Permaculture

 A couple of years ago, I went to a Big Green Gathering. Whilst there, I got to do many fun but silly things, like sit in a stone circle under the stars, learn how to ‘use’ a diving rod, and the true meaning of 2012. I also got to sit in on a lecture about Permaculture.

I am a bit of a green at heart. Like most people, though, I plead lack of time and money as an excuse. Truth is, if I followed permaculture principles, I’d be going hand in hand with frugality.

Anyway. My move next week is hopefully going to give me a starting point to start practising what I preach.

I have lots and lots of ideas (I want to grow food in big pots, I want to learn to can and jar fresh produce, I want to build my own solar oven). My dream, eventually, is to get to a completely self-sustaining state, where I am actually giving energy/food back to the system, rather than just being a consumer. That is a long long way off, however.

So. What am I going to do?

1. Reduce/Conserve

There’s no shower, only a bath. I want to conserve water as much as possible. I will wash with the mixer tap and not take two hour baths where I re-fill with hot water halfway through. I will get a rain-butt to water my garden with. I will re-use grey water for cleaning the toilet and anything else I can think of.

I will not get a dryer, I will dry my clothes outside or on a horse. I will use the slow cooker more, and get this solar oven built. I will get re-usable sanitary towels again. I will cut down on air-miles, and buy local wherever possible. I will try Basil’s ‘English-only’ diet for 30 days, in which I consume nothing that I can’t get from a local farm (no bananas, or out-of-season strawberries. Worse, no non-herbal tea.)

2. Stacking Functions

I will find alternative uses for everything I can. I will re-use packaging as plant-pots. I will not buy single-use devices (Juicer, I’m looking at you). I will ride a bike as opposed to drive. (Exercise + transport). I will use my PS3 as my music player, game console, DVD player, and general media centre. 

I need more ideas in this area.

3. Repeating Functions

I will grow lots of different food, so that if one lot fails (as it surely will) the others might come through. I will have alternate methods of heating food (solar oven, slow cooker, regular oven). I’m out of ideas! I need to research this.

4. Reciprocity

I will compost my kitchen waste. I will water plants with the soaked water from my re-usable sanitary towels (whatever P. says…) I will use grey-water to flush the toilet. Ummm. Will use cardboard packaging to grow plants in. This is actually pretty hard (we’re such a specialised based culture)

5. Appropriate Scale

I’m pretty up on this. I work close to where I live, and since I’m not in charge of building dams and what not, I don’t get to pick the scale of industrial action.

6. Diversity

Lots of different plants. Also, using lots of different ingredients in food for a varied diet. Doing different things every day, and avoiding staring at the TV every evening. Playing games. Getting a water element into the garden. Diversifying my income stream, so I’m not reliant on one wage packet. (i.e. write the damn novel)

7. Give away the surplus

I donated 2 bags of clothes and a bunch of books to charity today, but that’s not quite it since I didn’t make those clothes and books. I guess I can give away food, but I can’t think of much else people would want!