The PermaDesign Weblog, with Nate Downey and Melissa McDonald!

Rainwater Harvesting on the Rise in California

by Nate Downey

It’s great to see the rains in California are starting to pay off for those who took advantage of recent changes in California law allowing for rainwater harvesting.  Let’s hope that the rebates continue to expand to include more cities!

http://blogs.kqed.org/science/2014/12/17/storms-a-boon-for-rain-water-harvesters/

12/26/2014 | (0) Comments

An Alternative to Styrofoam!

by Nate Downey

This innovative company is experimenting with the roots of mushrooms to bind together farm waste that would normally be thrown out.  The result is an all-natural price competitive alternative to traditional packing materials.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/growing-styrofoam-out-mushrooms

12/22/2014 | (0) Comments

The new frontier is in dirt.

by Nate Downey

One of the most important resources we have is our soil.  The UN General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils.  The goals are to raise awareness, educate the public, support effective policies, promote investment, strengthen initiatives, and advocate for rapid capacity enhancement. 

http://www.fao.org/soils-2015/en/

12/21/2014 | (0) Comments

Fracking 101

by Nate Downey

Clear, concise, and crucial.

12/19/2014 | (0) Comments

Nestlé’s Big Squeeze

by Nate Downey

Here's a nightmare you can't resist...looking forward to this documentary flick featuring the amazing Maude Barlow.

http://www.bottledlifefilm.com/index.php/home-en.html

12/15/2014 | (0) Comments

Reorganizing Flood Control to Harvest in LA

by Nate Downey

Great to see Andy Lipkis featured in this NY Times piece about water harvesting!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/opinion/sunday/los-angeles-city-of-water.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1

12/12/2014 | (0) Comments

Bounce Back in 2015

by Nate Downey

The Resilient Investor by Hal Brill, Michael Kramer, and Christopher Peck will be coming out early next year, but you can pre-order your copy today. Here's my review of the eye-widening book in the December 7th 'Santa Fe New Mexican.'

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/home/bounce-back-better-and-beyond/article_2951f611-5d54-558f-a83d-6ce3484a1be6.html

12/10/2014 | (0) Comments

100th Issue of Green Investing!

by Nate Downey

Here's a momentous journal about socially responsible investing. Amy Domini, Gary Hirshberg, and Phillippe Cousteau (among others) are featured in this, the 100th issue of "Green Money Journal." In other GMJ news, I'm looking forward to writing a piece that publisher Cliff Feigenbaum requested for the upcoming Water issue (March 2015).

http://www.greenmoneyjournal.com/december-2014/

12/05/2014 | (0) Comments

Our Public Lands…

by Nate Downey

Great article, Bryan Bird! Thank for protecting what permaculture calls zone 5, the outermost zone where, "We have neither need nor right to interfere or dominate." (Mollison)

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/reader-view-public-lands-belong-to-all-americans/article_a83b3f27-ec80-595f-aeff-3dd140b68e4f.html

12/04/2014 | (0) Comments