[pronut-hiv] Pieces of the Solutions

["Stacia Nordin, RD" <nordin@eomw.net>]

Two solution pieces below in relation to the Lancet's Malnutrition 
article recently released.  One on a perennial agriculture (plants, 
trees and animals that produce for many years) and the other on 
sustainable building.  Sustainable living designs are needed not only 
for food, but also for water and sanitation that are closely linked with 
health and nutrition status (especially in the developing world).

Stacia

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Stacia Nordin, RD
Registered Dietitian
School Health & Nutrition Advisor
Malawi Ministry of Education

Kristof, Khalidwe & Stacia Nordin
Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security Consultants
Crossroads Post Dot Net x-124, Lilongwe, Malawi
nordin@eomw.net
www.NeverEndingFood.org
t: +265 1-707-213 Malawi is + 2 GMT - this phone is currently out of order!
c: +265 9-333-073 (Stacia)
c: +265 9-926-153 (Kristof)


-------- Original Message --------
Subject:     Permaculture Association January Ebulletin
Date:     Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:22:33 -0000
From:     Permaculture Association (Britain) <office@permaculture.org.uk>
To:     Permaculture Association (Britain) <office@permaculture.org.uk>

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Research: Perennial Polyculture Farming - Seeds of Another Agricultural 
Revolution?

James Dewar presents arguments in favor of perennial polyculture farming 
as a positive contribution to a wide variety of global problems and 
suggests actions that should be taken to explore that promise further. 
He explains perennial polyculture farming and differences between it and 
annual monoculture farming. He explores its association with reversing 
environmental degradation; redressing the loss of biodiversity; reducing 
worldwide hunger, malnutrition, and energy use; and improving the health 
and education of women and children. He also explores the feasibility of 
perennial polyculture farming. Perennials, as opposed to annuals, 
produce flowers and seeds more than once in their lifetime. In addition, 
perennial polycultures with mixed intercropping have continual ground 
cover throughout the year. While a good deal of work remains to be done 
to develop the promise of perennial polycultures, there is reason to 
believe that the promise is real, that it is particularly salient with 
respect to Africa - the region that could most use the promise of 
perennial polycultures - and that there are many elements already in 
place to make that promise a reality. Only lacking are greater 
recognition of the role that perennials could play and the will to 
include them in the future of agriculture.

See Also: Research Brief http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9263/

Free, downloadable PDF file(s) are available below.
Full Document http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2007/RAND_OP179.pdf

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New Earthships book

There is an urgent need for radical and widespread change in 
construction that not only concentrates on cutting carbon emissions and 
leaving a positive building legacy for generations to come, but that 
also demonstrates an increased harmony with the natural world. 
"Earthships - Building a Zero Carbon Future for Homes" shows how 
earthships provide valuable lessons on how to achieve all of these goals.
Architecture is changing rapidly as climate change is more widely 
understood to be a pressing issue and the need to cut carbon emissions 
in buildings increases. The earthship is a building concept that has 
evolved over the last 30 years and represents a pioneering form of zero 
carbon residential building that tackles a variety of sustainability issues.
The book charts the building of the first earthships in the UK, with 
particular reference to Earthship Brighton and their relevance to home 
building and architecture generally. It offers lessons about sustainable 
architecture and about the legislative and regulatory culture that 
affects their construction by looking at energy, water, building with 
waste, and construction methods, and assessing the future of these 
buildings.
If you would like a preview of the first chapter click here or if you 
would like to buy a copy online then please visit 
http://www.lowcarbon.co.uk.

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The Leeds office team

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