Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration – Video
Community Projects, Conservation, Deforestation, Demonstration Sites, Food Forests, Global Warming/Climate Change, Livestock, Plant Systems, Regional Water Cycle, Rehabilitation, Trees — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor September 21, 2010
Some of you will remember the excellent Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration article provided by Tony Rinaudo of World Vision. It shared a rapid and highly effective way to reforest degraded landscapes by simply letting the ‘underground forest’ (the seeds, roots and shoots already existing in the landscape) do what it already wants to do: that being to just grow! Instead of expensive projects with imported seed, nurseries, propagation, watering, etc., Niger has seen net afforestation on a massive scale (over 5 million hectares in Niger alone) by simply educating locals in protecting and pruning the plants already at their feet.
Comments (4)PRI is Humanitarian Water and Food Award Finalist
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, News — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor September 18, 2010
The Permaculture Research Institute’s Jordan work has been put forward to receive the Humanitarian Water & Food Award for its work to create water conserving, food producing, environment and diversity restoring habitable space in some of the harshest environments on the planet, and for educating people on the ground in how to do this for themselves.
This work is looked at in the following posts and videos:
- Greening the Desert, Parts I and II
- Jawaseri School Project
- Transitioning Jordan’s largest mixed farm
The award coordinators have notified us that we are now amongst the finalists. If we win, there would be a cash award we can use to help progress our efforts at establishing educational, demonstration (‘Master Plan‘) sites worldwide, and there will be opportunities for us to connect with donors eager to support this kind of root-cause restoration work. Hopefully there’d be a good bit of permaculture-focussed media attention as well.
Wish us luck!
Note: A big thanks goes to Allie Godfrey, Hilary Gibson, and Matthew Salkeld, all students of our July 11 PDC, for taking the initiative to write the submission for the PRI.
Comments (4)This Year’s Australasian Permaculture Convergence (APC10) and PDC Shaping Up to Be a Hit!
Community Projects, Conferences, Courses/Workshops, Developments, Education Centres, Social Gatherings, Society — by Darren Doherty September 8, 2010
From a few days ago:
HOLLYWOOD star Daryl Hannah flies into Cairns tomorrow while Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson’s eccentric nephew, Ned RocknRoll hits town today.
The environmentally minded duo plan to spend a month in the Far North for a two week permaculture design course and the Australasian Permaculture Convergence.
The events will be at Kuranda.
Mr RocknRoll, the head of marketing promotion and astronaut experience at Virgin Galatic [sic], will be joined by his wife Eliza.
Other big names at the event include former governor-general Major Michael Jeffery and SBS Television’s Costa Georgiadis, of Costa’s Gardening Odyssey. – Cairns.com.au
Calling Ned RockinRoll eccentric is a bit over the top, but then again the Cairns Post is a News Limited tabloid after all.
The Free Range Permaculture PDC starting this Sunday is now booked out which is great and we have an amazing lineup with lots of locals, some indigenous guys from up the gulf, a smattering of others from around the country plus Daryl Hannah (Hollywood actress & world’s #1 female celebrity environmentalist), the Hon. Eliza RocknRoll (nee Pearson & Humanitarian Activist) and her husband Ned RocknRoll (Virgin Galactic and nephew of Sir Richard Branson), Ken Bellamy (Prime Carbon) and Costa Georgiadis (SBS). This promises to be an interesting time with a entirely revamped course outline (following the cessation of The Permaculture Institute ‘Teacher Registration’ program) with 7 design exercises (with 3-4 choices per design), up another 2 design exercises on what we’ve been doing the last year or so. We’re keen to put the design back into the design course obviously.
There are still a few places left on the post course convergence – don’t dally though….
Comments (6)Would You Like to See a NSW Convergence?
Bio-regional Organisations, Community Projects, Conferences, Courses/Workshops, Developments, Networking Sites, People Systems, Social Gatherings, Village Development — by Penny Pyett September 3, 2010
Dear NSW Permaculturalists,
For some time now Permies in NSW have been talking about having a regular NSW Permaculture gathering. The discussion has been gathering momentum lately and many of us feel it’s time to organize the first such event.
The idea is to hold a state convergence late next year on the August long weekend – Friday 30th July to Monday 1st August 2011 – at a desirable live-in venue. Permaculture Sydney (representing Pc Sydney North, Pc Sydney South and Pc Sydney West) has agreed to host the first event in Sydney.
At this stage Permaculture Sydney would like to hear from Permies and representatives of local Permaculture groups across NSW about: a) Support for the convergence b) What you would like to see happen at the first State Permaculture convergence and c) If and how you would like to present or be involved in some way.
A State convergence provides many personal, social and professional opportunities:
Comments (5)Permaculture for Kids
Community Projects, Education Centres, Society, Village Development — by Paul Douglas August 30, 2010
Editor’s Note: Please welcome new contributing writer, Paul Douglas of Victoria, Australia!
During my two week immersion into permaculture design, Bill Mollison was asked by a student, "How do we go about teaching permaculture to our children?” to which Bill replied something along the lines of, “I don’t believe we should be teaching Permaculture to children. They already have enough on their plates in terms of responsibilities and such, so we shouldn’t overburden them with yet another subject.”
True enough, if you take permaculture as the full 72-hour course that we adults tend towards. But I approach the idea that teaching children permaculture is vitally important to the sustainability of life itself and needs to be taught to youths so that by the time they are adults, permaculture is no longer a subject, but a way of life that is as natural as breathing.
Comments (12)Fun-tastic Permasphere, L.A. Arboretum PDC
Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Urban Projects — by Owen Hablutzel August 28, 2010
The Los Angeles Arboretum:
is a unique 127 acre botanical garden and historical site jointly operated by the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and located in the city of Arcadia [just outside of Los Angeles]. Home to plant collections from all over the world, including many rare and endangered species… (from the LA Arboretum website)
This respected Los Angeles institution has now broken new ground by being home to a Permaculture “first,” as detailed in the article that follows…
Fun-tastic Permasphere, L.A. Arboretum
by Erin Marteal
The planting methods in the Permaculture Sphere follow two basic Permaculture principles: 1. Make use of the resources you have, and 2. Mimic nature. When you eat a tomato, simply smoodge the seeds out on the ground and let nature take it from there. Look to the fruits of the market to provide your seeds rather than those little expensive packets. The squirrels might make off with some, but they’re bound to leave a few behind to take root in your garden.
Comments (2)Australasian Permaculture Convergence 10 – Only One Month to Go!!
Community Projects, Conferences, Developments, Social Gatherings — by Georgina Lemke August 27, 2010
What: The Tenth Australasian Permaculture Convergence (APC10)
When: September 24 – 27, 2010 (and post-convergence tablelands tour Tuesday, September 28)
Where: In the heart of the rainforest, Kuranda, Far North Queensland
Costs: Here
Register: Here
Why: Coz it’ll be bloody awesome! Read on to see why!!!
You could spend $50,000 and the rest of your life visiting all these amazing people and seeing their projects, or a hundred dollars now to meet them all in the one place at the same time. – Sarah-Jane, Star APC10 Volunteer, talking with Cairns locals at the Sustainable Living Expo last weekend.
Only One Month to go! We are not booked out. But you must register now!
This is our last APC10 Update before the event, which we have come to realise is likely to be the most important gathering of permaculture minds. The key themes in this convergence will be transition initiatives, engagement with the mainstream and renewing our networks and movement’s structure. In our extensive correspondence with permi people world-wide, there is a call for permaculture to move away from the margin to become an effective and credible voice in the future of Australia’s planning and preparations for the changes that will come as a result of climate change, peak oil, economic pertubations, migration shifts, etc.
We have summarised our plenary presenters below but we have an impressive line-up of speakers from around the world – in all about 50 people. Our programme is a conventional conference style programme, but interaction, discussion, round tables and time-out to network are vital to the convergence’s success. We will be testing our capacity to skype in speakers from around Australia and the globe – doing so on a shoe-string budget with volunteers. The complete and final programme is on the website: www.apc10.org
Comments OffLetters from Sri Lanka – Sarvodaya and the Tea Plantation Challenge
Aid Projects, Alternatives to Political Systems, Community Projects, Consumerism, Economics, People Systems, Society, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor August 26, 2010
Part IX of a series – If you haven’t already, please read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII and Part VIII before continuing. This series is part of my work for the Sustainable (R)evolution book project.
Preamble: Described as ‘the champagne of tea’, Sri Lankan tea is consumed the world over. Second only to Kenya in exports, Sri Lanka’s tea industry accounts for a full 15% of the nation’s GDP, generating about $700 million per year. Yet very little of this money is seen by the people actually producing it…. Tea plantation workers are trapped in low paid manual labour positions and live in miserable housing conditions, while people around the globe slurp on the fruit of their misery. Sarvodaya has its work cut out to try to assist, but they’re giving it a good try.
Sri Lankan tea plantation worker
All photographs © copyright Craig Mackintosh
Permaculture and Society – a Look at the Example of Detroit
Aid Projects, Alternatives to Political Systems, Community Projects, Economics, Food Shortages, Society, Urban Projects, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor August 24, 2010
Rhamis Kent, friend and regular contributor to the PRI, recently gave a talk to Schumacher College in the south west of England. He starts with a look at the meltdown of Detroit’s once thriving manufacturing base, its dramatic consequences for the city and residents, and shares that the current state of affairs for the beleaguered city is a direct result of the economic model that’s been in place in the U.S. over the last century. Rhamis goes further, to share that this is, to one degree or another, the present trajectory of most of the world’s cities.
But, not stopping on the negative, Rhamis goes on to show some of the exciting movements within Detroit that these circumstances are giving life to. Out of necessity, people are working to increase their resiliency and quality of life – turning the problem of Detroit into a solution. Rhamis joins the dots between our socio-economic problems and the environmental catastrophes taking place, and begins to look through the lens of permaculture to see how we can turn things around by imitating natural systems to create low- to no-impact societies that don’t operate on the boom-and-bust model that present day Detroit is arguably the most striking example of.
Duration: 82 minutes
Part way through the talk Rhamis presents the following Urban Roots film trailer. I’ll put it below for convenience. To jump back to where the trailer below (higher quality) ends in the video above, click on 31:40 on progress bar above.
Comments (10)Permaculture Continues To Take Root In Kenya
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, People Systems, Village Development — by Warren Brush August 23, 2010
Take a PDC in Kenya (PDF) or donate, either way will help to underwrite the course expenses so that local Kenyans can participate without cost….
There are two very unique and exciting opportunities to learn Permaculture Design and obtain your certification in Kenya this coming December of 2010 or in March of 2011. Students from around the world are invited to join local Kenyan students and International permaculture teacher and designer, Warren Brush, of Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm and other teachers from the local culture for this learning journey of a lifetime.
Get Paid to Share Your Permaculture Passion With the World
Aid Projects, Commercial Farm Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Developments, Education Centres, Networking Sites, News, People Systems, Project Positions, Urban Projects, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor August 18, 2010
How to Help Us Educate the World and Save Our Futures
Note: This is an update on PRI’s position and direction, and an opportunity for you to get paid to help!
The short version: We’re now paying you to write for us! Click here to get started.
The background/long version follows:
Over the last two years since I took over the running of this site, I’ve been pleased to see significant growth in traffic. I’m not so narrow-minded as to believe this is just due to my efforts or Geoff and Nadia Lawton’s or the rest of the PRI team, however. Aside from the tremendous support and input from the wider permaculture community, I also note that current events and the spread of information through the internet is threatening to actually wake the world up – and this ‘awakening’ is seeing an unprecedented growth in interest in sustainability, transition and the creation of resilient people systems. This interest certainly isn’t coming too soon, but better late than never.
Comments (44)Morocco Observations, Past, Present and Future – Part III
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres — by Alex Metcalfe August 14, 2010
Written by Alex Metcalfe. Photo credits to Alex Metcalfe, Asiya Brock, Helen Evans and Houssa Yacoubi. Part III of a series. Be sure to check out Part I and Part II.
Journey to Igourdane: Large communal extended family home.
Only the part on the far right is now inhabited.
The days on the course were spent going through the theory and wandering about on the farm trying to apply it to surrounding landscape. Every now and then we might be given some mint tea, batboot and olive oil.
Comments (5)Sustainable Hawaii Coming this October
Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Developments, Education Centres, Urban Projects — by Nichole Ross August 12, 2010
PRI-USA Offers a Unique Series of Permaculture Courses on Isle of Molokai
In partnership with Sust`aina ble Molokai and the Ho`ala Hou Program, the Permaculture Research Institute USA is proud to announce an upcoming series of key Permaculture courses on the Island of Molokai, Hawaii.
We are offering the following four foundational courses between October and December this year:
- Permaculture Design Certificate Course with Andrew Jones and Shenaqua Sookhoo-Jones, Oct 10-22
- Practicum: Incorporating Traditional Hawaiian Plants, Foods and Fuels into a Permaculture Design with Andrew Jones and Hunter Heaivilin, Oct 25-29
- PDC Teacher Training Course with Andrew Jones and Shenaqua Sookhoo-Jones, Nov 1-6
- Earthworks with Geoff and Nadia Lawton, Dec 6-10
These courses will be held in conjunction with the Ho`ala Hou Program, a substance abuse and prevention program that works with youth and families to set up up community garden plots. Courses will take place on Ho`ala Hou’s 20-acre site.
This series is also part of an island-wide initiative with local nonprofit Sust`aina ble Molokai to work toward the goals of the Molokai Sustainability Plan, a plan created by the people of Molokai that honors Hawaiian traditional and cultural pathways alongside modern strategies for a sustainable future.
For more information and to register for these courses, please visit the Permaculture Research USA website at www.permacultureusa.org.
Aloha and A hui hou!
Comments (5)Port Kembla Part 1 and 2
Community Projects, Urban Projects — by Patrick Blampied August 9, 2010
Part 1: Geoff put me in touch with Benn Wolhuter, a very active permie from the coal and steel town of Port Kembla. So on my trip through NSW I got in touch and Benn kindly gave me a tour of some impressive Permaculture projects throughout the region.
In Part I Benn is talking about the laneway project where a small group of volunteers have taken to the lanes, transforming them from bland overgrown backstreets to pleasant, rich & productive places to go for a walk, relax or feed yourself.
It’s really good to see Permaculture spreading like wild fire in an area that according to some reports has significant environmental and health problems due to its industrial emissions.
A Call to Large Scale Earth Healing and Lessons from the Loess Plateau (Video)
Alternatives to Political Systems, Biodiversity, Community Projects, Conservation, Consumerism, Dams, Deforestation, Economics, Food Shortages, Gabions, Global Warming/Climate Change, Land, Plant Systems, Population, Regional Water Cycle, Soil Conservation, Soil Erosion & Contamination, Swales, Terraces, Trees, Village Development, Water Contaminaton & Loss, peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor August 6, 2010
The world is coming unglued. The world burns. What are we going to do about it?
Map of fires in Russia
As I type, half of Russia is on fire after its hottest summer on record, Pakistan is dealing with the biggest floods in living memory and Australia is still in the clutches of a decade long drought. The last decade, worldwide, was the hottest since records began, and 2010 may break the records of 1998 and 2005 to become the hottest year we’ve ever known. We could spend weeks just examining the extreme weather events going on on a country by country basis.
Comments (14)
