Cultivate Simple 17: The Permaculture Process
An honest and unrehearsed discussion about trying to live a more simple life. This is episode 17 and today we are sharing a talk given at our local library about Permaculture. Last Tuesday, we headed to the Belfast Free Library to listen to Lauren and Bill Errickson’s seminar on The Permaculture Process: Creating an Edible Landscape
PERMACULTURE: a design system focused on creating sutatinbable human habitats modeled on natural ecological patterns and processes
Topics of discussion:
- setting goals for your property
- promote healthy ecology, wildlife, and pollinators
- minimize landscape inputs
- generate income
- evaluating and assessing your existing landscape
- how permaculture principles can be used to expand existing landscape assets while reducing “trouble” spots
Lauren and Bill shared tips for prioritizing implementation strategies, setting realistic timelines, and maximizing your available resources and budget.
Lauren and Bill Errickson own and operate Singing Nettle Farm and Conscious Elements Permaculture in Brooks. They both hold M.S. degrees in Natural Resources from the University of New Hampshire and Advanced Permaculture Design Certificates from Humustacia Gardens. For further information, visit: www.singingnettlefarm.com
BOOKS OF THE WEEK
Weeds and why they grow
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:29:36 — 62.2MB)
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Cultivate Simple 16: Ready, Set, Grow
An honest and unrehearsed discussion about trying to live a more simple life. This is episode 16 and today we are discussing starting seeds.
Quotes of the Week
Funny phrases heard around the house this week:
“I actually have worm cocoons in my fridge right now”
“I kind of excited to try the Water Buffalo Liver”
16 Things to Stop Doing in 2013
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Freezing – A quick way to store veggies at the height of their freshness. Cons – energy used, pros, tastes great and easy. I always store in glass, no plastic bags here. Start investing in glass containers. My favorite containers are wide mouth pint jars or these Pyrex Rectangular Clear-Glass Food-Storage Containers
Seed Starting
Why do I start my own seeds as opposed to buying them?
Seed Starting 101 Series on Chiot’s Run
Books of the Week:
Have you ever tried to start seeds? What has been your experience?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:52:16 — 77.8MB)
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Cultivate Simple 15: Stocking the Larder
An honest and unrehearsed discussion about trying to live a more simple life. This is episode 15 and today we are discussing Stocking the Larder.
Susy’s Mulling Spice Mix on the Your Day Blog
Topic – Stocking the Larder
Think outside the canning pot when it comes to winter eating. Saves time, which gives you more time to work in the garden, saves energy, saves money because you don’t have to buy stuff, supplies, etc. Not to mention, it’s simpler to harvest potatoes and root vegetables and put them in the cellar than it is to pick/snap/can green beans.
Eating Seasonally, less waste, less energy, more delicious, include a wider variety of food in your diet, gets you more in tune with the seasons.
Dehydrating – especially if you can use a solar dehydrator or the warmth of a wood stove or your attic. An option I want to work more on, we want to build a solar dehydrator this summer.
Smoking – smoking foods is a valuable way to preserve meats. We haven’t been able to try this method, but hopefully we can build a smoker soon.
Fermentation – makes nutrients more available, adds probiotics, so instead of cooking the vitamins out of your food, it actually makes it healthier.
Fermenting Recipes
Freezing – A quick way to store veggies at the height of their freshness. Cons – energy used, pros, tastes great and easy. I always store in glass, no plastic bags here. Start investing in glass containers. My favorite containers are wide mouth pint jars (here’s how to freeze in glass jars) or these Pyrex Rectangular Clear-Glass Food-Storage Containers. Here’s how I keep my freezer organized.
Geeky Corner w/ Brian
The Pomodoro Technique
30/30 app –
Books of the Week
Questions of the Week
- To forum or not to forum?
- Craaap T-shirt? What should it say?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:09 — 77.7MB)
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Cultivate Simple 14: Small vs. Far
An honest and unrehearsed discussion about trying to live a more simple life. This is episode 14 and today we are discussing Small vs. Far.
Small vs. Far
Homegrown/raised/seasonal
Local small farm if possible
Local Organic
Local non-organic
Small farm organic USA
Small farm USA
Small Company Organic (peanut butter)
Chart from Cornucopia Institute about who owns organic labels
Best Raisins EVER!!!!
Chaffin Family Orchards – Where we buy our olives. Watch their YouTube video. They are the real deal when it comes to permaculture on a large scale.
Geeky Corner w/ Brian
Dropbox – Get Susy some bonus space
- Keep files in sync on multiple computers (home to work)
- Backup files to the cloud
- Share folders and files (even large files)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:26:46 — 60.3MB)
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Cultivate Simple 13: More Better Toast
Calendar Winner: Debbie B
Geeky Corner with Brian
Rehash of Last Week’s Topic
*Sometimes you have to buy old items to find good quality
*Often you need to think outside the box. My toaster is a 90 year old cast iron skillet! Toaster, sometimes it’s not as convenient. Sometimes you burn the toast – but it’s a good lesson in being mindful. It forces you to slow down and enjoy what your doing, because eating isn’t just about eating…
*When you buy high quality items you often value them more and take better care of them than when you’re buying lots of cheap stuff.
*Finding things that don’t use electric can save you lots of headaches and expense like the Chemex Coffee Carafe
*Think about the future cost and waste that is produced when you’re buying. Buying used eliminates lots of waste as does simply not buying.
John Steinbeck in Travels with Charley “American cities are like badger holes, ringed with trash- all of them- surrounded by piles of wrecked and rusting automobiles, and almost smothered with rubbish. Everything we use comes in boxes, cartons, bins, the so called packaging we love so much. The mountains of things we throw away are much greater than the things we use. In this, if in no other way, we can see the wild and reckless exuberance of our production, and waste seems to be the index.”
Our lovely coffee maker that we keep talking about
Book Recommendations
Do you have any quality companies, brands or products to recommend?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:28:07 — 61.2MB)
