After a few years of dreaming and several months of intentional observation, we've finally started a bit of garden here at our new home! This weekend, we sheet mulched a new garden bed, planted a small guild of edible plants and put up a mini hoop house!
Approaches to lessening tsunami damage.
By Douglas Barnes
Special thanks to Steve Cran
The earthquake and devastating tsunami of March 11, 2011 shocked the world with images of widespread destruction. All during my13 years in Japan, I lived under the constant threat of “The Big One.” It never came while I was there, but when it finally did, its damage directly affected many of my family and friends living in Japan.
We're excited to announce that the Permaculture Institute of Eastern Ontario, in collaboration with Sustainable Living Ottawa East (SLOE), will host an introductory course and an 84-hour "Permaculture Design Course" in Ottawa in 2011. Applying the permaculture ethic of people care, we're doing our best to make both courses accessible to a wider audience and to benefit the larger community.
As I was reviewing reference tables on edible plants in the wee hours of the morning, I started thinking that my relationship with permaculture has been like a love affair. (I've been reading "Diary of a Compost Hotline Operator" by Spring Gillard, and in one chapter, the author writes about art and love in the garden.)
In April, 2009, shortly before embarking on a month-long permaculture aid project in India, I designed a passive solar residence to serve as my home base. This first step on the road to true sustainability was just the start of a journey that has continued with the help of sheer stubbornness.
My first trip to Haiti last May was a journey of stark contrasts; the best I could do was breathe deeply, and bring my heart and mind fully to the work at hand. I am noticing the contrasts again today. We've raised over $8300 for my volunteer projects in Haiti (as of January 28). I am in awe that we're $3000 over my original fundraising goal and that support has continued to flow. And, as I read about Haiti tonight, I realise the enormity and scale of transformation that is needed. In the same breath, I am present with my gratitude and my sorrow.
We've raised over $4000 - getting close to the goal of $5300! I'm so grateful for all the support :) (A number of donations came by cheque and Interac, and unfortunately, they don't show up in the red box.)
DONATIONS & TAX RECEIPTS
If you would like to make a donation, any amount is appreciated.
WHAT I PLAN TO DO IN HAITI
I plan on going back to Haiti for 5 weeks in January and volunteering with two organisations, AMURT in Port-au-Prince and Noramise in the North; I am fundraising to make this work possible. At the heart of this, is my desire to support the rebuilding of Haiti, based on a vision of sustainable development that takes care of people and the land.
So here we are! We moved into our new house a couple of days ago. As we are unpacking, I find myself looking by the windows, taking walks in the backyard and imagining, dreaming, designing...
I've been wanting to have my own place for about ten years now, so this is a real dream come true. I am hoping to be able to experiment a lot and share my trials and errors with my local community as well as the readers of this blog.
Deep breath... Changing cycles, changing flows... On Wednesday, at another camp, we TRANSFORMED A SMALL PATCH OF MOUNTAINSIDE COVERED IN GARBAGE INTO A COMPOST AND VEGETABLE GARDEN IN ABOUT THREE HOURS. We were about 20-30 people. MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK!
