One of the defining aspects of indigenous cultures around their world is their connection to specific territories where they have lived for hundreds and thousands of years. Compared to modern-day western societies which are more defined by migrations and mobility, indigenous cultures have their lives and livelihoods demarcated by the specific conditions and context of their places. While these sorts of territorial limitations may seem to us westerners as undesirable […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]