Foraging & farming
Permaculture, silviculture, agroforestry, urban farming, biodynamic principles, edible landscaping, water retention landscapes, sustainable fishing, foraging, seed saving, mushrooming, regenerative agriculture – the many possibilities to grow or obtain food organically and sustainably can be a bit overwhelming 🙂 Luckily, really this 20min film says it all:
Food, Earth, Happiness
Japan, South Korea & USA
Learning from nature by doing, in the process of farming, finding one’s own knowledge. No plowing, tilling, weeding, or fertiliser necessary. Adjusting to the land & being a part of it. Inspired by the work & philosophy of Masanobu Fukuoka.
Food, Earth, Happiness
Japan, South Korea & USA
Learning from nature by doing, in the process of farming, finding one’s own knowledge. No plowing, tilling, weeding, or fertiliser necessary. Adjusting to the land & being a part of it. Inspired by the work & philosophy of Masanobu Fukuoka.
More important than knowing what any of these terms mean is that you are connected to yourself. These ways of growing food and being with the land provide orientation but the recognition of what of all this is relevant for you, what needs to be modified and how, emerges from the inside out, taking into account individual circumstances and recognising plants as sentient beings with their own intelligence. And really, when I look at this page I think: how exciting to see the way we grow food change (back) so fundamentally, and how far away from where we can go. I would love to see this world go much beyond current movements and practices surrounding sustainable farming.
But still, here is a short introduction and some insight into a few of the many high-frequency projects currently out there:
Permaculture is a holistic design system for organic, resilient living and land stewardship, incl. food production, based on universal ethics that emerge out of Nature’s intelligence. It is meant to be integrated harmoniously with the natural environment. Permaculture typically involves animal husbandry, sustainable, organic, no-till gardening and agroforestry, and goes hand in hand with soil health, resiliency, self-sufficiency and general no-harm principles. Permaculture is also a movement involving honest care of the Earth and its people. Food forests typically mimic natural forests with a combination of native trees and a diversity of edible and medicinal plants.
Biodynamic principles farming is a holistic, ecological &\and ethical approach to gardening, food and nutrition rooted in the work of Rudolf Steiner, which views a farm or garden as a living organism. Focus is on plant and animal diversity and on health and resilience of the whole, the foundation for which is healthy soil.
Regenerative agriculture is also rooted in improving soil health which then naturally enhances water quality and productivity. All sustainable farming systems start with healthy soil. Five core principles of regenerative agriculture are minimised soil disturbance, maximised plant diversity, continuous soil cover, living root maintained year-round and integrated animal husbandry.
Deep Green Permaculture
Victoria, Australia
A spring of permaculture wisdom. Thriving permaculture food forest in Melbourne’s suburbs. Offering workshops. Supporting community gardening projects. The website is an example of true knowledge-sharing about soils, plant diseases, composting, growing fruit, berries, herbs, vegetables etc.
Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture
Hopi Nation, Arizona, USA
Indigenous-led community non-profit featuring youth programs, trade, barter & exchange-based farmer’s market which connects local farmers, sustainable homeownership program, natural building program etc. Rebuilding culturally sustainable & healthy communities. Revitalizing Hopi culture, knowledge & traditions. Decolonising food systems & community.
Shared Earth
USA
Connecting land owners with gardeners & farmers to use land optimally esp. in urban areas, turning residential backyards & commercial properties into food gardens while creating community around local, organic food.
Eagle Ridge Seeds
British Columbia, Canada
Indigenous Food Lab
Minnesota, USA
Professional indigenous kitchen & training center. Preserving indigenous culture through reviving, living & teaching food as medicine based on ancestral knowledge on responsible foraging, farming, food preparation & indigenous diets. Reviving traditional heirloom food plant varieties. Making indigenous foods accessible to areas that need it most. Developing tribal community kitchens across North America. Collaboration of multiple native tribes & staff from Bolivia, Mexico, Rapa Nui etc. – living inclusiveness, decolonising food, restoring sovereignty.
Zimunda
Zimbabwe
Hand-picked shade-grown, high-altitude permaculture coffee plantation, deeply rooted in local tradition & community. Reviving the legacy of single-origin, specialty coffee in Zimbabwe, in combination with small-scale local tourism, directed by guests & supplied & influenced by Eastern Highlands small businesses. Also growing fruit trees & organic vegetables. Valuing team work, skill & personal wisdom.
Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm
British Columbia, Canada
Growing organic blueberries, strawberries, vegetables, eggs & cows using Biodynamic Principles & Soil Food Web Approach. Strong focus on soil & plant health as well as the inclusion of young people & their wisdom. Pioneer in organic farming (since 1977). Selling at 8 local farmer’s markets. Family farm including 12 young people.
Lofoten Seaweed
Lofoten, Norway
Wild-foraged seaweed harvested sustainably in a naturally highly productive region. Harvested by hand, avoiding bycatch & cut such that root system & lots of leaf tissue is left in place for regrowth. Harvesting takes place after seaweed reproduction when at a healthy length. Careful monitoring of growth, ensuring healthy recovery.
Planet local: A Quiet Revolution
Local Futures, USA & UK
Beautiful movie explaining the importance of supporting & building local economies & organic small-scale farms. Forming community, connecting, exchanging, leaving competitiveness behind. Dissolving unhealthy dependencies, unnecessary transport & waste. Nourishing human beings & the planet. Undoing colonialism & corporatocracy.
The Open Source Seed Initiative
Canada, Australia & UK
Free the seed! By law patented & protected seeds cannot be saved, replanted, or shared by farmers & gardeners, and cannot be used to create new plant varieties which form the foundation for just & sustainable farming. Patenting & restrictive contracts are used negatively to enhance corporate control over seeds & farmers. A handful of companies account for most commercial breeding & seed sales worldwide. Inspired by free & open source software movement. Maintaining fair & open access to plant genetic diversity worldwide. Ensuring freedom for farmers, gardeners, breeders & communities. > 500 varieties protected. Partnering with plant breeders, businesses, non-profits & artists who spread the word. OSSI T-Shirts made with organic cotton.
Collaborating with sibling projects in Germany, Kenya, India, Argentina, Italy, the Philippines & Thailand as GOSSI – Global Coalition of Open Source Seed Initiatives:
Sonic Bloom
USA
Plant growth technology combining organic nutrients & sound. Plant growth beyond normal growing season, faster growth, much higher yields, higher seed germination rates, abundant, superior tasting foods, drought resistance, much reduced plant disease. Tested for nuts, fruit, vegetables, beans, alfalfa, lettuce, medicinal herbs, trees in USA, Sudan, Indonesia etc. Synthesized birdsong causes stomata/breathing holes of leaves to open wider, allowing more CO2 & nutrient intake. Simple & affordable. Starter kit to industrial application. Solar-powered audio boxes. Inventor does not sell patent to corporate industries, hence has not been supported/promoted.
Used successfully in Australia & New Zealand:
Sepp Holzer Permaculture
Austria
Living permaculture since decades, maximizing the abundance of healthy soil life on his farm (microbes, mycelium, earth worms, insects etc.). No artificial irrigation but rain water catchment & creation of springs. Collaboration with animals & reversal of land degradation. Reconnecting with nature – finding oneself. Large variety of design types incl. crater garden, terracing, rain water retention, hügelbeds, food forestry, mushroom culturing etc. Expert in water retention landscapes. Offering consulting worldwide.
Flow
New South Wales, Australia
Whole new way of extracting honey from Langstroth-style beehives such that honey simply flows into the trough, through the tube & into jar without disturbing or injuring the bees. Side observation window to see when honey is ready. Protecting & celebrating pollinators, regenerating the planet. Supporting habitat protection & reforestation projects. Building community. Bee suits made from organic cotton. Run by father-son duo. B Corp.
Earth Repair
Canada & USA
The Edible Schoolyard Project
USA & worldwide
Movement towards transforming education in organic school gardens, kitchens, cafeterias. More than teaching – young people connect around food in all its dimensions – as an edible medium of culture, science, ecology & social (in)justice. Focus of teaching on values of nourishment, stewardship & community. Providing free, organic school lunches. Cutting through inequality & exclusiveness. Edible Schoolyard Network connects > 5800 programs from 53 US states & 75 countries on all continents.
EcoDesign Hive
USA
Permaculture / Ecological Design courses, research, social network for community & advice all offered on donation-basis for inclusivity. Courses for beginners, to build permaculture business, 1 year weekly in-depth course and more. Permaculture colouring book. Women writer’s challenge.
Yannick Van Doorne
France
Enhancing plant growth & bee health via electroculture techniques that amplify natural electrical or magnetic energies. Pyramid, technology, paramagnetic basalt, cosmotelluric antenna, water dynamization devices etc. Lot’s of info on history of electroculture & how to use electroculture methods for gardening & beekeeping. Going beyond fertilisers.
Food is Free Project
Worldwide
Movement of reconnecting with neighbours, creating community gardens in front yards & sharing the harvest. > 350 projects worldwide. Reducing dependency on fragile, unreliable supply chains & creating community food sovereignty. Project guide & lots of resources on website. Also offering advice.
Masarang Foundation
Indonesia
Agroforestry, restoring & protecting high-diversity rainforests & endangered animals, improving local life quality. Preserving local cultures & skills while pioneering new agricultural methods which work hand in hand with nature. Reversing poverty & deforestation (caused by biofuel & palm oil industries) via responsible palm sugar, medicine, fruit, wood & energy production. Strong focus on project integration in local values & culture. Strengthening indigenous rights.
Living Ground/Suelo Vivo
Ecuador
Soil regeneration, research & education. Strong focus on microbes & mimicking nature. Soil tests, consultations, microbe compost – creating living soil. Market gardens. Workshops & apprenticeships. Driving self-reliance & -sufficiency. Microbe and Health Air BnB offering medicinal foods, health services (Live Blood Analysis, lymphatic & chiropractic therapies), apothecary etc. Efficiency, thorough planning, cooperation.
Lila Music Centre & Farm
British Columbia, Canada
Professional music-making & education embedded in local community in a heritage house on a working permaculture farm. Vocal & guitar lessons, family music classes, community choir, performances, improvisation sessions, community music celebrations etc. Young Agrarian apprenticeships – combining music & farming.
Music farming:
Peliti
Greece
Community collecting & reproducing traditional seeds, distributing them freely, working with donations only. Strong focus on increasing sovereignty – book & videos on the topic freely available. Collaboration, food preservation, folk remedy & gardening workshops. Folk parties. Seed bank. Travelling & exchanging seeds & knowledge all across Greece & in India.(website in Greek).
The Open Sanctuary Project
International
Freely accessible guide & courses on responsible management of farm animal sanctuaries based on compassionate care principles, animal advocacy & community education. Conveying a diversity of views, models & avenues. Run by experienced animal caregivers from various backgrounds. Focus on transparency & accessibility for people with impairments.
The Flowersmith Studio
Ireland
Organic micro flower farm & pollinator heaven – community project for healing & collaboration rooted in long-term relationship. Artisanal floral design courses, online & in-person. Handmade dried flower wreaths. Fresh & dried bouquets. CSA Subscriptions. Bringing flower & connectedness to nature back into people’s lives.
Valdibella
Italy
Cooperative of organic farmers in Sicily. Re-connecting with land & restoring soil health & natural biodiversity. Re-defining cultural heritage. Focus on native crops. Developing a mafia-free economy & an alternative to land & labour exploitation, rooted in community. Also agro-ecology training centre.
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Artist Hotspot
Japingka Aboriginal Art
Ethical, fair, authentic artworks from aboriginals
Based in Australia
Find out more via website:
www.japingkaaboriginalart.com
Artist Hotspot
Japingka Aboriginal Art
Ethical, fair, authentic artworks from aboriginals
Based in Australia
Find out more via website:
www.japingkaaboriginalart.com
