Gaia's Garden Study Group

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A group dedicated to the study and implementation of the permaculture principles as outlined in the Toby Hemenway book Gaia's Garden

Location: Greater Tampa Bay, Florida
Members: 15
Latest Activity: May 22, 2012

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The first edition of Gaia’s Garden sparked the imagination of America’s home gardeners, introducing permaculture’s central message: Working with Nature, not against her, results in more beautiful, abundant, and forgiving gardens. This extensively revised and expanded second edition broadens the reach and depth of the permaculture approach for urban and suburban growers.
Many people mistakenly think that ecological gardening—which involves growing a wide range of edible and other useful plants—can take place only on a large, multiacre scale. As Hemenway demonstrates, it’s fun and easy to create a “backyard ecosystem” by assembling communities of plants that can work cooperatively and perform a variety of functions, including:

* Building and maintaining soil fertility and structure
* Catching and conserving water in the landscape
* Providing habitat for beneficial insects, birds, and animals
* Growing an edible “forest” that yields seasonal fruits, nuts, and other foods

This revised and updated edition also features a new chapter on urban permaculture, designed especially for people in cities and suburbs who have very limited growing space. Whatever size yard or garden you have to work with, you can apply basic permaculture principles to make it more diverse, more natural, more productive, and more beautiful. Best of all, once it’s established, an ecological garden will reduce or eliminate most of the backbreaking work that’s needed to maintain the typical lawn and garden.

Here is a book preview that you can read through to learn the first few chapters: http://permaculture-media-download.blogspot.com/2010/10/gaias-garden-guide-to-home-scale.html

Discussion Forum

Chapter 2

Started by Eric Stewart Jan 28, 2011. 0 Replies 0 Favorites

In Chapter 2 Toby Hemenway discusses the idea of ecological roles in gardening. One tool he discusses is Chinampas:…Continue

New Port Richey group

Started by Eric Stewart. Last reply by Neil Brown Nov 28, 2010. 4 Replies 0 Favorites

In New Port Richey we have had such a great interest in studying permaculture. In order to facilitate Permaculture understanding we are going to be mimicking the St. Petersburg Gaia's Garden group.…Continue

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Comment by Eric Stewart on February 6, 2011 at 12:13pm: This Wed. I'll be hosting a BlogTalkRadio in regards to Gaia's garden study groups and what they are doing in the Tampa bay area!

Comment by jungle jay on January 23, 2011 at 12:42am: Intergenerational, multicultural, multiethnic, interracial, nonjudgemental; all terms that are inviting and display a spirit of community with all walks of life. These terms derive from a place love and inclusiveness. Indeed these are the words that defeat the narrowminded,ethnocentric bigotry and devisiveness that permeates and is fostered by the modern media.The latter are based on ignorance and fear. Fortunately these traits can be reversed in individuals by extending the hand of friendship through employment of the former.

jj

Comment by Stacey S. on December 10, 2010 at 12:26pm: I meant to write "cross generational" but "cross cultural" works for me too ;-)

Comment by Stacey S. on December 10, 2010 at 12:24pm: We had a great meeting last night at Habitat for Humanity in NPR. We discussed the first five principles of permaculture and what they meant to us. It was great to have Jim there as well as everyone else to discuss real life, practical examples. The conversation covered topics like mulching, learning from nature, capturing rainwater, the need for a paradigm shift in consciousness, to yoga, to The Ringing Cedars, creating sun traps and layering, no til gardening, subterranean ecosystems, our connection with the universe and each other even at the cellular and quantum levels, the value of community, and the importance of a cross cultural outreach.

One item we dicussed (the first priniciple) is observation. We had a lengthy conversation about it but I wanted to add one more thought... and that is... the act of observation should be as free from judgment and ego bias as possible. We know we need to shift our consciousness away from an unsustainable system. If we can accept a new vision and see the world differently by truly observing nature, without the filters of our ego, we can truly be creative and, as Jim said "look at the problem as a solution". An example might be... all bugs are bad, but through obersation we know there are many beneficial insects and even the "bad" ones may have a purpose. We need to back away from the "but that's the way we've always done it" mentality to co-create a vision of the self-sustaining reality that we want.

Comment by jungle jay on November 28, 2010 at 6:21pm: Eric, You might consider contacting member Sharon Jebens at Wings Bookstore for the opportunity to purchase multiple copies.

Comment by Eric Stewart on November 28, 2010 at 12:21pm: Update the text and linked a copy to book preview. You can read the first few chapters online for free- when you see the beauty of this book thou your want to get a copy from the library or purchase one yourself. Perhaps we could look into getting a bulk purchase- from a local bookstore and have copies available for people to purchase at our meetings?

Comment by jungle jay on October 19, 2010 at 10:00am: Wa a member here first, Then joined Code Green. Closer to my Clearwater abode.

Comment by Eric Stewart on May 26, 2010 at 7:05pm: Great group perhaps we can begin to add details to the chapters?

Comment by Neil Brown on May 3, 2010 at 4:55pm: Welcome everyone to Code Green Community. I believe that Eric has put together an outstanding venue for communicating ideas concerning sustainabity, permaculture and environmental and social consciousness. Welcome aboard!!!