Seattle & Permaculture

The World on: "Permaculture"

"Let us have the candor to acknowledge that what we call "the economy" or "the free market" is less and less distinguishable from warfare.”

― Wendell Berry

Fukuoka's One Straw Revolution

"Practical solutions for feeding a growing human population, rehabilitating damaged landscapes, reversing the spread of desertification, and providing a deep and renewed understanding of the relationship between human beings and nature."

Pattern Literacy: the Myth of Self Reliance

"Creating community reliance gives us yet another application of permacultural zones: Zone zero in this sense is our home and land. Zone one is our connection to other individuals and families, zone two to local commerce and activities in our neighborhood, zone three to regional businesses and organizations, zone four to larger and more distant enterprises. Why would we limit ourselves to staying only in zone zero? We can organize our lives so that our need for zone-four excursions—say, to buy petroleum or metal products—is very limited, while our interactions with the local farmers’ market and restaurants are frequent. This builds a strong community."

Pandora's Seed, The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization

"From Obesity to Chronique Fatugue Syndrome, Jihadism to Urban Ennui, the costs of civilization are becoming ever more apparent. Spencer Wells explores adapting to a world where accelerating change is the new status quo."

Alan Savory: Anthropogenic desertification 4/3/13

TEDTalk: "Desertification is a fancy word for land that is turning to desert," begins Allan Savory in this quietly powerful talk. And terrifyingly, it's happening to about two-thirds of the world's grasslands, accelerating climate change and causing traditional grazing societies to descend into social chaos. Savory has devoted his life to stopping it. He now believes -- and his work so far shows -- that a surprising factor can protect grasslands and even reclaim degraded land that was once desert."

The State on: "LID" (Low Impact Development)

—Wasington state's new, supposedly mandatory requirement calls for infiltration, evabotranspiration, and harvesting precipitation using natural systems, but where not "feasible," high tech, high maintenance methods, e.g., various planters and green roofs and walls suffice. The Department of Ecology, having advanced through ad hoc committees and public comment has now finalized the significance of "must use green stormwater infrastructure to the maximum extent feasible."

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/2012Reissuance.html

Attached below: informative early comments from ad hoc committee member Richard Horner.

Also attached below: an edifying explanation from the Fiscal Note prepared by Seattle Public Utility for the current Stormwater Code adopted in 2009 (DR 2009-17). The entire very long Fiscal Note can be found here:

http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/fnote/116614.htm

Seattle on: "Green Factor"

— Seattle planners practicing have the cake (Puget Sound) eat it too (hegemony), invented the Green Factor from which to select a required minimum tally or no building permit. At the very same time, an endless waiting list for P-Patch allotments displays proof-positive that many city dwellers hunger for coming together to learn, enjoy, and pass on essential things. As illustrated at right, today's designers are not learning ever, or early enough in their careers what plants are for and to bless them with room, sky access, good earth and symbiotic companions.

Are P-Patches on roofs really the wave of the future?

This summation from a Dec 2010 report by Michael Pilarski (Friends of the Trees Society) reporting a Seattle Conference: Cultivating Regional Food Security http://www.friendsofthetrees.net/articles.htm

"Gardening on elevated structures is a logical consequence of the lack of affordable land in metropolitan areas. Roof garden proponents often claim that this farming method can be a part of the sustainable and healthy city solution. It does not consume land, can reduce air pollution and stormwater runoff, promote urban production and food self-sufficiency, reduce food transportation costs, and increase a building's economic value. It also promotes city beautification and is accessible for leisure activities.

Many obstacles, however, exist. No matter which planting techniques (i.e. container, hydroponics, greenhouses, coldframes) are used, transporting the required materials to the roof location is not as easy as for conventional ground gardens. In addition, prospective gardeners must also consider the roof support capacity, which can limit the garden's design. Roof elevation, strong winds, high temperature, and suitable plant species also require serious consideration. For instance, strong wind, which can wipe out leaves and vines, or high temperatures which necessitate more frequent watering, may discourage some gardeners. Academic initiatives in rooftop gardening do not appear to be widespread, and those who support the idea do not necessarily research or practice it."

2017: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/codesrules/codes/stormwater/default.htm

Seattle Green Factor Gems

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse