sandra Ramirez
I love your site!
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Hello Spencer! I´m a journalist and Environmental Specialist. I want to know where can I read about your “jardines urbanos comestibles” in Panama City. Or if I can talk with you about a similar proyect in Bogotá Colombia.Can you share some information with me? I´d would like to make you an interview because I think your work is a very good topic for a documentary.
Hope you can answer,
thanks a lot
Maria Isabel