12th December 2024

PDC23-09-Natural Resources

PDC Term 2 - applying the principles

In the Second term of the PDC we will be looking at many of the practical examples and applications of these design principles and ideas in the real world.

We will continue to explore the principles underpinning permaculture design.

Term 2 challenges us to use and value natural resources differently. To see them as cyclical, that is art of endless interconnected systems that recycle every single molecule. We begin to realise we are resource managers, not consumers, resources are not scarce, they are all around us. Wit the power of sun, water, soil and plants we can assemble systems that meet our needs and recycle our wastes.

Session 9: Natural Resources

Session 9 will be on Feb 28th 2023

Register for Zoom here

Meeting ID: 848 8472 4089

Academy class room open
16.30 – 19.30 GMT
17.30-20.30 EAT

+3 hours Uganda/ Kenya/ Ethiopia
+2 hours Rwanda

Live stream on YouTube

people sitting in the shade

Use and value natural resources and services
“let nature take its course”

Renewable resources are those that are renewed and replaced by natural processes over reasonable periods, without the need for non-renewable inputs.

In the language of business, renewable resources should be seen as our sources of income, while non-renewable resources can be thought of as capital assets. Spending our capital assets for day-to-day living is unsustainable in anyone’s language.

Permaculture design should aim to make best use of renewable natural resources to manage and maintain yields, even if some use of non-renewable resources is needed in establishing systems.
The proverb, ‘Let nature take its course’ reminds us we can’t hurry the natural cycle but must wait for the time to act.

Similarly, in design we should allow our designs to evolve over time and understand that nature allows time for elements to grow together to build effective systems.

keyhole bed
Key hole bed, constructed during the PDCUG18 at Sabina School in Ssanje, Uganda

Lecture for session 9

Resources

Interesting short video about the potential of food forests in Netherlands. Pointing out the multiple advantages of this switch to a completely different approach to agriculture

the rainwater harvester, Zimbabwe

This is the story of Zephaniah Phiri. ‘The Rain water harvester of Zimbabwe’

Using a consistent set of techniques this man has inspired a great many people into the possiilities of a natural approaches to water management

This farm truly cracked the code of water abundance in a land of scarcity.
Ten years after filming the Permaculture water systems at  Seven Seeds Farm he’s returned to check on the progress. Since then, Southern Oregon has been in the grips of a brutal drought. But at Seven Seeds Farm, water resources have increased, while many neighbors have had to abandon their farms because of lack of water.

Resilient Rajasthan

This video is part of a series tracking the huge scale ater trapment prject currently under way in India’s dryest region. These approaches point to a whole new way of thinking about water management

 

India’s water revolution

Large scale permaculture projects in India’s narid areas

How to clean and recycle waste water using plants

Oregon permaculture open up the world of red bed water treatment

Composting toilets

Geoff Lawton makes a comppsting toilet ina wheelie bin, you can use other materials as well.

Humanure Compost method

A householder in USA, Joseph Jenkins came up with this system years ago and has published a series books on his experiences with Humanure.

In this film we take a tour of Greg and Lisa’s composting toilet setup and see how they’ve been safely composting and using their humanure on their veggie garden for over four years.