2006 June | Permaculture Research Institute of Australia

Following on from yesterday’s post on dams and swales in Minnesota, here are some pics of the system in action with the addition of the most important element: water.

Hi folks! — we have been busy digging up Minnesota with dams and swales. This is just the beginning of the “Permaculture Research Institute for Cold Climates”. We’re now on route to California, hopefully to do some more serious digging.

Here’s how we started:

Click thru for the entire photo series!

Topic: Why Permaculture is an Essential Element of Future Environmental Sustainability, With a Focus on How People Living Without Land (Renters) or With Little Land in Urban Areas Can Be Part of the Solution Free and Open to the Public.

When: Thursday, June 22. Reception 7 p.m.; Event Begins at 7:30 p.m.

Where: The Open Book, Marshall Fields Performance Hall, 1011 Washington Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55415.

The Permaculture Business Guild, a learning partnership mobilizing professionals who apply principles and ethics of sustainable permanent culture in their business activities, in cooperation with the PRI cordially invites you to join us for a very special presentation:

Ecosystemic Design Challenges:Ecologically Sustainable, Economically Viable

When: Wednesday, June 21 from 7pm.
Where:Hope Community in the Community Room, 611 E. Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (Located on the Southeast corner of Franklin and Portland Ave. Parking available in lot behind building, accessible from Oakland Ave.)
Reservations: $25; Limited Seating. Please make your reservations
online or contact Guy Trombley, Ph.D. at (612) 839-8739.

Announcing the Estancia Ranquilco’s Permaculture Design Course 2006, presented in Patagonia at Estancia Ranquilco by Geoff and Nadia Lawton, disciples of Bill Mollison, from Australia.

1 - 14 October 2006

The course consists of 72 hour, two week course in sustainable living systems design for all climates and landscapes. The PRI’s Permaculture Design Certificate is renowned for producing ecological activists with design skills, and connects students to a global network of Permaculture contacts and projects.

Attaining a PDC is the foundation for further learning in this field, and is a pre-requisite to obtaining a Diploma in Permaculture Design, which requires two years of practical application of Permaculture in a range of disciplines.

Dates: Monday 8th - Saturday 20th January 2007

Venue: Melbourne University

Taught by: BILL MOLLISON & GEOFF LAWTON

“This course has already changed a lot of the world – come help us finish the job!” ~ Bill Mollison April 27, 2005

BILL MOLLISON, the legendary Permaculture teacher, promoter and designer - who, over 26 years of non-stop travelling and writing, personally planted the seeds of Permaculture in over 120 countries. Bill is the founding director of The Permaculture Institute, the first and longest running Permaculture Institute in existence.

GEOFF LAWTON, is world renowned for field expertise and extensive teaching experience in the ecological “badlands” of Earth, areas of extreme cultural conflicts, as well as more friendly environments. Founding director of the acclaimed Permaculture Research Institute, Geoff is working in more countries and co-ordinating more projects on the ground than any other Permaculture Institute today.

Earth’s ecosystems are in crisis. Permaculture offers practical, sustainable solutions. You can be part
of the exciting adventure of positive world change.

EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS! BE PART OF THIS HISTORIC EVENT!

To book and for further details visit the web pages below or contact:

THE PERMACULTURE INSTITUTE
31 Rulla Road, SISTERS CREEK 7325, TASMANIA AUSTRALIA
Ph: 61 (0)3 6445 0945 • Fax: 61 (0)3 6445 0944
Email: sales@tagari.com
Web pages: www.tagari.com & www.permaculture.org.au

Please note, the dates have changed for this workshop!

About the situation on the ground around Yogya at this time

The latest reports put the death toll from the Java quake at over 5,800 and sources estimate that some 647,000 people have been displaced and are in need of basic food and shelter.

As night falls over Java, international news services and eyewitness reports from our partners in the field inform us that while more aid appears to be arriving at the now open airport in Yogyakarta. Yet many people whose homes have been destroyed are facing their fifth night without food, shelter, water or even basic medical aid. Assessments from our partners in the field suggest than many thousands more people will spend further nights with out their basic needs met.

Our partners are coordinating with local organizations to identify places where many of the larger NGOs have yet to arrive and are focusing their efforts of delivering emergency aid to areas.

About IDEP’s Emergency Response Activities happening now

Drawing on relationships established during the Aceh disaster, IDEP started working immediately with partners on the ground in Yogya. When the banks opened on Monday, IDEP emptied out its emergency reserve funds (US$10,000) and started wiring money to the partner groups.

Rp 30,000,000 (US$ 3,200) was sent to Kelompok Peduli Bencana / KAPPALA for purchasing emergency supplies of food, shelter and basic medical supplies. This group is running a 24 hour mobile clinic program which is reaching the most remote areas that have little or no other aid whatsoever.

This excellent initiative is in desperate need for vehicles and medical supplies to be able to expand their mobile clinics outreach. Any kind of vehicle that is rugged and can be modified into a mobile clinic such as Kijangs or Panthers would be wonderful. Ideally 4 wheel drives so that the team can continue to access hard to reach isolated places. The team says they are able to increase their current fleet of 2 vehicles up to a maximum of 8 vehicles, should support be available. If you are able to help with this

PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY if you are able to donate funds to purchase medicines and other supplies please go to our website: www.idepfoundation.org/idep_donate.php