The non-destructive, low-energy methods used at Fordhall are elements of a wider system known as permaculture, which challenges all the normal approaches to farming. One of its central principles is that you work with the land, rather than against it.
Britain used to be a forested island, so a lot of the energy we expend in farming is just to stop it reverting back.
The farmland I am used to seeing is clumps of trees surrounded by fields. But a permaculture smallholding I visited in Snowdonia was just the opposite – a collection of small clearings in a mass of woodland.
Forest gardens are inspired by nature. The reason natural woodland is so productive is because it grows on many layers, rather like having half a dozen fields stacked on top of each other.
A forest garden imitates each woodland layer, but uses more edible species. The garden floor is covered with fruit and vegetables, and above them, the shrub layer is equally abundant.
A bit higher up are the fruit trees, such as apples, pears, medlars (a fruit rather like the crab apple) and quinces.
And then there is the canopy where those trees that aren’t producing food are serving other essential functions such as recycling nutrients through their root system and leaf litter.
Some plants are selected primarily because they attract beneficial insects – hover flies, for example, which eat aphids – so no pesticides are needed.
Surely this requires endless attention and work?
‘Over a whole year, an average of one day a week,’ said Martin. ‘A lot of that is harvesting. In terms of maintenance, it’s about ten days a year.’ Compared to running a conventional farm, that is virtually nothing.
But how much food does it produce? ‘One designed for maximum yield could probably feed about ten people an acre,’ said Martin. That’s roughly double the number we can currently feed from an average acre of conventional arable farmland.
The thinking is that a host of vegetable plots, allotments and smallholdings that require a minimum of maintenance because they follow nature’s own design principles could make up for the loss of industrial-scale farms.
Very little information on sustainable housing in Sweden, so I am going to do some feature articles, in the meantime here are some howto videos and articles that should get you started with earthship and straw bale building.
Environmentally aware sustainable housing is not only better for you and the biosphere, it costs less and is cheaper to build, while providing better value.
An earthship is built with earth and garbage, like tires, cans and glass. straw bale houses are made of straw bales, returning the best insulation value for least money.
People are building both types of houses all over the world in different climate conditions and having great results.
The best sustainable house in the world- Simon Dale
good notes on a rubble trench foundation, of course in Sweden there are lots of rocks and you can just build on stilts get support from the rock foundation. check out the blog too.
Starting April, comes the busiest times in organic farming, and now is the time to start thinking about volunteering at an organic farm in Sweden.
We are going to post free information here so people can volunteer for free.
Please leave comments to advertise your farm for free. Also, all farmers that register at pay sites, consider using a NAME for your farm that is special, and have a little page on the internet with contact info, or even post on a forum, that way people can search for your farm name and find your contact information. It is a good idea to have a name people can identify you by.
Volunteer at an environmental program in Sweden
Ecological volunteering – work with the environment and have a vacation at the same time .
In the summer welcomes volunteers to come and enjoy work and life at Ekocentrum. Please contact them by email for more information. The address is info@vaxhuset.se
Welcome to come for a visit or to join a course or a camp here at Ekocentrum! Address: Mobodarne 857 S-826 93 Söderhamn Sweden Telephone: 0046 270 42 70 50
2)Earthway Experience
What we can offer this year is the opportunity to experience the beginning of something special in the making. Lots of good work, good learning and a life experience never to forget! A bit like the summer before Dick Proenneke started filming “Alone in the Wilderness”
There is no cost to the Internship – although you will be expected to provide your own your own tent, sleeping bag, etc.
We will provide food for the time you are here. Expect lots of local favorites including moose, reindeer and fish. The Intern/Volunteers will be responsible for cooking themselves – but don’t worry it will be fun and a new Experience for some of you!
Positions start in May but it is possible to come in June if need be.
WWOOF is an exchange program. In return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles. They charge a 15 euro fee to register at the website, which is ridiculous.
Swedes remodel their kitchen every four years on average.
We are shocked. You certainly don’t have much going in your life if you are concerned with your kitchen that much. We would much rather take a trip, build a sauna, or do a family vacation. And then of course, you can always have sex instead of obsessing over remodeling.
Looks like Eva Sanner, a relationship expert, agrees.
It’s cute how they end it at treehugger: “finding inner happiness will make us less acquisitive, and more sustainable.” Well, how many people living in cities, going to jobs they hate, are ever going to be happy?
I first saw this at the Rudolf Steiner Seminariet.
It’s a marsh that you put your sewage in, and it cleans the water.
The Water Purification Marsh at Aröd was the first construction of its kind in Sweden, i.e. an artificial wetland, shaped in a manner to retain the nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen from agriculture and household on terra firma by aid of a biological multitude of plant and animal organisms,
We see the main problem with this technology is the separation of degreaser and satizer, requiring bulky and expensive units. The simpler units just make bleach, which, though very sanitizing, is also corrozive and irritating.
what is being done in Sweden with environmentally friendly homes?
Sweden being green conscious, there are several initiatives by government, groups and individuals to improve the conditions of life and sustainability.
Check back as we publish several notes on green living in Sweden.
Starting April, comes the busiest times in organic farming, and now is the time to start thinking about volunteering at an organic farm in Sweden.
We would much rather take a trip, build a sauna, or do a family vacation. And then of course, you can always have sex instead of obsessing over remodeling.
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