Hi, this is Geoff,
I know that many of you are getting ready to ring in the New Year, so let’s keep this short and jump right in to this week’s Friday Five…
Even Playing Field: Net neutrality is critical for a number of reasons, and is of specific interest for those of us trying to spread information about permaculture as rapidly as possible. The internet has become the ultimate communication system and we need to keep access on equal footing. A decent overview of “what’s next” after this month’s problematic repeal in this piece by the New York Times.
Seed Savers: On a recent camping trip I ran into my good friends Jude and Michel Fanton. Although they have more or less retired, they created the Seed Savers Network which does important work preserving heritage seeds. Their classic book, The Seed Savers Manual, is one of the best permaculture books I have ever come across. Worth checking out.
Tire(d) Fence: Here is an interesting bit of recycling, upcycling, and reuse.
A Universe Under Our Feet: “This cosmos is only now revealing itself as a result of scientific discoveries based on better microscopic imaging and DNA analysis. There is much still to learn, but it boils down to this: Plants nurture a whole world of creatures in the soil that in return feed and protect the plants, including and especially trees…The awareness of this biosphere should change the way gardeners think about cultivating plants and heighten everyone’s understanding of the natural world. In other words, don’t ever call it “dirt” again.” A well-written article that serves as a great reminder that we never really feed plants directly, but rather, we feed the the soil ecosystem that then facilitates a transaction that feeds the plants. A very different way of viewing plants and “mere dirt,” yes?
In case you missed it: A few pieces of interest this week from our sister site, the non-profit Permaculture Research Institute, ably curated by PRI’s editor, Jason Freibergs (thank you, Jason!):
If you enjoy these posts, be sure to bookmark the site as several new articles go up weekly, or check out thousands of other past articles, here.
That’s it for the Friday Five. As always, if you have comment / reactions / a different point of view, please share on the blog-version of this Friday Five (and all past + future Friday Fives), all housed here.
Cheers, and have a great week,
Your friend,
Geoff
