NaturalFreeChoice.com is a blog about permaculture. The mission of this blog is to help people learn about how to become sustainable and live harmoniously in relation to our earth. It is about responsible consumption, community values, sustainable production of food and other related information.
Water Management
Submitted by admin on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 14:17We can help the environment and at the same time reduce costs. Some of the ways to start is being aware of the waste produced in our home, also what resources could be used in a more efficient way so that we can save water and other resources, therefore reducing the associated costs. Following are some ideas for water management:
1) Reuse water to feed the plant - the water can come from several ways:
a) Dishwashing water - Use buckets for washing, for example two buckets can be used for one bucket for soap and water and other with only water to rinse the dishes. Use biodegradable soap for dishwashing so you can reuse it.
b) Compost Shower - Use biodegradable soap
c) Kitchen water - Water used from other kitchen uses, like water from boiled potatoes.
d) Dish drying racks - You can build a rack over an area where you are growing plants, then clean water drips into the ground this way watering the plants.
2) Manage plant watering efficiently
a ) Avoid over watering the plants - The correct amount of water depends on the type of soil, the type of plant, etc.
b) Group plants according to watering needs
c) Reduce evaporation – Use mulch or compost, water in the morning or evening
3) Use less water
a) Compost toilet - They use small amounts of water, some do not use any water.
b) Turn off water after use
c) Collect water - you can build a rainwater collection system where allowed
5) Reforestation - It help reducing strong winds which can dry the soil
These methods not only help us managing water and saving costs, we also save time implementing more efficient ways of using water. We can work also with our community and get different ideas and keep improving our water management.
There are some related links and material:
hackneypermaculture.org.uk
http://hackneypermaculture.org.uk/category/recycling/
idepfoundation.org - MODULE 3 - Houses, Water & Waste Management
http://www.idepfoundation.org/permaculture.html
home.comcast.net - part 6 - water
http://home.comcast.net/~billgile/site/?/blog/view/1/%3Cbr%20/%3E
Technology for Permaculture
Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 04:11Choosing the right technology helps to protect our environment, and at the same time makes our work easier, this type of technology is called appropriate technology. It is designed taking into consideration the ethical, community, economical, and cultural aspects from where it is going to be used.
There are some characteristics that describe this technology like the reduction of electric use, reduction of labor, uses renewable energy and materials that are friendly for the environment, etc.
Following are some example of this technology with a brief description:
1) Solar cookers
a) Use heat from the sun and cooks slow
b) There are several designs:
1) Heat trap boxes
2) Curve concentrators (parabolic)
3) Panel cookers
2) Solar dryers
a) Can be used to dry vegetables and fruits
b) Some designs are:
1) Plastic dryers: made of wood frame and wrapped with a clear plastic
2) Wood and glass dryers: uses air flow
3) Water pumps (no electricity)
a) Solar power pumps: Powered by the sun
b) Treadle pumps: foot operated water lifting device
c) Ram pumps: can pump water above a source of flowing water with no other power required
4) Biogas systems
a) Uses methane generated from human and animal waste
b) Used for cooking, to create electricity, for gas lights, etc.
Appropriate technology also includes solar energy systems, wind systems, hydroelectric systems, etc. These technologies helps communities become more sustainable and can be adapted according to the community needs.
Following are some links where you can find information related to appropriate technologies:
http://www.solarcooking.org/plans/
http://www.regia.org/ovens.htm
http://www.geda.org.in/solar/so_slr_dry_how.htm
What is a LETS System
Submitted by admin on Mon, 07/27/2009 - 05:15A LETS system is a non - profit locally initiated exchange network backed by good and services and there is no need of coins, paper money or tokens of any kind. Transactions are recorded in a local central location and open to all members.
Good and services can include the following: food, health services, clothing, repairs, housing, transport, legal services, equipment, business services, entertainment etc., through the operation of a credit economy that is community based and the use of dollars are reduced or not used.
The LETS system work in the following manner:
1) Community people set up an organization
2) Anyone on the community can join the organization
3) Good and services are set by a directory of members
4) The transactions are kept on record and updated regularly
5) Services or good are paid by a note or cheque for an agreed amount of LETS units.
These are some links that I found searching through the internet that provides information about the LETS system: http://www.gdrc.org/icm/lets-faq.html, http://www.transaction.net/money/lets/
With this system, sustainability can be achieved by applying community values, also it help improve the quality of life, helps people to save and have many other benefits that helps increase our community values.
Food Sustainability: Part 2: Preserving Shelf Life of Stored Food
Submitted by admin on Mon, 07/20/2009 - 07:27When storing food it is necessary to verify how we are going to manage the shelf life of our food. Looking for the right conditions is essential to keep it in edible conditions so we stay healthy also during the time we consume this food.
When choosing your food for storage make sure that is in good quality conditions. When choosing the place you should follow the following steps, so your food last longer:
1) Quality of Food - Be sure that you are buying or storing fresh food or food that is in good conditions
2) Rotate: Food that was stored first should be the food consumed first (First In First Out) or the one the one that expire first
3) Low Temperature: Try to low the temperature as much as you can in the area of storage since every increase of 18 degrees F cut by half the live of the food. Try to store in an area above 32 deg F and below 72 deg F.
4) Minimize humidity:
a) Minimize humidity as much as you can
b) Use moisture proof packages
c) Ideal humidity level is 15%.
d) Keep food off the floor and walls
5) Protect from oxygen: Can use vacuum sealed bags
6) Keep away from light or place containers in a cardboard box to protect from light
Performing the right steps when storing food and the act itself of food storing bring us security and peace since we are assuring our food supply.
Food Sustainability - Part 1: Food Storage
Submitted by admin on Mon, 07/13/2009 - 07:03Food storage can be used for long and short term planning. Having the right amount of food stored can provide us with enough supply in case that for some reason we are temporarily away from our regular food supply.
You can buy the food already prepared for long term storing or you can do it by yourself by drying fruits, appropriate food canning, etc.
Before obtaining the food that you are going to store (it does not matter if you are going to buy it already prepared for storing or are going to do it by yourself) you should follow some basic guidelines so you can have a successful plan. T
These guidelines are as follows:
1) Find an appropriate place for storing
2) Have a way of how to keep track of it
3) Look in advance for any unexpected situation
4) What kind of food are you going to store
5) How are you going to prepare your food
6) Prepare for sanitary needs
There are several ways to store your food. Follow the guidelines provided; consult the internet or any person that works with this matter. In part 2 of this article series I will be providing with information about the appropriate conditions to preserve the shelf life of your stored food.
Understanding Soil - Part 6: Soil PH Improvement
Submitted by admin on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 09:05Soil improvementis necessary to get better crops when you obtain an acidic or alkaline result from a test. You may need to rise or lower the PH level depending on the results obtained from the test.
Following are some techniques to adjust the soil to a neutral PH depending on the test results:
1) For both alkaline an acidic: Regularly add mulch, compost, organic fertilizers and other organic material.
2) For acidic soils: The usual way to correct acidity is to use Lime. The safest material is ground up limestone rock (agricultural lime). Also ash from wood fire can be used, crushed seashells ans dolomite.
3) For alkaline soils: Manure, iron sulfate, and compost.
When you finally obtain a neutral PH in your soil it is good to keep it in good conditions by adding periodically organic matter like compost and organic fertilizers. It is good to use the recommended quantities for the material that requires some measure.
This article finalizes the series for Understanding Soil. Comments and suggestions are welcomed.
Understanding Soil - Part 5: PH Testing
Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 01:34If we want a healthy soilit is good to know itsPH. PH is refers to the indication of alkalinity or acidity of a solution. A soil with good condition has a neutral PH, if it is acidic the nutrients will quickly leach out of the soil, and if it is alkaline it will be difficult for the plant to absorb nutrients.
Most of the food crops prefer a neutral PH, but other prefers an acidic or an alkaline soil. Following are some tips to identify the soil PH:
1) Use a PH Tester: It shows numbers from 1 to 12 where 1 is acidic and 12 is alkaline. The majority of plants will grow in soils within 6.5 and 7.5 being 7 (neutral) the best condition.
2) If you are not using PH equipment you can identify the soil PH depending on the landforms and other factors for example:
a) Acid soils: Generally found in wetlands areas with higher rain falls, and in the mountains.Tastes sour.
b) Alkaline soils: Generally found in dry lands, coastal areas. Tastes sweet.
As you can see, besides other factors mentioned in other articles of this site, the productivity of the soil depend also in its PH. So make sure that before you perform the PH test the soil is fairly dry or you may get wrong result. Also it is good to make the test several times.
There are some ways to improve soil PH, some of them includes adding enough organic material, mulching, and compost. Soil improvements for balancing PH are explained in the next article (part 6).
Understanding Soil - Part 4: Soil Improvement Techniques for Clay and Sandy Soils
Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 07:19This time I am going give you some tips about soil improvement techniques for clay and sandy soils. Soil that is mostly clay will need some sand and other ingredients to make it better, the same with sandy soil, will need some clay and other things.
These are just some of the basics for its improvement according to its type:
Clay soils:
1) We need to reduce compaction: Clay when become compacted is difficult to dig and makes root growth difficult.
2) Planting legumes: They provide nitrogen and also to help prevent erosion.
3) Add sand: To improve structure
4) Use crop rotation: The plants need different types of nutrients. Crop rotation helps to balance nutrients in the soil.
5) Plant trees: Their roots help brake up the soil, also they provide mulch.
Sandy soils:
1) Add ½ shovel of clay to a bucket of water; spray the mixture to the soil: It adds valuable clay particles to the soil.
2) Add green manure crops: It adds humus to the soil and improves texture. Green manures like alfalfa, mustard, clover, fenugreek, oat and rye can be planted.
As you can see not all soil is the same, some contains more clay or more sand so it depends how we are going to treat it according to is composition.
In part 5, I will be explaining what soil is and how to test it so it can be improved according to its PH.
Understanding Soil: - Part 3: Soil Improvement Techniques for All Types Of Soil
Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/15/2009 - 19:39To obtain healthy plants we need healthy soil . Since there are different types of soil we can improve it according its type.
The techniques are the following:
1) Organic compost: Provides nutrients.
2) Mulch: Good for earthworms which change humus into nutrients. Protect from direct sunlight, provides nutrients, and increase soil biota.
3) Dry and liquid compost: The same benefits as mulching.
4) Rotate crop production: The plants need different types of nutrients. Crop rotation helps to balance nutrients in the soil.
5) Plant Legumes: They provide nitrogen
These are just some of the steps that can be performed. Some of them may require more time than others, but the benefits are worth.
In part 5 I will be explaining soil improvement techniques for clay and sandy soils.
Understanding Soil - Part 2: Identifying Types of Soil
Submitted by admin on Sun, 06/07/2009 - 22:18When we are planning to plant it is good to know which type of soilwe have in order to know which improvements we need to perform. Understanding soil is very important if we want to produce healthy fruits and vegetables.
The techniques shown here is simple and can utilize inexpensive materials.
1) Dig a hole of approximately two feet (soil should be moist)
2) Squeeze the soil, if it holds it shape, and when poked sits stubbornly in your hand, it is clay soil.
3) If you give a light poke and crumbles, even when formerly it holds it shape, it is loam.
4) If it crumbles and fall apart as soon as you open your hand, it is sandy soil.
The properties of each one is as follows: Loam retains nutrients and moisture, generally it is considered ideal, clay is nutrient rich but water become stuck in the soil, and sandy soil quickly releases nutrients and also quickly drains.
In the next article (Part 3) I will be mentioning some techniques used improve soil quality.
