Fuck Yeah Permaculture

Grab yourself a FREE download of Permaculture Magazine issue 66, which contains an article on building your own natural swimming pool.

alexamayiborrowapencil — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:21:06 -0400

Grab yourself a FREE download of Permaculture Magazine issue 66, which contains an article on building your own natural swimming pool.

"Weeds are specialists. Having learned something in the battle for survival, they will survive under..."

alexamayiborrowapencil — Fri, 03 May 2013 23:35:00 -0400

“

Weeds are specialists. Having learned something in the battle for survival, they will survive under circumstances where our cultivated plants, softened through centuries of protection and breeding, cannot stand up against Nature’s caprices. Weeds, therefore, may be grouped according to their peculiarities. There are three major and several minor groups. The major groups are our main teachers, indicating through their mere presence and multiplication what is wrong.

The first major group comprises of weeds living on acid soil and indicating increasing acidity. To this group belong the Sorrels, Docks, Fingerleaf Weeds, Lady’s Thumb, and Horsetail on slightly acid soil.

The second major group indicates a crust formation and/or hard pan in the soil. Here belong the Field Mustard, the Horse Nettle, Penny Cress, Morning Glory, Quack Grass, the Camomiles, and Pineapple Weed.

The third major group consists of those weeds which follow human steps and cultivation, frequently spreading out with compost, manure, and wherever man “walks”. Here belong Lamb’s Quarters, Plantain, Chickweed, Buttercup, Dandelion, Nettle, Prostrate Knotweed, Prickly Lettuce, Field Speedwell, Rough Pigweed, Common Horehound, Celandine, Mallow, Carpetweed, and other similar plants, all too frequent companions of our gardens and yards.

Minor groups consist of those which show up here and there - they are not necessarily WEEDS - unless encouraged by man. They are, more-or-less, an extension of nature into the realm of man.

”

- Weeds And What They Tell, by E. Pfeiffer.

"Weeds are weeds only from our human egotistical point of view, because they grow where we do not..."

alexamayiborrowapencil — Fri, 03 May 2013 23:23:40 -0400

“Weeds are weeds only from our human egotistical point of view, because they grow where we do not want them. In Nature, however, they play an important and interesting role. They resist conditions which cultivated plants cannot resist, such as drought, acidity of soil, lack of humus, mineral deficiencies, as well as a one-sidedness of minerals, etc. They are witness of man’s failure to master the soil, and they grow abundantly wherever man has ‘missed the train’ - they only indicate our errors and Nature’s corrections. Weeds want to tell a story - they are nature’s means of teaching man, and their story is interesting. If we would only listen to it we could apprehend a great deal of the finer forces through which Nature helps and heals and balances, and sometimes, also has fun with us.”

- Weeds And What They Tell, by E. Pfeiffer

Korean Natural Farming - Lacto Baccilus. How to capture,...

alexamayiborrowapencil — Fri, 03 May 2013 20:42:43 -0400

Korean Natural Farming - Lacto Baccilus.

How to capture, cultivate, preserve, and use Lactic Acid Bacteria - IMO - using the techniques of Korean Natural Farming. Using materials readily at home or off of the grocery store shelf I will demonstrate step by step the process. Lactic acid bacteria is an excellent natural digester of organic matter, recycler of nutrients, foul odor arrestor, suppressant of pathogens in the soil and on plant surfaces. It is a naturally occurring, indigenous, non-GMO, organic microbe.

Geoff Lawton's Free Permaculture Video Series

johnzilla87 — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:06:00 -0400

It seems Geoff Lawton is currently in the middle of releasing a series of free Permaculture videos covering practical application and some things like considerations to make before purchasing a property, which haven’t been widely covered in a video like this before. So far there are 4 videos total (though he says in the 4th that it is the 3rd) and they range from 22min-38min in length and have good recording quality and clear explanation by Geoff himself.

Current video list is as follows:

Surviving the Coming Crises
Property Purchase Check List
5 Acre Abundance on a Budget
Urban Permaclture: The Micro Space

You’ll have to give up your email address to sign in and get access, but it is free and it does not seem likely that your email address will be misused or sold. In fact it looks like Geoff might be putting together an online PDC so if anything they may use your email to let you know about that, besides simply letting you know when each new video in the series is released.

Anyone interested in checking these videos out, just go to www.geofflawton.com.

The site does come across as if it were selling something but rest assured it is free.

thepeoplesrecord: Today we honor Vandana Shiva, because as the...

newanddifferentsun — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:42:11 -0400

thepeoplesrecord:

Today we honor Vandana Shiva, because as the corporate oligarchy continues to destroy our planet, it is clear that we need more leadership like hers:

Video of Vandana Shiva on Bill Moyers’ show back in July.

Here is a list of additional quotes by Vandana Shiva.

This is Vandana Shiva in February @ ISFIT 2013: Changing Norms.

This is Vandana Shiva @ Rio2012.

This is Vandana Shiva talking about the capitalist patriarchy in March 2013 on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman.

All of these available on our Facebook page: (links: Tumblr | Facebook | Twitter)

Free Webinar from Seed Saver’s Exchange Organizing...

newanddifferentsun — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:25:00 -0400

Free Webinar from Seed Saver’s Exchange

Organizing Community Seed Projects: Seed Swaps & Seed Libraries

April 29, 2013 7:30 p.m., Central Time

Community seed projects can help build community and facilitate knowledge and seed sharing. If you’re interested in starting a seed library, hosting a seed swap, or starting a community seed saving group, this webinar should help you get started and point you toward valuable resources to ensure your project’s success.

Click here to register.

tinyhousesmallspace: pasturerd: Lovely Loo. Composting...

newanddifferentsun — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:47:55 -0400

tinyhousesmallspace:

pasturerd:

Lovely Loo.

Composting Toilet

9 Basic Principles of Biomimicry Nature runs on sunlight. Nature...

newanddifferentsun — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:25:40 -0400

9 Basic Principles of Biomimicry

Nature runs on sunlight.
Nature uses only the energy it needs.
Nature fits form to function.
Nature recycles everything.
Nature rewards cooperation.
Nature banks on diversity.
Nature demands local expertise.
Nature curbs excesses from within.
Nature taps the power of limits.

cornellcals: Cornell students are embracing permaculture - an...

cantaloupeous — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:05:38 -0400

cornellcals:

Cornell students are embracing permaculture - an approach to land use that promotes system-wide, ecological design of gardens, farms and landscapes. Used as a tool to integrate horticulture and agricultural systems, permaculture is being taught by the Department of Horticulture this Fall under the direction of Professor Ken Mudge and Cooperative Extension Aide Steve Gabriel. The first class, offered in 2012, attracted 31 students from architecture, landscape architecture, plant science, natural resources, animal science, and agricultural science. According to the Permaculture @ Cornell blog, the student-run Dilmun Hill farm is also planning to build a permaculture garden.

.

lucidityfestival: An inspiring lucid dream of the future of San...

newanddifferentsun — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:33:41 -0400

lucidityfestival:

An inspiring lucid dream of the future of San Francisco as an eco-utopia during the year 2048, by Jessica Perlstein (http://dreamstreamart.com).

Check out Jessica and her awesome art at this year’s festival by buying tickets here: http://lucidityfestival.com/ !!!

anthroagronomy: Beacon Hill Food Forest: A proposed...

newanddifferentsun — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:36:13 -0400

anthroagronomy:

Beacon Hill Food Forest: A proposed permaculture foraging food forest in an urban Seattle park.

Beacon Food Forest website.

NPR article regarding Beacon Food Forest

livingwind: Standard. Sheet mulching.

newanddifferentsun — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:19:33 -0400

livingwind:

Standard.

Sheet mulching.

koenigaraymo: Swales… ;)

alexamayiborrowapencil — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:14:58 -0400

koenigaraymo:

Swales… ;)

Rare and Hard-to-Find Perennial Seed Sources

alexamayiborrowapencil — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:14:36 -0400

Rare and Hard-to-Find Perennial Seed Sources

Earthship Biotecture

newanddifferentsun — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:46:06 -0400

Earthship Biotecture

New ‘Monsanto Protection Act’ Could Give Monsanto Power Over US Government

johnzilla87 — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 03:50:06 -0400

New ‘Monsanto Protection Act’ Could Give Monsanto Power Over US Government:

Monsanto lobbyists have successfully pushed a last minute change into the Continuing Resolution spending bill which was approved by U.S. Congress recently. If not vetoed by President Obama, this will give Monsanto immunity from U.S. government action regarding the safety of any and all new GMO crops and will take away the Judiciary system’s constitutional mandate to review GMO crops to ensure the safety of both consumers and the environment.

Again, this has already been passed by congress so if you are against this, the only way to stop it now is to get President Obama to veto this bill when it reaches his desk.

Food Democracy Now has a petition currently organized to tell President Obama to veto it at fooddemocracynow.org.

yarrowandyew: smart-gardener: koenigaraymo: Build a $300...

newanddifferentsun — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:40:32 -0400

yarrowandyew:

smart-gardener:

koenigaraymo:

Build a $300 underground greenhouse for year-round gardening

Growers in colder climates often utilize various approaches to extend the growing season or to give their crops a boost, whether it’s coldframes, hoop houses or greenhouses.

Greenhouses are usually glazed structures, but are typically expensive to construct and heat throughout the winter. A much more affordable and effective alternative to glass greenhouses is the walipini (an Aymara Indian word for a “place of warmth”), also known as an underground or pit greenhouse. First developed over 20 years ago for the cold mountainous regions of South America, this method allows growers to maintain a productive garden year-round, even in the coldest of climates.[…]

Click here to read more!

OK, I’m interested…

learned a ton about these last weekend :D

Kimya Dawson - “Chickens in the Garden” Just a short...

johnzilla87 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 21:19:35 -0400

Kimya Dawson - “Chickens in the Garden”

Just a short and sweet little song about chickens to hopefully lend a bit of extra sunshine to your day.

mamisgarden: xanthocomically: Mycorrhizae Mycorrhizae are...

newanddifferentsun — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:37:45 -0400

Mycorrhizae (uncited plant and fungus species) symbiotic relationship.

Comparison of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (left) and ectomycorrhizae (right)

Cross-section of root with a vesicular-arbuscular fungal symbiont. (Plant and fungus species uncited)

Diagram of nutrients transferred between the fungus and plant participating in an mycorrhizal association.

mamisgarden:

xanthocomically:

Mycorrhizae

Mycorrhizae are mutual associations between fungi and plant roots. Fungal hyphae penetrate the roots to a certain degree (either entering into the spaces between cells, or into the cells themselves) and allow for the plant to have greater access to nutrients (especially phosphorus, which is crucial for metabolism and cell function) and water. The fungi can often protect roots from pathogens by forming an impermeable sheath around the plant tissues. This helps to increase root longevity and productivity. In exchange, the fungus receives shelter and nutrients such as sucrose. Two main types of mycorrhizae have been described.

Ectomycorrhizae: Ectomycorrhizae are associations in which the fungus penetrates the roots but does not enter the individual cell walls. Instead, hyphae grow to form a Hartig net in the matrix of space between cells. A thick and protective sheath of mycelia develops around the outside of the plant roots, and extramatrical hyphae extend out into the soil in search of nutrients. This greatly increases the surface area available to plant roots, and the fungus can grow much more rapidly than plant tissues. This type of mycorrhizae is formed by some species in the Zygomycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota.

Endomycorrhizae: In this type of mycorrhizae, hyphae penetrate the cell walls of individual cells within the roots. Although there is still growth in the extracellular matrix, no well-developed Hartig net is formed. The sheath is also limited or non-existant. Instead, intracellular hyphae form structures within the root cells. The hyphae puncture the cell wall, but not the cell membranes, instead invaginating the the membrane to form their own structures.

Subtype— Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae: The vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) are a subtype of the endomycorrhizae. This type is categorized by the formation of two types of structures within the plant cells. The first, vesicles, are round cavities that are used for storage. Arbuscules are branched hyphae that look like trees or the alveoli of the lungs. Due to their high surface area, these structures are useful for nutrient exchange. This type of mycorrhizal association is found in the Glomeromycota, the next phylum to be discussed in this short course.

Prevalence: Of the studied plant species, 80% were found to form associations with fungi. Many mycorrhizae-forming fungi, however, are obligate symbionts, meaning that they can only survive if associated with their plant partner. This makes culturing of many species on agar plates difficult or impossible. Fossilized VAM have been found with the earliest plants, suggesting that fungi-plant associations were important or crucial in the development of land plants. Species with ectomycorrhizae or with no associations with fungi at all are believed to have evolved away from those plants who still form VAM associations. One major family that does not form mycorrhizal association is Brassicaceae, the cabbage/mustard family. This family includes vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, turnip, various mustards, radish, and rapeseed (canola).

#Mycorrhiza