Category: Grass Roots Level Political Commentry

Posts related to Permaculture Visions by April Sampson-Kelly and other artists

Posted on

Tranquillity & Money Trees

My hard-working permaculture designer friend, owns a forest. After spending th

e bulk of her savings to protect the forest, she gifted it to the world in perpetuity.  In her care, this forest thrives. The delicate fire flies are visited by a controlled numbers of visitors (mostly international tourists).  This pristine forest water runs slowly to the nearby bustling city. The platypus pool gleams bright orange, full of natural tannin. 

But there is a paradox of saving something as delicate as tranquillity. Tranquillity requires respect. A forest asks to be unharmed. So, how do we find a way to generate income for the forest long after my friend shuffles off in her slippers?

Mining Tranquillity

Every forest sits within a world where everything, except tranquility, has value.  Forests don’t ask for money to protect them. The pressures of real estate surround the forests.  Even forests owned by National Parks authorities need funds for basic works to maintain the fencing and access paths. To maintain tranquility, the stresses of the world need to be shut out. Yet people need an opportunity to get in. Tranquility leads to peace. And peace benefits the wider environment and the wider community.

What does a Peaceful Forest Cost?

The full cost of a tree is very modest yet the benefits are numerous.

Cost of Trees for the future:

Trees need:

  • diverse genetic material (everyday genetic material is being lost through extinctions)
  • space to grow
  • long term peace even during times of war
  • clean air and water

Benefits of trees are numerous

The benefits include carbon sequestration, nitrogen cycling, cloud seeding, micro-climate creation and water harvesting. Add to this their powers for pollution absorption, Tsunami and flood refuge, and complex nutrient cycling.

As well as those amazing feats, trees offer soil stability, water clarification, erosion reduction, de-salination, and soil conditioning. But best of all they offer generous habitat for many creatures and micro-organisms. Recent research shows the microbes in the bark of trees also eat carbon dioxide.

Today we know a lot more than we did just a few years ago. Yet we only know some of complex life of trees. The value of trees to society include: fuel, lumbar, medicines, shade, fruit, nuts, oils, paper, rayon clothing, temperature control, clean air and water. And the animals that shelter in trees also provide a lot of value.  

Canopy of Hope

Permaculture strives to reduce the pressures of farming on the remaining forests. By bringing food production into the cities, into the hands of the consumers we can all give the forests space.  Through the development of community initiatives we can build interconnected societies that are richer than neighbouring mega-mansions with so little social interaction.

Pioneering social enterprise and cooperative initiatives, can continue funds for access.  Small events in the forest offer unique experiences of tranquility without disturbance to the forest.

The survival of a forest provides hope worldwide. And the growing of food forests in the city reduces food miles, offers fresh flavours, nutrition and moments of wonder.

Learn more with Permaculture VisionsSave

Save

My hard-working permaculture designer friend, owns a forest. After spending th

e bulk of her savings to protect the forest, she gifted it to the world in perpetuity.  In her care, this forest thrives. The delicate fire flies are visited by a controlled numbers of visitors (mostly international tourists).  This pristine forest water runs slowly to the nearby bustling city. The platypus pool gleams bright orange, full of natural tannin. 

But there is a paradox of saving something as delicate as tranquillity. Tranquillity requires respect. A forest asks to be unharmed. So, how do we find a way to generate income for the forest long after my friend shuffles off in her slippers?

Mining Tranquillity

Every forest sits within a world where everything, except tranquility, has value.  Forests don’t ask for money to protect them. The pressures of real estate surround the forests.  Even forests owned by National Parks authorities need funds for basic works to maintain the fencing and access paths. To maintain tranquility, the stresses of the world need to be shut out. Yet people need an opportunity to get in. Tranquility leads to peace. And peace benefits the wider environment and the wider community.

What does a Peaceful Forest Cost?

The full cost of a tree is very modest yet the benefits are numerous.

Cost of Trees for the future:

Trees need:

  • diverse genetic material (everyday genetic material is being lost through extinctions)
  • space to grow
  • long term peace even during times of war
  • clean air and water

Benefits of trees are numerous

The benefits include carbon sequestration, nitrogen cycling, cloud seeding, micro-climate creation and water harvesting. Add to this their powers for pollution absorption, Tsunami and flood refuge, and complex nutrient cycling.

As well as those amazing feats, trees offer soil stability, water clarification, erosion reduction, de-salination, and soil conditioning. But best of all they offer generous habitat for many creatures and micro-organisms. Recent research shows the microbes in the bark of trees also eat carbon dioxide.

Today we know a lot more than we did just a few years ago. Yet we only know some of complex life of trees. The value of trees to society include: fuel, lumbar, medicines, shade, fruit, nuts, oils, paper, rayon clothing, temperature control, clean air and water. And the animals that shelter in trees also provide a lot of value.  

Canopy of Hope

Permaculture strives to reduce the pressures of farming on the remaining forests. By bringing food production into the cities, into the hands of the consumers we can all give the forests space.  Through the development of community initiatives we can build interconnected societies that are richer than neighbouring mega-mansions with so little social interaction.

Pioneering social enterprise and cooperative initiatives, can continue funds for access.  Small events in the forest offer unique experiences of tranquility without disturbance to the forest.

The survival of a forest provides hope worldwide. And the growing of food forests in the city reduces food miles, offers fresh flavours, nutrition and moments of wonder.

Learn more with Permaculture VisionsSave

Save

Posted on

THE FUTURE OF PERMACULTURE

Permaculture is continually expanding. It is building skills, experience, knowledge, tools, strategies and design thinking. As we learn from and collaborate with nature we get smarter. And we explore systems for a truly sustainable future that allow systems to regenerate. In this interview with Richard Telford, creator of the permaculture principles icons and leading publisher, discusses the future of permaculture.

Interest Changes but our Knowledge Keeps Expanding

Interest in permaculture waxes and wanes with the need for it. During the pandemic there was a really strong need for permaculture. Then it changed. Richard explained “I think people felt Permaculture wasn’t so relevant because the system was coming back together…or it appeared so. People felt, I guess, more secure and then the demand for permaculture.. waned.”

In fact, Permaculture has pioneered many things from compost toilet systems to the powerful Transition Town movement. What will the future bring?

Our Knowhow is growing

Richard continues “the future for Permaculture is brightest when the system is shaky. But I think for people who really want to live a life that’s rewarding. hands-on, connecting with nature and the Earth, and to community then there’s a lot that permaculture has to offer. But I don’t see that the majority of people are particularly interested in that. So, for those of the of us that are on that path it’s fairly steady. And I think we’ll see big fluctuations when the need arises” says Richard.

Resources for a Better Future

But you know we’ve been creating these amazing seed banks and developing these systems for a long time I’ve been doing it for years. There’s a valuable source of information and experience that can be shared with other people when it’s needed when it’s valued.

Give it a Go!

Richard has been a Jack/Jill of all trades. “I built this house and had no idea how to build a house. It was that whole thing about wanting something to happen. And being passionate and making it happen. Even though you don’t know how to do it. And [it’s about ] finding the right people to work with. We’ve got a couple of boys that were home-schooled most of their time when they were younger. And we found the only way they really learn is when they’re interested in something. And I think it’s the same with me. When I’m interested in building a house – I’ll build a house. I restored a car (the old Kombi). I did the fibre-glassing and mechanics and upholstery. And all those things because I wanted to make it happen. And same with creating the permaculture principles website and designing the icons. Any of these things. I was really driven by seeing a need. And I wanted to make that happen.

Stepping Into the Unknown

I feel like I can do anything that I’m really passionate about now. At least give it a really red hot go. So, I really want to encourage people to have a go. The best way to do it is to find somebody local and work with them…. I’ve got a number of different mentors around town. And I ask questions! We used to talk about empowering people helping them feel that they could give it a go. And then people are starting to say ‘oh you know they really need to get an expert for this’.

I think it’s important to be good at something that you can earn a living from. Get really good at something that other people will value. And for everything else – just have a go yourself. Because if you if you don’t have to pay someone else for doing it – often you’ll do a better job. And it’s money you don’t have to earn yourself. And you come out of it with skills and experience. Often, it’s very rewarding.” [Richard Telford]

Step into your better future. Learn more with us at PermacultureVisions.

Posted on

Permaculture on a Shoestring

Do Permaculture design on a shoestring. Harness natural energies, turn waste into a resource and boost social connections and well being.

A chicken fairy god mother
Be a green fairy god-mother.

10 Permaculture Living Skills on a Shoestring

  1. Live with principles
  2. Get clean energy
  3. Cut the waste
  4. Use resources well
  5. Build biodiversity
  6. Breathe cleaner air
  7. Save water
  8. Creatively Make-do
  9. Invest in Social justice
  10. Start positive

1. Apply Permaculture Principles

Apply Permaculture Principles to Everyday Life. Multiple functions for each element in the design is a key principle. “If I can’t get at least 3 reasons for having something, I’m not having it.” says Permaculture Elder Judith Collins. And then, integrate the elements, so that nothing sits alone in the system. Everything connects and contributes to the other things. For example, the bushes shade the paths. These paths are shaped to direct water. The water nurtures the garden. The garden attracts birds and insects. This give us joy. Then, we share joy and food with others.

This also applies to skills. These skills have many uses beyond the home. They can be applied in the workplace and for the good on your community.

2. Get Smarter Energy

https://www.saulgriffith.com/ promotes electricification for better future universal energy systems

Change to better energy sources such as solar systems. Saul Griffith explains how electrifying our energy network builds better future energy systems for all.

Permaculture Elder, Judith Collins EarthKeepers, Buxton, NSW

3. Cut the Waste – Stop Buying Stuff! And Grow

Judith Collins of EarthKeepers challenges us to know where our food comes. And if you really need to buy something, check out local makers and support the markets rather than so called ‘super-markets’. And farmer Gerard Lawry at EagleRiseFarm points out “There is no co-incidence that the supermarkets present their fresh foods to look like market stalls”.

4. Use Resources Well

Now that you have decided what to waste cut, look to see what other waste materials from the home can be converted. Identify and reduce your waste by conducting a home audit.

If you don’t have much space, you can use Bokashi to convert your food scraps, if you have a balcony, then you have room for a worm farm. If you have a garden, there is room for worms, compost and chickens. Grow food in wicking pots or rain gardens.

Utilise things more by saving the seed from the foods you eat. Get creative by repurposing stuff that you can no longer use. Mend, redesign your clothes. Then when they are finally no longer useful, compost them.

5. Build biodiversity

Design your life to blend with the surrounding wildlife. Build awareness of the natural world. Stop to smell the wildflowers. Find the unique perfumes of native plants. Create space in your domain for wildlife. You don’t need anything, not even a shoestring, to enjoy nature.

6. Cut the Chemicals – Breathe Less Toxins

Stop polluting your home. Cut out chemicals by using low toxic cleaners. You can easily make your own cleaning fluids. In fact, vinegar and sodium bicarbonate will clean nearly everything. Another permaculture principle is to start small so you can feel successful. You can do this right now, in your home. Try sprouts, food and herbs, and making your own vinegar. For outside the home, try minimal disturbance techniques to handle weeds. Get to know how nature works and work with her.

strawberry guava

7. Save Water

Saving water is vital because clean water is a valuable resource during dry periods. Plants and animals depend on clean rain water. So do the river systems. We can contribute to the healthy rivers by building carbon in the soil, planting trees and supporting insect life. A basic start would be to create birdbaths. Next, install rain gardens. Catch and store rainwater in a tank or direct it to a pool. Something that takes a bit more research but is radical and resourceful is to install a compost toilet and an outdoor shower.

redirect path water to reduce erosion

8. Get Creative and Make-Do with Shoestrings

There are various types of waste. And this includes having too much stuff because stuff demands requires storage and maintenance. Other forms include wasted opportunities.

Simple steps to cut waste are to seal out drafts. Mend things like leaking taps or frayed clothes. Learn to use basic tools, how to sew, tie knots and make do.

Use paper mache and old cotton rags in the garden to create swales, cover weeds or feed the worms. Good soil can be created from food scraps and paper waste.

Above all use the shoestrings – walk, cycle and use public transport. These simple steps keep us fit and reject the the fossil fuel industry. Plan to make your next car an electric car.

cockatoo dropping a macadamia nut
cockatoo enjoying a macadamia nut

9. Invest time and effort in others

Invest in a Circular economy by spending your money on products and services that are created locally. This builds social justice. Social justice is a vital part of reducing the pressures on our planet. Without social justice, we get more pollution, more harmful chemical use and more frequent environmental destruction through wars.

Be generous and kind. Fix stuff before you give it to charity. And be generous. Better still, fix things for others. Repair cafes are wonderful ways to link skilled retirees with young people in need. Better still, show a young person how to do stuff. Or help a local family that needs a hand. Have an informal meeting with neighbours and find out what your community needs and has the passion to do.

10. Start Positive, Act Now

Knowing how and where to start is a skill in itself. Stuart Hill recommends we do one thing before we go to bed that will move us closer to our goals. Starting small is one way to achieve this. He encourages us to take action by refreshing our mindset. This enables us to make bigger changes. If it requires us to lie boldly to ourselves about what we can achieve, then do it.

Posted on

SPECIAL POST – Why Onion Makes Us Cry

Juliana Mitry, tells a folk tale about why the onion makes us cry. Juliana owns Balinese Spice Magic in Wollongong and hand-crafts Tempeh.

In this short video, Jules relates the Balinese story of why we cry when we cut onions and how soft and sweet it is. Juliana grew up in the Mountains in Bali, with an amazing array of homegrown food and spices.

A tale of social justice, the Balinese way.

“You know why you’re always sad every time you grind onion? My mom told me it’s because onion and garlic used to be sisters. Can I tell you a story? yeah! There used to be sisters called Bawang. and Kasuna. Bawang is the onion and Kasuna is garlic. Onion is the older sister. So, she used to do all the work and Kasuno is the white sister. She’s done nothing but pamper herself. “

“One day the mother went to the market so the mother said ‘Okay, you two girls, you have to do work today. If you do a good job, I’ll give you a treat. I’ll buy you some cakes and new stuff from the markets. And mum says to Onion, what do you want? and she says ‘that’s fine mummy, as long as you get home, I’m fine. and the second sister said ‘I need new clothes and I need everything new. So, the mother went.’

So, the big sister basically did everything. Starting from getting the putty out to the yard and then pounding it to get the seeds out. And then dry it in the sun and and pounding to get this just the husk off the rice. She basically done everything cleaned the house and then went to the river [this is cutting the story short].“

Garlic delays, Onion works straight away

“Every time she (onion) asks a sister to help the sister says “okay! you do that part I’ll do the other part”… “you do that part I’ll do the other parts”. It is always all the same answers. So, Bawang, being such a nice girl she thinks “I’ll do it because it’s just easier than waiting for Kasuna to do it”.

“Then the mother came home and there’s still you know like a one part that of the onion left behind. It was putting the rubbish out. But then Kasuna says I’ll make sure that I do that because you’ve done everything. I haven’t done anything. I’ll do that!” So, onion agrees “okay I’ll leave you that. And she went to the river, washed the clothes and everything’s been dirty because she’s doing all the work herself.“

Picking banana leaves for cooking wraps

“When garlic hears her mum coming she sits herself in all this husk (the rubbish) and started crying. She was pretending that she did all the work and that the big sister never did anything. “

“The sad thing was that poor onion got beaten and kicked out of the house. This is why you feel her sadness. But it a positive story because it’s has good karma, like in like most of Asian stories. The stories always support what is right. The Karma is because onion’s done good and she fell asleep under a tree, a magical bird calls her. ‘wake up, wake up little one, why are you sleeping here? Onion said ‘life took a really bad turn for me and nothing I do is right! “

learning to glaze old windows save a lot of money and provides opportunities to be creative.

“The bird says ‘because you look so sad, I’ll give you a treat like you can ask for you whatever you want’. Onion says ‘I just want a home’. The bird asks her to sing for me? The bird blesses her and brings her to the grandmother.“

Check out the variety of talks from the Permaculture Community on our Youtube channel.