SolarPunk Permaculture

SolarPunk Permaculture

By Sam BetteridgeScienceEarth Sciences
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SolarPunk Permaculture episodes

  • Dr. Martin Freney - Sailing toward our SolarPunk future on an Earthship

    Dr. Martin Freney has spent the past decade+ invested in the concept of the Earthship.


    Inspired by books written in the 1980s by Michael Reynolds - founding father of the eco-home movement, Martin dove headfirst into this solutions-based construction niche in search of a better way to steward our planet.

    After living in, building, and studying Earthship design he decided to go all-in and base his Ph.D. Thesis on the movement in an attempt to legitimize the field scientifically.

    His work in; Earthship Architecture: post-occupancy evaluation, thermal performance, and life cycle assessment - has contributed significantly to the field of Earthship Biotecture both scientifically and practically.


    Now leading the push of Earthships being constructed by Solarpunks all around the Australian Country, Dr. Freney's Earthship - 'Ironbank' commodores this fleet. Its role as a demonstration sailing off the grid with him as the captain, along the plains of our sunburned country, is more important than most people think.

    It's no wonder he's responsible for the education, design, and construction of the vast majority of Earthships here in Australia. As you will hear in our conversation - this SolarPunk knows what he's talking about.

    You can find Dr. Martin Freney's work, research and news on upcoming events hosted at Ironbank @ www.earthshipecohomes.com.au

    1 hr 5 min
  • Reflections - How life has changed over recent times.
    In this episode I take the opportunity of an hour commute to reflect on recent changes in my professional life. I speak on the integration of the built and biological fields and how the Permaculture ethics has shaped the way I navigate life on our beautiful planet. I reflect on the means by which the ethic of Fair/Future care manifests in my life and what the podcast is looking like in the not so distant future.
    14 min
  • Justin Hartley: No-till, no dramas. The Duckfoot Model

    Justin is a small-scale regenerative agriculturist, looking after a number of parcels of land in the southern highlands of Sydney. Inspired by hands-on experience and the no-till market gardening methodologies of the ever-inspiring Charles Dowding, Justin has set out on a hero's journey to bring nutrient-dense food to the community in a regenerative manner.


    Not only is his farm responsible for the growth of organic produce that goes on to nurture the bellies of beautiful human beings, but he's also on a mission to teach others and connect interns with their own parcels of land. Small scale ag as he explains is the way forward for the future of our families and friends.

    Doubling as an educator, this farmer has his hands full, trying to ensure that this vision of regenerative food production scales. Land-care or land-share is key to this as Justin leverages an ever-growing network of people who know of his market gardening prowess and connects them with trainee Duckfoot farmers.

    Justin's SolarPunk narrative reminds us of just how logical the no-till regenerative farming approach is to the stewardship of our entire earth system. With little to no inputs, using bio-intensive methods on small-scale plots, he demonstrates regenerative connections between feeders and eaters. Helping to restore balance to the biomes on which we rely upon.

    You can follow Justin's important work and follow his SolarPunk story on the gram @duckfoot_farm or find out more about his work at https://www.duckfootfarm.com/

    1 hr 20 min
  • The SPP BOOK! - An excerpt from, SolarPunk Methodologies: Responsible Approaches In An Age of Changing Climates & Contexts.

    In this episode, I share a chapter from my new book - SolarPunk Methodologies: Responsible Approaches In An Age of Changing Climates & Contexts.


    I'm pleased to finally introduce this project to the world. It's still a WIP but I feel it's creeping ever closer and its time of readiness for this world is nigh.

    The excerpt is entitled Stop.Buying.Fertiliser.

    The subjects concerning the use of synthetic fertilsers, herbicides, pesticides and any other applicable chemical compound meant for the food we eat, is something I feel very passionate about.

    From my perspective, I'm often pleased to see that the ideas and conversations surrounding this very human phenomenon appear to be coming round - not up.

    Here's my contribution.

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    Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/solarpunkpermaculture/message
    7 min
  • Shubhendu Sharma - Hyperspeed Afforestation Now

    Shubhendu is a special human being with an inspiring story. After attending a lunchtime workplace presentation, his life took a sudden U-turn away from the manufacturing of cars on a Toyota production line, towards the entrepreneurial pursuit of earth and people care via afforestation. For it was this chance event that Shubhendu was introduced to the Japanese biologist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, originator of the self-titled Miyawaki Method - a scientifically informed approach to reforestation that boasts hyperspeed germination rates.


    Shubhendu's meditations on the Miyawaki method have been documented extensively online via a number of TED talks and conference presentations, collectively viewed tens of millions of times. As he realised the method's potential through multiple case studies and project iterations, his company Aforestt have now decided to share their hard-earned technical data in the open-source spirit that every D.I.Y dude and dudette dreams of - freely via their website @ afforestt.com/methodology

    In this meandering conversation, we explore the significance of trees in the evolution of our species on a spiritual level and how they have influenced our thinking about what it means to be a cognisant creature on this planet we call home. We also talk and discuss his perspectives on the argument for using native over non-native species, specifically within the context of forest growing. On top of this, we explore the problems with large afforestation projects and the carbon narrative that converts their sequestering abilities into commodities causing seemingly large planting projects to become large tree plantation problems.


    **For more details on the SolarPunk Permaculture Podcast & Projects, follow me on the gram @mr.betteridge 

    2 hr 30 min
  • Laura Ryan - The Seemingly 'Impossible' SolarPunk House

    Laura is a woman on a mission. In my mind, she is a true SolarPunk. Fed up with the snail pace speed of development seen in the city of Sydney, in which we both reside, Laura has taken on the seemingly impossible project of retrofitting her Newtown workers cottage and turning it into an urban off-grid oasis. Seeking to use 'The Impossible House' as a demonstration of what can be achieved in the heart of our cities, she has embarked on a complex journey of design and construction synergy. Spending her surplus time coordinating with various architects and tradespeople, Laura has managed to corral a team of skilled individuals from future-thinking organisations in an attempt to make the impossible, possible. I feel this won't be the last time we hear from Laura, as the adventure she has embarked upon has a lengthy future. Thankfully she is happy to share her learnings with us as it is her intention to develop a template for anyone looking to live and thrive in the SolarPunk cities of our hearts desire. You can follow her journey on the gram @theimpossiblehouse and on her feature website theimpossiblehouse.com 

    1 hr 12 min
  • Andrew Millison - Pure SolarPunk Permaculture. Right now, on Planet Earth.
    Andrew is a Senior University Instructor at the Oregon State University. Teaching mainly online courses at OSU, it's his youtube videos that have helped me and millions of other people around the globe better understand the concepts and principles of Permaculture design. His well-illustrated lightbox clips and the AR sandbox, an augmented reality tool one of his students developed and realised may project Andrew's work forward, suitably positions him as a legitimate SolarPunk and modern Permaculture Educator. On top of discussing what he has dubbed India's 'Water Revolution' and the country's pilgrimage towards Permaculture, we also discussed his philosophies on the state of Permaculture Education in an online era flooded with open-source content. We discuss the use of technology in the modern world and peer into the future to prognosticate upon what may be in store for our ever-evolving species. You can observe Andrews's work on his self-titled Youtube channel and listen to some of his immensely valuable and insightful conversations, with others in this space, on his podcast - Earth Repair Radio.
    1 hr 52 min
  • Lauren & Oberon - Life in a waste-free Spiral Garden
    Lauren and Oberon are living a conscious lifestyle that places Permaculture ethics at the centre of their living arrangements. As true Permaculturalists, they share with the world how & why living 'simply' is an achievement to strive for.  With relationship-building at the centre of their family ethos, they have changed their behaviour to live a waste-free life. Literally counting the pieces of waste produced in a recycled jar. Lauren is a full-time homeschooler, builder of permaculture curriculums and shopkeeper to the beautiful Spiral Garden. An online store that promotes waste-free, simple living that celebrates beauty and functionality all in one sustainable and reusable package. Oberon is a professional Ecologist and lover of classic sci-fi novels and SolarPunk visions of the future. He sees the logic of living a waste-free lifestyle as an imperative shift our species must take in terms of mindset. Together we spoke about the wise intuitions of children, the art of engagement, the natural systems that govern ecologies, Permaculture as a lifestyle curriculum, the beauty of things and the challenges we face on planet earth in the 21st century. You can follow Lauren's individual story @owletmama, Oberon's @berondi and purchase sustainable and regenerative goods from their beautiful store @spiralgarden.
    1 hr 32 min
  • Byron Birss - Creating Paradise in the Bay of Plenty
    Byron is a community creating, fun'n'sun-loving Food Forester, openly practicing Agroforestry and Permaculture for the whole world to perceive. He spent some of his younger years immersed in nature at the Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School, a charter institute developed in honour of our favourite English Primatologist. Moving on to study environmental science at university, Byron found himself longing for a field that explored solutions rather than dialing in on the dismay some ecologies find themselves in. After stumbling on our favourite design framework, Permaculture peeled open his eyes to the possibilities and potential nature provided in abundance all around him. Nowhere has this potential made itself more evident than in his own Backyard Paradise - an old Kiwi orchard he had purchased with his parents. So, after playing around with the idea, reading deeply into his newly discovered fascination and running a few workshops, he quit his job and dove headfirst into the canopy of a new career. And boy are we glad he did. You can follow his journey on the gram @byron.in.new.zealand and call on his services @backyard.paradise.permaculture
    1 hr 47 min
  • Aaron Mears - The Living Classroom Legend of Lulu's Perch Permaculture

    Aaron is a Permaculture and Highschool Educator with an inspiring and eclectic story. Having worked as a mental health nurse for a decade, he found himself searching for answers for the people in his care. Who would've guessed the answers would be found in the deserts of Jordan, w/ Permaculture heavy hitter; Geoff Lawton. Additionally, through the now 18-year-old 'Living Classroom Project', Aaron and his colleagues are drawing students into engaging living and learning spaces by drawing them outdoors on true, tangental learning tours. In this fascinating conversation, we discuss the super healthy Hunza people, his experience helping to re-green the desert, the richness and "informality" of Project-Based Learning, his hand cultivated Permaculture demonstration site, Chad the chicken and Captain Planet. You can observe Aaron's array of educational videos on the tube @ Lulu's Perch and follow his journey on the gram @lulus.perch.permaculture.

    1 hr 44 min

About SolarPunk Permaculture

From the publisher's feed

The SolarPunk Permaculture Podcast seeks to forge the powerful narrative force of the SolarPunk movement w/ the ethics and design principles that underpin Permaculture.