72h Permaculture Design Course: Permaculture for the Rural African Environment, Konso, Ethiopia
Courses/Workshops — by Alex McCausland March 20, 2012
This 13-day practical and demonstrative PDC will take place in Konso, south Ethiopia, from 7th – 19th, 2012, at Strawberry Fields Eco Lodge. It will have a special focus on the application of permaculture to communities in the developing world. It will involve practical demonstrations both form Strawberry Fields’ own model permaculture site and from schools sites in the area which are participating in the Permaculture in Konso Schools Project. There will also be the chance to do field trips into other climate zones in the Ethiopian highlands.
Facilitators: Alex McCausland with local assistant trainer, Asmelash Dagne, and guest appearances from local elders and intellectuals.
Dates: May 7th to 19th, 2011
Location: Konso, South Ethiopia
Venue: Strawberry Fields Eco Lodge
Cost: US$850 ($500 for Ethiopians)
Includes: course fees, food and accommodation for the period of the course
Excludes: Transport, accommodation en-route, travel insurance etc.
The Course
Comments (0)12th Annual Pan-Hellenic Festival for the Exchange of Local Seed Varieties
Community Projects, Conferences, Courses/Workshops, Seeds, Social Gatherings — by Spencer Woodard March 15, 2012
If you’re in Europe this April, consider a trip to the Peliti Seedbank in Mesochori, Greece.
On April 21st – 23rd Peliti will be hosting the 12th Pan-Hellenic Festival for the Exchange of Local Seed Varieties.
This annual festival, organized by Peliti (www.peliti.gr) since 1999, includes farmers, activists, researchers, students and thousands of visitors from all over the world who will come to share knowledge and experience, and exchange seed. The Festival includes speeches, seminars, workshops, distribution of local seeds, eating, dancing, music, money-free barter of goods, etc. The activities take place from 11am to 5pm. Entrance to the festival is open to all visitors and it is free.
The event is made possible this year with the support of the Europe-wide Seed Campaign, as well as with the support of the Municipality of Paranesti and the Centre for Environmental Education of Paranesti.
Comments (0)Peru Bans GMOs
Biodiversity, GMOs, Health & Disease, News, Soil Erosion & Contamination, Water Contaminaton & Loss — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor March 13, 2012
Back in 2009, Wikileaks released some diplomatic cables from the U.S. which revealed a list of priority countries for ‘GMO outreach’. Peru was amongst those on the hit list.
Well, now it seems Peru has opted out….
Comments (1)White House Event to Be Live Streamed – Watch Permaculture on the U.S. National Stage!
Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, Presentations/Demonstrations, Society, Urban Projects — by Ryan Harb
Hi All. We’re heading to Washington, DC in less than 48 hours and just found out the following: The White House Campus Champions of Change event will be live streamed on Thursday, March 15 from 2:50pm — 4:20pm (EST)! This means anyone can watch permaculture being talked about at The White House by tuning in here during that time.
I just wanted to share the good news!
Comments (1)APC11 – A Conference to Radically Rethink New Zealand’s Way of Life
Conferences, Courses/Workshops, Social Gatherings — by APC11 Team March 12, 2012
Permaculturists have created forests in the desert, provided free emergency water and hygiene facilities in international emergencies and are revolutionising farming in small pockets of land all over the world. Now a major international event aims to spread permaculture thinking and practise throughout New Zealand.
More than 500 permaculturists from New Zealand, Australia and beyond, together with green activists, organic gardeners, eco-architects, and self-sufficiency enthusiasts are invited to Turangi near Taupo from April 11-15 for the 11th Australasian Permaculture Convergence.
Comments (0)Update on Sociocracy Workshop, Brisbane (March 2012)
Alternatives to Political Systems, Courses/Workshops, People Systems, Society, Village Development — by Wyan Carter March 9, 2012
What: Sociocracy Workshop
When: March 16-17, with an additional, optional Advanced Training day on March 19 (1.1mb PDF flyer)
Where: Synapse Conference Room, Level 1, 262 Montague Rd., West End, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
This is an update on a previous advert for the Sococracy workshop we ran on this site recently.
Due to popular demand, and a bit of last minute finessing, we’ve managed to reduce the cost of the upcoming Sociocracy to make it more accessible. The two day workshop has been reduced to $350, but will still provide you with the practical tools to implement a fairer, more engaging, more effective decision making system that’s already been used for over 40 years. If you’re sick of seeing community initiatives fall over because of a failure to make decisions or deal with power fairly, then it’s time to learn more about Sociocracy.
We’re also now planning to run a one hour introduction to Sociocracy on Friday night, the 16th of March. For more information or to register for any of the Sociocracy workshops, please go to sociocracyworkshop.wordpress.com.
An Innovative Approach to Water Storage at a Sustainable Tanzanian Home
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Conservation, Courses/Workshops, Dams, Demonstration Sites, Irrigation, Land, Material, Village Development, Waste Systems & Recycling, Waste Water, Water Harvesting — by Robert Cork
Just outside of Arusha, Tanzania, is ‘Kesho Leo’– a sustainable home for vulnerable women and children operated by FoodWaterShelter. The principles of permaculture underpin the daily lives of the Kesho Leo residents. It is currently the home of seven families, each headed by a Tanzanian mama who cares for up to five children, including orphans. In addition to the daily essentials, Kesho Leo provides the many other aspects that a ‘home’ needs; access to family and social support, access to education and health, and very importantly – access to community.
Permaculture meeting the needs of the Kesho Leo residents
Revolving around the community and education aspects of Kesho Leo are the permaculture systems that strive to provide all of the food, water and energy needs of the residents. Basic needs of water, sanitation and power are provided through rainwater harvesting, innovative batch compost toilet systems, and solar power.
Comments (7)Get Ready Now for the 11th European Permaculture Convergence in Germany
Conferences, Courses/Workshops, Social Gatherings — by Petra Krubeck
What: 11th European Permaculture Convergence (EUPC)
When: August 1st – 5th, 2012
Where: Escherode/Kassel, Germany
Dear activist-friends in Europe
The website for registration is online and we invite you to check the key note speakers, lectures and workshops already listed. This program will grow step by step as soon as people register and send us their proposals for participation.
We are sending our call to come and join the European Permaculture Convergence from 1st – 5th August 2012 in Escherode/Kassel, Germany: NOW – Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share.
Comments (0)UMass Permaculture Wins White House Campus Champions of Change Challenge!
Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Developments, Education, Education Centres, News, Society, Urban Projects — by Ryan Harb March 7, 2012
We did it everyone! It is now official. The UMass Permaculture team will be heading to the White House on March 15! This has been an amazing and inspiring week to see the voting results unfold and be in the center of it all. I can’t thank everyone enough for the support you’ve provided us with.
I’d like to share some reflections for how this week has been for me personally.
Comments (7)3CR ‘Food Fight’ Show Excerpts Evan Young on Omnivorous Diet
Land, Livestock, Podcasts, Salination, Soil Biology, Soil Conservation, Waste Systems & Recycling — by Evan Young March 5, 2012
Zaytuna Farm – Photo © Craig Mackintosh
In the middle of Winter 2011, Trades Hall in Melbourne hosted a debate between the environmental impacts of an omnivorous diet vs. a vegetarian diet. Evan Young, Permaculture Consultant and former Intern and Staff Member of PRI Australia argued in favour of an omnivorous diet, citing many examples both from nature and modern farming techniques that use the natural pattern. These techniques enhance the environment while providing nutritionally dense foods. The debate was recorded by local 3CR Community Radio show "Food Fight" and they later aired some extracts on their programme — the audio of which is below.
Click play to hear the talk!
3CR 'Food Fight' Show Excerpts Evan Young on Omnivorous Diet Comments (0)Gold Coast Permaculture Workshops, March 2012
Courses/Workshops — by Vanessa Fernandes March 1, 2012
Mental Health First Aid Course
There will be a mental heath first aid course run over two Saturdays on 10 and 31 March from 10am — 4pm on 10 March, and 10am — 3pm on Saturday 31 March. It is sponsored by Gold Coast Permaculture and will be held at Griffith University Gold Coast Campus G27 – Room 1.14.
Some reasons why people need MHFA:
Comments (2)A Forest of Food in the Center of Seattle
Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Food Forests, Land, News, Society, Urban Projects, Village Development — by Andrew Beard
Click for larger view
In the Beacon Hill community of Seattle a revolutionary community garden is being developed to feed her people. The Beacon Food Forest is transforming a previously unused piece of public land into a vibrant food forest filled with hundreds of different varieties of edible plants, fruits and nuts. The seven acre plot uses perennial crops and sustainable methods rooted in permaculture to create a source of food available to all.
Comments (3)Regenerating Rusinga (Kenya)
Aid Projects, Biodiversity, Community Projects, Deforestation, Developments, Food Shortages, Global Warming/Climate Change, Land, Population, Soil Erosion & Contamination, Trees, Village Development, Water Contaminaton & Loss — by Elin Lindhagen February 28, 2012
FMNR workshop, Feb 2012, Kenya
Rusinga Island is situated in Lake Victoria in the Western parts of Kenya. It is known for its prehistoric findings of primate fossils dating from 17 million years ago and for being the birthplace of the famously assassinated Kenyan politician, Tom Mboya, whose scholarship fund enabled Barack Obama’s father to study abroad. Not too many years ago it was still known to be a beautiful forested island, rich in unique bird species and with access to great fishing. Today the island is considered a vulnerable ecosystem with marginal agricultural land, leading one author to call it ‘one of the driest and most environmentally marginal agricultural zones in the region’(1).
Rapid population growth in the 1980s led to intensified pressure on natural resources such as trees and fish. At the same time, other communities started coming into Rusinga’s fishing waters to exploit the fish resources. Fish stocks started declining and the fishermen of Rusinga were forced to start looking for other ways of making an income. Many turned to agriculture but the Luo’s on Rusinga were traditionally fishermen, not farmers. Trees were cut down to make houses for a growing population, firewood to feed an increasing number of hungry stomachs and charcoal to make an income. Within a generation, what was once a richly forested island had become bare — suffering increasing droughts, soil erosion and crop failures due to the loss of trees.
Comments (1)Glocal Transition Forum, Nerang (March 10, 2012)
Conferences, Courses/Workshops — by Tracey Buckley
Geoff Lawton and others will be participating in a short forum in Nerang, close to Brisbane, on Saturday March 10. Come along if you can!
What: Glocal Transition Forum
Where: Nerang Bicentennial Community Centre,
833 Southport – Nerang Road,
Nerang, QLD
When: Saturday March 10, 2012 — from 2pm-5:30pm
Cost: $20 online, or $25 at the door (unless sold out)
The Glocals Forum is a platform for local, social, health & environmental leaders presenting practical approaches & solutions that can be measured & witnessed. We call them Glocals. They come from all walks of life and disciplines with one thing in common; they’re out there actualising transformative ideas that have the capacity to regenterate both society & the environment we live in. Each Glocal has an opportunity to give the essence of their transformational idea for our bioregion in 20 minutes & closes with a 2 minute practical “Transition Request” that you can action & contribute to glocal change.
Speakers:
Comments (1)Subtropical Edible Forest Gardens Design Intensive with Eric Toensmeier
Courses/Workshops — by Eric Toensmeier February 27, 2012
What: Advanced Permaculture Design with Eric Toensmeier, author of Perennial Vegetables and co-author of Edible Forest Gardens with Dave Jacke
When: May 18 – 23, 2012
Where: Hosted by Earth Learning in Homestead, FL
Instructor: Eric Toensmeier
You will learn how to design and plant a food forest, hands-on!
Edible forest gardens produce delicious food while imitating natural forest ecosystems. Trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, groundcovers and fungi can combine to form healthy edible ecosystems. Design and plant selection help provide fertility, control of weeds and pests, and more.
How can you design an edible garden that works like a healthy ecosystem? Learn simple guidelines, based on real experience, for designing mixed-species polycultures of useful perennials. Small-group design exercises will give you the tools to create productive harvests and positive relationships between plants in your forest garden.
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