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Introduction to Permaculture Reading List

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Jun 052013

Recently, Will from Australia contacted me asking what books I would read as an introduction to permaculture. That lead to these thoughts.

Peace,

-Scott

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If I were starting over again, knowing what I know now, my reading list would be, in this order:

Masanobu Fukuoka The One-Straw Revolution
Rosemary Morrow Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture 2nd Ed.
David Holmgren Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability

Fukuoka provides a philosophy and mindset that prepares you for the later material from Holmgren, with the former being much easier to read than the latter. Fukuoka was an influence on Permaculture as a whole which makes this a good place to begin.

I like Morrow’s book as an introduction to design over some of the others because her experience as a teacher makes the material more accessible. The format reminds me more of a workbook where you are actively teaching yourself something than passively reading along. Also, Rob Allsop’s line drawings are both functionally beautiful and sometimes whimsical, while relaying all the necessary information.

Holmgren’s work concentrates on the principles as a framework to expand on the overarching themes of permaculture, and it’s obvious he thinks about this a great deal, which is reflected even more when you listen to the interview with him. Fukuoka and Morrow lay the groundwork to read Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

—

I recommend purchasing books directly from the publisher or author whenever possible. Though you may pay more this way than through a large book store, buying directly puts more of our resources into the hands of those people who will use it to produce more of these important works. Again, to me, the third ethic of permaculture in practice.

The One-Straw Revolution from New York Review Books.
Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture from Chelsea Green.
Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability from Chelsea Green.

No Such Thing as Waste

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Feb 152013

Click here to download the episode.

As promised, with the release of this episode corresponding to my wife’s birthday, here’s something light hearted for you all: the first single from Charlie Jones’ forthcoming permaculture inspired album, Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual. This track is “No Such Thing As Waste” and comes from David Holmgren’s 6th principle, Produce No Waste.

I received this track while finishing up a recent episode and figured I’d give a listen while putting together the website notes and resource links. Call that a bad idea on my part. I got drawn in and stopped everything else to listen. Then start the track over and listen again. The music caught my attention first: fun, upbeat, and funky. Next the lyrics. And finally, since I produce audio many hours each week, the quality of the overall production. This is a top notch track that sounds good. The work that went into making this is obvious and I’m thankful to Charlie and crew for making it. I look forward to adding a copy to my toolbox to play for children, and adults, to increase their awareness of permaculture.

Like many projects, and even this podcast, Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual happened because of crowdfunding and the help of private individuals through small contributions. Charlie used WeTheTrees.com, Christian Shearer’s organization. I use your support via direct contributions. Find out more by clicking on the support tab of the website.

If you like this track, consider picking up the whole album. The official release date is April 6th, 2013. You can find out more at permaculturesongs.com or by clicking on the link in the show notes. In the meantime, enjoy this single.

News and Updates: July 2012

Classes and Seminars, News and Information, Resources No Responses »

Jul 052012

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Permaculture Training

Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Fort Pierce, Florida is holding a one day hand-on Permaculture class with Tia Meer and Adina Lehrman on July 21 from 9am to 3pm. The fee is $50. You can reserve a spot by calling 772-464-4672 or emailing: info [at] heathcotebotanicalgardens [dot] org.

Daily Acts PDC Taught by Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia’s Garden. Guest instructors include: Penny Livingston, Larry Santoyo, Brock Dolman, Erik Ohlsen, John Valenzuela, and others. The course takes place over 6 weekends over 6 months, starting September 1st, 2012, and ending February 16-17, 2013. This PDC is certified by the Permaculture Institute USA. The Cost is $950 if you pay a non-refundable deposit of $250 by July 15th, 2012, after that the full cost for the course is $1100. Find out more by going to dailyacts.org.

P3Permaculture PDC Quebec Oct 13-27, 2012, followed by an optional Advcanced Permaculture course running October 29-Nov 2nd. IThe instructors look to be Graham Calder, Wen Rolland, France Bedard Robert, and Claudi Latulippe. Pre-booking is $304.35 CAD, with the full course either 1190 or 1400 CAD. Contact them for more information:

http://www.p3permaculture.ca/ and scroll about halfway down the page for more information.

Or: booking [at] p3permaculture [dot] ca.

Teacher Training
Cascadia Permaculture Teacher Training Cottage Grove, Oregon. July 29th – August 4th, 2012, with Jude Hobbs and Andrew Millison. As some of you know, I attended this course in 2011 and enjoyed it. If an advanced certificate in teaching: Go! Meet Jude and Andrew, and learn, learn, learn! With 40, or more, hours of class room time and evening lectures and presentations, you get plenty of information and practice time in the week while you are there. The cost is $900 and includes camping in a Permie-wonderland and some delicious food. You can read more about it by going to cascadiapermaculture.com and clicking on courses.

If you’d like to see what I look like, download the brochure and you can see a picture of my graduating class. I’m the guy in the back right.

Permaculture Diploma
The Permaculture Institute USA is again offering Permaculture Diplomas.

http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/professional_practise_pages
Or send them an email: info [at] permaculture [dot] org.

Convergences
8th Annual Northeast Permaculture Convergence is going to be held at the Soule Homestead Education center in Middleborough, MA, July 13th-15th. Ticket prices are sliding scale from as little as $90 for the whole weekend if you are commuting, $10 for children, or between $120-180 if camping onsite. Day passes are $35 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. The website and schedule have been updated with copious amounts of information. Looks to be a good one. If you are anywhere near MA, get yourself to this convergence. northeastconvergence.wordpress.com

Western Canada Permaculture Convergence is planned for August 24th, 25th, and 26th in Millarville, Alberta. A full pass is $125Canadian, with a non-camping pass at $75. Also Canadian. Right now they have Jeff and Julilynn Gilles of Rancho Relaxo presenting on How to Create Permaculture Awareness in Your Community. abconvergence2012.blogspot.com

Regional Permaculture Convergence 2012 in Izmir, Turkey to be held at the Marmaric Permaculture Village from the 17th-21st of July. Camping spaces will be provided or you can rent space in a yurt, dormitory, or bungalow for an additional fee of 4 or 10 Euros a night depending on the accommodations. Three vegetarian meals as well as tea and coffee breaks are provided in the overall fee of 150 Euros.

Something Odd (and Amazing!)
In North Kohala, Hawai’i, there is a Permaculture Farm for sale. Located on 15 gorgeous acres, with an incredible view it includes 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, plus three additional small cottages and other outbuildings. The current asking price is $2.6 million. If there is a non-profit permaculture group that would consider buying this place to turn it into an educational space, let me know so I can come visit in person.

http://www.bigislandreale.com/owning-a-permaculture-farm
http://www.bigislandreale.com/254041-Huahua-Condo-Kaauhuhu-Hmstds

Books and DVDS
There is a new book out, well at least new to me, on Permaculture Design. Permaculture Design: A step-by-step guide to the Process by the UK permaculture instructor Aranya. I’ve read some of his blog posts and articles the past and enjoyed them, so give his book a read and let me know what you think.

http://www.green-shopping.co.uk/permaculture-design.html

Permaculture.co.uk is now carrying the Animate Earth DVD, a 45 minute film that takes it’s title from Stephan Harding’s book of the same name. Stephen Harding is an ecologist at Schumacher college and holds a doctorate in behavioral ecology and since that time has developed the ideas of holistic science.

http://www.permaculture.co.uk/book-reviews/animate-earth-dvd

Other Media
Hope for a New Era: Before/After Examples of Permaculture Earth Restoration

A photolog and article showing the transformation of permaculture in the landscape. If you have someone asking you for “what will permaculture look like?” , show them this article.

http://permaculture.org.au/2012/06/28/hope-for-a-new-era-before-after-examples-of-permaculture-earth-restoration-solving-our-problems-from-the-ground-up/

Live Local. Live Small.

An introductory article on permaculture and Gwenyfar Rohler’s thoughts on it, including some issues with the pre-dominance of source material focusing on the climates of Australia, the UK, or Pacific Northwest.

http://www.encorepub.com/welcome/live-local-live-small-70/

Discovering Permaculture

Another overview of permaculture comes from the blog “8 acres”, that includes several nice videos with Penny Livingston, Bill Mollison, and David Holmgren.

http://eight-acres.blogspot.com/2012/06/discovering-permaculture.html

Wolf Gulch Farm and the work of Tom Ward. The 10 minutes video provides a virtual tour of the property.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rhATikyzLOo

Home Grown Help

From the Fraser Coast Chronicle in Australia, about Tim Lang’s work with some basic tips on building your own garden of eden for foodies. If you’ve been involved in Permaculture for a while, the content is familiar, but I’m always looking for new voices to share this information and here’s a good one to send to that friend or local gardening club member who shakes their head at you when you bring up Permaculture.

http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/story/2012/06/29/tims-home-grown-help/

Practicing Permaculture In Los Angeles

Covering the work of the Edendale Farm CSA and Learning Center where a farmer named David, and others, are practicing urban permaculture to build community with food and alternative economics at the core.

http://blogs.bard.edu/civicengagement/2012/07/01/practicing-permaculture-in-the-heart-of-los-angeles/

Musical Interlude: An Interview with Mr. Big Mountain

Resources No Responses »

Aug 222011

Click here to download the episode.

Thank you to Andrew Millison for this piece of Permaculture themed music. He gave me a few tracks to share with the world and those will be posted over the next few weeks.

Listen, relax, and enjoy.

Travel Tips for a Residential PDC or Other Course

Classes and Seminars, Resources No Responses »

Aug 202011

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Taking on the task to travel to a residential course, be it a PDC or otherwise, can be daunting if you’ve never done it before or if your travel experience is limited. Given the geographic regions where theses classes are held, and the infrequency with which they occur if your only knowledge of them comes from the web or the major Permaculture literature, you want to go well prepared.

This episode covers some of my thoughts and experiences on traveling to a course, camping there for a week or more, and how to get to the other side unscathed. This will help you find out what you need to know before you go, how to prepare for when you are there, and some help on traveling through the U.S.A.

Whatever you do, go to a class and have fun!

Toby Hemenway and Native Plants

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Aug 182011

A great monologue about “What is a Native plant?” with Toby Hemenway. In this case, he raises the questions of “Native to When?” and “What plants are you favoring by your decision?” or, to put it another way “What did you have for breakfast this morning?” Though only 6 minutes long, it raises some serious questions about our ecological footprint and how to best save native habitats.

If you are interested in a great book that discusses this topic in depth, check out David Theodoropoulos’ Invasion Biology: Critique of a Pseudoscience

How Much Mulch do I Need? Simplified with a Spreadsheet

Resources 1 Response »

Aug 032011

After putting together yesterday’s show on mulching, I decided to put together a spreadsheet to make calculating the amount of mulch you would need. Included is also the option to include the prices, by bag or scoop, as well as delivery fees, so that you can have a running total before you go to the store or place a phone call to order.

How Much Mulch Spreadsheet (.ods) Open Office and Libre Office

How Much Mulch Spreadsheet (.xls) MS Excel

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