Design with Energy in Mind
Building, Energy Systems, Waste Systems & Recycling, Waste Water — by Robyn Francis
Permaculture designer, Robyn Francis, looks at a variety of design strategies for using energy responsibly and sustainably.
The practical ‘down-to-earth’ farmer, gardener and layperson will often find the theories surrounding ecology and energy very heavy going, if not downright confusing. What I would like to do is offer some practical perspectives on how we can use resources responsibly.
Energy, in a holistic sense, involves much more than electricity and the use of fossil fuels, although these are certainly central to the energy issue. In permaculture design, energy and resource management are virtually synonymous and it is often difficult, if not impossible, to separate the two.
Comments (0)Posted on: November 18, 2008
Vuon - Ao - Chuong - The Traditional Vietnamese Farm
Aquaculture, Eco-Villages, Fish, Food Forests, Land, Livestock, Plant Systems, Village Development, Waste Systems & Recycling — by Nguyen Van Man
by Nguyen Van Man
VAC is an acronym formed from the three Vietnamese words Vuon, garden or orchard, Ao, fish pond, and Chuong, pigsty or poultry shed. It refers to a form of domestic agriculture in which food gardening, fish rearing and animal husbandry are wholly integrated, and stems from farming methods developed in the Red River delta of Vietnam.
The VAC system is a highly intensive method of small scale farming that makes optimal use of land, water and solar energy, achieving high economic efficiency for low capital investment. Plants are used for food, fibre, and fuel, and always products are passed into the production cycle. Developed from age old production agricultural practices, VAC farming now takes place in many regions of Vietnam, with models varying according to the terrain and the climate.
Comments (1)Posted on: October 4, 2008
Sites Unseen
Building, Land, Waste Systems & Recycling — by Mark Worthington
Making use of resources from a building site
The lifecycle of a building site can supply the observant designer with loads
of resources. Be it your own site or one nearby, there are plenty of available
materials otherwise destined for landfill.
Before work starts, designate specific areas to stockpile materials choosing
places where they won’t have to be moved until needed.
After surveyors peg the site, collect seedlings, rocks and logs before clearing
begins. Offer to do the initial clearing and stockpile resources. The bobcat
operator can be a great ally if you give instructions to keep the piles in
order on site or transport material to your place, saving a trip to the dump.
