Tag Archives: geoff lawton

Episode-2126- Geoff Lawton on Permaculture’s Future

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Modern Survival| 13 Comments
Episode-2126- Geoff Lawton on Permaculture's Future [ 1:41:07 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Geoff Lawton is a Permaculture consultant, designer and teacher. He first took his Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course in 1983. He holds a Diploma in Permaculture Education, Design, Implementation, System Establishment, Administration and Community Development. Both of these were awarded by the founder of Permaculture, Bill Mollison.

Geoff has undertaken thousands of jobs teaching, consulting, designing, administrating and implementing, in 6 continents and close to 50 countries around the world. Clients have included private individuals, groups, communities, governments, aid organizations, non-government organizations and multinational companies.

He has currently educated over 15,000 students in Permaculture worldwide. These include graduates of the Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course and courses focused on the practical design of sustainable soil, water, plant, animal, energy, structures, legal and economic systems.

Geoff has embraced the technology age. Not only is he the driving force behind the World Wide Permaculture Network (created in 2011), he also has an online training and education website named Geofflawton.com.

Geoff established Geofflawton.com in 2013 with the aim of educating as many people as possible in Permaculture and environmental sustainability. He has released Permaculture educational and inspirational films to his members regularly throughout each year and holds one Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course event per calendar year.

In 1996 he was accredited with the Permaculture Community Services Award by the Permaculture movement for services in Australia and around the world.

In October 1996 Bill Mollison, upon his retirement, asked Geoff to establish and direct a new Permaculture Research Institute of Australia (PRI Australia) on the 147-acre Tagari Farm. The Institute was a global networking centre for Permaculture projects. It is currently located at Zaytuna Farm at The Channon in Northern NSW, Australia. Geoff is the Managing Director.

The institute is a self funded non-profit company limited by guarantee. The institute has since founded PRI USA, PRI Jordan, PRI Sunshine Coast. Other Permaculture Research Institutes that have been launched or are in the process of being launched including: PRI Canada, PRI Chile, PRI Turkey, PRI Greece and PRI Afghanistan. PRI Australia won the Humanitarian Water & Food Award for 2010 for their initiative “Greening the Desert“.

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

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Episode-1727- Geoff Lawton on the Big Picture of Problems and Solutions

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Modern Survival| 4 Comments
Episode-1727- Geoff Lawton on the Big Picture of Problems and Solutions [ 1:26:14 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Geoff Lawton - Permaculture Artist

Geoff Lawton – Permaculture Artist

It is always and extreme pleasure to have Geoff Lawton on the show. Geoff is who I received my PDC certification from, he is also my biggest mentor. It is my firm belief that like attracts like. The common bond Geoff and I share isn’t really permaculture it is a fundamental desire to help others and to do so mostly by teaching.

Today I had planned to discuss a lot of technical questions with Geoff, how do you ____ etc.  But quickly we moved into a much more high level discussion.

How would Geoff design a solution for the entire state of California for drought proofing.  What is the 3rd ethic really all about, why should we not politicize it?

Why are live stock essential to repair the damage to our eco systems?  Why are humans necessary to repair the same damage?  Today we look at not our own individual survival but the survival of our ecosystems and way of life.

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the day

chinquapin_fruitingBob Wells Nursery “Plant Of The Week”
Chinquapin Nut Tree It is adaptable from zone 5 to zone 9.

The Chinquapin is a sub-species of the Chestnut family. It grows as a small tree or bush. Chinquapins are delicious eaten right out of the burr in the fall. Chinquapins have a single nut in the burr, unlike chestnuts that have nut divisions.

They are understory trees that grow in our native forests. However, heavy logging throughout the U.S has made finding native chinquapins harder than ever. The chinquapin tree is excellent for fresh eating, roasting, or for wildlife food.

Bob Wells specializes in edible landscape, including: Fruit Trees, Berry Plants, Nut Trees, as well as the hard to find Specialty Fruit Trees. Find this plant and more at BobWellsNursery.com

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Also remember we have an expert council that can answer you questions. If you have a question send it to jack at thesurvivalpodcast.com with TSPC Epert in the subject line. Ask your question in one to two sentences so it is clear then provide any additional details. Make sure to tell me what council member the question is for. You Meet the Expert Council at this Link.

Join the MSB Today

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Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

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Episode-1308- Geoff Lawton on Building a Future With Permaculture

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Modern Survival| 34 Comments
Episode-1308- Geoff Lawton on Building a Future With Permaculture [ 1:37:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Geoff Lawton - Permaculture Artist

Geoff Lawton – Permaculture Artist

Today we have the great pleasure of having Geoff Lawton on to discuss many of his new upcoming free videos, his coming online PDC and how he feels Permaculture is changing the world.

There is a lot going on in the Permaculture world, even some in fighting, I always love the way Geoff stays above this type of thing but I do give him the opportunity to talk about what qualifies one to “teach permaculture” and what a PDC is really supposed to be about today.  We then turn to some other topics such as, making a living with permaculture, plant propagation, the need for research and documentation and more.

To me Geoff is the most gifted teacher I know in the world of Permaculture so it is great to have him on air today.   Last year I competed his online PDC, many asked why I would do so, given I already had a PDC certification.

The answer is simple.  While I have worked with great instructors and been to seminars and classes with people like Sepp Holzer and my good friends Ben Falk and Paul Wheaton and read and studied the work of Toby Hemingway and Alan Savory, in the end it is Geoff’s work that guides most of what I do.  I consider myself his perpetual student so it is a great honor to have him on the show once again.

Join Us Today as We Discuss…

  • How to explain Permaculture to someone who has never heard of it
  • What is a PDC, is it really the best choice for everyone
  • How can a person build a career in permaculture, thoughts on
    • Consulting
    • Teaching (more than just PDCs)
    • Plant propagation
    • Farming/ranching
    • Urban farming
  • Why farms should first feed their farmers

Resources for today’s show…

Geoff’s Links

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Also remember we have an expert council you can address your calls to. If you do this you should email me right after your call at jack at thesurvivalpodcast.com with expert council call in the subject line. In the body of your email tell me that you just called in a question for the council and what number you called in from. I will then give the call priority when I screen calls.

Our Expert Council is Made Up of…

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

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Geoff Lawton Just Did Something Amazingly Cool

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Modern Survival| 28 Comments

So like many of your I signed up for Geoff Lawton’s PDC online course.  I am totally stoked about it and already though the first section waiting for the next block.  Today I got an email and just said wow.

Jeff is adding a complete Earthworks Course to the members area of the PDC.  The course isn’t there yet, frankly I think they are filming and editing right now for it.  Anyway this isn’t just a video but a complete Earthworks course and frankly I think that such a course is more valuable then a PDC to many people.

I figured he would give PDC students some big discount on it or something but he is flat out giving it to us.  As of right now the Online PDC registration is still open so this might be the time to sign up if you haven’t done so already.

I want to remind the audience here because some don’t seem to get this.  I am not doing this for personal gain financially.  I have agreed to take no commission on my referrals to Geoff in return for an MSB discount.  If you do choose to sign up for this course (now courses) do so because it is right for you, not to support me.   Also please make sure to go to the Members Area of your MSB first BEFORE you sign up for the special discount link.  It will save you 150 bucks.

Here is a 2 minute teaser for the Earthworks Course, again all PDC students get it at no cost.  I don’t know if he might sell this course as a stand alone, but I will ask.

 

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Episode-1124- Geoff Lawton on Permaculture Design Certification

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Modern Survival| 38 Comments
Episode-1124- Geoff Lawton on Permaculture Design Certification [ 1:31:36 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Geoff Lawton - Managing Director of PRI Australia

Geoff Lawton – Managing Director of PRI Australia

Since 1985, Geoff Lawton has undertaken 1,000’s of jobs consulting, designing, teaching and implementing in seventeen different countries around the world. Clients have included private individuals, groups, communities, governments, aid organizations, non government organizations and multinational companies.

In October 1997 Bill Mollison, upon his retirement, asked Geoff to establish and direct a new Permaculture Research Institute on the 147 acre Tagari Farm previously developed by Bill. Geoff Lawton developed the site over three years and established The Permaculture Research Institute as a registered charity and global Networking center for Permaculture projects. Geoff Lawton is the managing director of The Permaculture Research Institute.

Geoff joins us on TSP today to discuss the value of a Permaculture Design Certification, a new look at permaculture ethics, the 14 chapters of the Permaculture Design manual and more.  Wait till you hear how much progress has been made in Australia with Permaculture, my hope is now that a world class eduction is available anywhere in the world, we can begin such progress as well here in the US.

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

 

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Geoff Lawton’s Next Video – Permaculture in Micro Spaces

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Modern Survival| 8 Comments

One common trap that I see play out over and over and over again with people new to permaculture is what I call an monocular view.   Or a one dimensional view.  They see a desert project and so permacultureis for deserts, or they see a project in the tropics and feel it is only for where bananas can be grown.

In the case of Geoff’s recent videos two views like this came to a head from this audience, they seem to be.

1.  Permaculture and Geoff’s designs are only for large properties

2.  All permaculture designs are based on large swales and multiple ponds

The problem with that view is it doesn’t really grasp that Permaculture is a design science, the techniques are more like paint, the land like canvas.  Each artist must design his work based on the canvas he is given (land) and the paints he chooses and the final image he wishes to create within those limits.

Can this be scaled down to a suburban lot?  You bet and in ways that almost make you want to live on a small land holding!  Geoff’s newest video will focus on that, below is the trailer for it.

If you have seen the other videos you will get an email when this one goes live.  If you have yet to see the others you can sign up for free access to them at this link, http://www.geofflawton.net/crisis/?10007

This will be the 4th video in the series and I have to say I continue to be blown away at the quality of production and information in all of them.

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Episode-1111- Geoff Lawton on Property Selection and His Newest Video

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Modern Survival| 20 Comments
Episode-1111- Geoff Lawton on Property Selection and His Newest Video [ 1:22:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Geoff Lawton - Managing Director of PRI Australia

Geoff Lawton – Managing Director of PRI Australia

Since 1985, Geoff Lawton has undertaken 1,000’s of jobs consulting, designing, teaching and implementing in seventeen different countries around the world. Clients have included private individuals, groups, communities, governments, aid organizations, non government organizations and multinational companies.

In October 1997 Bill Mollison, upon his retirement, asked Geoff to establish and direct a new Permaculture Research Institute on the 147 acre Tagari Farm previously developed by Bill. Geoff Lawton developed the site over three years and established The Permaculture Research Institute as a registered charity and global Networking center for Permaculture projects. Geoff Lawton is the managing director of The Permaculture Research Institute.

Geoff joins us on TSP today to discuss site selection in both the suburbs and rural areas.  He was also good enough to answer quite a few questions from the audience on his latest video and gives us some amazing insights today on how the problem can often indeed be the solution.

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

 

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Episode-1020- Geoff Lawton on Permaculture and Blake Girardot on Maker Workshops

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Modern Survival| 53 Comments
Episode-1020- Geoff Lawton on Permaculture & Blake Girardot on Maker Workshops [ 1:20:43 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Geoff Lawton - Managing Director of PRI Australia

Geoff Lawton has a New Permaculture Education Outreach Initiative

Today is a really amazing show, I promise you it will be one of the most informative TSP episodes ever.  We have two parts to today’s show.

The first is about 15 minutes of a mini segment with Geoff Lawton about his new initiative to broaden Permaculture’s influence and increase its reach.

Geoff is doing this though a new web based format that has many things coming.  Yesterday I released a teaser video (well 30 minutes of amazing instruction is what Geoff sees as a teaser) and the response was so great he agreed to come on TSP and tell us a bit more about it.

Geoff to me is currently the most gifted designer and teacher we have in the permaculture movement.  The fact that he is now directing the movement at groups outside of the core eco centric usual suspects is huge.  Specifically now I feel he has realized how on board with sustainable design the prepper movement is and much of what he is doing is very much directed at out community.

Blake's Solar Back Up System, Built at a Maker Workshop

Blake’s Solar Back Up System, Built at a Maker Workshop

Following Geoff’s segment we have Blake Girardot on Maker Workshops.  When Blake approached me for an interview I found the concept pretty cool but really didn’t have any idea how cool this movement really is.  Oh and just wait until you hear the synergy that exists between this concept and the 13 Skills Challenge!

The maker movement is all about people helping people to be more self sufficient and self reliant via skills based creation of everything from software to artisan wood craft and anything and everything you can think of in between.

Imagine having a membership to a facility where you could go and gain access to anything from a band saw to a laser engraver to a wood lathe.  Or even say a place where you could use a 3D printer to prototype an item and then have injection molding equipment to produce the new item in quantity.   Cool right?  Well, what if you could also find people there that would teach you how to use all this cool stuff?

That is a thin scratch of the maker movement!  This is honestly one of the most empowering concepts I have ever heard of, and the potential to build community and skill sets at the same time in enormous.   Maker Workshops can be a way to learn a viable trade, fabricate something you can’t buy, simply learn new skills or even a gateway into a business of your own.  The cost?  50-100 dollars a month depending on the facility.

Additional Resources for Today’s Show

Geoff Lawton’s Links on Permaculture

Blake’s Links on Maker Workshops

  • Occupy the Sun – Details Blake’s Back Up Power System
  • Make Magazine – The Official Maker Magazine
  • Maker Works – The workshop Blake is a member of
  • Tech Shop – A company that is in the business of establishing maker workshops

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

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Episode-1019- The Role of Animals in Permaculture

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Modern Survival| 33 Comments
Episode-1019- The Role of Animals in Permaculture [ 59:09 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Properly Managed Chickens Can Convert Pasture to Forest

Properly Managed Chickens Can Convert Pasture to Forest

Geoff Lawton just released a great video that represents the beginnings of an awesome new project and it fits in great with today’s show topic.  In his video which addresses preparing for future crisis with permaculture Geoff shows how chickens can be used to establish a food forest 150 square meters at a time.

This is just one role that livestock both small and large can play in a permaculture system.  From talking to hundreds of people I am convinced that you can have some sort of livestock in just about any environment.

To me if you really wish to branch out into individual sustainability at some point animals must become part of the formula.  Today I discuss how to do that and how to actually sculpt land with animals being one of your tools in doing so.  We discuss how to do this on a large acreage or even a small suburban lot.

Join Me Today As We Discuss…

  • Why animals in the first place, what does nature teach us
  • Understanding soil creation both fungal and bacterial
  • Using chickens to restore a pasture OR create a food forest
  • Using ducks for pest control and free ranging them in “forest”
  • The role animals play in nutrient bioavailability
  • How improperly managed animals can destroy a system
  • How to adapt large scale animal concepts into small scale operations
  • Using animals in suburban environments
  • How to even use animals covertly in suburban environments

Resources for Today’s Show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

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Episode-923- Geoff Lawton on Site Selection, Main Frame Earthworks, GMOs and More

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Modern Survival| 29 Comments
Episode-923- Geoff Lawton on Site Selection, Main Frame Earthworks, GMOs and More [ 1:14:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Geoff Lawton - Managing Director of PRI Australia

Geoff Lawton – Managing Director of PRI Australia

Since 1985, Geoff Lawton has undertaken 1,000’s of jobs consulting, designing, teaching and implementing in seventeen different countries around the world. Clients have included private individuals, groups, communities, governments, aid organizations, non government organizations and multinational companies.

In October 1997 Bill Mollison, upon his retirement, asked Geoff to establish and direct a new Permaculture Research Institute on the 147 acre Tagari Farm previously developed by Bill. Geoff Lawton developed the site over three years and established The Permaculture Research Institute as a registered charity and global Networking centre for Permaculture projects. Geoff Lawton is the managing director of The Permaculture Research Institute.

Geoff joins us on TSP today to discuss site selection in both the suburbs and rural areas.  We also discuss the threat of GMOs and two “almost disasters” related to GMOs most people have never heard of.  A huge problem and even bigger opportunity with the Mississippi river.  The challenges of desert permaculture and why we should focus on “marginal desert areas” first as we begin to repair man caused desertification.

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

 

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