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research_report_sanjeev-shankar [2008-04-11 14:59] – sanjeev | research_report_sanjeev-shankar [2008-04-14 16:08] – sanjeev | ||
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At a macro level, this project explores aspects of human environment, | At a macro level, this project explores aspects of human environment, | ||
- | === Brief === | + | === Research |
As stated before the intent of this research is to explore the urban gardening and permaculture trends at a global level and to further explore new ways to establish links between urban realms, its inhabitants and ecology. In the process, the project aims at redefining our relationship with the city and our vision for its future. It attempts to question our prevailing belief system which places nature as an object, to be //viewed, manipulated, | As stated before the intent of this research is to explore the urban gardening and permaculture trends at a global level and to further explore new ways to establish links between urban realms, its inhabitants and ecology. In the process, the project aims at redefining our relationship with the city and our vision for its future. It attempts to question our prevailing belief system which places nature as an object, to be //viewed, manipulated, | ||
- | This phase of the project has the following | + | This phase of the project has the following |
- | + | ||
* On-line and literature survey of state of the art in urban gardening and permaculture (global perspective) | * On-line and literature survey of state of the art in urban gardening and permaculture (global perspective) | ||
* On-site research and comparison of urban gardening in the Benelux and India | * On-site research and comparison of urban gardening in the Benelux and India | ||
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Some of the reasons for this project are given below: | Some of the reasons for this project are given below: | ||
- | | ||
* The uncontrolled growth of cities has had a devastating impact on ecology | * The uncontrolled growth of cities has had a devastating impact on ecology | ||
* By the end of 2008, half the world' | * By the end of 2008, half the world' | ||
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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’ was originally coined in the mid seventies by two Australians, | + | For more on this topic please |
- | + | ||
- | 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 " | + | |
- | * 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. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
- | * 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. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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 " | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ==Permaculture Principles== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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' | + | |
- | - Observe and Interact | + | |
- | - Catch and store energy | + | |
- | - Obtain a yield | + | |
- | - Apply self-regulation and accept feedback | + | |
- | - Use and value renewable resources and services | + | |
- | - Produce no waste | + | |
- | - Design from patterns to details | + | |
- | - Integrate rather than segregate | + | |
- | - Use small and slow solutions | + | |
- | - Use and value diversity | + | |
- | - Use edges and value the marginal | + | |
- | - Creatively use and respond to change ((Permaculture: | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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 " | + | |
- | * Care for the earth | + | |
- | * Care for the people | + | |
- | * Set limits to consumption and reproduction, | + | |
- | + | ||
- | How one inteprets the principles listed above and implements them is open for refinement and improvisation. One has to take responsibility and see problems as opportunities, | + | |
==Urban Permaculture== | ==Urban Permaculture== | ||
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{{: | {{: | ||
- | * Home gardens and local solutions: | + | * Kitchen |
+ | {{: | ||
* 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 grafting 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 grafting 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. |