Category Archives: Current affairs

Political, social and financial issues

Our road floods on both sides of our property.
Building, Community, Courses, Current affairs, Earthworks, News, Permaculture, self reliance, Society, Water harvesting

Prepared for disaster

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Our road floods on both sides of our property.

Our road floods on both sides of our property.

Disaster is a word that strikes fear into most people. We usually believe disaster is out of our control. The actual happening of the disaster may be out of our control, but how we deal with it and how we come out the other end, is fully in our control. Last weekend we had a major rain event here, from an ex-tropical cyclone swooping through the region. Wind pushed trees over and there was major flooding in this and other areas. We were flooded in for 2 days.  Continue reading →

Community, Current affairs, News, Permaculture, Society

Put your questions to the experts

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English: Geoff Lawton headshot

English: Geoff Lawton headshot (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Permaculture Research Institute Australia has put together a question and answer forum and video, in which experts answer questions put to them by forum members. Find out more here: http://permaculturenews.org/2012/11/28/put-your-questions-to-the-experts-round-1-geoff-lawton/ for round 1 and here: http://permaculturenews.org/2012/12/05/put-your-questions-to-the-experts-round-2-geoff-lawton/ for round 2. Geoff Lawton from PRI Australia will be answering the questions for these rounds. There are links to the forums where you can ask your own questions for round 3!

Community, Current affairs, News, self reliance, Society, Urban Permaculture

Superstorm Sandy; the new normal?

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A freak storm, never before seen. After the end of the normal hurricane season, this “superstorm” developed and severely affected the Carribean and northern US, killing people and causing devastation everywhere. But are we really that surprised? Is nature trying to point out the error in our ways? How can New Yorkers possibly think that they are innocent in creating this storm?  Continue reading →

Courses, Current affairs, Gardening, Nutrition, Plants, Soils

Not just dirt

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Not just dirt

It came to my attention recently that a lot of people do not understand the importance of healthy soil. People are very concerned about pests and disease in their garden. Slugs, caterpillars, moths and numerous other critters that seem to make a scrumptious meal out of the fruits and vegetables so lovingly tended in backyards. Molds and fungus that inexplicably appear on otherwise healthy looking plants.  Continue reading →

Pigmelon and Pademelon, natures solution to severely deteriorated soil; soil at the point of collapse.
Current affairs, Farm animals, Gardening, Society

Pending collapse of WA’s breadbasket?

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We recently went to WA to see Tom’s family. Tom hasn’t lived in WA for 10 years now, and he was shocked by the severe degradation seen driving South from Perth.

Bare Paddock in WA, with some rocks and Pademelons visible

There was evidence of overgrazing (mainly sheep in that area) and excessive chemical use. The overgrazing has compacted the earth, there is no organic material left and when it rains the ground cannot absorb any water. There were some puddles in places on the side of the road, there seemed to have been a reasonable amount of precipitation over the summer. The average rainfall in that area is 500mm per year.  Continue reading →