Friday, September 30, 2011

Capt. Charles Moore on the seas of plastic



http://www.ted.com/talks/capt_charles_moore_on_the_seas_of_plastic.html

Keyline Design at the Beach by Darren Doherty (videos)

Darren Doherty, principal of Australia Felix Permaculture, builds a scale model watershed to explain how water cycles through the landscape in a sequence of natural patterns.



Part One introduces the Order of Drainage and identifies the keypoint of a valley.



Part Two - effects of deforestation and hydroelectric dam siting - succession of ridges - keypoint ponds and irrigation of foothills



Part Three - saddle ponds and slope irrigation



Part Four - reforestation and restoring the landscape



Part Five - rainwater vs. groundwater - drought and fire proofing

Produced by Sustainable World Radio and Permaculture Podcast 

Friday, September 9, 2011

Whole Green Catalog: 1,000 Best Things for You and the Earth


Never have everyday choices carried more consequences than right now.

Think of the choices we can make—do make—every day as small steps, in either a positive or a negative direction. Each choice can work to benefit you, me, and our whole community—and ultimately, our global environment.
How can we make those right choices? One at a time, with the help of the Whole Green Catalog. We’ve convened thought leaders in every category—from home furnishings and appliances to clothing and children’s toys, from pets and beauty products to travel and investing— to share their authoritative tips, reviews, and advice. To share with you a wealth of green information and green ideas.
Just a few years ago, there were very few “green” products on store shelves and little or no “green” components in many of these categories; they simply didn’t exist or couldn’t compete in the marketplace. The sheer size of the Whole Green Catalog illustrates the diversity of possibility, discovery, and potential, answering such questions as: Can one go green and save money? Can people reduce their carbon footprint if they are business travelers? Is there an environmentally-friendly disposable diaper?
This catalog is a browser book. Like the original Whole Earth Catalog, which helped to define the credo of its age, this is a resource guide to a special kind of life: then, an alternative lifestyle and now, a sustainable one. It is designed for people to peruse, consult, find, and choose. And it is full of surprises and delights—on every page. Flip through, and you’ll find that it opens many doors.
Available @ Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine retailers