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Indoor Vegetable Garden with Topsy Turvy Planters and Window Boxes
Food Plants - Annual, Food Shortages, Nurseries & Propogation, Plant Systems, Urban Projects — by Matthew Trotter
One cool product that I’ve had the pleasure of using is the Topsy Turvy Upside-Down Tomato Planter. (Note: I’ve since stumbled up on DIY version of this product made with 5-gallon buckets. How cool is that?) It’s kind of an experimental product as is, and I was using it in an even more experimental way. I got the Topsy Turvy so that I could utilize the vertical space in my indoor container garden. Not being able to grow a garden would have been the bane of my college dorm room existence…. but I wasn’t about to let someone tell me that I couldn’t do it.
Comments (0)Posted on: March 9, 2010
Morocco PDC Update (for April 17-30, 2010) – Let’s Get Behind This!
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Education Centers — by Andy Homer
Editor’s Note: A couple of months ago we advertised (on PRI Australia’s blog and course listings) the exciting opportunity to take a Permaculture Design Certificate course (PDC) in an amazing location, and with an excellent permaculture instructor, and where in doing so you’ll be supporting impoverished locals to begin to take charge of their future in a sustainable way. We bring this to your attention once more, and encourage all who can to support this very worthy endeavour by booking now! The climate, culture and instructional quality will make it the experience of a lifetime, and a major additional bonus is it’s all bundled up with that warm fuzzy feeling you get from helping make a difference.
As the time for our design certificate course in Morocco draws near, we have plenty of local people, and some from Warsangeli in Somalia. Warsangeli is a Sultante of peaceful people unfortunate enough to be surrounded by war. Supplies are difficult to get in and people are starving, and drinking dirty water. Permaculture could solve the food and water problems very well.
Current circumstances mean we could not open up courses in Somalia to international students, but a Warsangeli organization in london has secured funding and wants to work with us to spread permaculture there. Inviting a few people from Warsangeli to our course in Morocco would enable us to make much better progress over there.
We do not have enough paying students yet to make the course viable. We’ve been told that many people leave it until the last minute to book, so please, if you’re coming on this course, let us know as soon as possible so that we can confirm it with the African students.
Spring is an ideal time to be doing the course in Morocco, as the weather is fine and warm. This is a wonderful opportunity to get qualified and make a massive difference to the lives of many people by helping us promote permaculture in two areas where there is almost no knowledge of it. (Starting to sound like a missionary!) A lot hinges on the success of this course. As an incentive we will waive the price increase for late booking.
Comments (0)Posted on: March 5, 2010
Permaculture Samoa – Part III
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Education Centers — by Tamlyn Magee
Editor’s Note: This is the latest update on the Samoa Matuaileoo Environment Trust Inc. (METI) premaculture project. Previous updates here, here and here. Way to go Tamlyn and all involved!!
Information is the critical potential resource. It becomes a resource only when obtained and acted upon. - Bill Mollison
There is a moment, according at least to Geoff Lawton, when a permaculture student becomes ‘terminal’; forever destined, perhaps, to spout interesting (to some, anyway) facts/theories about ducks and lofty (but totally do-able) plans for future garden designs and/or the ‘edible meadow’, all the while flicking off light-switches everywhere and drying seaweed on the clothesline in between those telltale permaculture dreams….
Well, I can’t say for sure at this stage that we have any new terminals among the 18 students who just completed the first ever Permaculture course in Samoa, (and I dare say the Samoan incarnation of a permaculture addict might differ on specifics) but I definitely saw familiar sparks in a few eyes over the last 2 weeks, which means at least – they are infected!
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Sustainable Vocations Training
Courses/Workshops — by Warren Brush
Taking applications now for summer intensive program at Quail Springs Permaculture Farm
Sustainable Vocations prepares youth (ages 15-24) for diverse leadership roles that integrate sustainability into their communities, and provides an experiential introduction to green jobs.
Comments (0)Posted on: March 4, 2010
Tsunami Warning
News, Village Development — by eric seider
- why is the guy running towards the wave?
At 6:00 am the tsunami warning sirens starting going off, waking me up.
I laid there for a moment contemplating what the sirens might be for. For some reason leaning towards tsunami warning probably because of the signs around stating that you are entering a Tsunami Evacuation Zone. Needless to say when I realized it was stil dark out I started getting confused, then I heard someone calling my name and upon opening my tent Todd preceded to explain to me that we were indeed having a Tsunami warning because of an earthquake off the cost of Chile. And that we were going to have to evacuate.
Comments (0)Posted on: March 3, 2010
April Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course in Detroit, Michigan, USA
Courses/Workshops — by Killian OBrien
Date: April 12-25
The Permaculture Design Certificate course is an internationally-recognized, seventy-two hour course resulting in a Permaculture Design Certificate. It provides an introduction to permaculture design as set forth by movement founder Bill Mollison. The course is taught Rhamis Kent, with Geoff Lawton appearing via live stream and video as Special Guest Instructor, and other permaculture and/or sustainability educators.
The PDC serves as foundation for further permaculture work and study and is a prerequisite for the Diploma in Permaculture Design, offered through The Permaculture Institute. Credit for this course is now accepted by a growing number of universities around the world.
To date, thousands of permaculture designers worldwide have been certified in PDC courses, and now comprise a global network of educators, ecological activists who influence major corporations, individuals creating new business alternatives and groups of committed people working together to change the way we view and design into our landscapes.
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The Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC)
Courses/Workshops, Education Centers, Society — by Jesse Lemieux
Jesse Lemieux is a full time permaculture educator and design consultant, operating from Denman Island BC. He teaches a range of different permaculture based workshops and course, drawing on practical experience that spans 10 years and 3 continents. He is always on the look out for the next garden project or chance to share experience. If you would like to contact Jesse please send him a message: jesse (at) pacificpermaculture.ca
What is needed to design a sustainable human society full of abundance and security for all living systems? Information, empowerment and ethics. The Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) teaches students how to use information, resources and ethics to meet local needs on a limited land base. There are no "bad guys" and nothing is inherently evil. It is the designs of the systems we use that are the problem. A large machine can be used to bring down a forest, or it can be used to repair damage and degraded landscapes. In the same way, I can either use a hammer as weapon, or to build a house for a friend. The difference in outcome is one of intention and design.
Posted on: February 22, 2010
Permaculture Strategies for Tropical Drylands
Courses/Workshops — by Nichole Ross
The Permaculture Research Institute USA is offering a 4-day course on Permaculture Strategies for Tropical Drylands. The course runs February 18-21 on the Island of Molokai, Hawaii.
Join seasoned Permaculturist, Joe Kennedy for an opportunity to learn time-tested strategies for managing tropical drylands. We’ll work on six acres of his 25-acre farm on Molokai’s drought-prone west side. We’ll cover everything from water harvesting techniques for drylands, drip tape irrigation systems, creative mulching, small-scale aquaculture, natural compost teas, planning and implementation of a food forest, introduction to plant cloning using the air-layer method, cooking in a Hawaiian Imu and much more!
The cost is $395-$450 (see course description for details). Special discounts for Molokai residents. To register, visit www.permacultureusa.org/courses.
For questions, contact nichole.ross (at) permacultureusa.org
Comments (0)Posted on: February 15, 2010
Pathways to Re-Localisation with Joel Salatin
Courses/Workshops — by Owen Hablutzel
December 9-11, 2009
Orella Ranch, California
“May your children rise up and call you blessed!”
We begin where an exuberant Joel Salatin ended his two-day Pathways to Re-localization intensive; by declaring a simple benediction with far-reaching implications. The environment both outside and inside the large tent housing this event has been highly dynamic, refreshing, and bold. Sweeping swells and pulses of much needed rainfall have been pattering the rooftop these past two days. Aromas of moist leaves, air, earth, wood, and clothing are rampant. But Nature’s sweet wet furies outside have been unable to drown out the warm deluge of Mr. Salatin’s charismatic speaking inside. And like the droughted California soils outside, finally filling their pore spaces with the delicious torrent, the minds of course participants are just as vigorously imbibing the information deluge inside, drinking in everything from practical farming techniques to food issues, farm-scale marketing, and the philosophy of re-localization. The rain event will produce a flush of strong growth in the Mediterranean climate here. And we can predict likewise that Mr. Salatin’s far-reaching ‘intensive’ will produce an abundant proliferation of essential and inspired re-localizing activities from coast to coast and beyond. It is in a world made local and resilient once more through such a strategy that children may indeed rise up and call us all blessed.
Comments (3)Posted on: February 10, 2010
Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton Team Up for Melbourne PDC Again! (Sept. 2010)
Courses/Workshops — by Tagari
For full details on this excellent opportunity to take your Permaculture Design Certificate course under the combined tutelage of legendary Permaculture teachers, Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton, please click on the links below (all PDF files):
This information can also be found in PRI Australia’s course listings.
Comments (2)Posted on: February 8, 2010
My Experience of Permaculture in Guatemala
Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centers, Food Forests, Food Plants - Annual, Food Plants - Perennial, Land, Plant Systems, Project Positions, Rehabilitation, Trees, Water Harvesting — by Kevin Mascarenhas
The Ijatz cooperative is possibly the best demonstration of the transformative power of permaculture in Guatemala. The site, in San Lucas Toliman near Lake Atitlan, was purchased at low cost since the parish council considered the land to be of low value. Previously, it was a swampy bog inundated with refuse and flood water from the surrounding hills.
In classic permaculture style, within the problem lay the seeds of the solution. The deforestation due to conventional agriculture in these surrounding hills has caused soil erosion and during the rainy season much of this rich volcanic black top soil is washed downstream. This annual bounty has been redirected through the Ijatz site using a sequence of channels and sink holes, which in turn slows the water flow enabling the nutrient rich humus to be captured and stored on site. The earth has been moulded to create slopes, edges and contours essential for increased growing opportunity.
Comments (0)Posted on: February 7, 2010
When the Water’s Gone
Conservation, Consumerism, Potable Water, Waste Systems & Recycling, Waste Water — by Nichole Ross
As I lay here writing this, the last inch of water is being intentionally drained from our 5000-gallon rainwater catchment tank. Although we live in the rainforest on the southeast side of the Big Island of Hawaii, we haven’t had any significant rain for almost 2 months. According to our neighbor, this kind of drought happens every couple of years. I can’t believe that the once abundant supply of water we took for granted only a few months ago is almost gone. Now the only thing coming out of the tap is a red-colored silt-laden bottom-of-the-tank soup. Even though we probably would have had a couple days supply left, we ultimately decided it was time to clean out that dirty tank.
We chose to gamble. The forecast predicts rain for Kapoho ever day this week, but only a 20% chance. In the meantime, we’ll make sure to keep the containers we generally use only for drinking water filled up to the top with water from the Pahoa water station. If we don’t get significant rain over the next few days, we may have to pay a water truck to come fill our tank. $180. Otherwise, no showers, no toilet flushing, no water for dishes or laundry.
Comments (1)Posted on: February 3, 2010
A Farming Model to Sustain the World
Uncategorized — by Devinder Sharma
Ten years from now, in 2020, when we try to look back, Indian agriculture can be transformed into a healthy and vibrant system where farmer suicides have been relegated to history, where distress and despondency has been replaced by the lost pride in farming, where agriculture becomes sustainable in the long run, and does not add on to global warming.
As we enter 2010, the script for a futuristic agriculture, which brings back the smile on the face of farmers, without leaving any scar on the environment, is being rewritten.
What began as a small initiative some six years back in a non-descript village in Khamam district, has now spread to over 2 million acres in 21 districts of Andhra Pradesh. I remember when I first talked about the miracle brought about in village Pannukula in Andhra Pradesh, many thought I was simply trying to romanticise agriculture. How farming can be done without the use of chemical pesticides, I was repeatedly asked.
Pannukula dug out a lonely furrow, but eventually blazed a trail. In the next four years, more than 318,000 farmers in 21 out of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh have discarded the intensive chemical farming systems, and shifted to a more sustainable, economically viable and ecologically friendly agriculture. A silent revolution is in the offing. In Kharif 2009 (the monsoon season), some 1.4 million acres was covered with what is now known as Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture (CMSA).
Comments (0)Posted on: January 30, 2010
Permaculture and the Western Syndrome
Aid Projects, Deforestation, Food Forests, General, Insects, Plant Systems, Society, Trees — by Warren Brush
For tens of thousands of years intact peoples from around the world have been intricately woven into the fabric of the landscape that nourishes them. Culture itself has sprung from the land through the people’s relationship with all that sustains them. This is not as esoteric as it sounds… Imagine a group of people who live in a particular watershed with a distinct mix and availability of flora and fauna, weather patterns, sun angles, sound resonance, distance to other bio-regions, etc. Everyday necessity would be provided for by these and other more subtle structures and influences that would provide unique implements for survival, foods, hunting practices, shelters, musical instruments, honoring practices, ceremonies and stories. These peoples have known the origins stories of all that give them life, this in turn became the foundation of true, intact culture where the land would express itself very tangibly through the people
Posted on: January 29, 2010
PRI-De: A Detroit Story
Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Economics, Education Centers, Urban Projects — by Killian OBrien
 Detroit: time to turn the problem into the solution |
Permaculture in Detroit seems like a bit of an oxymoron, but urban agriculture is blooming all over the city. From the city-wide efforts of The Greening of Detroit in educating people on gardening techniques to the smaller-scale efforts of individuals such as Kate Devlin and her Spirit of Hope garden to groups such as the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network and their 2-acre D-Town Farm and the Georgia Street Community Gardens/Collective, community gardens are being sown on vacant lots dotting this city of nearly a million, filling the holes left by the loss of nearly half its peak auto industry-driven population. Photos of the streets of Detroit from eras long past and rusted nearly away show tightly packed, neat homes. Today, half those homes have devolved into ruins or grassy, often debris-filled, lots. Estimates on the number of lots range from 60,000 to 80,000. Those numbers don’t include the many parks now being left largely untended by the city government.
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