As ever larger portions of our world’s population move into cities, the growth of these cities and the resources they demand create more and more strains on local ecosystems. While urban spaces certainly do to offer a number of opportunities for many people, they don’t come without their costs. Very rarely have we collectively stopped to consider what our increasing urban identity means to our long-term survival and to the […]
Celtuce goes by many different names including Stem Lettuce, Chinese Lettuce, and Asparagus Lettuce. Celtuce (Lactuca sativa var. augustana, angustata, or asparagine) is the most unique of the five lettuce varieties. Originating in the Mediterranean, like most lettuces, it then arrived in China around 600 A.D., making its way to the western world in the 19th century. Not Like the Others What makes Celtuce so unique is that, unlike the […]
Where We Stand Without Soil Everything begins and ends with the soil. Unfortunately, close to 70% of it has been lost since the dawn of the agricultural revolution. Since the onset of the Green Revolution only half a decade ago, we´re getting rid of it faster than ever. Besides the ecocide that the loss of topsoil entails, it also is a major threat to our health. Most foods grown by […]
Air pollution has become a very controversial and urgent topic in the past few decades. What we know now is that indoor air pollution and outdoor air pollution is dangerous and extremely hard to reverse. It has the potential to destroy the natural environment and cause harm to humans, animals, and food crops. Pollution is produced through both manufactured activity and organic processes. According to the 2014 WHO report, air […]
In the last couple of decades, the local food movement has gone from a fringe movement to a major player the national food industry. Almost every major urban center around the country has several farmers markets, community supported agricultural programs and other innovative ways to bring farmers and consumers closer together. The local food movement improves access to healthy, organic food, strengthens the local economy, and improves community relationships. What […]
Climate change is giving us more to worry about than just rising seas, scientists claim. Greenland’s glaciers are melting fast, pouring ice into the Arctic Ocean – and according to a new study, this influx of freshwater from the melting ice could lead to a disruption of a major ocean current system. The consequence of this disruption could be devastating, drying out the narrow section of land from Mauritania to […]
Turmeric is a root that grows well in tropical climates and is the main ingredient in the Indian spice curry. What few people know is that turmeric is also one of the best all-around natural medicines that can be found. Turmeric can be used topically for skin related health issues or ingested for a wide array of internal health problems. You can also grow your own turmeric in containers in […]
I have previously stated in one of my previous articles that the world is witnessing a climate change era. And one of the impacts of climate is believed to be wildfires. It is an uncontrolled fire that is capable of wiping away land areas and crops. Climate change can alter temperature and precipitation levels, making farmland areas drier. And once a fire is started by lightning strikes or human errors, […]
One of Permaculture’s most dedicated activists and organizers, Ali Sharif, passed away on August 12, 2017, waiting for a heart transplant in a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. More than 30 years ago, Sharif attended a Permaculture design course taught by Permaculture founder, Bill Mollison, on Whidbey Island in Washington. As the course drew to an end, Mollison asked each graduate what they would do with the new knowledge they’d […]
If you live in an inner city surrounded by concrete and pavement, growing your own herbs for your kitchen and personal use is one of the easiest ways to start growing your own food. An herb spiral is a simple, practical, and almost fool-proof method to fill your kitchen with the scents of fresh herbs. Why Should You Grow Herbs? There are numerous benefits to growing your own herb garden. […]
Call them gumboots. Call them Wellingtons or Wellies. Call them rubber boots, rain boots, or galoshes. What we are talking about is waterproof foot protection, and there are times when a good pair can just feel absolutely essential: heading out to feed the animals on cold and rainy evenings, harvesting taro or rice from the muddy banks, and apparently doing surgery (for anyone to whom that applies). When buying things, […]
In part 1 of this article, I discussed why you might want to change the chemistry of the soil you are working with, and how, although humans have developed a number of useful ways of identifying which chemicals are present in soil and how these interact with each other to make balanced soil, we do not know everything about these interactions. The upshot of this is that even though isolated […]
