The Case for Permaculture Session 1 of 7

8/14/2019 The Case for Permaculture Session 1 of 7

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Bill Wilson Midwest PermacultureBill Wilson Midwest Permaculture(.com)(.com)

Introductory Webinar SessionIntroductory Webinar Session

Re-designing our lives as if caring for the planet,Re-designing our lives as if caring for the planet,

and people, mattered.and people, mattered.


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Re-designing our lives as if caring for the planetRe-designing our lives as if caring for the planet

and people matteredand people mattered

What permaculturists are doing isthe most important activity that anygroup is doing on the planet.

We dont know what the details of atruly sustainable future are going tobe like, but we need options.

We need people experimenting in all

kinds of ways and permaculturistsare one of the critical groups that aredoing that.

Dr. David Suzuki

Geneticist

Renowned BroadcasterAuthor of more than 30 books,

Host of the Canadian TV seriesThe Nature of Things

Weekly Syndicated Columnist


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Definition:

Permaculture (permanent culture)is a creative and artful way of living, where people

and nature are all preserved and enhanced by:

thoughtful planning,

the careful use of resources, and a respectful approach to life.

Thus embraced, these attributes create anenvironment where all may thrive for

untold generations.


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Within a Permaculture designed system:

wastes become resources productivity and yields increase work is minimized

and the environment is restored.

History and logic demonstrate:

To have a permanent-cultureyou must have a permanent-agriculture.


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Fulltime farming in U.S.

requires a minimum of640 acres.(1-Square Mile)


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Where is the most carbon (CO2) being absorbed?


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99Number 1 export in U.S.? (in truck or ship loads)


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The Muddy Mississippi

Barge moving corn and soybeans down the river.


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Humus = SpongeWas 13% now its 1%


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About 2 inches of soil blew away from cropland in Kansasduring the winter of 1995-96. That's the equivalent of 263 tons

of topsoil per acre. (6 semi-truck loads / acre)

March 20, 2006 The Cornell University Chronicle


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Collapse by Jared Diamond


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Farm Drain Tile


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The 4-Headed Dragon on Industrial Agriculture

2. Soil Depletion and Loss

3. Alteration of Hydrological Cycles Desertification

4. Contributing to CO2 + Little Carbon Sequestration

5. Pollution of Streams and Aquifers (nitrogen & cides)

A Fifth Crisis Looming


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Over a third of all the oil and gas consumed inOver a third of all the oil and gas consumed inthe U.S. is used for food productionthe U.S. is used for food production

(from seed to plate).(from seed to plate).

The food on the average American plate traveledThe food on the average American plate traveledover 1500 miles to get there.over 1500 miles to get there.

It takes

10 cal. of oil

To produce

1 cal. of food


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August 2005


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Estimates for total recoverable oil on ourEstimates for total recoverable oil on our

planet are about 2 trillion barrels.planet are about 2 trillion barrels.On a cumulative basis, we haveOn a cumulative basis, we have

pumped out 1 trillion.pumped out 1 trillion.

Mother Jones?Mother Jones?Rolling Stone?Rolling Stone?

Utne Reader?Utne Reader?


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Financial Planning MagazineFinancial Planning Magazine (Oct. 2005)(Oct. 2005)


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Oil drillers struck a geyser of black gold atOil drillers struck a geyser of black gold atSpindletop, Texas in 1901.Spindletop, Texas in 1901.

After yielding 153 million barrels of oil,After yielding 153 million barrels of oil,Spindletop is mostly a museum site today.Spindletop is mostly a museum site today.

The average well in Texas today produces 9The average well in Texas today produces 9

barrels of oil a day.barrels of oil a day. (Was ~25 at peak production)(Was ~25 at peak production)

Example of Peak Oil


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Gb/a = Billion barrels of oil annually Globally

1957 Dr. M. King Hubbert - GeologistThe U.S. will hit peak oil in 1970


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How Much Oil is There AnywayHow Much Oil is There Anyway

How Much is 2 trillion barrels


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6 Quadrillion gal.= 6 + fifteen 0s6 Quadrillion gal.= 6 + fifteen 0s

6,000,000,000,000,0006,000,000,000,000,000

Divide that by 42 (gal/barrel)Divide that by 42 (gal/barrel)

= 143,000,000,000,000= 143,000,000,000,000

= 143 trillion barrels of water in the= 143 trillion barrels of water in thegreat lakes.great lakes.


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2 Trillion2 Trillionbarrels is thebarrels is the

equivalent toequivalent to

1.4% of the1.4% of the

volume of thevolume of thegreat lakes.great lakes.

Less than theLess than the

size of Greensize of Green

Bay.Bay.


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Why Does It Matter How it Affects MeWhy Does It Matter How it Affects Me

1 80,000 lb. truck = 45,000 lbs. of freight1 80,000 lb. truck = 45,000 lbs. of freight

1 truck x 1 gallon of fuel = 5 miles average1 truck x 1 gallon of fuel = 5 miles average

(up a shallow grade)(up a shallow grade)

1 person with 1 garden cart = 2501 person with 1 garden cart = 250

lbs/load/triplbs/load/trip 1 person could manage 20 miles/day or1 person could manage 20 miles/day or

two loads/daytwo loads/day (5 miles there, 5 miles back and(5 miles there, 5 miles back andrepeat)repeat)

Conclusion: to move 45,000 lbs., 5Conclusion: to move 45,000 lbs., 5

miles up a shallow grade, 250 lbs.miles up a shallow grade, 250 lbs.at a time = 90 days of work (3 fullat a time = 90 days of work (3 full

months, no days off)months, no days off)(Note: 5 months if you add the weight of the truck.)(Note: 5 months if you add the weight of the truck.)

Powerful Oil Black Gold


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Coal - Oil - Natural Gas - even Uranium

Theyre all Highly ConcentratedForms of Energy

And They are all Finite ResourcesThey all have a peak a limit.

They are all priceless in their own right.

And how do we use these valuable resources?


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Have cheap and abundant fossil fuels have acted uponsociety like an addictive drug?

If so, the supply is running low and withdrawal is certain.


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Consumption over last 100 YearsConsumption over last 100 Years

WE have used up about:WE have used up about:

Half the topsoilHalf the topsoil

Half the oilHalf the oil

Half the rainforestsHalf the rainforests

Third of all natural gasThird of all natural gas

Third of all coalThird of all coal


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Goal of Permaculture DesignGoal of Permaculture Design

Reverses the CONSUMPTION modelReverses the CONSUMPTION modelinto a CREATION model.into a CREATION model. Build the topsoilBuild the topsoil

Produce the energy we consumeProduce the energy we consume Re-Grow the rainforests (and others)Re-Grow the rainforests (and others)

Create sustainable communities and citiesCreate sustainable communities and cities

Possibly Retard/Reverse global warmingPossibly Retard/Reverse global warming Improve everyone's standard of livingImprove everyone's standard of living

(quality of life)(quality of life)


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How?

And From What?

Where will energy come from?

Hydrogen - Nuclear?

Bio-diesel Ethanol?

Free Energy Devise?Alien Technology?


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WellWhere do oil,

natural gasand coal

come from?

Where will the energy come from?


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Ancient

Sunlight45


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Consider This:

The amount of sunlight that intersects the earth

in 24 hours, is more energy than all theconventional oil that has been

or ever will be

extracted.


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The total global annual consumption of energyThe total global annual consumption of energy

((400 quads400 quads) is roughly the equivalent) is roughly the equivalent

to 40 minutes of sunlight:to 40 minutes of sunlight:Spider silk is 5 times stronger than steel and madeSpider silk is 5 times stronger than steel and madefrom digested crickets..at room temperature!from digested crickets..at room temperature!

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http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/energy/stats_ctry/Stat1.htmlhttp://energy.cr.usgs.gov/energy/stats_ctry/Stat1.htmlhttp://energy.cr.usgs.gov/energy/stats_ctry/Stat1.html


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The systems by which we livetoday are simply,non-sustainable.

Bill Mollison

Bill Mollison David Holmgren

1978


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Permaculture is really about relationship,

our relationship as humans to the world around us.

The Question Is

Will (do) we work with the natural abundance

and flows of our world and universeor will (do) we ignore these?

Permaculture Ethic

2. Care of Earth (life)

3. Care of People (everywhere)

4. Share all Surplus (no waste or pollution)


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MassiveEnergy Inputs

10 calories of oil = 1 calorie of food


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Chicken Tractor


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Mark & Jen Shepards farm 14 years ago when purchased.

How a Swale Holds Water on the Landscape


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How a Swale Holds Water on the Landscape


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Mark & Jen Shepards farm 14 years ago when purchased.


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Permaculture Model Holds water on the landscape

Builds topsoil, fertility and humus

No herbicides, pesticides or artificialfertilizers

Yields increase for 30 years then

continue to produce for generations.

H l t & Ch t tH l t & Ch t t


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Hazelnuts & ChestnutsHazelnuts & Chestnuts


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Henry BrockmanEureka, IL

Successful organic vegetablefarmer on 10 acres.

15 Years.

Its About Relationship

K i & M t T i


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Kris & Marty TravisSpence Farm, Fairbury, IL


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Harvest anaverage of

$25,000 worth of:-Lambsquarter

-Ramps(wild leeks)

-Wildflower Seed-Red Amaranth(pigweed)

each year.

All growing wildon their farm.


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Rickard Farm OhioRotational grazing doubled grass

production and restored health to soil.

J H St b l H


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Jon Haemes Strawbale Home

Consumes 90% less energy(from the grid or LP gas)

compared to the average

American home

The Haemes Strawbale Home


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The walls are almost two feet thick

and have a rounded feel to them.

The home is incredibly energy-

efficient with its south-facing

windows that let in light and heat

in the winter.


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Harvesting rain

water inour new

Rain GardensBill and Becky Wilson

Home of

Midwest Permaculture


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Save Perspective as Previous Picture Year 1 68


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How many gallons of water come off of a2,000 sq.ft. home during a 1 (inch) rain?


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We will water the gardeneven if it doesnt need it,

emptying the tank, before arain. Why?


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Feb. 18th

Permaculture Greenhouses


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that grow food 365 days/year on renewable energy.

Producing the vegetables we eat 52 weeks a year.


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Lettuce

Broccoli Tomatoes

Sweet Peas

Onion

Green Beans

Zucchini

Cucumber

Potatoes Cabbage

Cauliflower

Etc


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Bio-intensive Farming and Gardening MethodsYielding up to 10xs the food of industrial agriculture


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g p g

John Jeavons

How To Grow More Vegetables Than You Ever Thought

Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine


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Lead Instructor of our PDC Courses - Wayne WeisemanLead Instructor of our PDC Courses - Wayne WeisemanAuthorized by Bill Mollison and the Permaculture Institute of Australia toAuthorized by Bill Mollison and the Permaculture Institute of Australia to

teach the Design Certification Course (PDC) and grant PDC Certification.teach the Design Certification Course (PDC) and grant PDC Certification.

Wa neWayne


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WayneWayne

WeisemansWeisemans

DayempurDayempur

CommunityCommunity

FarmFarm


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Wayne Weiseman in Kano, Nigeria, Feb.2007


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- Permaculture Design Seeks to -


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Provide for Our Current Needs

Bring Decency and Dignity to all People

Assure Abundance for Future Generations

Repair the Damage to our Planet

Reverse/Retard Global Warming


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The

Question Is:

Will we work

with nature?

Permaculture is about RelationshipPermaculture is about Relationship


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Permaculture is about RelationshipPermaculture is about Relationship

Sun & SoilSun & Soil Water & AirWater & Air

Plants & AnimalsPlants & Animals Ourselves and OthersOurselves and Others

We can create abundance for all.


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For what is the use of a home,For what is the use of a home,if you havent got a tolerable planetif you havent got a tolerable planet

to put it on?to put it on? H.D. ThoreauH.D. Thoreau

Let ours be a time remembered for,


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~ the awakening of a new

reverence for life,~ the firm resolve to achieve

sustainability,

~ the quickening of the struggle

for justice and peace,

~ and the joyful celebration of life.U.N. Earth Charter

a new reverence


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for life

Care of People

---

Care of Planet

---The dream of the heart

George Washington Carver

It time for us to step forward fromadolescents to adulthood.

Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody's watching


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Dance like nobody s watching.

Sing like nobody's listening.

Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

Each of us can be a part of a change that is possible Bill Wilson MidwestPermaculture.com


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Permaculture ResourcesPermaculture Resources


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Recommended

Design Course Text



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Mollisons Original Text 550pgs.

Midwest Permaculture TrainingsMidwest Permaculture Trainings


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8-Day Design Certification Courses

4-Day Suburban/Urban Training Intensives

1-Day or Half-Day Introductory Trainings

Webinars WalkAbouts Books. More

Midwest Permaculture

125 Crescent LaneStelle, Illinois815-256-2215

www.MidwestPermaculture.com

The Case for Permaculture Session 1 of 7

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Transcript of The Case for Permaculture Session 1 of 7