The Energy Descent Curve of David Holmgren
In David Holmgren’s view, Western Civilization has gone through a tremendous ascent. We've climbed to the peak of the mountain with respect to consumerism, consumption of world resources, consumption of energy. We are at the very peak. What are our…
Grading
Rain that falls on flat surfaces like sidewalks and driveways runs away far too quickly to be very useful. Here are some ideas for bringing "not-flat" into your property.
What to do during virus lockdown
So we’re all in coronavirus lockdown for an undefined period of time. What can we do, to keep from going crazy? What can we do, that soothes the nerves? What can we do to keep our minds occupied? What can…
What I’m planting now, and why
Rain in Los Angeles – can you believe it? Looking to the upbeat, hopeful, future-oriented news, here’s what I’m planting now, and planning for the summer. This past week, the rush on supermarkets was absolutely crazy. At this point, even…
Life as you knew it has probably just changed
Let’s get real here. COVID-19 has us distanced from each other, protecting our own health, and worried for high-risk friends and family. COVID-19-driven shortages are jolting us into panic mode. The fabric of our lives is changing. Meanwhile COVID-19 self-isolation…
The future of restaurants
A video about the future of food and the struggles of trying to create a zero-waste restaurant.
Resources for my Soil Building class
When we pull harvest from the garden, week after week, we are taking from the garden ecosystem. We are taking from the soil. Here in Southern California, where we can harvest year-round (with a seasonally-appropriate crop mix), that means we…
Resources for my Permaculture Observation class
Permaculture is a design system that begins with “what is” and launches from that starting point into “what will become.” Rather than making a strict decision about the final outcome from the very start, the designer begins with what is…
Manufacture microclimes
One of the big advantages of container gardening is that you have so much ability to adjust the immediate local “climate” your plants are growing in. If a plant is baking in too much sun, you can pick up the…
A quick introduction to Permaculture
Permaculture is a design system which can help us make more appropriate choices. Permaculture was conceived of in the 1970s by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison, and its ideas have now spread around the world. Its name comes from the idea…
