Can Permaculture Save the World???from Permaculture USA and elsewhere around the net. Editor’s Note: Point one – this article is circa 1998, from the now ceased-publication Permaculture International Journal. Point two – it is now more relevant than ever, so please read and ponder. Ted Trainer argues that although the planet cannot be saved without Permaculture, not enough people in the movement realise where Permaculture fits into the solution. We are fast approaching a … [Read more...]
Eat Your Meat
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...]
Agroforestry Found On Nearly Half The World’s Farms
For centuries, farmers have placed trees among their crops to enhance soil health, raise marketable fruits or nuts, and protect row crops from damaging winds. Yet agroforestry, as the practice is known, is generally considered a rarity among mainstream farmers. New data suggests that more farmers practice agroforestry than previously appreciated. Nearly half of the world's farmlands have at least 10 percent tree cover, more than 10 million square kilometers in total, the Nairobi-based World … [Read more...]
Rooftop Farms, a 6,000 square foot organic vegetable farm in Brooklyn, New York.
From Brooklyn Supper blog. Photo by Elizabeth Stark ©2008-2009. All rights reserved. See larger image here at Brooklyn Supper. This is a roof of a warehouse in Greenpoint, which is now covered with 200,000 pounds of soil, 1,000 earthworms, and an abundance of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. By Wendy Goodman New York Magazine June 21, 2009 “There are 1,000 worms in here,” Annie Novak says, cracking the lid on a box filled with scraps of newspaper and small squirmy things. The earthworms are about … [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...]
Fish Systems and Design
A grim new film, The End of the Line, reveals the impact of overfishing on our oceans. It exposes the extent to which global stocks of fish are dwindling; features scientists who warn we could see the end of most seafood by 2048; and includes chefs and fishers who seem indifferent to the ecocidal consequences of their business practices. "We must act now to protect the sea from rampant overfishing” says Charles Clover, author of the book of the film. Must, must. Although important in raising … [Read more...]
Responding to Sharon Astyk on Permaculture and Transition (via feedly)
Shared by United Diversity nice article/ discussion about Transition and Permatulcure Sharon Astyk is one of the bloggers I most admire, one of the most insightful and incredibly prolific writers out there. It was fascinating therefore to read the two articles she recently posted, Permaculture Future Part One and Part Two. Her basic argument is that permaculture and Transition are, as we head into the Long [...] … [Read more...]
Links for June 16th to July 4th
These are my links for June 16th to July 4th: iCommons.org - Free Culture House - The idea is simple and its sustainability is at its core. Buy a property (or rent something initially) that will serve as a space for members to meet and eat (a kickass wifi-enabled coffee shop), learn (a training room that doubles up as movie house), broadcast (a podcast studio) and work (shared office space and board room). Sleep rooms would also potentially be available for short-term stays by commuters who … [Read more...]
Dee Hock’s MiniMaxims
I like Mamading's quotes website Quotessence. I've already pointed him at Dancing with Systems and Permaculture Principles, encouraging him to include the wisdom they contain. Now I want to share Dee Hock's MiniMaxims from his great book, Birth of the Chaordic Age. [amtap book:isbn=1576750744] "Particularity and serparability are infirmities of the mind, not characteristics of the universe" "Desire to command and control is a death wish. Absolute control is in the coffin" "Only fools … [Read more...]
Permaculture Principles
As part of the Sustainable Land Use course I recently completed we had to do a short piece of work on Permaculture Principles. I put together this little list of principles compiled from the following books (and website)... [asa]0731812719[/asa] Attitudinal Principles Work with nature not against it - results in minimum negative impact on long term sustainablilty Value Edges and Marginal and Small - small and different can be vital See solutions inherent in problems - overcomes blockages … [Read more...]