This is part of my ongoing documentation of my local bio-region to have a clear view of what is and is not happening around me. While taking these pictures there was the trilling and calls of frogs in the background. April, so far, has been one of the wettest on record and they are
You can find the latest pictures here:
While researching desertification for a comment in an upcoming episode, I came across this article from Salon about the West African agricultural technique of Zai. It is one of the many lessons we can take from different systems of agriculture to build a more sustainable world that is appropriate to the places where they are needed, rather than forcing a particular method developed elsewhere that isn’t adapted for the imported region.
A tree grows in the Sahel – How the World Works – Salon.com.
If you would like to learn more about Yacouba Sawadago, check out the documentary “The Man Who Stopped the Desert“.
The trailer for the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzah_5y65AU
Click here to download the episode.
Now with theme music! My deepest thanks to Mark Blasco at podcastthemes.com for making that happen.
As Spring is here in Pennsylvania, I’ve been out tromping around through all kinds of weather doing some design work for clients which has me thinking about what is involved in running one’s own design business. Having received some questions about it from listeners in the past, it lead to this episode.
To reduce them to basic ideas, the tips are:
Click here to download the episode.
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:
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