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Nature Did It First (and Best).
NATURE DID IT FIRST (AND BEST).
Aquaponics are a very interesting development in the world of permaculture and offer some great benefits and advantages. Let’s take a look at hydroponics and aquaponics to see what they offer, and how aquaponics functions in comparison to hydroponics.
Hydroponics – the ingenious and highly optimized system of growing plants in water. Commercially available nutrients provide all that is needed for the reservoir and after these nutrients have been added the growing begins. This is really great for those who want to hit the ground running.
Careful attention needs to be paid when adding elements to the system though as it needs to be completely sterile. This sterile system uses a flood and drain technique allows for fertigation (fertilization and irrigation at the same time) and optimal water as well as nutrient levels. Of course, there are many supplements available to maintain the perfect nutrient levels, for the right price.
As previously mentioned, absolutely everything that comes in contact with a hydroponic system must be sterilized in order to ensure that pythium, otherwise known as root rot, doesn’t take hold and destroy one’s plants. This fungus is an absolute scourge in hydroponics. The temperature of the system needs to be kept below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above that temperature and the root rot will have a prime environment.
Regular dumping of the water makes sure that the nutrient imbalances that inevitably developed are controlled. There is eventual build up of the nutrients that are supplied in mineral form, and this needs to be balanced out again. This is tested by checking for electrical conductivity in the water due to all the salts and minerals added. Dumping this water can be tricky if there isn’t a safe and convenient location though.
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Europe’s Circular-Economy Opportunity
EUROPE’S CIRCULAR-ECONOMY OPPORTUNITY
A new study “Growth within: A circular economy vision for a competitive Europe” has provided fresh evidence that a circular economy, made possible by the technology revolution, would make Europe to grow resource productivity by up to 3% annually translating into primary-resource benefit of as much as €0.6 trillion per year by 2030 in these economies.
Additionally, it would generate €1.2 trillion in non-resource and externality benefits, bringing the annual total benefits to around €1.8 trillion compared with today.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY IS FOUNDED ON THE BELOW PRINCIPLES:
Waste is food
Waste does not exist… the biological and technical components (nutrients) of a product are designed by intention to fit within a materials cycle, designed for disassembly and re-purposing. The biological nutrients are non-toxic and can be simply composted. Technical nutrients – polymers, alloys and other man-made materials are designed to be used again with minimal energy.
Diversity is strength
Modularity, versatility and adaptiveness are to be prioritised in an uncertain and fast evolving world. In working toward the circular economy, we should focus on longer-lasting products, developed for upgrade, ageing and repair by considering strategies like emotionally durable design. Diverse products, materials and systems, with many connections and scales are more resilient in the face of external shocks than systems built simply for efficiency.
Energy must come from renewable sources
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How to Turn a Piece of Land Into a Thriving Project?
HOW TO TURN A PIECE OF LAND INTO A THRIVING PROJECT?
Three years ago this month a client asked me to help him transform his land into an eco-tourism project and self-sufficient home. The land is located in fascinating Turkey, overlooking the Marmara Sea.
In this article, I share the highlights of the process and outcomes of two months of intensive work applying Permaculture design in a beautiful but challenging spot. I summarise the birth and first steps of Alişler Yurdu, which has evolved into a pioneering, sustainable and inspiring project.
Read on to see an example of how degraded land in the Mediterranean can be healed, become biologically productive and transformed into a Permaculture paradise.
Alişler Yurdu has demonstrated that, in just three years, regeneration is realistic and affordable, and that, through harmonious Permaculture design, self-sufficiency, autonomy and even abundance can be reached. At Alişler Yurdu we have designed and supported ecosystems, built resilience, effectively enhanced biodiversity and productivity and much more.
HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF HOW WE DID IT:
1. FIRST THINGS FIRST: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF INVISIBLE DESIGN
One of my biggest learning and observations from my experience building, developing and managing projects in different places (including Panya and Rak Tamachat in Thailand) is that one of the main contributing factors to the success of a project is having clear and concise goals and vision. This is essential and greatly contributes to joyful and streamlined development.
Having crystal clear goals and vision is fundamental for any project. Most of you surely agree with this statement, but you would be surprised to know how often this part of the design is overlooked and ‘sacrificed’ for the sake of ‘saving time’. It might be clear in your head but bringing it together and reflecting and refining it is very powerful.
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Voluntary Frugality
VOLUNTARY FRUGALITY
Coincidentally, when I picked up the book, I’d already begun writing on this very topic but had come to find myself stumped as to whether or not it was simply blowing smoke or something of relevant substance. Well, if Holmgren is anything, it’s substance, so I renamed my article with his words, got back on the high horse, and continued with what I had to say, perhaps with a little more assurance and little more insight. The result is something that I hope is of value to other permaculturalists looking for more ethical and responsible pathways to happiness and relative abundance.
For the better part of the last two and a half years, my wife Emma and I have been traveling around, volunteering on farms. At times, we’ve earned meager salaries doing odd jobs that were offered to us, nothing we sought out or needed, per say, for just as often we’ve simply exchanged about twenty hours of labor each week for room and board. Though the situation has not padded our bank accounts in any way whatsoever and, in fact, at this point our clothing is all a little more tattered over backs that are certainly more labored, the experience has still been more than worth it.
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Integrated Pest Management-The Smart Solution
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT-THE SMART SOLUTION
CHEMICAL PESTICIDES ARE POISONS
Indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides is highly hazardous to the environment and human health. When pesticides are applied to a field they don’t remain confined to their targeted field, rather travel to a vast area outside the targeted field by air, water, and soil. This widespread movement of applied pesticides brings surface and ground water contamination. Soil and air contaminations also take place from unwise pesticide use. These pollutions bring many complicated human diseases like – skin irritation, nausea, cardiovascular illness etc.
Besides humans, the toxic residues of chemical pesticides produce many harmful impacts on various animals (e. g., birds, fishes, amphibians etc.) and plants.
The above-mentioned problems are not all pesticides are responsible for, there is another terrible and irreparable problem that pesticides introduce that is ‘Making the Pests Resistant’. The indiscriminate application of pesticides has been making the pests resistant to pesticides and thus making them stronger and more damaging gradually by the following ways-
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Monsanto and the Heirloom Seed
MONSANTO AND THE HEIRLOOM SEED
World food control is almost in place thanks to the reduction of seed diversity with genetically modified seeds being distributed by only a few transnational corporations. Genetic engineering has made proprietary control through the use of intellectual property rights possible over the seeds on which the world’s food supply depends on. To cover these costs, food prices are raised.
Monsanto is a leading corporation in agribusiness has been gradually taking over smaller heirloom seeds suppliers in addition to trademarks acquisition of a number of heirloom seeds. This started several years ago and it’s continuing. There’s significant probability that when buying seeds from a local store, one may get a genetically modified product.
Monsanto was formed in 1901, that’s more than a century ago, in the year. Throughout the ages, Monsanto has emerged and secured its reputation as a face of corporate evil. Demonstrations have been held globally by environmental activists and when Monsanto introduced Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seeds. Monsanto modifies a plant or crop artificially, making it immune to a specific, all-purpose poison through genetic engineering. It’s expected that the modified crop stays safe with the use of pesticides while everything else is killed.
THE MONSANTO CONTROVERSY
The controversy that lies with Monsanto is not recent; the company used to be a chemical company which produced Agent Orange and its main poison, Dioxin. The company was also involved in selling DDT, dairy cow hormone rBGH, the carcinogenic Aspartame sweetener, and PCBs in the past.
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How to Build a Worm Tower
HOW TO BUILD A WORM TOWER
Earth—the stuff on the ground, not the planet—is essential for life. Anyone who has a garden (or even a house plant!) has seen a microcosm of this in action. Soil isn’t just something we walk on or that plants anchor in. It’s something that nurtures us and every other form of life on the planet in some sense. Plants need rich, fertile, living soil to truly thrive.
A worm tower is, essentially, a mini worm farm that you plant in your garden, that continually feeds your garden and provides you with a rich, ongoing source of fertilizer. They’re extremely low cost to get started, exceptionally simple to make, and nearly effortless to maintain. The only real question to ask yourself is Why don’t I already have one?
Well, here’s how you remedy that:
• A two to four foot PVC (food grade only) or concrete pipe, five or more inches in diameter
• A shovel
• A drill (optional)
• Compost worms (at least fifty)
• A bag of manure (any type)
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How Corporations are Being Removed From the Food Supply
HOW THE CORPORATIONS ARE BEING REMOVED FROM THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
The Poverty of Capitalism
The above quote is made by John Hilary, director of the NGO War on Want sums it all in his recent book The Poverty of Capitalism. The industrial food system is characterized by economic focus through an outgrowth of a long and on-going process that has allowed major agribusinesses—companies that supply the chemicals, seeds, equipment and services that are critical to industrial farms—to greatly determine and influence the modern food system. It’s estimated that in 2004 only 8% of farms in the US accounted for 72% of sales.
Further, the top ten seed firms were estimated to control the entire world seed market and the top ten agrochemical corporations controlled 84% of the $30 billion agrochemical market. Further, only six corporations – Monsanto, DuPont, Dow, Syngenta, Bayer and BASF – control 75% of the world pesticides market, Factory farms now account for 72 percent of poultry production, 43 percent of egg production, and 55 percent of pork production worldwide and only four corporations – ADM, Bunge, Cargill and Dreyfus – control more than 75% of the global grain trade who overwhelmingly push commodity crops like corn and soy on local farmers at the expense of native crops.
The major aim of most of these agri-corporations the world over is to earn profit through their operations. They are more concerned with their own interests and not those of the public. The policies of these organizations are usually profit oriented. The underlying policy is profit making leaving other superficial benefits constant. With the hegemony of transnational food corporations, food production has been reduced to becoming a model of profit generation instead of producing quality food production. Food is considered to be one of the basic requirements for humans to survive, and agriculture is one of the largest employers/ occupations in the world.
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Mulching With Purpose and Precision
MULCHING WITH PURPOSE AND PRECISION
To be completely honest, I have been a crazy advocate of mulching, especially when people with modern gardens invariably ask what I think they should do to improve their plots, but I am not always the most productive of mulchers…mulchsmiths…mulchmen. I’m lazy, simply throwing down whatever organic matter is on hand, and perhaps, in my defense, this has been because I’m doing my best to use what’s on site. Despite having had success with my devil may care method of mulching, I know it’s not actually the best way, that just as different plants require different inputs, different mulches deliver different goodies. So, while I know my mulchful ways are a good practice, I’ve decided it’s time to start practicing them better.
A GENERAL RULE OF GREEN THUMB
For me, and I think many fellow permaculturists, the idea of mulching with inorganic materials—those popular plastic sheets particularly—is simply not part of my MO. I’ve also come across the idea of using shredded car tires, which I, of course, appreciate in its repurposing but ultimately would not choose for my gardens.
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What Are Effective Microorganisms?
WHAT ARE EFFECTIVE MICROORGANISMS?
Effective Microorganisms (EM) are mixed cultures of beneficial naturally-occurring organisms that can be applied as inoculants to increase the microbial diversity of soil ecosystem. They consist mainly of the photosynthesizing bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes and fermenting fungi. These microorganisms are physiologically compatible with one another and can coexist in liquid culture. There is evidence that EM inoculation to the soil can improve the quality of soil, plant growth and yield (Kengo and Hui-lian, 2000).
BACKGROUND AND CONCEPT OF EFFECTIVE MICROORGANISMS
Healthy soil ecology has the capability of protecting plants against soil associated diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms and parasites. The soil system offers this protection through a balanced relationship between pathogenic and billions of beneficial microorganisms working together in synergy. The presence of these beneficial microorganisms in any soil system is what precisely distinguishes a “living soil” from a “dead soil”. They decompose and ferment organic fraction of the soil system converting it into humus containing nutrients while releasing hormones that facilitate plant growth. They are responsible for providing hormones, nutrients and minerals in a useable form to the plants through the root system. In addition, they bring together soil particles in the soil structure enabling it to retain nutrients and moisture (Kengo and Hui-lian, 2000).
Soil ecosystem can therefore be regarded as a “living system” costing of diverse groups of microorganisms. For this reason, farmers had long before been using animal manures, composts and “compost tea” which is a liquid extract of compost that also contains plant growth compounds and beneficial microorganisms. These mixtures could then be applied to soil and crops to improve the soil quality and help protect crop plants against microbiological infections (Ghosh et al., 2004).
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A Global Wiki of Perennial Crops, Polycultures, and Food Forest Sites
A GLOBAL WIKI OF PERENNIAL CROPS, POLYCULTURES, AND FOOD FOREST SITES
The Apios Institute is a collaborative network of farmers, gardeners, and researchers focused on integrated perennial-crop agroecosystems (variously known as multistrata agroforests, tropical homegardens, food forests, and forest gardens).
Since 2007 we have worked to address these key needs on our site, a crowdsourced tool featuring perennial crops, polycultures, and food forests. Thus far our focus has been on humid temperate systems, but we are raising funds to expand to a global resource. At the same time we’ll be implementing a major overhaul of our site. This will include the open-access addition of the 700 perennial crop species from Eric Toensmeier’s forthcoming book The Carbon Farming Solution.
Please visit our campaign site and consider making a contribution or sharing our video.
WHO WE ARE AND WHY WE’RE DOING THIS?
Our goal is to transform agriculture and mitigate climate change. We believe we can do this while providing food and other products through the creation of agroecosystems that function at the highest level of biodiversity and ecosystem services – the “epitome of sustainability.”
The Apios Institute, the organization running this campaign, exists to share experience and information about perennial crop polyculture systems in all climates of the world. The Apios Institute works through a collaborative network of farmers, gardeners, and researchers, sharing inspiration and filling critical knowledge gaps regarding the design and management of these systems.
Our current Wiki has worked for thousands of people in cold climates — but it is incomplete. Many people around the world have asked us to expand to include other climates.
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Nature Produces Renewable Energy–Let’s Capture It!
NATURE PRODUCES RENEWABLE ENERGY — LET’S CAPTURE IT!
Transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy is a hot topic right now. Well, natural processes harvest renewable energy all the time, and release it in excess to be recycled! When the focus is on stacking functions and transforming waste into resources, this becomes apparent–a concept we are intimate with as permaculturists.
Let’s cover some sources of renewable energy that haven’t been given as much media coverage as solar and wind have. Some of these methods can be implemented on the small scale of a single family homestead, others are more well suited for larger farms or entire urban areas and high-population density cities.
OCEAN ENERGY: MECHANICAL AND THERMAL
Capturing energy from the oceans, which provide numerous ecosystem services as it is, is a way of further stacking functions while going with, rather than against, the grain of nature’s rhythms.
Thermal energy from the heat of the sun and mechanical energy from the tides and individual waves can be captured from the ocean. This is a way of gathering energy which is already being generated, and represents permaculture principles on a larger scale.
Mechanical Energy from Tides and Waves
The rhythmic pull of the moon, along with random yet potent gusts of wind, harness the power of the tides and waves as mechanical energy. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management reports that “while ocean currents move slowly relative to typical wind speeds, they carry a great deal of energy because of the density of water. Water is more than 800 times denser than air. So for the same surface area, water moving 12 miles per hour exerts the same amount of force as a constant 110 mph wind.” While numerous concerns are still being addressed and the technology needs further development, it has potential for passively collecting energy in a way that does not poison the environment or harm marine life, if done mindfully.
…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…
Tiny Homes–The Future of Sustainable Living
TINY HOMES – THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING
With creativity and a passion for building, Robert Johnson has built a lovely example of how individual and welcoming a tiny home can be. With his one-of-a-kind tiny home concept, Robert has built a spacious home that only takes up 280 square feet. With inventive thinking he created effective ladders that add to the ambience of the tiny home and allow for himself or guests to easily access the loft areas.
Instead, the wood is charred and oiled. The method for doing this is Japanese and involves charring the wood enough for a layer of char to develop and deter any insects that would have loved the wood to pieces otherwise. The resulting wood is called Shou sugi ban and is becoming very popular as it can last up to 100 years if well maintained with oil. Depending on the method of charring, fossil fuels may be used, but this is not necessary as there are other methods for charring the wood that are possible.
Tiny homes and small homes are becoming more and more prevalent and well known. They present a wonderful opportunity to unplug from negative aspects of society like burdening oneself with the time and fiscal drain that an overly large home can have, and they offer the opportunity of mobility, if that is what one desires.
…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…
How to Make New Resolutions Using Permaculture Methods
HOW TO MAKE NEW RESOLUTIONS USING PERMACULTURE METHODS
2016 has begun as the years before it once began: There is a whole lot of opportunity on the horizon. Suddenly, as the Christmas season sweeps by we are left with a New Year’s resolution, theoretically a decision to make and live with for at least the coming year, often with the hopes of true and lasting change. Classically, that leads people to singular pursuits like flossing everyday, losing weight, quitting smoking, or spending more time with family. Despite these worthy intentions, New Year’s resolutions on the whole are notoriously unsuccessful, often failing even before the end of January.
But, what if we approached our resolutions with a permaculture-like tilt. What if we thought beyond one specific change and more along the lines of incorporating genuinely far-reaching goals? What if we decided to go about these changes more consciously, conscientiously, and cautiously with regards to ourselves, others, and the planet? We could use similar techniques of observation and adjustment, time-stacking and sensible design, plotting out the most appropriate resolutionary actions to be implemented productively throughout the year.
If our resolutions are consistently failing, perhaps it’s because we’ve been doing it all wrong: mono-resolutely, so to speak. Such a one-sided approach, we know from the debilitating agricultural system, is usually not the best. Instead, we need flex our permaculture chops and follow our hearts by using our brains. If we are going to bother going through the motions of change, we ought to do it the best way we know how: productively, holistically, and sustainably.
TRULY THINK THROUGH THE CHANGE YOU WANT: PRODUCTIVELY
Sometimes our resolutions get ahead of themselves, and we are striving to accomplish something we needn’t even be addressing at the moment. Flossing may be great a thing, but what good will it do a candy and cola fiend with a pack a day habit and a frizzy toothbrush.
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Despite UK Flooding, A Yorkshire Town Remains Dry
DESPITE UK FLOODING, A YORKSHIRE TOWN REMAINS DRY
Despite widespread flooding in North of Britain last week, Pickering, Yorkshires main flooding region, beat the weather and stayed dry. Notwithstanding, the town had been refused financial aid for a defense mechanism, so it tackled it with wringing success.
The town prevented the recurrent inundation by using what many will call an “old-fashioned”method.
On their own, the citizens worked with nature to control the floods.
The towns triumph should influence the decisions that were made by policy makers after last month’s floods which saw at least £5 billion channeled to flood control schemes elsewhere.
Success of the town is a mock to the people who believe that flood cannot be prevented in an environmental friendly manner. The people who subscribe to this school of thought fail to understand why the government fails to take into account all safety measures, and insist on dredging waterways, in order to order to protect fauna and flora.
Dredging is largely unsafe, pointless and environmentally unsafe. This is because scooping of silt and weed from the river bed causes water to flow faster increasing the danger of downstream flooding.
Pickering is situated at the bottom of a steep gorge draining of the North York moors, the residents of the town have been victims of perennial flooding. There have been 4 floods recorded since 1999-2007 causing damage of about £7 million. The solution mooted to the residents was to build a £20 million wall to keep water out of the river. This solution was however disadvantageous as it would reduce the attractiveness of the area hence reduce tourism. It was also found to be uneconomically viable as the costs would outweigh the benefits accrued; too few people would be protected by the wall.
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