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geoff lawton

Geoff Lawton's "An Introduction to Permaculture Earthworks" video now live!

Jennifer Wadsworth

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posted 12 years ago

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You can see the FULL VERSION on Geoff's site (sign in with your email address).

OK - I'd really recommend you view the longer version of this video. Geoff describes why we want to use earthworks (slow, spread and sink water into the landscape), types of earthworks and what earthworks look like in both humid climates and dryland climates (they are often very different). He explains the duties of water and how storing water in the soil and rehydrating landscapes is one of the most critical things we can do right now to bring about naturally productive landscapes and begin to heal broad degraded areas.

This is an introduction to the Bonus Earthworks Course included with Geoff's Online PDC.

Here's the short version:

Subtropical desert (Köppen: BWh)
Elevation: 1090 ft Annual rainfall: 7"

Cj Sloane

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posted 12 years ago

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Ah rats, a re-run (for those who have taken the course). Next weeks video looks good though.

My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.

Jennifer Wadsworth

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posted 12 years ago

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CJ - didn't you find the earthworks bonus course to be really useful in your understanding of swales?

Subtropical desert (Köppen: BWh)
Elevation: 1090 ft Annual rainfall: 7"

Cj Sloane

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posted 12 years ago

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Yes, of course.
I was just looking forward to my weekly hit of new inspiration.

My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.

Jennifer Wadsworth

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I was just hoping you could share some of your insights about the earthworks part of the course

Sorry if my earlier response came across weird.

Subtropical desert (Köppen: BWh)
Elevation: 1090 ft Annual rainfall: 7"

Chris Kott

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posted 12 years ago

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I always enjoy my weekly hit of inspiration. I hope they've lost the over-the-top music permanently, though, and I hope someone suggests to Geoff that subtle reminders about his online PDC are sufficient, except for when he's announcing registration dates. When it starts feeling like a cross between non-denominational prayer hour and an infomercial, it cheapens the whole message, which is a shame, because otherwise, I feel these videos, though they are more demonstrative than they are a DIY/how-to, do have the world-changing power that they are striving for. The bells, whistles, frills, and bludgeoning aren't necessary.

I wonder if Geoff has any plans to look at Sepp Holzer's work. I think Geoff's breakdown of what Sepp has done would be very informative.

-CK

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein

Cj Sloane

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posted 12 years ago

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OK, sure. I know I posted this somewhere...
...but I didn't really get the whole "planting trees in an uncompacted mound till I saw this:

Much easier to understand when you see the process speeded up and see the swale created on contour and the mound just below it. Easy to see how the tree roots would establish quickly in the uncompacted mound, with water access via the swale.

My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.

Cj Sloane

pollinator

Posts: 3738

Location: Vermont, off grid for 24 years!

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posted 12 years ago

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Chris Kott wrote:When it starts feeling like a cross between non-denominational prayer hour and an infomercial, it cheapens the whole message,...

I like the non-denominational prayer hour bit minus the infomercial. A little reminder that this is a directive to action would be better. Action to implement these ideas, not just take his course!

My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.

Chris Kott

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posted 12 years ago

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I just don't feel it's necessary. To me, it's like taking a Van Gogh and framing it in a Metre - wide diamond - encrusted platinum frame, except compared to the content, it looks like cubic zirconia in pewter. The delivery can cheapen the effect.

-CK

Carol Allen

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Location: Oklahoma

posted 12 years ago

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For those who didn't take the on-line course with Geoff Lawton, I would like to explain that there was a normal earthworks portion which was more-or-less the chapter in the Mollison designers manual, taught just like each of the other chapters in the book. As a free gift to the students, there was an additional Earthworks Course, that would normally be taught as a stand alone course. If you completed the course, you received credit for both courses.

In my opinion, Geoff is a master teacher and I could learn something from every video that he makes. Maybe it isn't new information, but even when it is repetitive, it causes me to think more deeply about the topic.

There are a lot of permaculture sites on the web and some of them just have good salesman and draw everyone in, others are good at writing and give you a pleasurable reading experience, some are excellent researches with no real experience but borrow from the experience of others, but Geoff hasn't just read about the theory, he has the hands on experience from around the world to back it up. He will tell it like it REALLY is even if his first try was a failure, but then he will explain how he fixed it.

I have no plans to travel around the globe fixing world problems, but I do want to improve my own life, and make it easier for my friends and children to make their life better. I would love to think that I am improving my small part of the world, and hope that seeing my world, others will want to do the same. I know that I could TEACH what I have learned, but I wouldn't be comfortable doing that until I have more experience. I can certainly see the benefit of internship with Geoff. There are a lot of sites on the web that are teaching the small parts of permaculture that they understand, mixed in with a lot of things they think they know, but don't. I love knowing that there is still hope for the world, if we can all do our part.

Jorja Hernandez

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posted 12 years ago

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What exactly about that little promo came across like a non-denominational prayer? Not trying to be argumentative, I honestly don't see it and I'm curious.

Chris Kott

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posted 12 years ago

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This is the first video to not have an amazingly over-the-top musical and pictorial intro. Check out any of the previous videos, you will see what I mean.

Actually, I really liked the new music.

Cj Sloane

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posted 12 years ago

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That's because it wasn't made as a promo but is an existing intro to the earthworks class.

My project thread
Agriculture collects solar energy two-dimensionally; but silviculture collects it three dimensionally.

Chris Kott

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Posts: 3847

Location: Marmora, Ontario

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posted 12 years ago

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That's cool, but also proves my point, in a way. When they depart from the sales pitch format, normally compelling footage lends more strength to the argument.

-CK

Eduardo Jezierski

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Location: Earth/North America/NorthWest

posted 11 years ago

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Sorry to revive an old thread, but I am starting a design process and would love to see the actual course; but all I find is trailers and promos.
Where can Geoff take my hard-earned money for the online earthworks course I can download - ? Or is it an 'event' that I need to pre-register to?
I am pretty adept at finding stuff online but I seem to be running in circles.
Thanks for helping a permaculture newbie.
FWIW, I call his video style Epic Permaculture. It makes me smile.

Jennifer Wadsworth

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Location: Phoenix, AZ (9b)

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posted 11 years ago

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Hi Eduardo and welcome to Permies!

That earthworks class was a perk for students of Geoff's online PDC course. I believe he is running another Online PDC course early next year. I don't think he sells that particular section separately. However, he does have this dvd: http://permaculturenews.org/shop/dvd/water-harvesting-dvd/. You can buy it separately OR it also comes with his online PDC course (as well as 5 other dvds).

Paul also has a water harvesting dvd set. https://permies.com/t/37423/tnk/dvds-cards-tshirts-mugs-stuff The 3-DVD set is $70. Pay through paypal as directed on the link.

Subtropical desert (Köppen: BWh)
Elevation: 1090 ft Annual rainfall: 7"

Eduardo Jezierski

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Location: Earth/North America/NorthWest

posted 11 years ago

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Thanks very much for the prompt reply. I'll see if I can jump into the online PDC.

Jennifer Wadsworth

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Location: Phoenix, AZ (9b)

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posted 11 years ago

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I don't think Geoff's PDC will start up until January or later. If you logged on to view the FULL VERSION of the video (created an account on geofflawton.com, you will get future notices of videos as well as the announcement of when the next PDC starts.

If you're interested in how people liked the online PDC, you can check out this thread: https://permies.com/t/30228/permaculture/PDC-Geoff-Lawton-opinion

Subtropical desert (Köppen: BWh)
Elevation: 1090 ft Annual rainfall: 7"

Yeah. What he said. Totally. Wait. What? Sorry, I was looking at this tiny ad:

Permaculture Adventure Bundle - 43 digital goods for freaky cheap!

https://permies.com/w/permaculture-adventure