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Conference Proceedings Chapter Ten - Convergence Proceedings |
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Conference Proceedings Chapter Ten - Convergence Proceedings |
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The program for the second day of the convergence was:
08.30 Housekeeping. 09.00 Bill Mollison. 09.30 Ali Sharif: Climatic Zones, introduction & definition. 10.00 Break. 10.30 Integration of Climatic Zones in the context of: Design Implementation; Cultural Exchange; Seed Base; Technical Exchange; Information Exchange; and Infrastructural Support (urban and rural concerns). 12.30 Lunch. 14.30 Climatic Zones Reconvened. 15.30 Break. 16.00 Plenary Report Backs. 17.30 Empowering Commitment - Robyn Clayfield. 17.40 IPC7 Presentations: Marcela Andre Lopez (Mexico) and Tshepo Khumbane (Southern Africa). 18.00 Closing Ceremony: Honoring local people and song.
Reports from the climatic zones groups follow.
The regions within this category include: the Amazon, Central America, Zaire, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Borneo, Papua New Guinea, Pacific Islands, Philippines, Hawaii.
| Needs | Strategies | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Growing vegetables that produce seed (many currently used do not produce seed because of short daylight hours). | Seed exchange | Jeff Nugent |
| New tropical seed varieties needed. Tropical fruits have short viability so speed of transport is essential. | ||
| Appropriate Technology for tropical climates: toilets; storing clean rainwater; biogas production; drying methods for food for storage in humid climates; solar ponds; power - solar cells & hydro; housing - appropriate housing design for the tropics. | Information exchange - Publication of a newsletter specific to the zone. | |
| Develop a Wet Tropics Network (see list below). |
| Name | Needs | Offers |
|---|---|---|
| Lorraine and Rene Van Raders, The Green Piece Permaculture Garden, PO Box 389, Malanda, 4885, Far Nth Qld, Australia. Tel: (070) 965138. Email: vanraders@peg.apc.org | Seeds. | Rare fruits, appropriate seeds. |
| Gavin Tinning, Permacultura America Latina. Australian contact address: 15 Shirley Rd, Wollstonecroft, 2065, NSW, Australia. Tel: (02) 436 4482. Fax: (02) 439 7376. | Tropical poultry systems experience, processes in training. | Literature, Q & A (experiences), seed network contacts. |
| Geoff Lawton, Permacultura America Latina. Australian contact address: PO Box 254, Noosa 4567, Qld, Australia. Tel: 074 425644. | Tropical poultry, fish system information, vegetable seeds. | Rare fruits and legume trees, rare herbs. |
| Liliana Pires, Instituto De Permacultura Da Bahia, Condominio Aguas Finas QE L04, Lauzo De Freitas, HA Brasil. Tel: 55 11 378 2676. Fax: 55 11378 1520. | ||
| Lien, Ms Nguyen, C2B Thanh Cong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. Tel: 84 4 310 907 8345 216. Fax: 84 4 8353 144. | ||
| Tony Jansen, APACE Kastom Garden Project, C/- DSE, PO Box 556, Honiara, Solomon Islands. Fax: 677 21339. Australian Address: APACE, PO Box 123, Broadway, 2007, NSW. Tel: 02 330 2554. Fax: 02 330 2511. | Information: transition from slash and burn; training materials for illiterate farmers; training processes, organisation; seed saving & storage; propagation small scale, humid tropics; organic pest control. | Our information and experiences; taro (centre of origin), banana, sweet potato; non-hybrid, wet tropic vegetable seed. |
| Ngoc, Ms Tran Thuy, Program Officer, VAC Project Management Dept, VACVINA, C2b - Thanh Cong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. Tel: 84 4 8310 907. Fax: 84 4 8353 144. | Books on processing fruit and vegetables, training processes | Books on food security. |
| Sarah Wright, Proyecto de la Permacultura. Contact through Adam Tiller, PGAN. Australian Address: 173 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale, NSW 2008. Ph: (02) 9310 7031. | Training materials (Spanish), seeds, pest management in the tropics. | Some Spanish permaculture information, medicinal plants. |
| Vaiao & Fay Alailima, PO Box 4228, Apia, Western Samoa. Fax: 685 26905. Email: alailima@pactok.peg.apc.org. | Land use survey; assistance to design productive project on 300 acres of agroforestry; advice on solar, biogas, ponds and aquaculture; sponsor. | |
| Joss Brooks, Pitchandikulam Forest, Auroville Post Office, Tamil Nadu, 605101, India. Tel: 413 62365. Fax: 413 62274. Email: joss@lauro.frlht.ernet.in | People with design skills & experience to make use of the Auroville infrastructure and take the story further inside and outside of Auroville. | Experiences, infrastructure for training; reforestation, alternative technology - wind solar, biogas. |
| R. Kannyappan, as above. | Seeds, more skills for our people (ie. permaculture), books and information materials. | |
| Edgar Thompson, 159 Avenue, Argentina El Recreo, Trujilio, Peru. Tel: 51 44 29 7231. | Solar panels, wind turbines, permaculture volunteers and experts. | Seeds (indigenous Amazon species), handicrafts. |
| Adam Tiller, Permaculture Global Assistance Network, 6 Derby Street, Kew, Vic, 3101. Tel: 61 3 9853 6823. Fax: 61 3 9853 6828. Email: adamt@peg.apc.org. Work: Australian Conservation Foundation, Melbourne. Tel: 61 3 9416 1166. Fax: 61 3 9416 0767. | Affiliation with Australian permaculture Groups. Australians to register with PGAN who want to work or teach permaculture. Very well documented and evaluated examples of permaculture development projects for use in justifying funding for permaculture projects. Developing country projects to register and request eco-tourist volunteers, permaculture workers and teachers. | Support for international networks (admin./Internet). Australian permaculture teachers (network). Links with Australian communities for funding and cultural links. Advice and linkages for project design & funding requests. Links to large NGO's for small projects. |
| Ranjith De Silva, Gami Seva Sevana, Galaha, Sri Lanka. Tel: 948 467201, 947 124877. Fax: 948 232343. | Seeds (legume seeds, vegetable seeds); training experience in other countries; markets for organic tea, coffee, spices, black pepper, turmeric, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger etc. | Q & A service in: organic agriculture; appropriate technology; organisational training in organic agriculture. |
| Vijaya Kumar, Chief Functionary, Diwancheruva -533 103, Rajangaram Mandal, E.G. Dist. (A.P.), India. Tel: 91 0883 59 426. Fax: 91883 63113. | Seed exchange, legumes and vegetables | Edible Neem, Karaja (Derris Indica); rare Indian species; medicinal species. |
Australia (Northern NSW, Sth. Queensland); Nepal; India (north), Deccan; Florida; China; Central America; South Zimbabwe; Cuba; Andes; Highland Tropics.
| Needs | Strategies | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Methods for coping with climate extremes. | Develop seasonal management strategies and appropriate species lists. | Articles in Sub-Tropical Newsletter (Northern Rivers Permaculture Group). Web site, Jeff Nugent. |
| Hot: shade - micro-stacking. | ||
| Dry (water and biomass deficit): trenching. | ||
| Wet (excessive water, high temps, humidity): water management and appropriate timing of earthworks (swales, dams etc.). | ||
| Regenerate degraded soils. | Develop methods to increase biomass. | |
| Sub Tropics Seed Work Group. | Identify appropriate seasonal seeds/plants: non-hybrid vegetables, grains, fruits, nuts, ground covers, herbs, trees, others. | Jeff Nugent, PO Box 10, Nannup, Western Australia, 6275. Ph: 097 561271. Jeff to set up Web site for seeds and plant information. Reference: Permaculture Plants, A Selection, by Jeff Nugent & Julia Boniface. |
| Publish information on: climatic indexing (time of rainfall, latitude, frost, temperature, humidity, winds, sun/shade, soil types); propagation methods; growing and harvesting tips; rarity rating; storage; pests/natural control; viability time; amount available; fertility requirements; commercial catalogues; nutritional; ethnobotanical uses; special preparations; companions, guilds, symbols. | ||
| Cultural Adaptation (Aust). | Remove lawnscapes. | |
| Sponsorship of other Bioregions. | Develop Sister Bioregions. | Crystal Waters / Ronaldo (Guatamala) Noosa Permaculture, Jarjakot Permaculture (Nepal), Jarlanbah, ACT Permaculture. |
Mexico, Madagascar, Indian Ocean Coasts, Australia, India, Cambodia, Africa, South America.
| Issue | Needs | Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Seeds. | Information | Use Drylands Journal. |
| Species lists: food, medicines & indigenous medicinal foods for heat, sunstroke etc. | Develop Dry Tropics seed node in Seed Savers Network. | |
| Source lists. | List plants which have been trialed in an area.(prevent rampancy). | |
| Storage information. | Local storage and classification network. | |
| Design. | Design for humidification, shade, windbreak stategies (suitable species). | |
| Erosion control: water & wind (around ponds and harvesting systems), slopes, dams, canals for irrigation | Ground cover, silt traps/head of gully, timing of earthworks, divert water to basins, stone terracing, fencing as debris trap. | |
| Water harvesting: water quality, salts, minerals, rainfall penetration. | Wells, tanks, sand dam, swales, improve soil quality, stone mulching, pot irrigation, trenches, rocky outcrops, micro-catchments (claypan areas). | |
| Fire. | Appropriate vegetation. | |
| Education. | Information to change attitudes. | Teach permaculture through universities, govt. agencies. Create educational material in English and Spanish. |
| Teachers. | Train teachers. | |
| Demonstration centres & training sites. | Community Gardens. Women's workshop/courses. Link activists. Ruri Kitadai (Japan) wants to work SE Asia. Experienced in Agroforestry, community gardens (Mali, Zambia, Mexico, India). Contact only fax 02 956927, C/- Nara, 1-14 Taylor Close, Miranda, NSW 2228. | |
| Economics. | Strategies for small farmers: produce the basics. | Build the soil, food, firewood, fodder, timber. |
| Focus on women. | Savings schemes (revolving land lease fund). Eco tourism. Research & education. | |
| Managing salt affected land. | ||
| Finance. | ||
| Housing | Appropriate materials & design. | |
| Animals | Quality pasture, food, water, environment. | Appropriate species. High calcium for appropriate pH. 50% woody matter. |
England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland; Australia (Tasmania, Victoria and Great Divide); Europe; Canada (coast); USA (East coast); Chile; NZ.
| Needs | Strategies | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Use existing structures to make available a wealth of information within the group. | Set up information exchange: taxonomy library system with common language and definitions; ekistics grid as model for eco-village network, infusing permaculture; permaculture Web site with cool temperate section and categorise topics for region (recommend books, demonstration sites, technical know-how). | |
| Set up a seed bank. | ||
| Set up a networking system that works. | ||
| Publish information in various languages. | ||
| Good identification of areas with this climatic zone. | Ask group to identify their zone and form an informal network which can be formalised later. Appoint person to funnel information to Permaculture International Journal and Permaculture Magazine (UK) | Local support networking - Di, Liam Edgerton, Sylvia. |
| Publish special newsletter "Best of permaculture in cool/cold temperate zones". | ||
| Identify countries in this zone needing assistance. | Set up reciprocal exchange of: information; skills; cultural exchange; international support for projects, study & work tours. | Cultural exchange & international support. Brett and Helen. |
| Food security. | Storage methods. | |
| Glasshouse designs for season extension to provide year-round food for cold climates. | ||
| Use multicultural Biome knowledge within countries. | ||
| Lobby for transgenic labelling. | ||
| Seed exchange. | Use existing structures to start local seedbanks, send surplus to Seedsavers Network for 2/3 world. | Seeds Team - Graeme and Jo Wright. |
| Join Seedsavers Network. | ||
| Each climatic region to appoint a person to work with seedsavers. | ||
| Request Seedsavers to publish in climatic zones and send appropriate information to Permaculture Magazine (UK). | ||
| Access cold temperate micro climes in tropical regions. | ||
| Suggest to nurseries that they stock organic seeds. | ||
| Request publicity of our concerns over the proliferation of transgenic material appearing in our food without appropriate labelling. | ||
| Emphasize the importance of each member's contribution to the preservation of, and use of, open-pollinated, non-hybrid, heir-loom varieties of seeds and propagation materials. | ||
| Technical exchange through existing publications. Biotechnology awareness & exchange. | Support existing publications such as: ReNew by Alternative Technology Association; Clean Slate (UK) discounts & agencies for permaculture; Permaculture Magazine (UK) for cool temperate. | Information and Technical Exchange - Trev, Dan, Yael. |
| Develop CD-ROM. | ||
| Request "climactic centrefold" or focus in every issue of PIJ. | ||
| Housing. | Appropriate building materials. Methods of conserving energy, storing heat. | |
| Aquaculture. | Methods for low temperatures & glasshouse systems. | |
| Water. | Indoor waste treatment for low temperatures. | |
| Livestock. | Hardy animals & appropriate shelter. |
Alaska, Finland, Colorado, Canada (north), Siberia, New Zealand (south).
| Strategies | Actions |
|---|---|
| High altitude & forest gardening, glasshouse construction, workshops, medicinal plant rescue, compost toilet & greywater design. | Jerome Osentowski, Colorado, USA. |
| Bringing Australian plants into cool climate gardens, developing plant lists for exchange, Blue Mountain LETS, wild plant rescue service. | Rosemary Morrow, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia. |
| Setting up sustainable forest farm, share information on continuous harvest, year-round vegies in cold. | Dave Clark, Doonan, Qld, Australia. |
| Wild Foods & herbs in mountains, building library of ethnobotany for region, high altitude hemp. | Ikaho Tashiro, NZ/Japan. |
| Medicinal herbs and wild crafting, large library of herbal medicine & native American focus, permaculture resource book company. | Beth Lamont, New Jersey, USA. |
| Tuning into old timers in temperate rainforest, gathering information, feng shui earth energy library. | Salli Ramsden, Victoria, Australia. |
| Cut flower farm turned organic via permaculture. | Peter Allen, Monbulk, Vic, Australia. |
| Permaculture Institute of Europe, finding plans we lost, selective recovery, healthy building and materials legacy for 7th generation, sewage treatment. | Declan Kennedy, Germany. |
| Village design, bioharmonics, sacred geometry, community building. | Chris Mare, Washington State USA. |
| Community organization, rural/urban interaction, bioregional development, list of permaculture, temperate plants from Sweden. | Ole Bodholt, Denmark & Turkmenistan. |
| Bioregional development, human settlement design and retrofit. | Alex Mond, ACT, Australia. |
| Weeds: management, productive uses, weed seed bank. | Laszlo Radics, Hungary. |
Recommendations for categories:
Go forward to make PIJ truly international, that is a networking tool already exists, needs international support (money for translations from public bodies).
NZ (north), Perth.
| Needs | Strategies | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Local seed saving for long term genetic stock for the zone. | Create cooperatives due to the legality of owning "banks" of seed and the possibility of corporate takeovers eg Phoenix Seeds. | |
| Make a commitment to buy only non- hybrid seed. | ||
| Don't risk growing "owned" varieties. Risk cross-pollination. | ||
| Cutting/vegetative reproduction. | ||
| Share surplus seed locally, nationally and internationally. | ||
| Start at your own back door. | ||
| Distribute information. | How: on seed packets; catalogues & brochures; books, software, videos; workshops & displays (charts & posters); TV, tapes, radio; feedback loops; home seed saving, vegies, fruit/nut, fibre, medicinal plants, indigenous species, herbs, grass; planting calendars. | |
| Training and education. | What: when to harvest; collection & storage (preservation); germination techniques; pollination, identifying male/female; planting information; growing; disease control. | |
| Who: local permaculture and gardening groups; nurseries; community gardens; consumers of organic produce; schools (children); farmers; Aboriginal communities; 2/3 exchange. | ||
| Use existing organisations. | Seedsavers Network; PAWA Seed Exchange; Fremantle Community Garden; WA Nut and Tree Crop Association; Apace, Sydney (wants corn); Solomon Islands; Free Trees Nursery, Mexico. | |
| Database | Collect information through the Internet | Peter Austin to assist with the development of a comprehensive Internet database. Newcastle NSW computer software available for seed saving. |
| Chemical-free food for good health and to protect the ecology. | Grow organically, biodynamically. Advice through Steiner schools, Holistic Management. |
Australia, USA (South West), Mexico (Sonora - Chihuahua). Savannah (prairies, grasslands, veldt, pampas).
| Needs | Strategies |
|---|---|
| Get trees back into the deserts. | Succession of evolution: propagate seed under shade tree; transport to 1m x 1m mulched holes; trench around trees, use appropriate mulch; develop deep soil structure to hold water. For food security construct local dams. (need government support). Use appropriate species (South Africa finds Eucalypts & Wattles too water hungry, pastoralists see woody weeds in Savannah as a problem). Gather seed and identify. |
| Water harvesting for small food gardens while mobilising for larger goals E.G. large scale harvesting. | Where the groundwater is too deep, use roofs. Build dams & swales where resources exist. Bury building rubbish for accumulated moisture. Designs to be site specific. Rainwater tanks for local drinking water security. |
| Soil building. | Plant trees-also to combat erosion. Take care with species selection. Use river sand/rock mulch (to protect mulch/organic matter). Pioneers and weeds - growing mulch. Alley farming where appropriate. Rock dust (refer Peter Bennett). Deep-rooted perennial grasses, eg. Lucerne. Beware of various situations: broadacre, (Australia), villages in Africa, (multi-cropping) urban home gardens (lawns). Use refuse, eg. rusting tins. |
| Seed exchange & harvesting. | Internet for global information & publications. Education in use & storage. Avoid cross-pollination. Use seed balls. Use cuttings and tubers. Direct seeding in broadacre revegetation rather than tubestock. |
| Appropriate housing and lifestyle. | Develop household water supply. Climate-sensible design. Adapt to local ecology. Intensive food production, preserve, store, sell surplus. Manage waste and recycle. Produce mulch on site. |
| Continuous rotational cropping. | Collective village-bred home nurseries and gardens. Westerners to produce surplus in permaculture. Storage of food. |
| Grazing animals. | Chickens & guinea fowl to enable microbes to make soil from manure. Form of food storage (meat & fibre), must use by-products. Harvest native species sustainably from zone five and managed or wild zones. Appropriate fencing. |
| Prevent desertification and salinisation. | Change agricultural practise (broadacre people have more impact than home gardens). Understand the eco-system. Plant trees. Harvest water high in the catchment to prevent waterlogging and salinisation. Influence policy making. |
| Information dissemination, particularly to communities in need. | Internet can be cheap and quick but need access points for community use. Use Drylands Permaculture Journal as central information point. Permaculture International Journal Web site, dedicated page for zone. Use all information & techniques to access permaculture communities. |
© Copyright Permaculture Association of Western Australia Inc. and authors, 1997.