How can barren fields, degraded forests and grazing lands be reforested without planting a single tree? Is it possible? Well yes, according to Tony Rinaudo and his work with World Vision in regenerating over 30,000 acres in West Africa all with the aid of just a simple pocket knife and a...

This story is almost a parable of two worlds, a battle between the natural and the man-made. Like a boxing match, in the one corner we have Monsanto – a large company aided by big money and big investment, tinkering away in the science labs, discovering even more devious ways to develop...

We thought we’d give a plug to our good friends at Milkwood Permaculture and Regen Agriculture who have brought out to Australia some great innovative thinkers and farmers doing things outside the square – empowering people to independent action and making a success of their...

Is it possible to build a house entirely from the bits and pieces you would find in a rubbish dump? Dan Phillips thinks so. First watch the YouTube clip above to see the kind of houses Dan builds. To learn more about his thoughts and ideas, this TED talk below shares Dan’s amusing look...

Nigeria is working hard to solve the problem of depleted fish stocks by creating urban fish farms. Babatunde Akiodie was finding work hard to find until he discovered how to grow fish on the roof top above his wife’s hairdressing salon.  Using cheap concrete tanks and a well dug for...

“Those who treated him as a madman in the beginning realise today that he is a genius” The Prime Minister of Yatenga, June 2008 “Yacouba single-handedly has had more impact on conservation than all the national and international researchers put together“…in this region tens of thousands...

ABC Radio has an interesting interview with self styled “lunatic farmer” Joel Salatin who happens to also be in Australia courtesy of REGEN Agriculture talking about free-range farming in USA. Joel says food has become over-regulated by US food safety bureaucrats who are...

Ever wonder what happens to all the portions of uneaten gourmet restaurant food? Chances are it ends up in landfill somewhere. But a new Noosa resort restaurant is changing all that. Bistro C upmarket food waste is being delivered to worm farms and chicken coops located nearby. The restaurant...

Weeds are one of the most despised plants on the planet. People go to many lengths to eradicate weeds from the garden. Judging by the number of herbicides you can buy – its obviously a great money spinner for the chemical companies. But if you speak with Geoff Lawton a Permaculture...

Imagine a world where we lost all our seeds? it’s been estimated that each year 1–2% of crop diversity is lost and more than 75% of genetically diverse crops present at the beginning of the 20th century are now gone. Here’s an interesting talk presented by Jonathan Drori who has a...

Here’s a great interview with Vandana Shiva one of the world’s most dynamic and provocative thinkers. A physicist, ecologist, and activist, she won the Right Livelihood Award in 1993. She directs the Research Foundation for Science, Technology, and Natural Resource Policy in New...

Peter Andrews the creator of Natural Sequence Farming talks to us about the role of weeds in a natural system. Sitting down on a stump with sprig of Patterson’s curse – a noxious weed – proudly tucked into his top pocket, Peter reckons the authorities have got it all wrong....