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| wiki:about_this_site [2023/05/01 20:27] – [Website Inspirations] admin | wiki:about_this_site [2023/05/01 20:38] (current) – [Contact] admin |
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| ===== Contact ===== | ===== Contact ===== |
| If you wish to get into contact with Northern Queensland Permaculture, please email: | If you wish to get into contact with Northern Queensland Permaculture, please email: |
| * email address | * pomfreyhooch at gmail |
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| ===== Website Inspirations ===== | ===== Website Inspirations ===== |
| | ==== Nicole Foss ==== |
| | Nicole Foss is an economist and writer who focuses on the interconnected challenges of energy depletion, economic instability, and environmental degradation. Her teachings offer practical advice for individuals and communities looking to build resilience and adapt to these challenges. |
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| 1. Observe and interact: Imagine you are taking a walk through your suburban neighborhood. Take the time to notice the natural world around you - the way the trees sway in the breeze, the birds chirping, and the insects buzzing around. By observing and interacting with these natural processes, you can gain a deeper understanding of how they function, and begin to incorporate them into your own garden or backyard. | Foss advocates for a transition to lower levels of energy consumption, emphasizing the importance of local food production, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation. She also emphasizes the importance of building resilience into our communities and systems, investing in local food systems, developing alternative currencies and financial systems, and building social capital and community connections. |
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| 2. Catch and store energy: On a sunny day, take a look at the rooftops of the houses in your neighborhood. Imagine if all of those roofs were outfitted with solar panels, capturing and storing energy from the sun. This would not only provide energy for the homes, but also for the surrounding community. | Foss argues that debt-based economies are inherently unstable and prone to collapse. She advocates for more stable and sustainable economic systems, based on local currencies, mutual credit, and other alternative financial systems. |
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| 3. Obtain a yield: Imagine if each home in your neighborhood had a small garden or fruit trees in their backyard, producing fresh produce for themselves and their neighbors. By designing systems that provide multiple benefits and yields, we can create a more sustainable and interconnected community. | Foss also emphasizes the importance of cooperation and collaboration, both within communities and between different groups and organizations. She argues that building strong social capital and networks is essential for creating resilient communities that can adapt to changing circumstances. |
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| 4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback: When watering your garden, pay attention to the plants that thrive and those that struggle. By accepting feedback from the natural world, we can adjust our behavior and resource use to better support long-term sustainability. | |
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| 5. Use and value renewable resources and services: Imagine if your neighborhood was powered entirely by wind turbines, using a renewable source of energy to provide for the community's needs. By prioritizing renewable resources and services, we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and support a more sustainable future. | ==== David Holmgren ==== |
| | David Holmgren is an environmental designer, author, and co-founder of the permaculture movement. His core teachings focus on creating sustainable and regenerative systems that work in harmony with the natural world. |
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| 6. Produce no waste: Take a walk down your neighborhood street on garbage day. Imagine if all of the waste produced by each household was composted or recycled, with nothing sent to the landfill. By minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency, we can create a more sustainable and resourceful community. | Holmgren's teachings emphasize the importance of observing and understanding natural patterns and systems, and using this understanding to inform the design of human systems. He argues that by working with nature, rather than against it, we can create more sustainable and resilient systems that benefit both people and the environment. |
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| 7. Design from patterns to details: Look at the natural patterns in your suburban landscape - the way water flows down the street, or the paths created by foot traffic. By recognizing and working with these patterns, we can create more efficient and sustainable designs for our homes and communities. | One of Holmgren's key concepts is the "permaculture flower", which represents the seven key areas of focus in permaculture design: land use, shelter, energy, waste, water, food, and community. Holmgren argues that by designing systems that address these seven areas, we can create sustainable and regenerative communities that meet the needs of both people and the environment. |
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| 8. Integrate rather than segregate: Instead of having separate parks, gardens, and sidewalks, imagine if these elements were all integrated into one interconnected system. By connecting and integrating different elements of our designs and communities, we can promote greater resilience and diversity. | Holmgren also emphasizes the importance of using renewable energy and resources, and minimizing waste and pollution. He advocates for the use of organic farming and gardening techniques, such as composting and companion planting, to create healthy and productive ecosystems. |
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| 9. Use small and slow solutions: Instead of relying on large-scale, high-tech solutions, imagine if each household in your neighborhood had a small rain barrel to collect and store water. By working with small and slow solutions appropriate to the context and scale of our designs, we can create more sustainable and efficient systems. | Another key aspect of Holmgren's teachings is the importance of community building and social connections. He argues that by working together and building strong relationships within our communities, we can create more resilient and adaptive systems that can better withstand environmental and social challenges. |
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| 10. Use and value diversity: Imagine if each house in your neighborhood had a different type of tree or plant in their front yard. By recognizing and celebrating diversity in all its forms, we can create a more vibrant and resilient community. | |
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| 11. Use edges and value the marginal: Look at the edges of your suburban landscape - the areas where the sidewalk meets the grass or the street meets the curb. By paying attention to these edges and valuing the unique opportunities and resources that can be found there, we can create more efficient and sustainable systems. | |
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| 12. Creatively use and respond to change: Imagine if each household in your neighborhood had a rain garden or bioswale, designed to capture and filter stormwater runoff. By embracing change and uncertainty as a natural part of life, and using our creativity and adaptability to respond to changing circumstances and needs, we can create a more sustainable and resilient community. | |
