Permaculture Ireland
Courses/Workshops, News, Social Gatherings — by Alanna Moore February 12, 2009
We are pleased to announce that our new website – permacultureireland.ie – is now up and running, as we prepare for our inaugral event in Ireland, an Eco-Living Festival at the Drumsna Community Resource Centre, Drumsna, Co. Leitrim on June 6 – 7th, a showcase for sustainable, low-impact living.
Expressions of interest to get involved can email us at sheltermaker (at) gmail.com
The festival will be followed by a series of weekend summer workshops in Leitrim on ‘Permaculture: Food and Shelter’ and ‘Low-Tech Living’, taught by Australian permaculturist Alanna Moore, Irish architect Peter Cowman and guests.
Comments (0)Water Chestnuts
Aquaculture, Food Plants - Annual, Medicinal Plants — by Alanna Moore November 29, 2008
The Water Chestnut, Eleocharis dulcis, is a tropical/sub-tropical sedge that grows in water margins and bogs in many parts of India, South-East Asia, New Guinea, Northern Australia and Polynesia. It is an annual that has erect, narrow, tubular leaves (clums) half a metre to a metre tall. The plant spreads by a creeping rhizome which, through the summer months, produces additional sucker plants. The sweet corms are highly valued as a nutritious food. They are also used medicinally for a number of ailments, used either fresh, boiled or steeped in rice wine. The corms contain an antibiotic principle called ‘puchin’, which acts like penicillin, helping in immune functioning. The stems may be used for mulch, fodder, fruit and vegetable packaging, and crafts.
Building Biology – The Third Skin
Building, Health & Disease — by Alanna Moore November 25, 2008
Extracted from: ‘Third Skin’ A. Vasella, Dip Arch., P.I.J. #14. ‘Biotechture’ S.Lesiuk, P.I.J.#8. ‘Biotectual Systems’ R. Doernach P.I.J. #7. International Institute for Building Biology and Ecology PO Box 387 Clearwater FL 34615 USA.
Edited by Alanna Moore
In the western, urban world the average person spends around 90% of their time indoors. Evidence is mounting to show that such prolonged exposure to modern building materials and architecture can be detrimental to health. There is now a growing ‘bio-house’ movement where only natural and renewable resources are used in building people friendly homes.
Biological architecture, originating from the German ‘baubiologie’ movement, addresses the ecological nature of building and the integral relationships between people and their built environment. Building biology makes for good preventative medicine. It aims to re-establish the lost balance between technology, culture and biology. The three should play an equal role in the building activity.
Comments (0)Permaculture Pooch
Bird Life, Breeds, Livestock, Working Animals — by Alanna Moore November 3, 2008
Alanna Moore is the author of ‘Backyard Poultry – Naturally‘ – where you can read more about Vikki and poultry care, including a permaculture approach to keeping them.
You don’t often hear about the positives of dog ownership, in a permaculture sense. My Jack Russell terrier Vikki is a permaculture farm dog, who works for her keep – a real ‘WOOFer’. Not only does she provide a 24 hour fox warning system, but she also uses special skills with the rare poultry I keep.
Vikki can catch a chook on the run. One mention of "catch the birdie" and she flies off in hot pursuit, to finally land on top of the target bird and hold it firmly (but unharmed) underneath her until I arrive on the scene. Other Jack Russel owners can’t believe it’s true. One guy lost 57 chickens to his dog in three minutes! Vikki’s dad happens to be a chook killer too.
Comments (5)Going to Pot!
Uncategorized — by Alanna Moore June 27, 2008
You don’t have to have land, or even a backyard, to grow delicious food. Instead you can use containers – on balconies, rooftops, concrete, and the many underutilised nooks and crannies around the home or workplace. For city dwellers it can be a chance to obtain fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs, and keep in touch with nature. Here Alanna Moore explains how to establish a container garden.
A World View
Growing food in containers is not new. In one of the world’s most crowded cities, Hong Kong, vegetables grow in containers resting on the top of the floating cages used for raising fish. In Colombia, a women’s co-operative produces vegetables for a supermarket chain in tiny yards, roof tops and stairwells. Some city farmers integrate small livestock with their gardening, feeding vegetable scraps to them and using the urine and dung for fertiliser.
In Chile, a 20 square metre city farm at the Centre for Education and Technology produces an abundance of vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, chickens and rabbits. Crops are grown in containers stacked up in pyramids, while potted vines grow up the walls and provide shade. Such intensive gardening can out-produce even the most well-run commercial agricultural systems.
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