An ongoing transformation of a typical suburban house into a Sustainable Homestead. Click the links above to see step-by-step photos of how we do what we do. This documents a constantly evolving work in progress where each season we learn from what didn't work and try new ideas.
We can learn valuable lessons from the study of ecosystems: intricate communities of plants, animals and microorganisms. All life depends on the cooperation and interaction of ALL species. As beneficial insects are necessary for pollination of crops, worms and microorganisms are necessary for fertile soil. One of the principles of Permaculture is that of Multiple Functions: each element in your design performs multiple functions. e.g., A tree provides summer shade, fruit for food, and habitat for birds. It also builds the soil by fixing nitrogen, and provides microclimate in the form of acting as a windbreak, thus enabling plants around it to grow. The Ars Terra Journal is also a great source for details on our current projects, both for the Sustainable Homestead as well as our progress with the Planned Eco-Sanctuary. This was done with Permaculture:
Click HERE to see how we did it! |
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