Bottled Water Vs Tap Water

We have seen the increase in bottled water consumption over the years. Traditionally water has been a public resource and was supplied by government bodies through tapes. However, the bottled water companies with the fancy ads started impacting the minds of people. How much we pay for these bottled water? I think some cases more than milk. Moreover, the environment impact is huge. The plastic water bottles take 1000 years to decompose. We buy the bottled water and throw it in garbage bin. We don't care where it goes and dumped. So if you are buying bottled water, you are paying thousands times more than tap water and also helping in polluting the environment. Its easy to carry a bottle around and use simple filteration method at home to filter the water.

abc News clip on Bottled Water vs Tap Water:



CNN News Clip:



One more clip:



Know more about bottled water: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottled_water

Think Out of Bottled Water

Masanobu Fukuoka - "The One Straw Revolution"

Masanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese farmer who developed what many consider to be a revolutionary method of sustainable agriculture. He is also the author of The One-Straw Revolution and several other books examining both his philosophy and his method of farming. The essence of Fukuoka's method is to reproduce natural conditions as closely as possible. There is no plowing, as the seed germinates quite happily on the surface if the right conditions are provided. There is also considerable emphasis on maintaining diversity. A ground cover of white clover grows under the grain plants to provide nitrogen. Weeds are also considered part of the ecosystem, periodically cut and allowed to lie on the surface so the nutrients they contain are returned to the soil. Ducks are let into the grain plot, and specific insectivorous carp into the rice paddy at certain times of the year to eat slugs and other pests. The ground is always covered. As well as the clover and weeds, there is the straw from the previous crop, which is used as mulch, and each grain crop is sown before the previous one is harvested. This is done by broadcasting the seed among the standing crop. Also he re-introduced the ancient technique of seed balls(Earth Dumpling). The seed for next season's crop is mixed with clay, compost, and sometimes manure, and formed into small balls. The result is a denser crop of smaller but highly productive and stronger plants.

Natural Farmer Masanobu Fukuoka conducts a workshop for making seed balls at his natural farm and forest in Japan.



Seed Ball Story

Water Harvesting - History Vs Modernity

Water is key to survival of any life form in this planet. However, we have ignored it for long. We have infact polluted the planet with all these new inventions. Our ancestors knew how to work with nature and harvest rain and preserve fresh water in our planet. When I visited small villages in Western Orissa, I could see many small ponds (Bandh) and large water bodies with earthen dams on one side (Kanta). Rain water was stored in these large water bodies and was key source for agriculture and other uses. There were lot of wells which were used for drinking purpose. These days we find very few of them. We instead dig hundreds of feet to draw water.

Here are few videos posted. By Mr. Viswanath. The case study is of some villages in Puri district. There are very few old wells remaining and more people use deep bore wells. However, as the area is near to cosat, the water of deep bore well is either salty or traces of iron is found. In both the cases it is not good for use. With rain water harvesting and building ponds and large water bodies to collect rain water and wells near them will certainly help tp solve the problem.


Part I



Part II



Part III



Thanks

Square Foot Gardening

We all think that gardening takes lot of time and energy. That is true with conventional way of gardening. It takes lot of space, water and energy. The same can be achieved with 80% less resources with square foot gardening. This process uses space, soil, water to its highest efficiency. With this method we can setup a garden in any kind of space. It is espically useful for urban areas. Have a look at the video by Mel Barthomolew, the originator of this process.



You can also visit http://www.squarefootgardening.com/ for details on suqare foot gardening.

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Permaculture in Tropical Climate

The videos shows how permaculture is practiced in tropical climate; in places like Africa and India. We can use the permaculture design to compliment the local climate. Permaculture can be practiced in any kind of climate system.


Tropical Permaculture Strategies - Pt1



Tropical Permaculture Strategies - Pt2



Tropical Permaculture Strategies - Pt3



Tropical Permaculture Strategies - Pt4

Harvesting Rain Water

Water is the most important resource for any kind of food production and living. Though most of the planet is full of water, we can't use it. Every year we dig deeper to find water to drink or irrigate. The other alternative is to build large dams and block flow of river.

We can use the small swales and dams to harvest the rain water. The combination of swales and dams can also be used for passive irrigation. In this process we slow down water flow. This enables the land to absorve more water. Depending upon the land size we can build a small or large dam or swale system. So lets see the video...



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Establish a Food Forest

When we talk of forest, we only think of wild trees and plants. We never think that forest can also be a source of food. The conventional method of food production requires large flat lands, machines, chemical fertilizers, pesticides etc... We can never think of food production with out any of these. However, with the Permaculture principle we prove it. This design system draws the design from nature but recpacling some part of forest with edible and useful plants.

Geoff Lawton who is a permaculture expert shwos how to establish a food forest. This video takes us through the entire process of permaculture design.



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Smart Use Of Urban Roof Top in Bangalore, India

In urban landscape of Bangalore, there is a house which is unique. In what way?... How may you have imagined paddy(rice) growing on roof top. Well there is one couple, who have changed the way of rice is grown. I was born in a village in India and then moved to cities. I have seen large rice fields with full of water and people working. I had never thought that it is possible for some one to even think of growing rice on roof top in a city like Bangalore. After watching the video, I am proven wrong. It is possible and successfully practiced by Mrs & Mr Vishwanath in Bangalore, India. I know, I might sound like mad...but check out guys.. the video posted by Mr. Vishwanath in Youtube.



Simple and smart solution for complex issues and working with nature is going to be the key to survival. We are witnessing the Peak-Oil phenomenon. I am sure the way we are using fossil fuel, the planet can't sustain such use of fossil fuel. We all need to wake up to this fact and start working together to save this planet for our next generations to live.

Thanks

Ecological Architecture - A Technology Demonstrator Building in Bangalore

While doing some research on eco-architecture, I came across several people who are working in this field. However, as an Indian, I was very much interested to see if some one who is working on this. I knew Mr. Laurie Baker did great work in this field. People in Auroville, India also practice sustainable community living. However, I was delighted find a couple in Bangalore, India: Mr S. Vishwanath and Ms Chitra Viswanath who not only talk about sustainable living but demonstrated this through their living. They are also doing great work in rain water hervasting and you can find it on their website. If they can live and show how to live with nature and and not against is possible in big cities, I am sure all of can start by taking baby steps towards sustainable living.

Find more about rain water harvesting at: http://www.rainwaterclub.org/index.htm
You can enjoy the video and see the eco-building and the simple, yet very effective technology used.

Part One:



Part Two:



I am sure you enjoyed it...Thanks

Towards Permaculture

I had never heard about the word "Permaculture" till few months ago. While searching Youtube for videos on sustainable living, I came across one video of Bill Mollison. Thats how my search and learning for permaculture started. Permaculture stands for Premanent Agririculture. It was first developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren during 1970s. The start was a kind of silent revolution and slowly the message was passed on to thousands across the glob through their teachings and books.



Permaculture principles follows nature and its design. The same design is the foundation for any permaculture design. Do visit the site for details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture

You can also check Youtube videos on permaculture:

The Permaculture Concept - Part One



The Permaculture Concept - Part Two



The Permaculture Concept - Part Three



The Permaculture Concept - Part Four



The Permaculture Concept - Part Five



The Permaculture Concept - Part Six



I hope you enjoyed these videos...