The Vegetarian Myth Reviewed in Permaculture Activist By Peter BanePermaculture Activist #72, Summer 2009This book almost literally blew in the door one March day recently and I found myself still engrossed in its captivating story an hour after tearing open the brown padded wrapper. That doesn't very often happen.Lierre Keith has written a compelling tale of her own near self-destruction from a vegan diet and a broadside against its being perpetrated upon or adopted by any other … [Read more...]
Bike-frastructure 101: Sharrows, Street Parking, Superhighways and More
Increasing the number of bikes on the road is becoming a serious goal for forward-thinking leaders. As Elisabeth Rosenthal recently wrote in the New York Times, there will soon be only two kinds of city leaders: those who are implementing bike amenities and bike-sharing programs, and those who plan to do so soon. But it's about more than just announcing a mission, or even making bikes available for free. A lack of bike infrastructure plagues many cities, causing would-be cyclists to shy away … [Read more...]
Harvesting and Preserving Medicinal Herbs
A number of people have asked me to write about my new herbal adventures more, and I’ve resolved to do so. I haven’t forgotten about writing about the big questions (more to say still on the middle ground between Kingsnorth and Monbiot), but I did want to answer those who have been querying me about teas and tinctures. For me, the most fascinating part of my whole self-sufficiency project is the plants - don’t get me wrong, I love the skills, I love animals, but I think I like best the project … [Read more...]
Peak Water?
By Chris Mayer at The Daily Reckoning (Australian edition) The price of water is starting to rise in a big way, at least in China. I’ve expected this for a few years. To set the table, water rates in China have been so far below the global average it’s ridiculous. Especially when you consider the severe water problems in China. The graphic below is from The Wall Street Journal (”China Cities Raise Water Price in Bid to Conserve” by Andrew Batson): The Chinese are water-poor. They are sucking … [Read more...]
Paris rooftops swarm with bees as urban honey industry takes off
Photo by Franco Zecchin. Paris, the urban beekeeper Jean Paucton removing frames from the hive atop the Opera Garnier. By Charles Bremner in Paris The Times August 18, 2009 Tourists are not the only species swarming on the Champs Élysées this August. Also enjoying the sunshine are squadrons of bees, part of a fast-multiplying population that is making honey a new Parisian industry. The Tuileries, Luxembourg and other lesser gardens of Paris are now home to hundreds of thousands of bees that are … [Read more...]
Dancing with Systems: What to do when systems resist change
What to do when systems resist change; an excerpt from Donella Meadows's unfinished last book. By Donella Meadows (Whole Earth Winter 2001) Quick Summary of Points. Get the beat. Listen to the wisdom of the system. Expose your mental models to the open air. Stay humble. Stay a learner. Honor and protect information. Locate responsibility in the system. Make feedback policies for feedback systems. Pay attention to what is important, not just what is quantifiable. Go for the … [Read more...]