Full refund within 30 days if you're not completely satisfied.
Page text
permaculture
PUBLISHER PERMANENT PUBLICATIONS TheSustainability Centre, EastMeon, Hampshire
GU32 1HR, United Kingdom Tel: 0844 846 4824 (local rate UK only)
or +44 (0)1730 823 311 Email: info@permaculture.co.uk Web: www.permaculture.co.uk
THE TEAM Editor Maddy Harland Founding Editor TimHarland Graphic Designer John Adams Advertising, Marketing & Media Tony Rolinson nline Manager Mark Anslow Online Editor Hayley Harland Subscriptions Sarah Johnstone ccounts Greg Buton Distribution GailHarland Proofreader Marion McCartney
CONSULTANT EDITORS Patrick Whitefield, MichaelGuera, Hildur& Ross Jackson, Max Lindegger
SPECIAL THANKS GlennieKindred forherinspiration Wangari Mathai (1940-2011),aremarkablelife
UK & WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTOR
COMAG
Tavistock Road, WestDrayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE
Tel: 01895 433 600 US & CANADIAN DISTRIBUTOR DisticorMagazineDistribution www.disticor.com
Printed on Lumi Core Silk FSC Certified mixed credit material Printed by Warners Midlands plc FSC certification number TT-COC- 002452
ISSN: 0967-5663
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
Permaculture welcomes illustrated articles from its readers and from established authors. If you would like to contribute an article please refer to the editorial guidelines at: www.permaculture.co.uk/submit_an_article
COPYRIGHT
© All writings are the copyright of Permanent Publications and/or individual contributors. All rights reserved. No part, written or visual, of this magazine may be reproduced, except for short credited and sourced passages for criticism or review, without written permission of the publisher.
DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in Permaculture are not necessarily those of the publisher. Whilst the publisher takes every care in checking the validity of information given in articles and other contributions, it cannot accept responsibility for its accuracy or liability for any form of damages incurred by the use of any such information.
Permaculture magazine and Permanent Publications are trading names of Hyden House Ltd. Registered in England No 2470704.
2
permaculture No. 70
Contents
63
©D a v i d F ulford/
A s h d e n
A w a r d s
Social Enterprise
4
Permaculturein Prisons Nicole Vosper shares her unusual pathway to learning permaculture design – in jail – and reports on projects in both the UK and USA that transform lives.
Politics & Economics
8
AnotherPolitics is Possible Maddy Harland meets Britain’s only Green Member of Parliament to find out why she thinks political engagement is not only worthwhile but a natural extension of being green.
Cover photo Working in wool – Tristanbm / Shutterstock
Regulars 20 Solutions! 21 Product Reviews 41 Permaculture News 67 GEN News 69 Letters 73 Reviews 77 Courses 83 Classified Exchange 86 Subscriptions www.permaculture.co.uk Winter2011
Transition
9
Taleof Transition in 10 Objects Rob Hopkins tells the story of the evolving Transition movement – a shooting star pointing to a better way of living on this planet.
28
Growing in Urban Spaces Alexis Rowell from Transition Belsize explains how permaculture has taken root in an affluent part of north London. Crafts
47 17
Reskiling fortheFuture Practical skills such as needle and woodwork will need to be passed on if we want to survive Peak oil, argues Georgina-Kate Adams.
Howto MakeaPotery Kiln Outof Paper Lisa Gledhill explains some easy ways to make your own pottery, without it costing the earth. People Care
33
Howto beHappy Chris Johnstone unlocks the mystery of how to be happy and discovers it is rarely associated with materialism.
Farming & Smallholding
55
Beyond Urbanisation Chris Smaje argues the case for preserving small-scale farms for food security in both the global north and south.
POWERED BYTHESUNpm ing
Vanessa Spedd
©
51
Sustainable Technology
23
TheEco-logicalToilet Stuart Anderson disconnects his flush toilet and opts for a compost toilet instead.
35
A Burning Question Charcoal has a long history of different uses, but could it be an answer to solving escalating climate change, asks Brian Cawley.
63
Biogas Demystified Warren Weisman explains what biogas is, how it is made, why it is a viable renewable energy for communities to wean us off fossil fuels in the West and how it can prevent deforestation and health problems in developing countries.
28
©Jonathan
G ol d b e r g
Forest Gardening
TastingtheVision Vanessa Spedding senses the potential of natural living in a Shropshire forest garden of Eden.
51 59
Green Building
Plus
TheChildren’s Straw BaleHouse Mary Coaten describes how children and parents at Glen House Montessori School designed and built their own straw bale ‘playhouse’ – without a budget. extra content at www.permaculture.co.uk www.permaculture.co.uk
No. 70
permaculture
3