Category Archives: Permaculture

American Odyssey Part 2: Permaculture in the Pacific North West

Posted on 26 August 2011 by Graham

Living mushrooms for sale in the Ferry Terminal Building, San Francisco: After two weeks of driving it was a relief to bring the car back and get onto the train to Seattle. Amtrak’s Coastal Starlight is considered one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Forest Gardening, Permaculture, Tools and technology | 1 Comment

All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace

Posted on 17 June 2011 by Graham

I only just recently got to watch Adam Curtis’ latest documentary, All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace, which I really enjoyed. As with Curtis’ previous work, such as The Power of Nightmares, a very wide range of different … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change, collapse, consciousness, Environment, Permaculture, Science and Rationaltiy | Leave a comment

Meat and Grass in Permaculture

Posted on 27 December 2010 by Graham

Book Review: Meat- A Benign Extravagance Simon Fairlie Chelsea Green 2010 pbck 322pp My name is Graham, I’m 46 years old and I am a born-again carnivore. Like many of my generation, my first act of rebellion was to become … Continue reading →

Posted in Biodiversity, climate change, Food, Permaculture | 43 Comments

Mushroom Logs

Posted on 30 October 2010 by Graham

Yeah! We have fruiting Shiitake mushrooms on birch logs. Actually they are not mine, but the logs were inoculated about 2 years (!) ago by permaculture students during a field trip to John Dolan’s site near Ballingeary, West Cork. Dowels … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Forest Gardening, Permaculture | 10 Comments

Stoves

Posted on 18 August 2010 by Graham

I love stoves, and we recently made a simple rocket stove on the Introduction to Permaculture course at Carraig Dulra in Wicklow. Above: rocket stove (foreground) and Storm Kettle behind This was made out of a Feta cheese tin from … Continue reading →

Posted in Permaculture, Tools and technology | 4 Comments

Stir- Crazy: Permaculture, Biodynamics and Compost Teas

Posted on 24 July 2010 by Graham

In a recent interview, permaculture teacher Albert Bates discusses Rudolph Steiner and Biodynamics: Click here for MP3 Albert defends Steiner on the basis that Anthroposophy has created a “tribe” which he sees as a good thing. In reality, Anthroposophy is … Continue reading →

Posted in Compost, Gardens, Permaculture, Podcast, Science and Rationaltiy | 9 Comments

Practical Permaculture in Wicklow July 31st- Aug 1st

Posted on 6 July 2010 by Graham

I will be teaching on a 2-day course in practical permaculture at Carraig Dulra, Co. Wicklow, July 31st and August 1st, with Suzie Cahn. The first day will include charcoal making (a potential business opportunity), biochar (which improves soil while … Continue reading →

Posted in Courses, Forest Gardening, Permaculture, Tools and technology | 1 Comment

Creating a Forest Garden

Posted on 16 May 2010 by Graham

Book Review: Creating a Forest Garden Working with nature to grow edible Crops by Martin Crawford Green Books Hardback 384 pp Forward by Rob Hopkins Martin Crawford, Director of the Agroforestry Research Trust in Devon, UK, has produced a beautiful … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, climate change, Forest Gardening, Permaculture | 10 Comments

Natural Building at Kinsale College

Posted on 3 May 2010 by Graham

The flagship project at the Kinsale College has always been the Cordwood Amphitheatre. This unique structure- the only load-bearing cordwood building that I know of- was constructed in about 2001 by Rob Hopkins and his permaculture students and has provided … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Building, Kinsale, Permaculture | 7 Comments

Humble Homes, Simple Shacks

Posted on 7 April 2010 by Graham

Book Review: Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats, Funky Forts by Derek “Deek” Diedricksen After seeing a short film by Deek Diedricksen linked on Energy Bulletin, which demonstrates his ultra-tiny dwelling called the Hickshaw, I was inspired to … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Building, Kinsale, Permaculture, Tools and technology | Leave a comment