Dynamic Seed Exchanges for the World
Seeds — by Craig Mackintosh
Exchanging seeds and other planting material, formally and informally, is nothing new. This is how societies have been adding new food, fibres and medicines to their cultures over centuries.
Every culture has incorporated new genes and foreign varieties into their own strains.
In developing countries, formal seed exchanges are either proven ancient seed systems or have been re-invented to counteract the damaging effects of the Green Revolution. Millions of farmers have seen a decrease in their standard of living due to the costly inputs that modern hybrids require. Parallel to this, in the developed nations, more and more holistic gardeners and farmers are searching for pre-hybrid varieties and setting up community seed exchanges.
Comments (0)Posted on: June 29, 2008
BBC World debate “Food – Who Pays the Price?”
Food Shortages, Global Warming/Climate Change, Population, peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh
The following 46 minute BBC World debate is well worth a watch. There are some interesting characters involved in the debate, each representing a different view on the present food crisis. Central to the discussion is whether large scale industrial agriculture can help the poor, or whether it will merely continue to oppress them.
For what it’s worth, if you want my take on the issue, take a peek at a post I recently wrote for Celsias on this critical situation, a situation that is likely to get a lot worse before it gets better.
If you can’t play the clip above (Quicktime), there are also Real Player and Windows Media Player versions.
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Posted on: June 28, 2008
Going to Pot!
Uncategorized — by Alanna Moore
You don’t have to have land, or even a backyard, to grow delicious food. Instead you can use containers - on balconies, rooftops, concrete, and the many underutilised nooks and crannies around the home or workplace. For city dwellers it can be a chance to obtain fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs, and keep in touch with nature. Here Alanna Moore explains how to establish a container garden.
A World View
Growing food in containers is not new. In one of the world’s most crowded cities, Hong Kong, vegetables grow in containers resting on the top of the floating cages used for raising fish. In Colombia, a women’s co-operative produces vegetables for a supermarket chain in tiny yards, roof tops and stairwells. Some city farmers integrate small livestock with their gardening, feeding vegetable scraps to them and using the urine and dung for fertiliser.
In Chile, a 20 square metre city farm at the Centre for Education and Technology produces an abundance of vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, chickens and rabbits. Crops are grown in containers stacked up in pyramids, while potted vines grow up the walls and provide shade. Such intensive gardening can out-produce even the most well-run commercial agricultural systems.
Comments (2)Posted on: June 27, 2008
The Permaculture Master Plan - Permaculture Centres Worldwide
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres — by Craig Mackintosh
Imagine a world of peace, health and low-carbon prosperity. Well, we’re going beyond imagination, and are working on full implementation. It’s our aim. Watch (and share) the clip below to get an idea of what we mean.
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Posted on: June 26, 2008
Transforming Your Urban Backyard
Land — by Mal McKenna
Many people living in the suburbs and cities would like to ‘have a go’ at living a more sustainable and satisfying life and yet are daunted by what they view as lack of space and appropriate surroundings. It is easy to say “I just don’t have the space here!” or “Oh, my soil is terrible - I couldn’t grow a thing!” One of the enjoyable aspects of permaculture design is the challenge of recognising ‘problems’ and turning them into solutions. Sometimes all it takes is a shift in perception to turn a frustrating obstacle into a much needed asset.
by Mal McKenna and Phil Dickie
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Claiming the Common Ground
Community Projects, General — by Lena Jarlov
Swedish architect and researcher Lena Jarlov looks at the history and value of creating gardens in the grounds of apartment buildings. She says that these forgotten areas can be transformed into places of rich human exchange. Also, by cultivating food gardens, the tenants reconnect with the earth and can harvest chemical-free vegetables, fruit and berries.
Our towns and cities are full of unrealised gardens and it is important and urgent that we bring them to life. Everywhere in the towns and cities of the industrialised world there are areas with asphalt, unused lawns, thorny, ugly shrubberies or nothing at all; areas which seem to be calling out for somebody to occupy them and make gardens.
Many of these areas are situated on grounds belonging to blocks of flats. The official garden culture in such sites is aimed at making management of these areas as ‘rational’ and effective as possible. The tenants are supposed to use the grounds for play and recreation but not for their own gardening. The result is barren and monotonous environments, which adults only pass on their way to and from home, or in which they stay to look after their children.
It seems that either a famine or a garden cultural revolution is necessary to make the inhabitants in these areas get out, occupy the grounds, and cultivate them. Perhaps we can avoid the famine if we can start the cultural revolution!
Comments (1)Posted on: June 24, 2008
Build a Banana Circle
Conservation, Food Forests, Food Plants - Perennial — by Jan Buckley
A banana-paw paw circle is an excellent way to grow fine fruit and root vegetable crops whilst using up excess water and organic wastes.
by Jan Buckley
Why it works so well
The design is basically a circular swale, and it works well because there’s only one place to mulch, feed and water, which serves many plants. It’s a good spot to put all your kitchen scraps, to use as a handy compost heap, and it can also take cardboard, paper and tin cans. It can make use of excess water run-off, or if water is scarce, greywater can be directed to the circle so water is reused.
On top of that, bananas grow well in a circle, and bear bunches on the outside. Both bananas and paw paws are gross feeders and thrive on nutrients from the decaying organic matter in the central hole.
So you get ample production of fruit, and root crops. You can also plant climbing plants like beans to grow up the banana stalks once they are tall. Volunteer plants like pumpkins and tomatoes are likely to spring up from vegetable scraps in the compost.
Comments (5)Posted on: June 23, 2008
Permaculture Design Course In Liberia - a Resounding Success
Aid Projects, Courses/Workshops, News — by Warren Brush
by Warren Brush, Co-Founder of Quail Springs Learning Oasis
The first graduates of a Permaculture Design Course in Liberia’s history. This momentous moment was attended by a representative of the President of Liberia to mark the occasion |
Back in March we celebrated the first graduating class of a Permaculture Design Course in Liberia’s history. Liberia had been in the throws of a brutal civil war since the late 80’s when the Permaculture movement was making its way around the world and was unable to get into Liberia until now, four years after the cease fire and peace building ensued.
We had 19 official graduates of the course which took nearly a month to complete as we had to translate into the local Lorma language. There were six other attendees who completed 3/4 of the course and who will complete it at a later date which will bring the graduating class to a total of 25. Many of the graduates shared how this was a historical moment for Liberia as Permaculture is seeding new ways of agriculture and living into their part of the world and deeply into their world-views.
Comments (0)Posted on: June 21, 2008
Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course in Tropical Far North Queensland with Geoff Lawton and Darren Doherty
Courses/Workshops — by Craig Mackintosh
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Teaching a PDC together for the first time ever in Australia
PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE COURSE Monday 17th - Sunday 30th November 2008 Walkamin • Near Cairns • Far North Queensland |
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Don’t miss this unique opportunity to take part in a two week Permaculture Design Certificate Course, taught by two of the best, internationally renowned teachers in the world, teaching a PDC together for the first time ever in Australia. The combined teaching force of Geoff, who is working in more countries and coordinating more projects on the ground than any other and Darren, back in Australia after a highly acclaimed world tour, promises to be an opportunity not to be missed. The course will incorporate intensive theory and practice in all aspects of Permaculture Design. This course is being held at FreeRange Permaculture’s demonstration site “Rosella Waters”, a stunning 6 acres situated right on the banks of the Barron River.
Comments (3)Posted on: June 20, 2008
BIll Mollison And Geoff Lawton At It Again!
Courses/Workshops — by Geoff Lawton
It’s on again!
Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton will once again teach the full Permaculture Design Certificate Course at Trinity College, Melbourne University . This is a 12 day, 72 hours Permaculture Design Certificate Course. It commence on Monday the 22nd of September 2008 and runs through to Saturday the 4th October 2008.
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