Nature by Numbers
Patterns in nature never cease to amaze us. The short clip below gives some visuals on what we teach in our Permaculture Design Courses about how to use natural patterns to increase sustainability in human systems. For instance, on many plants, the leaves are spaced in a “Golden Mean” ratio around the stem – giving each leave maximum exposure to sunlight. That same ratio in a thin spiral seashell gives it more structural support while keeping it light and mobile. How could you use these ratios to improve your design? 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkGeOWYOFoA&feature=youtu.be
Cob building – “living in a hug”
Alternative economy in Greece
Greece develops cashless, Euro-free currency in tight economy
http://www.rawstory .com/rs/2012/ 03/16/greece- develops- euro-free- currency- in-tight- economy/# .T2RcMFoiN3h. twitter
A determination to `move beyond anger to creativity’ is driving a strong barter economy in some places
In recent weeks, Theodoros Mavridis has bought fresh eggs, tsipourou (the local brandy: beware), fruit, olives, olive oil, jam, and soap. He has also had some legal advice, and enjoyed the services of an accountant to help fill in his tax return.
None of it has cost him a euro, because he had previously done a spot of electrical work – repairing a TV, sorting out a dodgy light – for some of the 800-odd members of a fast-growing exchange network in the port town of Volos, midway between Athens and Thessaloniki.
In return for his expert labour, Mavridis received a number of Local Alternative Units (known as tems in Greek) in his online network account. In return for the eggs, olive oil, tax advice and the rest, he transferred tems into other people’s accounts….
Follow the Food
A timely article about some of the strategies being used to reclaim farmland from the jaws of development, and to get and keep regenerative farms in production. Some good ideas that financial and community governance and land tenure permaculture could add to and enhance…
http://www.fa-mag.com/green/news/10123-follow-the-food.html
Eradicating Ecocide
We need to create laws that will prevent criminals from passing the true costs of doing business on to others. Future generations are being robbed of their natural capital by greedy, short-sighted and irresponsible people. They need to be held accountable. What would happen if ecocide was a crime? This is true cost accounting. Check out the video!
http://www.eradicatingecocide.com/the-trial/
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Keep up on what is happening in the Permaculture World both locally and around the world.