Back to the Future: Terra Preta – Ancient Carbon Farming System for Earth Healing in the 21st Century
Courses/Workshops, Rehabilitation, Soil Biology, Soil Erosion & Contamination — by Planet People Passion May 25, 2010
Terra Preta, meaning "Black Earth" in Portuguese, is a soil building technique developed by ancient Amazonian civilizations at least 7000 years ago as a solution to permanently solve the problems of poor tropical soil fertility. Large deposits of this black earth are still found today with depths of up to 2 meters. The first deposits where discovered in 1870, but it has only been in the last 10 years that significant interest and study have been initiated.
This soil is attributed to the complex civilizations that reportedly once thrived in the Amazon. Prior to the onset of diseases brought on by the western settlers, this expansive web of communities is estimated to have totaled over 100 million people. It is speculated that Terra Preta soils are what sustained them in harmony with their ecosystems.
Comments (0)Letters from Chile – Eco Escuela El Manzano, a Nice Place to Learn
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Eco-Villages, Education Centers, Peak Oil, People Systems, Society, Urban Projects, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh May 22, 2010
Editor’s Note: This is Part X of a series. If you haven’t already, be sure to catch Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, and Part IX!
All photographs copyright © Craig Mackintosh
My time in Chile was encouraging. It gives me some hope in mankind to see a community rallying together to meet present historical realities. Not all is perfect of course. Not all are fully lucid and fully engaged, and whipping up enthusiasm, ethically, in a way that respects individual choice, is a challenge in leadership and patience (sometimes the shock of an earthquake or other disaster can help a little here…), but the good news is that the needed work at El Manzano has more than begun, and it should beget hope for the rest of us – that it is possible to awaken the people around us to unite around intelligent, historically appropriate plans for transition.
Comments (0)Tropical Soils: Less is More in Fast Carbon Pathways, but Only with Standing Forest
Courses/Workshops, Deforestation, Demonstration Sites, Education Centers, Fungi, Plant Systems, Rehabilitation, Soil Biology, Soil Composition, Structure, Trees — by Planet People Passion May 15, 2010
The Amazon rainforest is one of the most amazing displays of symbiotic relationships one can experience in the world. This complex and layered eco-system thrives through the many systems and cycles that interweave through the layers of canopy, creating one of the most bio-diverse displays of life on the planet. Nature designs the most magnificent Permaculture systems – it is quite an experience to spend time in this magical place and humbly observe her teachings.
Amazon rainforest boundary
Observing the thriving and abundant rainforest, it is hard for some to comprehend why neighboring agriculture in the region experiences quite the opposite affect, but the answer is quite simple – it’s all about the soil.
Comments (0)Two 72 hour Permaculture Design Certificate Courses being taught in the Tropics
Courses/Workshops — by Matt Whittley April 8, 2010
May 14 – 24, 2010 – COSTA RICA
June 4 – 18, 2010 – PANAMA
Since the first Permaculture Design Course in 1972, this course has been taught thousands of times around the world. This internationally recognized course is based on the teachings of movement founder Bill Mollison and all chapters of the text, Permaculture: A Designers Manual. The course gives an in-depth understanding of the design process and the main elements involved. The course also gives many ideas and inspiration for further study in specific disciplines that can integrate with a productive property of any scale.
Comments (0)Take A PDC With Bill Mollison For $40
Courses/Workshops, DVDs/Books, For Sale, Permaculture Resources, Why Permaculture? — by eric seider April 3, 2010
Well Not really.
But its pretty damn close and at the very least it’s an excellent addition to what you learned in your own PDC, or just a great permaculture resource in general. I first heard about these audio recordings of Bill from Geoff Lawton during my PDC. He said that Jeff Nugent (permacultureplants.net) audio recorded Bill teaching a PDC back in 1983 and it was the actual PDC Geoff attended. He said he would listen to them in the car all the time and that they were just a great resource to have.
I looked it up online and found Jeff Nugent’s website (click here) and saw that you could buy a dvd of mp3 files for $40 US. I ordered one and have been listening ever since.
Comments (0)The Calgary Permaculture Community Group Presents, An Evening of Permaculture with Geoff Lawton
Community Projects, Conferences, Courses/Workshops, DVDs/Books, Social Gatherings — by Rob Avis March 31, 2010
The newly formed Calgary Permaculture Community group is proud to be screening Geoff Lawton’s Introduction to Permaculture DVD followed by a Q&A session with Geoff Lawton of the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia. The event will be held on April 17th at 6:00pm at the John Dutton Theatre. After the screening of Introduction to Permaculture, Geoff Lawton will be skyping in from Australia to answer all of your permaculture related questions.
Click here to open a 390kb PDF of details.
For more information please contact calgarypermaculture (at) gmail.com
Permaculture Calgary website: www.permaculturecalgary.org
Comments (0)Introducing the Southern Oregon Permaculture Institute (SOPI)
Commercial Farm Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Developments, Education Centers, News — by Chuck Burr March 22, 2010
Southern Oregon now has its own permaculture institute, demonstration farm and more. After two years in development, the Southern Oregon Permaculture Institute (SOPI) nonprofit is now open for business. “Our first courses will be held this spring.”
SOPI provides a unique blend of permaculture education, new model demonstration and what we call Culturequake education. Our book, Culturequake: The Restoration Revolution and future courses describe how we got to where we are now, what the obvious impacts are and then how to design new community and economic models that blend what has worked well in the past with what we have today.
Comments (0)Earthbag Dome Intensive Course, April 10-20th, Puerto Rico
Building, Courses/Workshops — by Scott Howard March 18, 2010
Come learn Earthbag Dome building in only ten days at Las Casas de la Selva, a biological research site in Patillas, Puerto Rico. We will build a small, 13 foot dome and begin plastering it. This course is hosted by Patty Boyko of Las Casas, who is an activist and researcher. Scott Howard, of Earthen Hand Natural Building, will be the instructor.
A 10% discount is available to anyone who brings another person to the workshop. Group discounts are 20% per person for groups of four or more.
Also, please let us know if you are interested in working for us and we might be able to find some way for you to trade your skills.
Scott Howard has taught Cob and Earthbag building since 1999 and 2003 respectively. His experience with diverse climates such as Thailand, Africa, and the US gives great perspective for education in permaculture building methods.
An intensive course like this one is the best way to get your hands in the dirt and see how it is done. Participants will be able to build their own domes after this workshop.
Click here to find out more and to book!
Comments (0)Morocco PDC Update (for April 17-30, 2010) – Let’s Get Behind This!
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Education Centers — by Andy Homer March 5, 2010
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)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!
Comments (0)Sustainable Vocations Training
Courses/Workshops — by Warren Brush March 4, 2010
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)April Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course in Detroit, Michigan, USA
Courses/Workshops — by Killian OBrien March 3, 2010
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.
Comments (0)The Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC)
Courses/Workshops, Education Centers, Society — by Jesse Lemieux February 22, 2010
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.
Permaculture Strategies for Tropical Drylands
Courses/Workshops — by Nichole Ross February 15, 2010
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 (5)Pathways to Re-Localisation with Joel Salatin
Courses/Workshops — by Owen Hablutzel February 10, 2010
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.
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