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| === Introduction === | === Introduction === |
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| Plants are the centre of the web of life. The growth of urban centres around the globe has had a critical impact on ecology. Some of the questions at the core of this research are: | Plants are the centre of the web of life. The growth of urban centres around the globe has had a critical impact on ecology. Some of the questions at the core of this research are: |
| * Is there an ecological limit to economic growth? | * Is there an ecological limit to economic growth? |
| * Can we afford to place nature as an object, which is //manipulated, commodified and sold//? | * Can we afford to place nature as an object, which is //manipulated, commodified and sold//? |
| * How can we imagine a fertile future for our cities? | * How can we imagine a fertile future for our cities? |
| This project explores aspects of human environment, its relation with ecology and our attempt for sustainable growth. The relevant fields of inquiry are urban ecology, sustainability, human plant interaction and biomorphism. It documents the global status of urban permaculture and explores ways in which we can transform our cities into productive, healthy, edible and playful green visions. In recent years there has been a growing public movement to bring ecology out of the bush and into the urban environments where most people spend their time. While, this is important, people are still grappling with the problem of a balance between 'growth' and conservation. And this is not limited to emerging cities. The thrust of this research and thereby this project is to explore methods to initiate collective public action to bridge this gap. | This project explores aspects of human environment, its relation with ecology and our attempt for sustainable growth. The relevant fields of inquiry are urban ecology, sustainability, human plant interaction and biomorphism. It explores ways in which we can transform our cities into productive, healthy, edible and playful green visions. In recent years there has been a growing public movement to bring ecology out of the bush and into the urban environments where most people spend their time. While, this is important, people are still grappling with the problem of a balance between 'growth' and conservation and this is not limited to emerging cities in the developing world. The thrust of this research and thereby this project is to explore methods to initiate collective public action in this direction. |
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| The objectives of Phase 1 are given below: | |
| * On-line and literature survey of state of the art in urban gardening and permaculture (global perspective) | |
| * On-site research and comparison of urban gardening in the Benelux and India | |
| * On-site research of Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, focusing on preserving and increasing biodiversity | |
| * Design for urban gardening prototypes and kits | |
| * Article for the Luminous Green publication on the [[Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary]] | |
| * Participation in the Research Gathering in October 2007 | |
| * Participation in the groWorld design session in April 2008 | |
| * A written report in the prescribed format | |
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| The findings of this research would find use in regions, which have a strong tradition of agriculture: China, Japan, India, Guatemala, Costarica and Peru, to name a few. And, through a comparative analysis of the urban character, gardening trends and culture of Europe and India, this research aims to bring out aspects which can inform a sustainable growth pattern in these regions. Further, the section on urban permaculture kits, explores a series of design experiments which could act as catalysts for product solutions and initiatives for a sustainble city. | |
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| Some of the reasons for this project are as follows: | Some of the reasons for this project are as follows: |
| * Natural and traditional systems are a crucial resource and can offer us remedies. Problems can be seen as opportunities. | * Natural and traditional systems are a crucial resource and can offer us remedies. Problems can be seen as opportunities. |
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| === Methodology === | The objectives of this phase are given below: |
| | * On-line and literature survey of state of the art in urban gardening and permaculture (global perspective) |
| For details on the methodology please click on [[method]]. | * On-site research and comparison of urban gardening in the Benelux and India |
| | * On-site research of Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, focusing on preserving and increasing biodiversity |
| === India === | * Design for urban gardening prototypes and kits |
| | * Article for the Luminous Green publication on the [[Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary]] |
| | * Participation in the Research Gathering in October 2007 |
| | * Participation in the groWorld design session in April 2008 |
| | * A written report in the prescribed format |
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| India, which has been traditionally known for its diverse culture and strong traditional agricultural methods is today synonymous for rapid growth and transformation both in rural and urban areas. The nation thrives and lives in both rural and urban areas. New Delhi, situated within the metropolis of Delhi, is the capital of India and provides a dynamic and complex urban setting. Though Delhi continues to be the political and administrative capital of the country, it also plays a crucial part of the global political economic scenario. With a population of over 15 million the city is undergoing massive change. A couple of decades ago the area surrounding the city was mostly agricultural. One could drive out of the city, and quickly enter into a very rural countryside. Today, the situation is different. Now the city is increasingly in the midst of a continuous urban sprawl. Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Gurgaon are now ‘extensions’ to the city, even though they are in other states. The pace of change has been so fast that it is strange to find vegetables and flowers being cultivated below high speed flyovers and in front of emerging shopping malls! Delhi has over 40% of it citizens living in slum like conditions. Often these habitations have been inter-seeped amongst the affluent colonies and have formed the informal service sector. However, over the past decade they are being systematically thrown out. The river banks too were till recently a site for the poor. As demand for scarce land rises, there is an ongoing change in the demographics of residential areas. After a concerted city action in early nineties over 7500 hectares of forest are now legally protected in the city, and through another law, tree cutting needs special permission. Similarly Non Governmental Organisations along with the Courts forced the conversion of public transport from diesel to CNG, a cleaner fuel. At the social and physical level, Delhi remains a historical, multi-layered fragmented city, with each fragment contributing in its own way to the city fabric. Over time, these multiple layers of historicity are expressed through multiple identities and realities. Such multi layered city character is very common in India and creates a complex dynamic within the city. | For details on the methodology of this project please click on [[sanjeev-research-methodology]]. |
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| | The findings of this research would be relevant in regions having a strong tradition of agriculture: China, Japan, India, Guatemala, Costarica and Peru, to name a few. And, through a comparative analysis of the urban character, gardening trends and culture of Europe and India, this research aims to bring out aspects which can inform a sustainable growth pattern in these regions. |
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| === Permaculture === | === Permaculture === |
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| Permaculture is an integrated, interdependent, evolving, multidimensional and creative design response to a world of declining energy and resource availability with emphasis on design processes drawn from nature. It is about values and visions, and design and systems of management that are based on holistic understanding, especially of our bio-ecological and pychosocial knowledge and wisdom. Permaculture also reflects the ongoing evolution of our knowledge systems and can be intepreted to any area which might benefit from such holistic design theory and practice. Human settlements, business enterprises, political and economic systems, learning environments, health field and child rearing can be some of these areas. | Permaculture is an integrated, evolving, multidimensional and creative design response to a world of declining energy and resource availability with emphasis on design processes drawn from nature. While reflecting the ongoing evolution of our knowledge systems, it incorporates holistic thinking and systems of management. It is also applicable to other aspects of human settlements, business enterprises, political and economic systems, learning environments, health and child rearing. For more on this topic please see [[history of permaculture]] |
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| For more on this topic please see [[history of permaculture]] | |
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| ==Urban Permaculture== | ==Urban Permaculture== |
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| In urban situations, space is limited, there may be little or no access to land, and various regulatory restrictions exist when it comes to gardening or having backyard animals.((http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/Urban/)) Some of the concepts that people have used in urban settings which have allowed them to circumnavigate these obstacles are discussed below. They are a mix of approaches, ranging from gardening to co-parenting, going across different aspects of sustainability. Further the character of cities in the western world is extremely different from the eastern world. These differences work at social, political and physical level and have shaped these cities. The examples discussed here are therefore quiet diverse, but the concept of "no loss" and an aspect of "community" links them all. Also, though a permaculture garden might have a configuration like a forest in terms of stability and efficiency, it is infact rich in functional plants which have a strong relationship with each other and result in high yields. | In urban situations, space is limited and various regulatory restrictions exist when it comes to gardening or having backyard animals.((http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/Urban/)) Some of the concepts that people have used in urban settings are discussed below. These are a mix of approaches, ranging from gardening to co-ownership. Further, cities in the west are governed by different social, political and physical qualities than those in the east. Despite this, the examples discussed here share a common vision of "no loss" and an aspect of "community". |
| For more on this topic please see [[urban permaculture concepts]]. | For more on this topic please see [[urban permaculture concepts]]. |
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| see [[urban permaculture initiatives]] for other examples. | === Cultural peculiarities === |
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| === Regional Cultural peculiarities === | |
| see [[cultural peculiarities]] | see [[cultural peculiarities]] |
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| === Possibilities for urban permaculture kits === | === Possibilities for urban permaculture kits === |
| | This section explores a series of initiatives which could trigger independent green worlds. |
| An important question considered by the researcher was, what are the growth symbols/patterns in urban areas? Can the challenges in cities be seen as opportunities? How can we come up with design responses which directly impact the situation? This could be related to real estate, construction, mass production, transportation and architecture. As per recent statistics the planet adds 73 million humans to its tally every year!((http://www.worldometers.info)) How can we add 73 trillion plants every year ? | |
| see [[urban permaculture kits]] | see [[urban permaculture kits]] |
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sanjeev