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Author Archives: Melissa Ott Fant
Decolonizing Permaculture
Thank you so much to the contributors of the Liberation Permaculture post “Decolonizing Permaculture” for creating and sharing such vital critiques, resources, and perspectives. We are listening, learning, and committed to decolonizing permaculture even more deeply in our programs.
Podcast: Decolonization & Sudden Oak Life
Current PDC student Danielle created two podcast episodes from audio recordings at our Broadscale Permaculture weekend in February 2021. The podcasts feature talks by Kanyon Sayers-Roods on Decolonization, and Dr. Lee Klinger on Sudden Oak Life.
Zone and Sector Analysis
One of the design methods used in permaculture that takes place early on in a site design is Zone and Sector Analysis. Through observation and gathering information about the site, its nearby surroundings, and the people who utilize or will utilize the site, we identify zones of use and sectors of energy that influence or affect the site. In this article we explore these two analyses.
Rainwater Harvesting: Brush Check Dams and Gabions
In these articles, we’ve covered various ways to slow, sink, spread, and store rainwater. Gabions are another way to do this on landscapes that have eroded gullies or existing seasonal drainages. Creating brush gabions also puts to good use onsite fuel load you’ve reduced from your forest–all the branches, bushes, and small trees that are cleared to create defensible space and reduce fire fuel load in forested areas.
Whitewashed Hope
We are honored to support this Indigenous-led collaborative post, which invites proponents of western ecological agriculture to go deeper—to not ‘take’ certain land practices from Indigenous cultures without their context, but to encompass deeper Indigenous worldviews… inspiring a consciousness shift that will support us to go from a dominant culture of supremacy and domination to one founded on reciprocity, respect, and interrelations with all beings—including, of course, among all humans.
Top 25 Permaculture Articles of 2020
We share permaculture articles on our Facebook page every day of the year. Read 25 of the most popular articles from 2020!
Preparing for winter rains after the fires
Now is the time to prepare for the coming winter rains to prevent additional damage to the recovering forest while simultaneously preparing the ground to receive much-needed rains to help the forest regrow. Even if your home wasn’t affected by the fires, you can still prepare for the coming rainy season with some of the suggestions outlined below.
Shop Local Gift Guide 2020
Looking for a permaculture-inspired gift for the holidays? We’ve put together this gift guide featuring small, locally owned businesses so that we can all shop local this holiday season–and beyond!
Fire Cider Herb-Infused Vinegars
Learn how to make fire cider herb-infused vinegars with this simple recipe from Paula Grainger.