Permaculture Podcast

Greetings Permaculture Podcast Listeners, I am back with another exciting episode of permaculture podcast. You have heard Geoff Lawton say that all of the worlds problems can be solved in the garden. My guest for this episode Eric Toensmeier may heartily agree with that; however he has set his sights on a larger set of landscapes! Eric has not rested since writing Edible Forrest Gardens with Dave Jacke. In which he put forth a challenge to the people, with the passion for forest gardening in the northeastern United States, to get on with implementation and experimenting. He has been busy with several other projects, including gardens, books and videos. His latest effort supported by a kickstarter campaign, is a book tittled "Tool Kit for Climate Stabilization with Tree Crops". This book will be written for a popular audience. It will set forth the challenge to bring the tools of permaculture to the applications of broad scale climate stabilization. As a popular book it should provide a focal point for essential dialogue among policy makers, governments, NGOs and other charitable foundations to consider development of perennial agriculture, to address many of the global grand challenges of today. Stabilize the climate, bolster food security, sequester carbon, ameliorate poverty, cut fossil fuel expenditures and rethink a post scarcity world based on perennial agriculture. Bellow is a festival of links! Here is the link to the Kickstarter Campaign, please support it http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1115575313/writing-toolkit-for-clima... Scott Mann had a great conversation with Eric about the campaign and book http://www.thepermaculturepodcast.com/ Awesome resource! http://www.tropicalforages.info/ Eric's website http://www.perennialsolutions.org Articles by Eric http://permaculturenews.org/2012/02/25/perennial-staple-crops-of-the-world/ http://permaculturenews.org/2013/04/18/carbon-sequestering-perennial-ind... http://permaculturenews.org/2013/04/15/industrial-starch-and-bioplastic-... http://permaculturenews.org/2013/04/12/coppiced-nitrogen-fixing-firewood... TED talk by Allan Savory http://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_world_s_deserts_a... Glorious perennials! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panicum_turgidum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_tortilis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_senegal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faidherbia_albida http://www.landinstitute.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenium_argentatum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylosema_esculentum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_tirucalli http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sclerocarya_birrea Thanks for listening, Ryan read more

Greetings Permaculture Podcast Listeners, Last December I spoke with Dave Asprey of the Bulletproof Executive about optimal nutrition for physical and cognitive performance. We chatted about the burdens that green revolution agriculture and the assault of the soils have placed on the food system, and how that is keeping people from performing and feeling great. People have a general sense that toxic mold in ones house is a problem. It is rare however to spend time thinking about those same myco-toxins impacting conventional grain based foods. Dave shares some very insightful and frightening facts about the effects of myco-toxins in food. Conversely Dave has done extensive research on how to avoid those toxins and dial in a high performance diet. To learn more listen to this conversation and then surf on over to Dave's blog, podcast and web store, http://www.bulletproofexec.com/ also mentioned http://www.betterbabybook.com/ http://www.svhi.com Thanks for listening, Ryan Unmack read more

Greetings Permaculture Podcast Listeners, Last December I spoke with Dave Asprey of the Bulletproof Executive about optimal nutrition for physical and cognitive performance. We chatted about the burdens that green revolution agriculture and the assault of the soils have placed on the food system, and how that is keeping people from performing and feeling great. People have a general sense that toxic mold in ones house is a problem. It is rare however to spend time thinking about those same myco-toxins impacting conventional grain based foods. Dave shares some very insightful and frightening facts about the effects of myco-toxins in food. Conversely Dave has done extensive research on how to avoid those toxins and dial in a high performance diet. To learn more listen to this conversation and then surf on over to Dave's blog, podcast and web store, http://www.bulletproofexec.com/ also mentioned http://www.betterbabybook.com/ http://www.svhi.com Thanks for listening, Ryan Unmack read more

Greeting podcast listeners, I had an awesome talk with Doug Weatherbee several months ago. We both enjoyed our time on the phone. I am sure you will find something interesting to take home from listening to this conversation. About Doug... "Doug Weatherbee is Certified Soil Foodweb Advisor who works closely with the renowned Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Foodweb Inc. and Matt Slaughter, Director of the Oregon Soil Foodweb Lab. Go to Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Foodweb© site here to read about the biological approach I use. Doug has also worked with and studied watershed restoration with Craig Stonholtz of Dryland Solutions in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he learned Bill Zeedyck’s Induced Meandering river restoration techniques. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer and Teacher, having studied with one of the world’s leading Permaculturalists, Geoff Lawton, of the Permaculture Research Institute in Australia." Find links to Doug's website and a few of the topics mentioned in our conversation below; http://soildoctor.org http://esd.lbl.gov/research/facilities/hazenlab/ http://www.drylandsolutions.com/ Thank you for listening, Ryan Unmack read more

Greeting podcast listeners, I had an awesome talk with Doug Weatherbee several months ago. We both enjoyed our time on the phone. I am sure you will find something interesting to take home from listening to this conversation. About Doug... "Doug Weatherbee is Certified Soil Foodweb Advisor who works closely with the renowned Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Foodweb Inc. and Matt Slaughter, Director of the Oregon Soil Foodweb Lab. Go to Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Foodweb© site here to read about the biological approach I use. Doug has also worked with and studied watershed restoration with Craig Stonholtz of Dryland Solutions in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he learned Bill Zeedyck’s Induced Meandering river restoration techniques. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer and Teacher, having studied with one of the world’s leading Permaculturalists, Geoff Lawton, of the Permaculture Research Institute in Australia." Find links to Doug's website and a few of the topics mentioned in our conversation below; http://soildoctor.org http://esd.lbl.gov/research/facilities/hazenlab/ http://www.drylandsolutions.com/ Thank you for listening, Ryan Unmack read more

Hello all you permaculture podcast dot org listeners and supporters, Several months ago, close to a year ago I was approached by Brian Newhouse, author and founder of Permaville. Shortly thereafter we finally connected on the the phone and talked about what he was doing on the podcast. Then I sat on the content in a fairly typical permaculture podcast dot org fashion. It is now many many months after we spoke and I am finally publishing the content. The connection was a bit spotty so on occasion the conversation will drop and pick up approximately where it left off. Brian has some great ideas and a passion to put them to work in the community of Munoz in the Dominican Republic. If you are interested in international development listen to the podcast, buy his book, support his work in Munoz Dominican Republic, or at the very least surf through the links to Brian's work posted below. http://www.permaville.com/ http://www.permacultureglobal.com/projects/1183-project-munoz http://www.permacultureglobal.com/users/4129-brian-newhouse Not Brian's work but the following link was where Brian received his online PDC http://www.permacultureeducation.com/ As always thank you for listening, Ryan Unmack read more

Greetings folks, In this talk the sound quality is not the best (be prepared for some noise when the audience claps and laughs), but the content is awesome. Have you wondered, about saving entire planets? Have you wondered, about repairing alienating architectural structures in the cities of the world? Have you thought about how people might change those designs in a way that would bring people together and build a sense of community? Have you imagined what it would take to move people into action? Have you wondered, maybe the best ideas are literally right our noses and may come from the adorable brains of children? I personally love the idea of placing and ice cream shop in the center of an intersection to help slow down traffic and build community! I am sure you will find some entertaining, insightful and inspiring jokes, stories and aphorisms in Mark's talk. Thank you Mark for the great talk and for sharing it with us at www.permaculturepodcast.org. For more info check out the following links http://vbc.cityrepair.org/ http://planetrepair.wordpress.com/ http://marklakeman.net/ Thanks again for listening, Ryan Unmack read more

Greetings Permaculture Podcast listeners, I talked to Jay Ma and Ra about the 2012 Northern California Permaculture Convergence, it is happening the weekend after next and if you are going I will see you there! For more information listen to the podcast!! Then head on over to the website to read up and purchase your tickets. The harvest mooon special on tickets ends tomorrow night. http://permacultureconvergence.com/ "Event Description: The Northern California Permaculture Convergence (formerly the Bay Area Regional Permaculture Convergence) is an annual event which brings together permaculture designers, sustainability enthusiasts, and communities in Northern California, the West Coast, and beyond for a weekend of intensive focus on a common goal: to design sustainable habitats, in accordance with nature, for humans, plants, animals, our greater bioregion, and the Earth at large. Practitioners across a wide-spectrum of skill-sets exchange ideas through concurrent workshops and discussions ranging from organic agriculture and wildcrafting to natural building and appropriate technologies; from environmental remediation and disaster preparedness to community dynamics and global justice. In addition to a plethora of workshops and amazing speakers on a diversity of topics, there will also dedicated areas for skill sharing, collaborative discussions, children's activities, educational displays, and specialist vendors. Participants will have opportunities to socialize, network, and connect with others in this field through meals and the activities listed above. Hosting Site Details - Green Friends Farm / M.A. Center: The beautiful 180 acre grounds of the Green Friends Farm are becoming a demonstration & educational hub of leading permaculture, holistic management, and regenerative design practices. GreenFriends Farm began as a challenge to plant a thousand fruit trees on the overgrazed land of a former cattle ranch west of Oakland, California. Now, half way to meeting that number, it has become an educational center for cutting edge agriculture, a destination for enjoying nature, and a vibrant spot for volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. The site is also home to the M.A. Center - the U.S. headquarters of international humanitarian & India Saint - Amma. www.embracingtheworld.org. Broadacre Permaculture Demonstration - Site Projects Include: 500 plus tree orchard and food forest Dynamic watershed restoration Broadacre land contouring & water infiltration Keyline patterning & ploughing Native reforestation & agroforestry Holistically managed grazing Soil food web management Solar energy Community garden & orchards Sustainability & spirituality programs" As always thank you for listening and supporting permaculture podcast dot org, Ryan Unmack read more

Greetings Permaculture Podcast listeners, I talked to Jay Ma and Ra about the 2012 Northern California Permaculture Convergence, it is happening the weekend after next and if you are going I will see you there! For more information listen to the podcast!! Then head on over to the website to read up and purchase your tickets. The harvest mooon special on tickets ends tomorrow night. http://permacultureconvergence.com/ "Event Description: The Northern California Permaculture Convergence (formerly the Bay Area Regional Permaculture Convergence) is an annual event which brings together permaculture designers, sustainability enthusiasts, and communities in Northern California, the West Coast, and beyond for a weekend of intensive focus on a common goal: to design sustainable habitats, in accordance with nature, for humans, plants, animals, our greater bioregion, and the Earth at large. Practitioners across a wide-spectrum of skill-sets exchange ideas through concurrent workshops and discussions ranging from organic agriculture and wildcrafting to natural building and appropriate technologies; from environmental remediation and disaster preparedness to community dynamics and global justice. In addition to a plethora of workshops and amazing speakers on a diversity of topics, there will also dedicated areas for skill sharing, collaborative discussions, children's activities, educational displays, and specialist vendors. Participants will have opportunities to socialize, network, and connect with others in this field through meals and the activities listed above. Hosting Site Details - Green Friends Farm / M.A. Center: The beautiful 180 acre grounds of the Green Friends Farm are becoming a demonstration educational hub of leading permaculture, holistic management, and regenerative design practices. GreenFriends Farm began as a challenge to plant a thousand fruit trees on the overgrazed land of a former cattle ranch west of Oakland, California. Now, half way to meeting that number, it has become an educational center for cutting edge agriculture, a destination for enjoying nature, and a vibrant spot for volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. The site is also home to the M.A. Center - the U.S. headquarters of international humanitarian India Saint - Amma. www.embracingtheworld.org. Broadacre Permaculture Demonstration - Site Projects Include: 500 plus tree orchard and food forest Dynamic watershed restoration Broadacre land contouring water infiltration Keyline patterning ploughing Native reforestation agroforestry Holistically managed grazing Soil food web management Solar energy Community garden orchards Sustainability spirituality programs As always thank you for listening and supporting permaculture podcast dot org, Ryan Unmack read more

Greetings once again podcast listeners, I interviewed Ron several months ago and I have been too busy to get this interview ready to post. Roughly a month ago Ron asked me when I might have the interview ready to do. At which point I promised him I would get to work and have it posted by the end of September. Here it is the very last day of September and I have kept my promise. I have posted the podcast no sooner, but thankfully not later than promised. Ron is an awesome and inspired individual. read more

Greetings once again podcast listeners, I interviewed Ron several months ago and I have been too busy to get this interview ready to post. Roughly a month ago Ron asked me when I might have the interview ready to do. At which point I promised him I would get to work and have it posted by the end of September. Here it is the very last day of September and I have kept my promise. I have posted the podcast no sooner, but thankfully not later than promised. Ron is an awesome and inspired individual. The story that he has shared with me is a fine illustration of how far passion and and love plants can take you. Ron was introduced to a bit of the lime light when a dispute over city ordinances and where one can and cannot grow food blossomed from the beautiful garden that he had planted in the parkway in front of his home. Out dated and ridiculous city ordinances can be addressed when the citizens become engaged and Ron finds planting gardens and nutrition as a perfect way to engage his neighbors. Sit back and have a listen! If you want to support Ron's efforts with urban agriculture in Los Angeles check out the link below http://lagreengrounds.org/ Below are some video links highlighting Ron's parkway garden, the fight to grow food, and the engaging of community around food issues. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dhdAgLPMUQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEsS_YvudEE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Cj720RF2k Once again thank you for listening and supporting Permaculture Podcast dot Org Ryan Unmack read more

Greetings Permaculture Podcast dot Org Listeners and Suspporters, I heartily welcome you back after a long hiatus. In this episode I share and interview with Steve Steere owner of Bubees the place to purchase beautiful tung oil finished top bar behives lovingly crafted out of dutifully salvaged lumber! This is a business model that screams "PERMACULTURE". I hope I have enticed you to dig into this episode and get inspired to add the api element to your designs and living arrangements! Visit Steve's website or write him at the following email address. http://bubees.com/bubees/Home.html bubeeshives@gmail.com To get involved with the bee's and to learn more in person look up your local bee keeping society. Below is the link to the enthusiastic bee keeping group invites the greater Los Angeles and Orange county areas! http://www.backwardsbeekeepers.com/ Now that I have provided relevant information to this podcast release I would like to share a few more thoughts, laughs, personal events and what to expect in the future from permaculture podcast dot org. Laughs! First a few light hearted thoughts on bee's. One of the messages shared in this talk is to get comfortable with bee's and not to fear them. I especially like this because I grew up with a bee sting allergy, carrying an "epipen" (an epinephrine shot to counter act anaphylaxis). To drive this point home I would like to share two video clips First the comedy clip about scary bees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLCZjw2FXPE Followed by a clip from the Global Gardener series where Bill is chatting with an African student about top bar hives. I particularly appreciate the jab and response about killer african bees 5:38! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyFaHg9HXls&feature=relmfu Both clips should be good for a little laugh, of course the global gardener clip is a bit more instructive! Personal events and what to expect in the future from Permaculture Podcast dot org! Last weekend I was married to the absolutely wonderful Cindy Downing! Preparing for the event can account for my considerable absence from positng episodes. While I would like to be at home spending time with my lovely new wife, I am currently away from home in central california working on another environmental remediation project. So my first weekend of married life I find myself in a hotel working on the podcast. Funny how life works out sometimes. I share this with you for good reason, in the past the posts to the podcast have been most prolific when I have been staying in hotels working on projects. I know that in the case of a newlywed that distance makes the heart grow fonder. I am fairly certain that is not the case for podcast listening, and time between releases does not make listeners appreciation grow. That being said I will post an interview with Ron Finley that I recorded many months ago tomorrow. (After and inquiry from Ron about a month ago I promised that I would post it by the end of September if I get that thing online by midnight tomorrow I will have made good on my promise). Are there more interviews in the que waiting to happen? I will be talking tomorrow night with organizers working on the 2012 Northern California Permaculture Convergence which will be held the weekend of October 12-14 at Green Fields Farm in Castro Valley (http://www.livingmandala.com/Living_Mandala/Northern_California_Permacul...). I will be attending the convergence and looking to record presentations there to turn into podcasts. Speaking of permaculture convergences the Scandanavian Permaculture Convergence recently took place as well. My Swedish/Nicaraguan permaculture partner in crime presented about Finca Montesano (our project) and the related NGO CIPP (centro integral para la propagacion de la permacultura). I was promised a recording and a set of slides from the presentation to share as a podcast. Some of the other presenters were recorded and are interested in sharing with the podcast as logistics and editing get worked out I will post those talks. I have been sending emails back and forth with Richo of Horizon Herbs I hope to connect with him for an interview soon. Jodi Levine has set me up to converse with Jon Young sometime in the near future as well. Scott Mann of Permaculture Podcast dot com reached out to me and we are looking for an appropriate way for us to collaborate and help one another out in our permacutlure podcasting efforts! (I felt very grateful that Scott "beat me to the punch" in extending an invitation to collaboration as I had been intending to take that action durring the lull while I was neglecting my podcast (podcasting ideas, inspirations and free time do not always coincide). With all the potential content there and a little bit of free time in a hotel room I hope to produce some new content for all you permaculture podcast dot org listeners. As always thank you for listening and supporting permaculture podcast dot org, Ryan Unmack read more

In this episode, I interview Ben Lawson of Gaian Mind Institute and Lisa Cianci of Cross Bull Ranch. For the past 13 years Lisa has been hosting healing retreats, educational programs, and community and private events on her ranch in Topanga Canyon. CA. The land was originally one of the first farms in the area but has been out of production for several decades. Lisa has been working hard to restore the site's buildings and infrastructure. In January she began partnering with the Gaian Mind Institute to bring the land back into production using permaculture design methods.read more

Welcome back to PermaculturePodcast.org.  I had a great talk with David Theodoropoulos of J. L. Hudson. Seedsman, and author of Invasion Biology:  A Critique of a Pseudoscience.  After talking with Eric Toensmeier I realized that I was near David's headquarters while working out of town on an environmental remediation project.  This was the in the springtime and David was very busy. read more

Welcome back to PermaculturePodcast.org.  I had a great talk with David Theodoropoulos of J. L. Hudson. Seedsman, and author of Invasion Biology:  A Critique of a Pseudoscience.  After talking with Eric Toensmeier I realized that I was near David's headquarters while working out of town on an environmental remediation project.  This was the in the springtime and David was very busy. read more