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What
is Permaculture??
Permaculture is
an approach to land-use design that integrates plants, animals, landscapes,
structures, and humans into permanent systems. By observing natural
eco-systems Permaculturists can learn to imitate nature and create
constructed eco-systems that are productive and non-polluting.
SARE
(Sustainable
Agriculture Network) has formatted the 6 page document entitled
"Permaculture, sustainable farming, ranching, and living... by Designing
Ecosystems that Imitate Nature". You can download it now by clicking
here.
Natural Controls for Noxious Weeds -- the Video
In response to the growing noxious weed problem in the West, and to the
overuse of chemicals for control, CRMPI has produced a new video, Natural
Controls for Noxious Weeds. This is a 30+ minute program that describes
the noxious weed problem and the many non-chemical solutions that can be
used to successfully manage these weeds. Prevention methods are also
discussed. And we show how two Colorado towns have reduced their use of
toxic herbicides, making life safer for their citizens.
Click here for more info...
What is Forest Gardening?
Forest
gardens are densely
stacked polycultures of
edible and
useful species. In recognition of the productivity and stability of
natural systems, forest gardeners attempt to re-create their structure and
interactions while using functional species that help to serve both our
needs and those of the system.
Our forest gardens here at CRMPI are some of the most mature in North
America. Arranged along a south-facing slope at 7000 feet, these gardens
have transformed the character of the landscape, forming a lush, vibrant
jungle of growth that provides us with food, medicine and fodder.
To learn more about forest gardening, you can take the
virtual tour,
visit our high altitude demonstration site for an
in-depth
hands on educational tour, or click
here to see an in-depth article about forest gardening
offered by the Ohio State University Extension.
Forest Garden Book Project
During the next two years we will be doing the documentation and
research for a book on Forest Gardening. Jerome Osentowski, director
of C.R.M.P.I., will be co-authoring a book with Peter Bane, past
editor and current publisher of The Permaculture Activist. This book will
feature Forest Gardening in six climate zones and also explore the
applications of Forest Gardening beyond the backyard, with examples from
schools, golf courses and value-added livelihoods.
Click here to
learn more about the project or how you can help.
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