The Permaculture Podcast
Caring for Earth, Ourselves, and Each Other.
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Episodes
Wednesday Jun 01, 2011
Wednesday Jun 01, 2011
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One of the issues I've been faced with recently is having to change a design and how it is to be installed while in the middle of working on it.
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Monday May 09, 2011
Monday May 09, 2011
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This episode is the first episode you should listen to when it comes to the very beginnings of Permaculture. Including the history, early influences, and basic underlying reasons for it's development. This and the next, Core Concepts: Prime Directive, Ethics, and Principles, inform the rest of the process that goes into formulating and laying out a design. Without these, no amount of technique will allow you to truly implement Permaculture. There are quite a few books mentioned in this episode. If you are having problems finding them, the Web has always been my most reliable source to get them. In particular, Abe Books and Amazon. If you click the "Resources" link at the top of the page at ThePermaculturePodcast.com there is a long list of recommended reading that links out to Amazon and helps to support the show.
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Monday Apr 04, 2011
Monday Apr 04, 2011
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And so begins the information that one could learn in a PDC. This is a little late in the series of information, as it deals with animals, but I'll work my way back around to the beginning with the next show. I wanted to wrap up Tony's question about animals and it was as good a place as any to start the discussion of a PDC. When looking at animals, there are 6 areas I look for how and what is necessary to include them. They are:
Need and Requirements
Yields
Placment in a System
Forage and Grazing Systems
Forage Species
Fencing Requirements.
The first three are ones that you should be able to find plenty of information on your own about through a variety of sources. It is the last three that are more tricky if you have not handled animals and livestock before. Here are some resources to look to for more information, this is by no means an exhaustive list, but something to get you started.
Forage and Grazing Systems:
Grazing System Planning Guid
Multi-Species Grazing
Forage Species: Forage Information System (Oregon State)
Forage Species Identification
Fencing Requirements: Estimated Cost for Livestock Fencing (PDF)
Fencing for Exclusion
Fencing Materials for Livestock Systems
And I mentioned Doug Fine's Farewell, My Subaru, which I highly recommend as an entertaining read about one person's quest to live a more self-sufficient sustainable life
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Monday Mar 21, 2011
Monday Mar 21, 2011
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This question from Tony who asks:
Is there, at least in theory, a “maximum size” in the utilization of Permaculture in an area? For example, the other day you illustrated your plans for your own property (I liked the “fishermen’s path,” btw), and with how remarkably detailed it all was I began to wonder “what would happen if someone tried to do this, but with thirty acres?” Essentially, I’m wondering if there is a point (as someone practicing Permaculture) where you’re better off either letting the area grow wild or separating to individual Permaculturist enclaves.
This leads to an episode that was shorter than I expected when I separated it out to be answered on its own. The answer that goes with it? No to the first part and "It depends on the design" to the second. Mark Shepherd's 106 acre permaculture farm I mentioned as an example of a large scale application.
Contact the show: Email: The Permaculture Podcast
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Thursday Mar 17, 2011
Thursday Mar 17, 2011
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This episode has the incredibly long title because I wanted to answer both of listener Troy's questions at the same time. Though they are different ideas, the monetary yields, how you can save and make money implementing Permaculture, is an approachable way to share this information with other people. Finding that common thread and engaging people on their interests is the easiest way I've found to open the door, share it with them, and get them thinking about using the ethics and principles in their own lives. It isn't easy, especially when you are not talking to the people who share your interest in this idea. I spoke about the Transition Towns movement recently to a group and it took more hours of work on my part to produce something interesting, that fit in the short time allowed, that would also reach them from their viewpoint, and didn't skew Transition too far one way or another from what it is. In the end, the idea of money and economic resilience was the angle I took and thankfully it worked. As you get out and start sharing the information, the process will get easier and you will find a way.
If there is any way I can help on that path, please let me know. Email: The Permaculture Podcast
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Sunday Mar 13, 2011
Sunday Mar 13, 2011
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This is another Q&A show, this time with a question from Tony. I actually take up two questions in this show, but the one that is the focus of most of this episode can be summed up as: How can people implement Permaculture in heavy human area, i.e. cities? Because I often focus on solutions and things people can do, it's not a discussion of applying the ethics and principles to an urban setting, but rather examples of things people can do to start living them. There is, however, encouragement for people to take a Permaculture Design Course as a first step. The short question was about the inclusion of animals in Permaculture. This wasn't answered in depth because the regular episodes of the show are going to start working through the material that one would normally encounter in a PDC. Since Tony brought it up, animals in Permaculture will be the first part of that series when we get back to it.
If you want to check out a great city project that is lead by a Permaculturist, check out: The Philadelphia Orchard Project
Questions? Contact me! Email: The Permaculture Podcast
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Monday Mar 07, 2011
Monday Mar 07, 2011
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This question come from Robert in Indiana, USA. He asked:
Do you think getting a PDC would help if one day I wanted to start a sustainable lawn service or some sort of backyard permaculture business?
My answer to this is a firm yes, but not only because of the knowledge imparted, but because of the copyright on the word Permaculture. It is a protected word and you must hold a Permaculture Design Certificate, awarded for having taken the class, in order to use it. Now, there are no Permaculture Certificate police running around checking on these things, but you may be challenged on it. Take the PDC, gain the knowledge, and use it freely. Here is more information on the copyright issue:
https://www.permaculture.net/apd/permaculture_use_and_copyrights.htm
https://www.midwestpermaculture.com/PermacultureCertification.php
This is a sample site assessment I did on a project, so you can see a possible service to offer clients as a Permaculturist, using the knowledge gained in a PDC. I've removed the name and other identifiers of the client. The greenhouse mentioned in this assessment is located on private property and has not been used for some time. It was being offered to a group of individuals for their use. At that time the agreement was very informal, which lead to the questions about right and ownership. One of my biggest concerns was that the site would be repaired only to have it taken away with little or no recourse for the volunteer group.
Greenhouse Site Assessment (PDF)
Questions? Contact me! Email: The Permaculture Podcast
Wednesday Mar 02, 2011
Wednesday Mar 02, 2011
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We've done it! We've made it! After all that time together working through these principles, it has come to and end and here is Holmgren's final one. Principle 12: Creatively Use and Respond to change. I find this principle to be one about vision and dreaming up the possibilities of what the future can hold for our design, both good and ill, and using those thoughts to prepare for what may come, to accept the changes, and then be in a place to respond to it positively. I want you to be calm and centered so you can make the best decisions possible while intentionally building the land and community around you. With that comes the last homework assignment for this series: Go out and practice what you have learned. With the Prime Directive, Ethics, and Principles of Permaculture, you are ready to begin this process. I can lead you further on with more information, but this is the core of the work that you will then do. All the techniques and concepts that you will find elsewhere build off of this. You can do it.
Questions? Contact me! Email: The Permaculture Podcast
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Saturday Feb 26, 2011
Saturday Feb 26, 2011
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We are getting near the end of looking at Holmgren's 12 Principles of Permaculture with this episode on Principle 11: Use Edges and Value the Marginal. After a brief introduction to what each one, numerous examples are given. There are a number of homework assignments as well. Give them a try and see what you learn in the process. Also mentioned in this episode are Phytoremediation and the work of Paul Stamets, who is working with fungal mycelium as a way to handle pollutants. Here is more information on both for sources that I like. Phytoremediation: Citizens Guide to Phytoremediation (PDF) This is a simple 2-page overview of the process and is good for letting people know this option is available. If you go to: www.clu-in.org and search for Phytoremediation a number of articles are available.
https://www.mobot.org/jwcross/phytoremediation/
https://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jun00/soil0600.htm
Paul Stamets: This is his TED Talk. At 18 minutes long it is worth your time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI5frPV58tY Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World
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Tuesday Feb 22, 2011
Tuesday Feb 22, 2011
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We are nearing the end of this series on Holmgren's 12 Principles of Permaculture this time looking at Principle 10: Use and Value Diversity. In this episode I mentioned how quickly the number of connections between elements in the system can grow. There is an equation, borrowed from Network Topology that shows this, if the connections are 1 to 1. It is : N(N-1)/2, where N is the number of elements. Here is a diagram of The connection between 6 elements. But, you will quickly find as you examine the world and the different ways things are connected, that the real number is much higher than that equation or diagram suggests. There is an example of this in the episode between a blueberry bush and bird.
Questions?
Contact me! Email: The Permaculture Podcast
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