an introduction to permaculture

GROWING MOTIVATIONGraham Brookman

The use of fossil fuel and fertilizer has allowed the

world’s population to

boom

Erosion

Deforestation & soil compaction Salinity

Dust storms

Costs of a consumer society

10 billion, the UN prediction for 2085

Murray Mouth

dredge

2003….

BpBP survey of world oil production potential

Food Security?Today’s average Aussie farm -completely dependent on fossil fuels for:

•diesel

•petrol

•fertiliser,

•herbicides

•insecticides

•fungicides

Why did this little boy want to be a farmer?

*role models*adults that talked about things he could understand*exposure to farming*animals*amazing machines*wonderful food*exploring nature with friends*plenty* the satisfaction of a day’s physical work *visible, edible productivity* a clearly important role in society

So he went to Roseworthy

Searching for a sustainable land-use model

On the Gawler River, 40km North of Adelaide

15 Ha

Mediterranean climate

Rainfall: 400mm (winter)

No significant frosts

Deep alluvial soil, pH 6.5 -7

Shallow aquifer at 13 metres (and falling)

Our peri-urban block

Land clearing had left the 15 hectare property bare, compacted and devoid of biodiversityPermaculture

A system of applied design for sustainable human settlement using a synthesis of traditional knowledge and modern science, applicable in both urban and rural urban and rural areas

Land clearing had left the 15 hectare property bare, compacted and devoid of biodiversity

Ethics -care of the earth

-care for community-taking personal responsibility for

population and consumption

Systems Diagram showing energy flow

Sustainable

buildings

An energy efficient homeThe Brief:1.Analyse your lifestyle! Current and FutureHow big a house do you really need?Kids- now, later. How will their needs change?

Proximity to:Public TransportBike tracksSchoolsShopsHospitalsWork

• E.coli

• Suspended Solids

• Nitrogen & Phosphorus

• BOD

trees

Data collected in collaboration with SA Dept of Health shows a significant drop in:

Ladybirds love light brown apple moth pupae

wwoofing & human-scale food culture

Value-add

on site

TODs building connected communities

Vocational decisions amongst school leavers

• Peer pressure• Parental influence• Teacher/school influence• Personal vocational interest & horizons• Salaries• Job security and availability• Perceived possibility of entry into farming• New farming – urban & value adding• Success stories & mentoring

• Support Ag in schools• Train Ag/NRM teachers• Visits and work experience on exemplar farms• Build a connection between training for

careers in food, natural resources and ag • Bring back (through subsidies and

scholarships if req) some of the courses destroyed (Roseworthy and TAFE)

• Landshare www.landshareaustralia.com.au• futurefarmers.com.au• Low interest start-up loans for young farmers

Key authors• Bill Mollison www.tagari.com• David Holmgren www.holmgren.com.au• Christopher Alexander• Richard Heinberg

www.richardheinberg.com.au• David Jacke (with Eric Toensmeier)• Reg Morrison’s ‘Plague Species’ for motivation

• Food Forest Websitewww.foodforest.com.au