Download - 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