Fresh off the press from a PDC in Vermont -- A PERMACULTURE PANCAKE POLYCULTURE.
Here's the species - function list :
Long-term overstory
• sugar maple (Acer saccharum) - syrup
• black walnut (Juglans nigra) - nuts, syrup
• shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) - nuts, syrup
• black birch (Betula lenta) - syrup, tea
• sweet-acorn oaks (Quercus spp) - acorn flour for pancakes! (see www.oikostreecrops.com for a great selection)
Selected Understory
• chicken (Gallus domesticus) - eggs (for the pancake batter!)
• pawpaw (Asimina triloba) - banana custard-flavored fruit, shade tolerant
• gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) - tasty tart fruit, shade tolerant
• currant (Ribes spp.) - tasty tart fruit, shade tolerant
This arose from our discussion of mixed-species sugar-bushes. My research & experimentation this spring shpowed that black walnut (Juglans nigra) trees can be tapped and boiled for a DELICIOUS syrup, and friends inform me that Hickories (Carya spp.) can also be tapped. Add these to the traditional sugar maple (Acer saccharum), other maple species (Acer spp.), and birch (Betula spp., especially B. lenta), and we're looking at a significantly more diverse stand of locally-appropriate sugar production!
Let's step beyond the relative monoculture of sugar maples! And go even farther for some delicious perennial permaculture pancakes.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
50% by 2015: A Perennial Agriculture Challenge
From Kevin Skvorak of Regeneration CSA to the Northeastern Permaculture Listserv:
Howdy Kevin and All!
I think the 'should' is difficult. It depends on who we are talking about, and what their goals are.
If we approach this from the CO2 and climate change angle, and set a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by shifting to perennial agriculture, here's a proposed research track to answer your questions:
• What are the CO2 emissions resulting from annual ag. in the northeast?
• What are the estimated CO2 emissions (or sequestrations!) from perennial ag? We might look at some small-scale estimations (e.g. Martin Crawford's forest garden in the UK) and larger estimations (Badgersett Research Center's Woody Agriculture in MN, Carbon Farmers of America's Holistic Management grazing in VT)
• What might be the CO2 emissions resulting from transition between annual & perennial agriculture?
Personally, I think I can get to 5% of my calorie intake from perennial crops by fall 2010. And, I'm going to aim for 50% of my calories from perennial 'crops' (including animals!) in the next 5 years.
How about that? 50% by 2015? Anyone else want to give this a try with me?
Cheers,
Ethan
"...What percentage of the calories in our diet (NE region) should we be getting from perennial crops? How if any way should this influence the thinking of people involved in local planning, farmland protection, and smart growth issues?"My Response:
Howdy Kevin and All!
I think the 'should' is difficult. It depends on who we are talking about, and what their goals are.
If we approach this from the CO2 and climate change angle, and set a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by shifting to perennial agriculture, here's a proposed research track to answer your questions:
• What are the CO2 emissions resulting from annual ag. in the northeast?
• What are the estimated CO2 emissions (or sequestrations!) from perennial ag? We might look at some small-scale estimations (e.g. Martin Crawford's forest garden in the UK) and larger estimations (Badgersett Research Center's Woody Agriculture in MN, Carbon Farmers of America's Holistic Management grazing in VT)
• What might be the CO2 emissions resulting from transition between annual & perennial agriculture?
Personally, I think I can get to 5% of my calorie intake from perennial crops by fall 2010. And, I'm going to aim for 50% of my calories from perennial 'crops' (including animals!) in the next 5 years.
How about that? 50% by 2015? Anyone else want to give this a try with me?
Cheers,
Ethan
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Congratulations Epworth PDC Graduates!!!
You all rock! Congratulations to everyone who presented their final permaculture designs and received their certificate! Here are some photos from the weekend.
Could someone post a photo of the whole class? And maybe an image of your certificate?
Go Ninja Turtles!
Could someone post a photo of the whole class? And maybe an image of your certificate?
Go Ninja Turtles!
14 Things to do after a Permaculture Design Course
Here's a list of 14 things to do after a Permaculture Design Certification Course. This list came to me from Geoff Lawton of the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, and Christian Shearer of the Panya Project and I added to it at the January 2009 PDC at the Panya Project.
1. Start at your own back door! Design and Implement!
2. Create or join a local permaculture guild.
3. Travel to other permaculture sites. (UK Permaculture database; PRI projects; Permaculture Activist Directory)
4. Take another PDC or focused course.
5. Volunteer or work in a related field.
6. Give intro talks about permaculture to groups in your area.
7. Practice making designs.
8. Host a course taught by someone else.
9. Apprentice or intern with an experienced designer or teacher.
10. Start a locally impacting enterprise.
11. Do a Diploma of Applied Permaculture Design (more info coming soon!).
12. Get an accredited permaculture degree through Gaia University.
13. Eventually become a permaculture contsultant or teacher.
14. Register as a Tagari-certified teacher.
Would you like to add to this list? Or reorganize it? Go for it the comments!
1. Start at your own back door! Design and Implement!
2. Create or join a local permaculture guild.
3. Travel to other permaculture sites. (UK Permaculture database; PRI projects; Permaculture Activist Directory)
4. Take another PDC or focused course.
5. Volunteer or work in a related field.
6. Give intro talks about permaculture to groups in your area.
7. Practice making designs.
8. Host a course taught by someone else.
9. Apprentice or intern with an experienced designer or teacher.
10. Start a locally impacting enterprise.
11. Do a Diploma of Applied Permaculture Design (more info coming soon!).
12. Get an accredited permaculture degree through Gaia University.
13. Eventually become a permaculture contsultant or teacher.
14. Register as a Tagari-certified teacher.
Would you like to add to this list? Or reorganize it? Go for it the comments!
Friday, March 27, 2009
"Hi Ethan,
I'm doing a research project at Umass for my climatic change class. I want to do a case study of some different permaculture sites that are using permaculture to deal with and adapt to changes in the climate. My professor is skeptical and I really want to knock his socks off with my project. Do you know of any good sites/projects I could research? Also know of any good resources for finding more info on these projects?"
In Australia, look for Crystal Waters Ecovillage. And Melliodora on www.holmgren.com.au - one of the best-documented permaculture sites in the world.
And, Murrnong: A Permaculture Subdivision.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOW-RdCFax0
And look for Village Homes in California -- best example of a permaculture development -- there are several books about it.
Good luck!
Ethan
Monday, January 19, 2009
Panya Project Smorgasbord
A slew of fresh photos from the incredible Panya Project in northern Thailand, where we're 9 days into a Permaculture Design Certification Course...
In the mud-pit, the class mixes up a fresh batch of adobe for brick-making & earth-plastering. Clay, sand, rice hulls, water, and feet.
Geoffroy
Students pour adobe into 4x8x16" brick forms. On a good morning the Panya crew makes 150 bricks. Many of the structures on site are built from 1200-1500 bricks. These will sun-dry...
Everything you see in this food forest was planted 2 years ago. Incredible how quickly things grow in the tropics!
In the food forest, wow. Papaya. We just don't grow fruit this big in the temperate climate. Wait till you see the jackfruit.
One of the many fast-growing nitrogen-fixing shrub species -- a pioneer species to provide shade and improve the soil for the longer-term tree crops.
The fruits of tropical labor -- Parkie brews up a ginger-chile wine named "The Ginger Temptress".
More from the Panya Permaculture Course soon! Also check out www.panyaproject.blogspot.com for the ongoing COMPOST SAGA ---->
In the mud-pit, the class mixes up a fresh batch of adobe for brick-making & earth-plastering. Clay, sand, rice hulls, water, and feet.
Geoffroy
Students pour adobe into 4x8x16" brick forms. On a good morning the Panya crew makes 150 bricks. Many of the structures on site are built from 1200-1500 bricks. These will sun-dry...
Everything you see in this food forest was planted 2 years ago. Incredible how quickly things grow in the tropics!
In the food forest, wow. Papaya. We just don't grow fruit this big in the temperate climate. Wait till you see the jackfruit.
One of the many fast-growing nitrogen-fixing shrub species -- a pioneer species to provide shade and improve the soil for the longer-term tree crops.
The fruits of tropical labor -- Parkie brews up a ginger-chile wine named "The Ginger Temptress".
More from the Panya Permaculture Course soon! Also check out www.panyaproject.blogspot.com for the ongoing COMPOST SAGA ---->
Friday, January 16, 2009
Permaculture in Thailand!
Howdy All! I'm blogging live from the Panya Project in Chiang Mai, Thailand -- an emerging permaculture paradise bursting at the seams with fresh bananas, passionfruit, garden greens, and joyful permaculture students of all ages!
Here I am with Ping Sodantha, the kinetic and bi-lingual 3-year old daughter of our head chef Kae.
For more of our adventures, check out www.panaypermaculture.blogspot.com -- I've just uploaded photos of the class building our compost pile.
Here I am with Ping Sodantha, the kinetic and bi-lingual 3-year old daughter of our head chef Kae.
For more of our adventures, check out www.panaypermaculture.blogspot.com -- I've just uploaded photos of the class building our compost pile.
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