Permacultue Relief Corps Forming For Haiti Earthquake Response

[Michaelangelica]

Permacultue Relief Corps Forming For Haiti Earthquake Response
by Gaiapunk ( thejulianeffect [at] gmail.com )
Thursday Jan 14th, 2010 10:30 AM
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/201...4/18635231.php

[Michaelangelica]

Permaculture Relief Corps
20 Jan 10 - Sloweb
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti one week ago, permaculture is being proposed as a solution to provide a long-term sustainable future for the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Permaculture, an approach to designing human settlements and perennial agricultural systems that mimic the relationships found in natural ecologies, would allow Haitians to build self-sufficient environments and reduce their reliance on industrial systems of production and distribution.

http://www.slowfood.com/sloweb/eng/d...72A9iUM42D5A55

[Michaelangelica]

Sustainable relief in Haiti through permaculture
January 26, 2010 at 12:00 pm by Cory Brennan

haiti1I had just finished teaching the first weekend of a Permaculture design course at Earth N Us Farm in Little Haiti, Miami, when the earthquake hit in Haiti. The response was instantaneous in the neighborhood, with fundraisers started the following day and the continued outpouring of support. Our discussion questioned how we could get aid to Haiti that would be truly sustainable and not just a temporary handout.

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dai...-permaculture/

[Michaelangelica]

PermaCorps, Haiti: Sustainable Disaster Relief pt.2
Alex Aylett, 4 Feb 10

Responding to disasters requires doing a lot with a little as quickly as possible. After my post on the use of solar power as part of the Haitian recovery, a few readers pointed me to aid efforts that are using permaculture techniques to meet pressing demands for clean water, food and shelter. There is even talk of creating a permaculture relief corp: the "PermaCorps."

Permaculture's motto is that nothing goes to waste -- which is perfect for situations where there is never enough to go around in the first place. Its community based work is also an inspiring contrast to the shock doctrine approach to emergency aid.

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/010960.html

[Michaelangelica]

A bit of trivia
Our word for potato comes from haiti-batata-- apparently where a variety that would grow in Europe it was first found (?)

The word potato comes from the Haitian word "batata" which refers to a variety of sweet potatoes. The word came into Spanish as "patata." When the later variants (called papas by the natives) were found, they were also called "patata," and the word made its way into English as potato. The slang usage "spud" derives from the spade-like tool used to dig 'em out.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...f-french-fries

potato

Ah, the humble spud. The potato (solanum tuberosum) has a rich etymology and a confusing history. Quite a big deal for something which has become a staple food for much of the developed world. Although there are many theories as to where the word began, the best bet so far seems to be that it comes from patata, the Spanish word for potato or sweet potato. Christopher Columbus brought back sweet potatoes from Haiti, where they were called batata by the locals. The potato and the sweet potato were often confused and the Spanish version of the word became used for both. Patata was Anglicized to potato upon its introduction to England and Ireland.

http://www.readright.be/WDJ/2007/09/potato/

The world could never repay the Haitians for this gift

A report on Kiva in Haiti:-
http://www.kiva.org/about/inside/201...ca%40gmail.com

[Michaelangelica]

A Permaculture Strategy for Port-au-Prince and Beyond
As Evan Hansen noted in an earlier post, the Haitian recovery will have to be down to earth, literally. Local food production is invaluable in a country where people struggle to feed themselves. For advice on this I sought out Geoff Lawton of the Australian Permaculture Research Institute. He answered my questions about how to strategize and deploy sustainable permaculture solutions across the country.

EVAN O'NEIL: Given the ecological degradation in Haiti, and the need for food and fuel, how can permaculture projects help rehabilitate the landscape and provide sustainable livelihoods?

http://haitirewired.wired.com/profil...tories+2%29%29

[Michaelangelica]

The Permaculture Guild needs your help to continue their efforts in Haiti
March 18, 2010 at 1:30 pm by Cory Brennan


I’m assisting a permaculture relief team in Haiti currently with The Permaculture Guild, a group of six permaculturists who were first responders for the earthquake – five who are still there. They have saved lives by putting in sanitation systems and low tech water filtration, which were the key areas where lives were at risk when they arrived. They have been educating Haitians on how to do this sustainably, for themselves.

They have moved into the next phase of “teaching the teachers” focusing on

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dai...orts-in-haiti/