1 introduction to permaculture re-designing our lives as if caring for people and the planet...
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Introduction to PermacultureIntroduction to PermacultureRe-designing our lives as if Re-designing our lives as if
caring for people and the planet matters.caring for people and the planet matters.
©Bill Wilson – Midwest Permaculture©Bill Wilson – Midwest Permaculture (.com)(.com)
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•What it is?
•Why might we need it?
•What does it looks like?
Permaculture
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“What permaculturists are doing is (some of) the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet.
We don’t know what the details of a truly sustainable future are going to be like, but we need options.
We need people experimenting in all kinds of ways and permaculturists are one of the critical groups that are doing that.”
Dr. David Suzuki
Geneticist Renowned Environmentalist sand
Broadcaster Author of more than 30 books,
Host of the Canadian TV series “The Nature of Things”
Weekly Syndicated Columnist
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Definitions:
Permaculture (permanent – culture)
is a creative and artful way of living, where people and nature are all preserved and enhanced by:
• thoughtful planning, • the careful use of resources,
• and a respectful approach to life.
Thus embraced, these attributes create an environment where all may thrive for
untold generations.
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Within a Permaculture designed system:
• wastes become resources • productivity and yields increase • work is minimized • and the environment is restored.
Bill Mollison – Founder of Permaculture
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Fundamental Permaculture Design Principles
•Observe & connect. •Use biological and renewable resources. •Catch, store & recycle energy and materials. •Each function is supported by multiple elements. •Each element performs multiple functions. •Make the least change for the greatest effect. •Use the edge effect to maximize yield. •Accelerate succession. •Use small scale, intensive systems.
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Very Simply Put…Permaculture is a design system whereby
we find ways of livingto allow for permanent cultures to exist.
Where all humans can live abundantly wellwhile leaving the planet
in better condition then whence we found it.
History and logic demonstrate:
To have a ‘permanent-culture’ you must have a ‘permanent-agriculture’.
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Fulltime farming in U.S. requires 640 acres
How much food does Illinois grow for itself?
Principle #1: Observe & ConnectWhat are the conditions we find ourselves in?
What are the results of our actions?
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Humus content of native prairie soils? 10-13%
Humus content necessary to sustain soil life? 3%
Humus content of commercially farmed soils?
1010Barge moving corn & soybean down the Mississippi.
Number 1 export in U.S. (in tonnage)?
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The National Resources Inventory of the USDA reports that
1.9 billion tons of soil eroded from U.S. land in 1997.
M.C. Heller and G.A. Keoleian, “Life Cycle-Based Sustainability Indicators for Assessment of the U.S. Food System,” University of Michigan (2000).
http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS00-04.pdfPage 22
If loaded on to rail cars, how long
would a train need to be to hold 1.9
billion tons of soil?
Answer: It would wrap around the globe 7 times. (About 170,000 miles long)
That’s just for one year and just for the U.S. alone.
The National Resources Inventory of the USDA reports that
1.9 billion tons of soil eroded from U.S. land in 1997.
M.C. Heller and G.A. Keoleian, “Life Cycle-Based Sustainability Indicators for Assessment of the U.S. Food System,” University of Michigan (2000).
http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS00-04.pdfPage 22
Photo courtesy of Paul L. Nettles
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About 2 inches of soil blew away from cropland in Kansas during the winter of 1995-96. That's the equivalent of 263 tons of topsoil per acre. (6 semi-truck loads / acre)
March 20, 2006 The Cornell University Chronicle
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“Collapse” by Jared Diamond
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“Against the Grain” by Richard Manning
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1919
2020
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Over a third of all the oil and gas consumed in Over a third of all the oil and gas consumed in the U.S. is used for food productionthe U.S. is used for food production
(from seed to plate).(from seed to plate).
The food on the average American plate traveled The food on the average American plate traveled over 1500 miles to get there.over 1500 miles to get there.
It takes
7.3 cal. of energy
to place
1 cal. of foodOn the American Table
Adapted from: M.C. Heller and G.A. Keoleian, “Life Cycle-Based Sustainability Indicators for Assessment of the U.S. Food System,” University of Michigan (2000).
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““Estimates for total recoverable oil on our Estimates for total recoverable oil on our planet are about 2 trillion barrels. planet are about 2 trillion barrels. On a cumulative basis, we have On a cumulative basis, we have
pumped out 1 trillion.”pumped out 1 trillion.”
Mother Jones? Mother Jones?
Rolling Stone?Rolling Stone?
Utne Reader?Utne Reader?
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Financial Planning Magazine Financial Planning Magazine (Oct. 2005)(Oct. 2005)
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www.lastoilshock.comwww.lastoilshock.com
Oil producers (98)
Post Peak Oilproducers (64)
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Annual Global Oil Discoveries and Consumption Records
Global Annual Consumption of Oil – Approx. 30 Billion Barrels/year
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Headline: April 2008“Brazil thinks it has found
massive oil field”
“33 billion barrels offshore estimated — Largest find in world in decades”
The Associated Pressupdated 4:25 p.m. CT,
Mon., April. 14, 2008
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How Much Oil is There Anyway…How Much Oil is There Anyway…
How Much is 2 trillion barrels
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How Much Oil is There Anyway…How Much Oil is There Anyway…
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How Much Oil is There Anyway…How Much Oil is There Anyway…
6 Quadrillion gal.= 6 + fifteen 0’s6 Quadrillion gal.= 6 + fifteen 0’s
6,000,000,000,000,0006,000,000,000,000,000
Divide that by 42 (gal/barrel)Divide that by 42 (gal/barrel)
= 143,000,000,000,000= 143,000,000,000,000
= 143 trillion barrels of water in the = 143 trillion barrels of water in the great lakes.great lakes.
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How Much Oil is There Anyway…How Much Oil is There Anyway…
2 Trillion 2 Trillion barrels is the barrels is the equivalent to equivalent to 1.4% of the 1.4% of the volume of the volume of the great lakes.great lakes.
Less than the Less than the size of Green size of Green Bay.Bay.
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How much is a gallon of ‘liquid carbon’ fuel really worth?How much is a gallon of ‘liquid carbon’ fuel really worth?
One Truck + 1 gal. of Diesel FuelOne Truck + 1 gal. of Diesel Fuel 80,000 lb. truck 80,000 lb. truck 5 miles 5 miles (up a shallow grade)(up a shallow grade)
By HandBy Hand 1 person with 1 garden cart 1 person with 1 garden cart
= 250 lbs/load/trip = 250 lbs/load/trip 1 person could manage 20 miles/day 1 person could manage 20 miles/day
or 4 loads/day (1,000 lbs.)or 4 loads/day (1,000 lbs.)
Conclusion:Conclusion: 5 Minutes by truck 5 Minutes by truck80 Days by foot & cart80 Days by foot & cart
Powerful Oil – ‘Black Gold’
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How do we use this valuable resource?
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Cheap and abundant fossil fuels have acted upon society like an addictive drug.
The supply is running low and withdrawal is certain.
Oil… coal… natural gas… even uranium…. All are finite resources.
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CO2 Levels & Global Warming
“We don’t know what the details of a truly sustainable future are going to be like, but we need options.”
Dr. David Suzuki
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Consumption over last 100+ YearsConsumption over last 100+ YearsWE have used up about:WE have used up about:Half the topsoilHalf the topsoilHalf the oilHalf the oilHalf the rainforestsHalf the rainforestsThird of all natural gasThird of all natural gasThird of all coalThird of all coal
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Goal of Permaculture DesignGoal of Permaculture DesignReverses the CONSUMPTION model Reverses the CONSUMPTION model
into a CREATION model. into a CREATION model. Build the topsoil while growing healthy foodBuild the topsoil while growing healthy food Grow enough healthy food to feed the worldGrow enough healthy food to feed the world Repair devastated lands – Re-grow rainforestsRepair devastated lands – Re-grow rainforests Produce the energy we needProduce the energy we need Create resilient communities and citiesCreate resilient communities and cities Improve everyone’s overall quality of lifeImprove everyone’s overall quality of life Possibly retard/reverse global warmingPossibly retard/reverse global warming
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How?
And From What…?
Where will energy come from?
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How?
And From What…?
Where will energy come from?
Hydrogen?Nuclear?
Bio-diesel – Ethanol?
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Time MagazineTime MagazineApril 7, 2008 printApril 7, 2008 print
The Clean Energy ScamThe Clean Energy ScamBy Michael GrunwaldBy Michael Grunwald
“…“…bio-fuels aren't part of the solution bio-fuels aren't part of the solution at all. at all.
They're part of the problem.”They're part of the problem.”
Conclusion:The demand for bio-fuels (alcohol/ethanol/diesel) is driving up the price for all grains, contributing to deforestation of the rain forests and an increase in global warming and hunger.
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How?
And From What…?
Where will energy come from?
Hydrogen?Nuclear?
Bio-diesel – Ethanol? Free Energy Devise…?
Alien Technology…?
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Where do oil, natural gas and coal come from?
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AncientSunlight
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Consider This:
The amount of sunlight that intersects the earthin 24 hours, is more energy than all the
conventional oil that has been…or ever will be…
extracted.
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The total global annual consumption of energy The total global annual consumption of energy ((400 quads) is roughly the equivalent ) is roughly the equivalent
to 40 minutes of sunlight: to 40 minutes of sunlight:
Spider silk is 5 times stronger than steel and made Spider silk is 5 times stronger than steel and made from digested crickets……..at room temperature…!from digested crickets……..at room temperature…!
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“The systems by which we live today are simply, non-sustainable.”
Bill Mollison
PermacultureA Designer’s Manual
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Permaculture is really about relationship, our relationship as humans to the world around us.
Will (do) we work with the natural abundance and flows of our world and universe,
or, will (do) we ignore these?
Permaculture Ethic1. Care of Earth (life)
2. Care of People (everywhere)
3. Share all Surplus (no waste or pollution)