Goodbye to the Bucket Toilet February 26, 2010
Posted by Graham in : Compost, Permaculture, water , 1 comment so farFor 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 which renders my bucket obsolete.
Peak Water December 18, 2009
Posted by Graham in : Food, Human Ecology, Overshoot, Population, book review, climate change, collapse, water , add a commentPeak Water Civilisation and the World’s Water Crisis
Alexander Bell
Luath Press 2009
Hardback 208 pp
If oil supply peaks and begins to decline times will be hard. Standard of living will decline and people may go hungry but they will be able to adapt by powering down and making do with less.
If water supply- for domestic use but also for irrigation- peaks and declines people have no option but to migrate.
UK journalist Alexander Bell spells out his thesis starkly in this fascinating and clearly written book: many of the world’s major regions are past or on the brink of peak water and face growing populations with declining supplies. (more…)
Permaculture at Derryduff August 6, 2008
Posted by Graham in : Gardens, Permaculture, water , 2commentsThe summer break from Kinsale College has givien me some time to spend on the site at Derryduff and I have been developing the gardens and landscaping here over the last couple of months.
In particular, a large extension to the small pond has now been created, with multiple potential uses:
-swimming hole- glorious to have!
-general large store of water in the landscape- not as high up as I would have liked as it is below the house but invaluable nevertheless;
-micro-climate creation- the edge around a large pond may serve as a protection against frost for early spring vegetable i could grow there, as a body of water can keep the immediate environment from freezing;
-added reflected sunlight to the northern terraces above the pond;
-potential for edible water plants
-potential even for small-scale fish-farming ( something I know little about, but many of my friends and neighbours around west Cork are also creating large ponds with this in mind).
-general wildlife habitat, especially good for frogs which may keep down the slugs
-adds tremendous beauty to any site (more…)
The Great Magic Water Conference November 16, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Environment, General, Science and Rationaltiy, water , 4commentsAnatomy of a Scam
A few years ago I attended an extraordinary event in Co. Monaghan which I still refer to as “The great magic Water Conference”. Organised by local environmentalists to promote the “discoveries” of an outfit called Perfect Science, it drew together an extraordinary mix of council water engineers, environmentalists and water diviners, pendulum swingers and other purveyors of New Age religion.
I wont reveal the names of those involved in setting up the conference; some of them are old friends I havn’t seen for a while. Ill refer to the main organiser as “John”- not his real name. John had managed to gain the support of the County Council who opened the event and reputedly put up money to pay for it. (more…)
Draining the Shannon July 19, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Environment, water , 2commentsLast week RTE played a radio debate between PJ Walsh, a locally based campaigner and PRO of the recently formed Shannon Environmental Protection Alliance (SPA), and Tom Leahy, an engineer with Dublin City Council.
They discussed a proposal to extract water from the river Shannon at Loch Ree to quench the growing water demand from the greater Dublin area. I had been following this story for a while and Jack O’Sullivan, and environmental consultant who produced an Environmental Impact Study for the SPA, has been kindly keeping me informed of developments. (more…)
When the Rivers Run Dry July 3, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Environment, General, water , add a commentWith changing weather patterns leading to extreme weather reports hitting the headlines with ever greater frequency, it seems there is either too much water, as in the destructive floods across the midlands of England and the North of Ireland earlier this month, or not enough, as in the catastrophic impact of the Australian drought. Water management will be increasingly important, especially for the water demanding cities, and Dublin is no exception- I will shortly post a story on proposals to divert the Shannon to supply the growing capital. As the following book review shows, similar schemes have already had devastating consequences for river systems all over the world. (more…)
