Wednesday, August 18, 2010
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 the local wholefoods shop and a piece of single-wall stainless steel flu pipe attached to [...]
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 more like a cult, which obscures its intentions, and is doing untold harm in persuading [...]
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 also combating climate change), rocket stoves, DIY stoves, site surveying & observation techniques, basic triangulation, [...]
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 and practical book which seems sure to become the definitive text for cool temperate forest [...]
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 a wonderful venue for the drama course, lead by Belinda Wild, to perform their annual [...]
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 write to him for a review copy which, once he had had a look at [...]
Saturday, February 27, 2010
I have updated the Courses Page for 2010, which includes the 2nd Full Permaculture design Course at The Village, Cloughjordan. August 20th – 29th 2010 | The Village, Cloughjordan, Tipperary | For bookings and further information contact Davie Philip davie@cultivate.ie Enjoy a full ‘PDC’ immersed in the thriving and innovative environment of Cloughjordan’s ecovillage. Tutors [...]
Friday, February 26, 2010
For those of you who have been thinking that your humble zone5 blogger has got his head in the toilet for much of the time, I can now offer you proof: After many years of shitting in a bucket I am now proud to announce the opening of a brand new twin-chamber concrete block toilet [...]
Thanks for Albert Bates for sending us this uplifting snapshot of a permaculture course in Belize. Hopefully this years’ PCD in Tipperary will generate as creative cabaret as this!
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009
It is now exactly 6 months since I set up my 600watt at Derryduff. Having now reached the shortest days of the year I am in a position to evaluate its performance, and I can say it has served me very well. Obviously there has been a huge difference in power availability between summer and [...]