Permaculture - A Quiet Revolution

This video from the 8th International Permaculture Convergence in Brazil is worth rewatching. Hope you will share it.


Permaculture - A Quiet Revolution from Spread Knowledge on Vimeo.

Our city council tonight is considering removing the 5 chicken limit and eliminating the requirement for getting permission from adjacent neighbors. There would still be a small annual registration fee and inspection. We hope to expand the limits to include other animals, too, overtime.

The impulse of rapid change and shocks to the economy may cause it all to happen much faster as people stop waiting for permission and simply take command of their own local destinies. Do all you can where you are...and take a stand. I guarantee, it WILL be challenged. Find your allies and hold strong.

Meanwhile, where the hell are the leaders who will stand up and say that all citizens must begin to throw off the chains of their dependency on the industrial producers, of food-like substances, that are destroying our soils, air, water and health? Don't wait for them to tell you. BE THE LEADERS! BE the ones we've been waiting for!

This article from Mother Earth News reminds us that once upon a time our government EXPECTED us to raise our own food to demonstrate our patriotism in a time of war (which we've been in for some time now, if you hadn't noticed). Now they want us to be dependent on huge, impersonal, uncaring, greed-motivated industries who produce nutritionally empty, over-processed, over-packaged, over-transported crap that keep us sick and dependent on a bloated industrial drug / insurance monopoly. We, the people, can do better.

Uncle Sam Wants You to Raise Chickens

… Or he did, back in 1918, as this poster illustrates.

Funny how things change, isn’t it? These days, people have to fight and petition and beg and plead in many municipalities to get their government to let them keep a few backyard hens. And even when city leaders permit it, they lay out complicated rules about how many, where and how the birds must be housed. And please! No roosters!

 As the poster so rightly points out, two hens per person will keep a family in eggs. The flock will take minimal effort, cost little and provide plenty of enjoyment, because chickens are fun to watch.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/the-happy-homesteader/uncle-sam-wants-you-to-raise-chickens.aspx#ixzz1ftIcm7Kq

Steep Exponential Curves Ahead...Reduce Speed

Chris Martenson Lecture On Why The Next 20 Years Will Be Marked By The Collapse Of The Exponential Function

In this video courtesy of GoldMoney, Chris Martenson, economic analyst at chrismartenson.com and author of ‘The Crash Course’, explains why he thinks that the coming 20 years are going to look completely unlike the last 20 years. In his presentation he focuses on the so-called three “Es”: Economy, Energy and Environment. He argues that at this point in time it is no longer possible to view either one of those topics separately from one another.

Since all our money is loaned onto existence, our economy has to grow exponentially. Martenson proves this point empirically by showing a 99.9% fit of the actual growth curve of the last 40 years to an exponential curve. If we wanted to continue on this path, our debt load would have to double again over the next 10 years. By continually increasing our debt relative to GDP we are making the assumption that our future will always be wealthier than our past. He believes that this assumption is flawed and that the debt loads are already unmanageable.

Martenson explains how exponential growth works and why it is so scary that our economy is based on it. In an example he illustrates how unimaginably fast things speed up towards the end of an exponential curve. He shows that an exponential chart can be found in every one of the three “E’s” for instance in GDP growth, oil production, water use or species extinction. Due to the natural limitations on resources, Martenson comes to the conclusion that we are facing a serious energy crisis.

This energy predicament is namely that the quantity of oil as well as the quality of oil are in decline. He shows that oil discoveries peaked in 1964 and oil production peaked 40 years later. Martenson also shows how our return on invested energy is rapidly declining – the “cheap and easy” oil fields have already been exploited. In 1930 the energy return for oil was 100:1 or greater. Today it is already down to 3:1 and newer technologies such as corn-based ethanol only provide a 1.5:1 return. Martenson predicts that the time in between oil shocks will get shorter and shorter and that oil prices will go much higher.

Not only oil but also other natural resources are being rapidly used up as well. At the current projected pace of use, known reserves for many metals and minerals will be gone within the next 10 to 20 years. The energy needed to get these non-renewable resources out of the ground is growing exponentially. So we live in a world that must grow, but can’t grow and is subject to depletion. The conclusion out of all this is that our money system is poorly designed and that we need to rethink how we do things as quickly as possible.

After finishing his presentation Chris Martenson answers questions regarding a rise in efficiency, alternative technologies and oil prices. He also responds to questions regarding electricity, shale gas, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and uranium and the race for global resources.

For more on exponential curves see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-QA2rkpBSY&feature=related

DOUBLE DIPPING DANGER

Want a pesticide factory in your intestines or increase abortions? Eat GMOs or animals that eat them. 

DOUBLE DIPPING DANGER from NO GMO on Vimeo.

IT'S TIME FOR A FOOD FIGHT from NO GMO on Vimeo.

$14.3 Trillion

The US Debt Ceiling is $14.3 Trillion. This video will help you visualize that.

The Story of Cosmetics

The Story of Cosmetics, released on July 21st, 2010, examines the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo. Produced with Free Range Studios and hosted by Annie Leonard, the seven-minute film by The Story of Stuff Project reveals the implications for consumer and worker health and the environment, and outlines ways we can move the industry away from hazardous chemicals and towards safer alternatives. The film concludes with a call for viewers to support legislation aimed at ensuring the safety of cosmetics and personal care products.

TEDxBloomington -- Keith Johnson -- "Food Security and Resilence"

I have never prepared more for a 10 minute talk than I did for this TEDx Bloomington event. Even so I was a bit nervous and stumbled over my words but overall I'm pleased with the results. The TED experience was wonderful and I got to play with some fine folks.


Here are the rest of the talks: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD67656A7D72F7D9A

Dr Huber's Warning

(From Food Democracy Now)

On January 17, internationally recognized plant pathologist Dr. Don Huber, wrote a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack warning of the discovery of a new pathogen and a possible link between Roundup Ready® (GMO) corn and soybeans and severe reproductive problems in livestock as well as widespread crop failure.

Less than 3 weeks later, the Obama administration approved 2 new Roundup Ready® GMO crops, set to be planted this spring... Read on about Dr. Huber's discovery. If it gives you pause, sign the petition to ask Sec. Vilsack to stop these seeds from being planted until further research is done.

In 2010, more than 365 million acres were planted worldwide with genetically engineered (GMO) seeds.

The U.S. leads the world with more than 165 million acres of GMO crops, mostly Roundup Ready® crops.

Monsanto owns patents on the genes of more than 93% of soybeans, 80% of corn, and 95% of sugar beets planted in the U.S. -- all genetically modified to be resistant to the weed killer Roundup.

In 2007, more than 185,000,000 lbs. of Roundup were applied to U.S. crops, the year the Bush administration halted reporting of the herbicide's application rates.

In 1992, U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle announced that GMO foods would not be "hampered by unnecessary regulation", freeing Monsanto of the burden of independent testing or labeling of GMO foods for the American public.

Are you eating GMOs?

Tell the Obama administration to stop the planting of GMO alfalfa & sugar beets

Dr. Huber Explains Science Behind New Organism and Threat from Monsanto's Roundup, GMOs to Disease and Infertility from Food Democracy Now! on Vimeo.

COMMUNITY EVALUATION CRITERIA in the Design Process

1. Resource Evaluation. Does the pre-design study:

• Evaluate the terrain, flow of water, plants and wildlife?
• Analyze the climate?
• Research the history of the area?

2. Site Design. Does the development/design project:

• Preserve fragile ecosystems?
• Use natural grades to contain new run-off?
• Ensure that a minimum of earth & vegetation are disturbed during development/construction?

3. Circulation. Does the layout:

• Minimize distances between points of destination?
• Cluster medium and high density areas while leaving other areas undisturbed?
• Include non-residential functions within residential areas?
• Provide safe paths for self-powered means of transportation?
• Include paths that are as direct as or more direct than routes provided for motor vehicles?
• Provide the self-powered paths on a separate grade where possible to enhance safety?
• Have paths (such as sidewalks) ramped to street level to allow easy access for wheelchair pedestrians and bicyclists?
• Provide routes for connecting with the mass transit system and facilities for encouraging ridership?
• Provide a way to upgrade nearby road facilities to accommodate self-powered transportation?
• Provide the least maintenance to roads by keeping their slope under 11%.

4. Infrastructure. Is your development/design project:

• Designing roads and utilities to minimize energy costs?
• Using the most efficient types of outdoor lighting only where needed?
• Integrating infrastructure into natural habitat?

5. Power. Are you taking an approach that:

• Exhausts all biological and non-tech solutions first?
• Uses the most energy-efficient method of performing tasks?
• When possible, uses renewable energy directly instead of indirectly?
• When renewables are not available, uses fuel (eg natural gas) directly instead of through the production of electricity?
• Generates power within the development from co-generation or renewable sources?
• Contracts for maintenance with a utility or renewable energy equipment specialist?
• Minimizes lengths of distribution lines?

6. Building. Is the development/design project being designed to:

• Orient streets on an east-west axis so that the predominant sides of buildingsʼ glass areas will face within 20 degrees of north and south?
• Incorporate natural ventilation, day-lighting and passive solar heating into building designs?
• Situate building so that they do not block solar access to adjacent buildings?
• Situate buildings in such a way that they do not block natural ventilation of adjacent units?
• Use renewable energy sources for water heating and space heating?
• Use architectural guidelines to ensure quality designs instead of imposing minimum square footage requirements?
• Minimize the use of incandescent lighting?
• Promote wall and roof surfaces that either reflect (in hot climates) or absorb (in cold climates) the majority of the sunʼs heat?
• Promote the use of locally available non-toxic materials for building components?
• Provide a low-cost method for upgrading to renewables at a later date. were renewable systems are not presently cost-effective?

7. Landscape. Does the design:

• Preserve natural landscape and habitats?
• Incorporate landscape design that provides shade from the summer sun?
• Employ landscape materials that will minimize long-term requirements for maintenance, irrigation, pesticides or herbicides?
• Use native vegetation?
• Use natural biological controls to reduce pests, avoid toxic chemical use?

8. Water. Do the design and facilities:

• Use drought-tolerant plants?
• Mandate low-water-use toilets (1.5 gallons/flush or less)?
• Reuse water (eg household greywater) for watering landscape?
• Where needed, distribute drinking water using solar energy?
• Use efficient hydraulic designs and pumps?
• Collect rainwater to serve as the water supply?
• Use groundwater only in quantities that can be replenished?
• Use natural means for water treatment and water disposal?

9. Food. Does the development/design project:

• Include food-producing landscapes sufficient to meet the needs of residents?
• Integrate tracts of food-producing lands throughout the design that can be gardened or farmed without excessive quantities of polluting machinery?
• Provide guidelines to grow crops organically?
• Offer methods to use solid and liquid wastes from the sustainable development as fertilizers?

10. Wastes. Does the property and management agreement regulations/guide lines:

• Include on-site recycling centers?
• Require separation of organic waste from other garbage?
• Provide for a community tool and appliance sharing/renting center?
• Allow only non-toxic, biodegradable and recyclable items to be sold within the development?
• Provide for periodic collection of toxic materials?
• Ensure the use of natural biological systems to treat sewage?

11. Education. Does the development/project design sales team:

• Offer literature on all aspects of sustainable developments?
• Offer “how-to” workshops on projects that enhance the sustainable community?

12. Miscellaneous. Do the regulations:

• Impose noise limits on regularly-used equipment and ensure good sound insulation in closelyspaced units?
• Permit clotheslines, solar collectors, and other items that reduce energy use?
• Encourage the use of natural ponds and lakes a “swimming holes instead of an energy-and chemical-intensive swimming pool”?
• Create a neighborhood association to help maintain the quality of development?

Scoring:

Record your score for each characteristic in the Score column, then multiply this score by the weight to get the weighed score. 5 Excellent! ! 4 Good! 3 Average! 2 Mediocre !1 Poor 0 Non-existent

The minimum weighted score points require for a viable permaculture design project/development is 400-420.

Characteristic                             Weight               Score             W/Score
Price                                               10
Water                                              10
Development ease                       10
(include political ease)
Commercial suitability                   8
Percent utilization                          8
Aspect (Solar)                               8
Privacy                                           8
Natural resources-local                8
Electric power                               7
Access                                          7
Proximity to service facilities      7
Comfort (max/min temps)           7
Size                                               5
Soil suitability                               5
Character (personal taste)         5
Natural features (views)              5
Natural boundaries                     5
Wind (good and bad)                 4
Tree cover                                   4
TOTAL:

INGREDIENTS FOR COMMUNITY GLUE
LOVE
Bonding to each other
Bonding to the community
Clear aims of the group
Membership processes
Decisions making protocols
Tolerance and generosity
Forgiveness/ability to let go
Optimis
Attunement
Bonding to the land
Spiritual connectedness
Connections and relationships with the outside world
Structure and processes
Reflection and evaluation
Persistence
FUN!
Clear communication
Clear philosophy
Courage
Conflict
Self-acceptance
Safety and trust
Hope