Small is Bountiful
Food Shortages, Population, Soil Conservation, Soil Erosion & Contamination — by George Monbiot
by George Monbiot - journalist, author, academic and environmental and political activist. Originally published in the Guardian, 10 June 2008
I suggest you sit down before you read this. Robert Mugabe is right. At last week’s global food summit he was the only leader to speak of “the importance … of land in agricultural production and food security”.(1) Countries should follow Zimbabwe’s lead, he said, in democratising ownership.
Of course the old bastard has done just the opposite. He has evicted his opponents and given land to his supporters. He has failed to support the new settlements with credit or expertise, with the result that farming in Zimbabwe has collapsed. The country was in desperate need of land reform when Mugabe became president. It remains in desperate need of land reform today.
Comments (0)Posted on: July 30, 2008
Cantankerous Frank Digs for Victory
Comedy Break — by Craig Mackintosh
He’s lean, he’s mean, and he knows what he wants. It’s Cantankerous Frank, stripped down to his 25-or-so year old vest, brandishing a shovel, and holding firm against the not-so-super markets.
Click for larger view
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
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18-Day Compost – the Appliance of Science
Compost — by Andy Kenworthy
 Composting puts carbon back where it belongs - in our soils! |
You may have got beyond the ‘heave it in and hope’ stage of composting, but the average heap or bin still involves a lot of trial and error. This 18-day compost system takes the guesswork out of your heap and turbo-charges the whole process. But, it does require consistent effort for two weeks and careful monitoring to work properly.
Here’s how it was described to LeafTurner by Geoff Lawton, head of the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia. As part of Geoff’s academic research into the usefulness of this approach he has successfully composted the discarded bodies of a kangaroo, and even a penguin (both of which had died of natural causes). But it is not recommended you try that at home!
Comments (1)Posted on: July 26, 2008
Shell Shock and Delta Blues
peak oil — by Marc Roberts
Click for larger view
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
While the US and UK concentrates most of its oil warriors in the middle east it’s easy to forget the struggle that goes on and on for the black gold of Nigeria. Both place and people continue to suffer, and Gordon Brown has sent in some professional help to deal with those pesky locals. The rush to keep it cheap and keep it burning maintains its pace. There are elections to be considered, and tomorrow can wait (Independent).
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Kitchen Garden Segment from “Establishing a Food Forest” DVD
DVDs/Books — by Craig Mackintosh
Our new Food Forest DVD is almost complete. We’ll let you know as soon as this is finalised and available for sale, but in the meantime, here’s another teaser (see previous promo) - this time with Geoff walking amongst the great food diversity to be found in the kitchen garden at Zaytuna Farm, host site of The Permaculture Research Institute of Australia.
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Posted on: July 20, 2008
Permaculturist Wanted - for Uganda
Aid Projects, Project Positions — by Craig Mackintosh
A great opportunity for growing food and teaching permaculture alongside about 300 children’s big smiles, songs and dances in south-western Uganda
Are you planning to travel to Africa? And do you like a challenge? If so, then we would welcome you for six to twelve months as ‘permie in residence’ at our Sabina Children’s Home.
Here’s a taste of what we offer:
Rakai Primary School and Home for Children has just completed a ‘toe-in-the-water’ four day intro permaculture course (facilitated by Rosemary Morrow and Dan Palmer) with local officials, primary school teachers, and staff from the home.
We wanted to see if there was enough interest to commit to permaculture and go forward with a full PDC and site development.
Comments (0)Posted on: July 19, 2008
Happiness is Just Around the Corner
Consumerism — by Craig Mackintosh
That’s right - you can have it all. Click play to find out how it works.
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Efficient Glasshouse Design
Building, Energy Systems, Nurseries & Propogation — by Les Anwyl
A well designed glasshouse can serve many functions and be an extremely productive element in a permaculture system. It creates a self-contained environment in which the designer can modify conditions of heat, light, water and air for a variety of benefits. High value crops can be grown out of their normal climatic range or produced out of season, growing seasons can be extended by starting seedlings of annual plants early, and plants can be propagated and grown in an ideal environment free of many pests, predators and adverse weather conditions.
As part of or attached to another structure, such as a dwelling, workplace or animal housing, a glasshouse can provide a temperature buffer and insulation between indoors and outdoors as well as provide heating and induce airflow to assist cooling. A glasshouse is also a warm, sunny, peaceful and beautiful environment to sit in, observe and enjoy.
Comments (2)Posted on: July 14, 2008
Retrofitting Tips
Building, Energy Systems, Retrofitting — by Susanna Carpi
Reprinted from ‘Earth-User’s Guide to Permaculture’
Most of us are stuck with the house we live in. What can we do to improve it? Here is a checklist of ways to retrofit a home and some good ideas to make life more comfortable.
TOO HOT IN SUMMER
Insulate ceiling
Pergola and vines
Deciduous trees
Shady verandahs
Breezeways/corridors
Solar fans
Cool air tunnels
Deciduous creepers
Shadehouse with plants
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The Permaculture Research Institute Signs MoU with Muslim Aid Australia
Aid Projects — by Craig Mackintosh
 Geoff Lawton and Iman S.I. Partoredjo
signing the MoU at the historically
significant location of Botany Bay |
As yet another sign of the growing recognition of permaculture’s crucial role in helping restore health and sustainability to both land and communities, the Permaculture Research Institute is pleased to announce we have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Muslim Aid Australia, with the intention of pooling resources and knowledge to further the shared goals and commitment of each organisation - to reach the broad ideal of a peaceful and sustainable world.
The full MoU can be downloaded here (PDF). This was signed at the historically significant location of Sydney’s Botany Bay on June 23, 2008.
We look forward to working with Muslim Aid Australia in bringing long term solutions to people within their network.
Comments (2)Posted on: July 9, 2008
Soil and Water for Every Farm - Keyline Design Course
Courses/Workshops — by Craig Mackintosh
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn practical, hands-on Keyline Design with the world’s most respected Keyline educator, Darren Doherty.
The Keyline System of farming has been one of the pillars of sustainable farming and hydrology, with the first book “Water for Every Farm” published in 1954. In it, P.A. Yeomans exploded the myth that it takes 1,000 years to produce an inch of topsoil. Keyline Design is a design system that restores and regenerates landscapes, applicable to both rural and urban areas.
It is a unique combination of water conservation and soil building, with great appeal to both farmers and pastoralists as it has the ability to build and regenerate degraded soils rapidly, and sees the use of grazing animals as beneficial to this process.
Comments (3)Posted on: July 7, 2008
Permaculture Project Aid Worker Training Camp - November 2008
Courses/Workshops, Food Shortages, peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh
I’m sure not a few of you are keeping tabs on the current state of affairs in the world. Today the price of oil jumped yet again - it’s now sitting on $146 p/barrel. Of course, everything produced that’s dependent on oil for its production and/or distribution (um… that’s just about everything) is going up as well - most significantly, food. If peak oil adherents are correct, and these now include legions of observers, plus politicians and oil industry heads themselves, then the food crisis is set to worsen considerably, and rapidly, over the next few years.
Posted on: July 3, 2008
Mad Eco-Superhero on the Loose at PRI
General — by Craig Mackintosh
It’s hard enough getting an important DVD made without these kind of shenanigans.
Credit where credit is due, though, this particular superhero has been doing a grand work with schools and other groups, getting his eco-message across to young and old in his own… er… unique way. And, never fear, the Food Forest DVD is making great progress.
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