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- | ==== Gro World _ RUrban | + | ==== Gro World - (R)Urban |
This report from [[sanjeev shankar]] is in progress as of 2008-03 | This report from [[sanjeev shankar]] is in progress as of 2008-03 | ||
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The subject of this project demands a sensitized and practical approach. The methodology was crucial to help the design researcher develop empathy for the cause and also become aware of the complexity of the problem at hand. Visiting the Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary in Kerala and subsequent visits to other sustainable enterprises dedicated to organic methods of farming and revitalisation of traditional Indian farming techniques were crucial to inform the research. It has helped the researcher appreciate the nuances and demands of the project. Reading the book, ‘An Agricultural Testament’ by Sir Albert Howard was a critical experience in realising the huge divide in agriculture methods between the orient and the occident. While, ' | The subject of this project demands a sensitized and practical approach. The methodology was crucial to help the design researcher develop empathy for the cause and also become aware of the complexity of the problem at hand. Visiting the Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary in Kerala and subsequent visits to other sustainable enterprises dedicated to organic methods of farming and revitalisation of traditional Indian farming techniques were crucial to inform the research. It has helped the researcher appreciate the nuances and demands of the project. Reading the book, ‘An Agricultural Testament’ by Sir Albert Howard was a critical experience in realising the huge divide in agriculture methods between the orient and the occident. While, ' | ||
+ | |||
====Solution/ | ====Solution/ | ||
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=== Permaculture === | === Permaculture === | ||
- | Permaculture is an integrated, interdependent, | + | [[Permaculture]] is an integrated, interdependent, |
Permaculture also reflects the ongoing evolution of our knowledge systems and can be intepreted to any area which might benefit from such holistic design theory and practice. Human settlements, | Permaculture also reflects the ongoing evolution of our knowledge systems and can be intepreted to any area which might benefit from such holistic design theory and practice. Human settlements, | ||
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For many, the Permaculture focus on land and natural resource management is complimentary to the industrial focus of the "green tech" optimists, but there are differences. Permaculture: | For many, the Permaculture focus on land and natural resource management is complimentary to the industrial focus of the "green tech" optimists, but there are differences. Permaculture: | ||
- | * gives priority to using existing wealth to rebuilding natural capital, especially trees and forests, as a proven storage of wealth to sustain humanity into a future with less fossil fuel. | + | |
- | * emphasises bottom-up " | + | * emphasises bottom-up " |
- | * more fundamentally, | + | * more fundamentally, |
- | * sees pre-industrial sustainable societies as providing models that reflect the more general system design principles observable in nature,and relevant to post-industrial systems. | + | * sees pre-industrial sustainable societies as providing models that reflect the more general system design principles observable in nature,and relevant to post-industrial systems. |
The assumptions on which permaculture was originally based were: | The assumptions on which permaculture was originally based were: | ||
- | * The environmental crisis is real and its magnitude and impact directly threatens our survival. | + | |
- | * The ongoing impact of golbal industrial society and human numbers on biodiversity would be far greater than has ever been. | + | * The ongoing impact of golbal industrial society and human numbers on biodiversity would be far greater than has ever been. |
- | * Humans are subject to the same scientific laws which govern the entire universe including the evolution of life. | + | * Humans are subject to the same scientific laws which govern the entire universe including the evolution of life. |
- | * The inevitable depletion of non-renewable fuels will see a return to general pre-industrial systems dependent on renewable energy and resources. | + | * The inevitable depletion of non-renewable fuels will see a return to general pre-industrial systems dependent on renewable energy and resources. |
Further, insofar as permaculture is an appropriate response to limitations on use of energy and natural resources, it will move on from its current status as " | Further, insofar as permaculture is an appropriate response to limitations on use of energy and natural resources, it will move on from its current status as " | ||
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Permaculture is a wholehearted adaptation to the ecological realities of decline and offers us a graceful and ethical descent. The process for providing for people' | Permaculture is a wholehearted adaptation to the ecological realities of decline and offers us a graceful and ethical descent. The process for providing for people' | ||
- | 1.Observe and Interact | + | - Observe and Interact |
- | 2.Catch and store energy | + | |
- | 3.Obtain a yield | + | |
- | 4.Apply self-regulation and accept feedback | + | |
- | 5.Use and value renewable resources and services | + | |
- | 6.Produce no waste | + | |
- | 7.Design from patterns to details | + | |
- | 8.Integrate rather than segregate | + | |
- | 9.Use small and slow solutions | + | |
- | 10.Use and value diversity | + | |
- | 11.Use edges and value the marginal | + | |
- | 12.Creatiively | + | - Creatively |
Now, in a situation of descent, //ethics// become indispensable and through their culturally evolved systemic nature lead us to create a more inclusive view of who and what constitutes " | Now, in a situation of descent, //ethics// become indispensable and through their culturally evolved systemic nature lead us to create a more inclusive view of who and what constitutes " | ||
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A permaculture garden is not a garden seen in nature. Though it might have a configuration like a forest in terms of stability and efficiency, it is rich in functional plants which have a strong relationship with each other and result in high yields. In urban situations, space is limited, there may be little or no access to land, and various regulatory restrictions exist when it comes to gardening or having backyard animals. Some of the concepts that people have used in urban settings which have allowed them to circumnavigate these obstacles are discussed below. They are a mix of approaches, ranging from gardening to co-parenting, | A permaculture garden is not a garden seen in nature. Though it might have a configuration like a forest in terms of stability and efficiency, it is rich in functional plants which have a strong relationship with each other and result in high yields. In urban situations, space is limited, there may be little or no access to land, and various regulatory restrictions exist when it comes to gardening or having backyard animals. Some of the concepts that people have used in urban settings which have allowed them to circumnavigate these obstacles are discussed below. They are a mix of approaches, ranging from gardening to co-parenting, | ||
- | * Rooftop gardens: Rooftop gardens are a specific urban agriculture niche set within a broader system of city gardens, enjoying their own set of distinctive benefits. Rooftops are underutilized and rarely-considered urban spaces with great potential for creative development. There are essentially [[three_options_for_rooftop_gardens]] for rooftop gardens. | + | * Rooftop gardens: Rooftop gardens are a specific urban agriculture niche set within a broader system of city gardens, enjoying their own set of distinctive benefits. Rooftops are underutilized and rarely-considered urban spaces with great potential for creative development. There are essentially [[three options for rooftop gardens]] for rooftop gardens. |
- | * Vertical gardens: Commonly seen in many western cities, vertical gardens act as good insulators and a source of food. They also increase the life of the structural wall behind. Vines are one of the most common plants used to create vertical green facades. | + | * Vertical gardens: Commonly seen in many western cities, vertical gardens act as good insulators and a source of food. They also increase the life of the structural wall behind. Vines are one of the most common plants used to create vertical green facades. |
+ | {{: | ||
+ | ((www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com)) | ||
* City farms: In New york, numerous vacant plots have been converted into city farms where communities grow there own food. These range from apples to pears. Further, by using graftign techniques, fences can be made entirely out of such plants. In Melbourne, the city farms also play the role of community education centres, which is a brilliant way to introduce kids to aspects of food production. In Davis, California, through the allocation of areas for directing rain water into catchment basins, //swail areas// have been created which over the years have now transformed into productive fruit farms. | * City farms: In New york, numerous vacant plots have been converted into city farms where communities grow there own food. These range from apples to pears. Further, by using graftign techniques, fences can be made entirely out of such plants. In Melbourne, the city farms also play the role of community education centres, which is a brilliant way to introduce kids to aspects of food production. In Davis, California, through the allocation of areas for directing rain water into catchment basins, //swail areas// have been created which over the years have now transformed into productive fruit farms. | ||
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=== Possibilities for urban permaculture kits === | === Possibilities for urban permaculture kits === | ||
- | An important question considered by the researcher was, what are the growth symbols/ | + | An important question considered by the researcher was, what are the growth symbols/ |
see [[urban permaculture kits]] | see [[urban permaculture kits]] | ||
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* // | * // | ||
* // | * // | ||
- | * //comments on the response of the public (if applicable)// | ||
====References==== | ====References==== | ||
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The claims and insights in this research have been informed by the [[delhi interviews|interviews]], | The claims and insights in this research have been informed by the [[delhi interviews|interviews]], | ||
- | * // | + | Books |
- | + | ||
- | Books: | + | |
* An Agricultural Testament by Sir Albert Howard | * An Agricultural Testament by Sir Albert Howard | ||
* Permaculture: | * Permaculture: | ||
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* http:// | * http:// | ||
- | * //media used in the research (film, audiovisual media, photographs...)// | + | Films |
- | + | ||
- | 1. Power of community: Produced by the community solution organization, | + | |
- | * // | + | * Power of community: Produced by the community solution organization, |
+ | * Bill Mollison-Global Gardener Series 1-4 | ||
+ | * Bill Mollison-Funding the Revolution | ||
+ | * Bill Mollison-Permaculture Design Course | ||
+ | * Farming with Nature-A case study of successful temperate Permaculture | ||
+ | * Permaculture- Sepp Holzer - Aquaculture-Synergy of Land and Water | ||
+ | * Permaculture- Emilia Hazelip-Synergistic Garden |