Farming with Terraces and Raised Beds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WddekwA23dk&feature=relmfu

Sepp Holtzer reveals some of his secrets to his success in this mini-documentary, namely his use of terraces and raised beds in his farming. The former technique has been implemented by farmers for centuries, only to be abandonned in the wake of conventional farming. The latter is fairly new and Holtzer puts his own spin on it putting a layer of various organic matter under the surface. Both of thesse techniques help to create a microclimate around the plants. Terracing especially helps to stop soil erosion and thus allows for greater moisture retention. Holtzer thus has need for irrigation. The special raised beds help the plants to stay warm, allowing them to stay active even during winter under the snow.

Intelligent Use of Water

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bar82jvGvPE&feature=related

No one can overstate the importance of water use and managment in agriculture. However, most do not know the uses of water beyond irrigation. As Sepp Holtzer demonstrates in the video above, water can have a variety of uses. Such include the use of ponds to create microclimates to foster plant growth, a system to extend the growing season,  a source of electricity, a source of income and more. With his innovative and intelligent use of water, Holtzer is able to live almost completely independantly of the outside world.

The Agro Rebel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yScINihX_z8

Sepp Holtzer is a name well known in permaculture circles for good reason. After all, he had been farming for several years using permaculture before the term was even invented. The above documentarty lays out his success, his struggles and his techniques. Holtzer's brand of farming does not at all resemble any form of conventional agriculture. Instead of a chemical, mechanical, monocrop operation, Holtzer runs his mountain farm in the exact opposite way. Instead of chemical fertilizer he allows natural processes to maintain soil fertility. Nearly everthing is done by hand. Various plants are allowed to grow together, forming a support system for all of them. His entire opperation is based on careful observation and cooperating with nature.

Making the Big Bucks with Permaculture

Paul Wheaton, founder of the permaculture forum at permies.com , covers in a series of podcasts some ways of making very good via permaculture and tells a little about some success stories such as Sepp Holtzer and Masanobu Fukuoka. Wheaton stresses the cost benefits of permaculture practices and the importance of marketing.

Part I
Part II
Part III

Permaculture Forum - Permies

http://www.permies.com/forums/

An earlier post contained the documentary Farm of the Future. Within the documentary, Permaculture (permanent agriculture) was mentioned as a solution to the problems agriculuture will face in the future. Anyone whose interest was sparked ought to consider join the permaculture forums known as Permies. The forum covers  just about any related subject one could think of, from growing things, to many sorts of animals and livestock, to general sustainable living tips and everything in-between. One may find the series of podcasts and articles of use as well. Be aware, though. A number of topics are unusual and perhaps off-putting.

Dry-Farming

With the historic drought occuring in the United States as of late, I believe this a timely book. Dry-Farming: It's Priciples and Practice by William MacDonald covers exactly as the title says. Though published over a century ago, I  think farmers concerned with water managment and retenion may learn a thing or two. It includes a history of Dry-Farming, the conservation of soil moisture, rainfall and evaporation, the tilling problems, Dry-Farming zones, dry land crops, and more

Source: http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html

PDF: http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/010172.dry.farming.pdf

Yet Another Blog - OlyFarms

http://www.olyfarms.org/

This third sustainable ag blog, out of Olympia, Washington, formed in response to growing cocern oven the state of America's food supply, which is in the hands of profit-driven mega corporations, producing food as a merely commodity. The blog itself is rather small scale, originating from a desire to expand small organic farms in the South Sound area. The blog provides information on  composting benefits, sustainable gardening including permaculture, organic fertilizer, some news artciles, and some cost saving tips. Blogs like this are legion, proving that concerns about the conventional farming system aboud, and are far from isolated.