The Agroinnovations Podcast » Permaculture

Episode #131: Spiral Ridge Permaculture

frank — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:30:21 +0000

Frank is joined by Cliff Davis of Spiral Ridge Permaculture. Cliff begins by breaking down the natural history, forest composition, soil types, and topography of his permaculture farm in central Tennessee. The topic then shifts to permacultural strategies for success in this challenging environment, and concludes with a discussion of the political challenges of a establishing a permanent culture in a damaged society.

Spiral Ridge Permaculture

7th Annual Permaculture Design Course in Belize

Episode #127: Peak Moment Television

frank — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:39:55 +0000

Frank Aragona is joined by Janaia Donaldson, host and producer of Peak Moment Television. Topics of discussion include the production of Peak Moment TV, geodesic domes in Colorado, the strengths and weaknesses of the relocalization movement, Peak Oil as a marginal idea in American society, relocalization as an apolitical phenomenon, and the future of Peak Moment TV.

Peak Moment TV (website)

Peak Moment TV (YouTube)

Episode #123: Vocational Permaculture

frank — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:02:29 +0000

We are joined by Robyn Francis of the Permaculture College of Australia. The conversation begins with a breakdown of how permaculture has become a certified vocation in Australia. We then discuss the curriculum at the Permaculture College, the process of certification, the job market for graduates, local government in Australia embracing permaculture, obstacles to adoption in the United States, and strategies for accelerating the process in local communities.

Permaculture College of Australia

The Agroinnovations Podcast on Facebook

Episode #121: State Banks, Opensource Mythology, and Viralized Transgenics

frank — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:23:54 +0000

This episode of is broken into three parts. First, I am once again joined by Ellen Brown to discuss the state bank of North Dakota. Ellen explains why North Dakota’s state bank is an example for other states in the Union. It provides credit, a social safety net, and economic stability in one of the only states in the US with a budget surplus. Then, I am joined by Willi Paul to discuss open source mythology, Joseph Campbell, and myths in the permaculture age. Finally, I conclude by rejecting the euphemistic term GMO, arguing that Monsanto’s gene-modified crops should be called Viralized Transgenics (VTGs).

Webofdebt.com

Openmythsource.com

Planetshifter.com

We’ve Create a GMOnster (via Alibi.com)

Cannabis, Forgetting, and the Botany of Desire (by Michael Pollan)

Genetic Engineering (via Thinkquest)

Genetically Modified Plant, types (via Wikipedia)

Pathogen New to Science Found in Roundup Ready GM Crops?

Episode #113: Temperate Rice Permaculture

frank — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:14:22 +0000

In this episode of the podcast we are joined once again by permaculture designer and entrepreneur Ben Falk. Ben joined me to talk about his experiments with growing rice in paddies in the temperate climate of Vermont. Topics of discussion include the rationale for working with rice, rice as a hydroponic nutrient management system, the role of animals in rice production, the advantages of using cheap oil to build rice terraces, the potential for tree crops, and the challenges of processing rice at the homestead scale.

Photo Gallery via Whole Systems Design website

Episode #106: The One Straw Revolution

frank — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:00:31 +0000

Once again we are joined by educator, author, and permaculture activist Larry Korn to continue our discussion of the life and philosophy of Masanobu Fukuoka. Topics of discussion include Larry’s relationship with Fukuoka through the years, the translation and publication of The One Straw Revolution, Fukuoka’s world travels, his hope for the future of world agriculture, the making of seed balls, and the difficulties Fukuoka had in conveying his message to others.

Visit the Agroinnovations Blog for show notes and follow-up.

Episode #105: Masanobu Fukuoka

frank — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:39:48 +0000

We are joined by Larry Korn. Larry is a permaculture instructor, educator, and author. He has been an active student and practitioner of permaculture and natural farming for several decades, and is well-known for his friendship with the great pioneer Masanobu Fukuoka.

In this episode we discuss the life and times of Masanobu Fukuoka, the mystical experience that formed the basis for his philosophy and farming method, the methods and practice of natural rice farming, Fukuoka’s self-regenerating orchard, natural methods for pruning fruit trees, and Fukuoka in the context of Japanese spiritual traditions. Part I of II.

Episode #104: Discovering Keyline

frank — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:11:50 +0000

This episode is the second installment in the series featuring keyline pioneer P.A. Yeomans. These interviews were conducted in 1979 by Bruce Hedge, Geoff Booth, and Phill Gall of 3CR Melbourne Radio. P.A. Yeomans died in 1984.

Topics of discussion include the slow adoption of keyline in Australia, the energy crisis of the 1970’s, Yeomans motivation for discovering keyline, the process of discovery, and the use of Nature as a model for design. This is another fine interview featuring a major figure in the permaculture movement; thanks to Darren Doherty for sharing this interview.

Episode #103: P.A. Yeomans and The Bunyip Slipperimp with Shakerator

frank — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:09:33 +0000

In this episode I play an interview from 1979 with keyline pioneer P.A. Yeomans. This interview was conducted by Bruce Hedge, Geoff Booth, and Phill Gall of 3CR Melbourne Radio. P.A. Yeomans died in 1984, several years after this interview was conducted. Special thanks to Darren Doherty for providing the audio for this interview.

Topics of discussion include the invention and utility of the key-line plow, strategies for building top soil, water at the center of land planning, intercropping of cereals and legumes, the fundamentals of keyline design, and forest ecosystems as processing plants for wastewater. Part one in a two part series.

Episode #101: Permaculture On The Fly

frank — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:00:57 +0000

In this episode we are joined once again by Darren Doherty, permaculture designer and consultant, for the second half of a two part interview. We spend a good deal of time discussing a series of spreadsheets Darren has developed as part of his consultancy. These spreadsheets are tools available on Darren’s website that can be used to further increase the permaculture community’s capacity to develop and implement effective projects. We conclude by discussing permaculture’s failure to engage the agricultural industry, and discuss the role of permaculture and Holistic Management in the ongoing and worsening deflationary Depression.

Making Sense of the Financial Crisis in the Era of Peak Oil (Nicole Foss Lecture)

The Automatic Earth (Nicole Foss Blog)

Darren’s Spreadsheets and other useful documents