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| research_report_sanjeev-shankar [2008-05-18 11:27] – sanjeev | research_report_sanjeev-shankar [2008-05-20 19:37] – sanjeev |
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| ==== Gro World - RUrban Permaculture ==== | ====Gro World - RUrban Permaculture==== |
| Note: This research began with the working title, 'Gro World - Urban Permaculture' which has now been modified to 'Gro World - RUrban Permaculture'. The researcher has found strong, continuous links between Indian cities and the immediate rural surroundings. This is an important departure from cities elsewhere. These //urban villages// produce food, milk and other services for the city. 'RUrban' refers to this symbiotic relationship. | |
| | This report is in progress as of May 2008 |
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| | Note: This research began with the working title, 'Gro World - Urban Permaculture' which has now been modified to 'Gro World - RUrban Permaculture'. The researcher has found strong links between Indian cities and their immediate rural surroundings. These urban villages produce food, milk and other services for the city. 'RUrban' refers to this symbiotic relationship. |
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| === Introduction === | === Introduction === |
| * Is there an ecological limit to economic growth? | * Is there an ecological limit to economic growth? |
| * Do we have the right to consider human beings as more valuable than other life forms? | * Do we have the right to consider human beings as more valuable than other life forms? |
| * Is there an option to treating forests as sacrifice zones for urban growth ? | * Is there an option to treating forests as sacrifice zones for urban growth? |
| * Can we afford to place nature as an object, which is //manipulated, commodified and sold//? | * Can we afford to treat nature like an object, which is manipulated, commodified and sold? |
| * How can we imagine a fertile future for our cities? | * How can we imagine a fertile healthy future for everyone? |
| 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. | |
| | 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. The research 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 into 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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| Some of the reasons for this project are as follows: | Some of the reasons for this project are as follows: |
| * By the end of 2008, half the world's population will be living in cities for the first time in history.(according to a UN report) | * By the end of 2008, half the world's population will be living in cities for the first time in history.(according to a UN report) |
| * Cities are becoming increasingly polluted, unhealthy and disconnected with other life forms. | * Cities are becoming increasingly polluted, unhealthy and disconnected with other life forms. |
| * Urban problems include acute hunger, unemployment, inflation, urban sprawl, rising poverty, expensive health care and sharp increase in cars. | * Urban problems include inequality, acute hunger, unemployment, crime, inflation, urban sprawl, rising poverty, expensive health care, increase in population and imbalanced education system. |
| * Food crisis is futher compounded by increased use of pesticides, herbicides, biocides and rapidly deteriorating soil quality. | * Declining resources in many parts of the world has met a rising population. The result is starvation, drought, refugees and resource wars. |
| * There has been an acute drop in forest cover and a sharp increase in desert area. | * Food crisis is further compounded by changing food habits, increased use of pesticides, herbicides, biocides; rapidly deteriorating soil quality, increasing oil prices and use of agricultural land to grow corn for ethanol. |
| * Natural and traditional systems are a crucial resource and can offer us remedies. Problems can be seen as opportunities. | * There has been an acute drop in forest cover and a sharp increase in desert area. Each year, we lose 20 billion metric tons of topsoil, emit 20 billion metric tons of carbon-di-oxide into the atmosphere, and create two million hectares of new desert. |
| | * Traditional systems are a crucial resource and can offer us remedies. Sharing and learning from each other is important and challenges can be seen as opportunities. |
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| The objectives of this phase are given below: | The objectives of this phase are as follows: |
| * On-line and literature survey of state of the art in urban gardening and permaculture (global perspective) | * 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 and comparison of urban gardening in the Benelux and India |
| * A written report in the prescribed format | * A written report in the prescribed format |
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| For details on the methodology of this project please click on [[sanjeev-research-methodology]]. | For details on the methodology of this project please click on [[permaculture-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. | 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 other regions as well. |
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| === Permaculture === | === Permaculture === |
| For more on this topic please see [[urban permaculture concepts]]. | For more on this topic please see [[urban permaculture concepts]]. |
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| === Cultural peculiarities === | ===Beyond numbers and definitions: Towards purposeful action=== |
| see [[cultural peculiarities]] | |
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| ===Discussion=== | Scenario 1: On a recent visit to a remote farm in India, the researcher met a middle aged woman. After a brief conversation, the researcher asked the woman her age. The reply was, 'It might be between 30 and 50 years'. This was followed by a period of silence. The researcher reflected on how acutely we are attached to numbers and statistics. How they mean so much more than the real issue at hand. |
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| see [[site visit and survey notes]] | Scenario 2: In recent conversations with Kobe Matthys, a Brussels based urban farmer, the researcher was told about a recent trend of, official permaculture courses which gives people the 'legal' right to call themselves permaculturists. The course requires individuals to pay 1000 euros. While the idea of education is not wrong, the researcher has strong reservations about 'controlling' the spread of an idea which at its core is about re-intepretation and open ended participation, for a sustainable living. |
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| === Europe and India _ urban farming === | These two scenarios bring up an important issue about our affinity for brands, numbers and definitions. Yes we need them and can not imagine a world without them; but, they are not the end, they are tools for feedback, for self regulation, for differentiation and for efficient distribution of resources. In our competitive urge for 'growth' reflected by larger numbers and ever changing definitions, we seem to have lost our purpose. The purpose is action: collective, purposeful action for common good. Having said this, in this research, definitions and numbers play the role of triggers for real change. |
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| see [[urban farming comparision]] | ==Urban and Rural== |
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| === Orient and Occident_ agricultural methods === | Migration from rural to urban areas has been a global phenomena for centuries. Reasons for this include greater opportunity, secure income, a sense of freedom, a sense of being interconnected and being part of a privileged system. Cities can no longer sustain an exponentially growing population with exponentially growing demands. The imbalance has become more evident with a rapidly deteriorating environment and quality of life. Thankfully, villages in many parts of the world, still offer a healthy environment and an intact eco-system. There are hopeful signs of grassroot organisations which have successfully created local cycles of mutual cooperation in a self organised way. The Development Alternatives Group in Delhi, Barefoot College in Rajasthan, the Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary in Kerala are testimony to this. This is gradually changing the notion that villages are backward by transforming them into alternative models of sustainability. ((http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/pattern.pl/public?pattern_id=890)) |
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| see [[traditional farming notes|agricultural methods]] | ===Discussion=== |
| | see [[site visit and survey notes]] |
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| | === Europe and India _ farming comparision=== |
| | see [[farming comparision]] |
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| | == 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. | |
| see [[urban permaculture kits]] | see [[urban permaculture kits]] |
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| ===Directions=== | ===Directions=== |
| | We are all becoming increasingly aware that our actions can no longer be seen as isolated acts of private concern. The idea of sustainability is a constantly evolving journey. It is not a destination. The insights and lessons through this journey go beyond farming and ecology. Since, the nature of farming and land is highly interconnected, it affects every aspect of our society including social justice and global peace. |
| | The researcher would like to conclude with the following directives: |
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| The idea of growth and sustainability is a journey and not a destination. It is constantly unfolding and evolving. The insights and lessons through this journey go beyond farming. Since, the nature of farming and land is highly interconnected, it affects every aspect of our society. The author would like to conclude with the following directives: | * The most insightful ideas are also the most basic. These can come from any source, independent of age, status, experience or academic background. |
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| * The first step is to bring out the connection which exists between a fertile soil and healthy crops, healthy animals and healthy human beings. Land must be safeguarded from the operations of finance and our needs have to be more clearly streamlined. A gradual approach for recovering the land is needed and the benefits of this shared with everyone. | * We need to nurture a moral force: an anchor in every culture, which challenges convention. This could come from spirituality, religion, a story, a community or a genuine leader. The current impetus on a sustainable future could be such an anchor. This would build an effective self-regulatory pattern in a system. India, with its spiritual heritage is a prime example of this inner, collective idea of balance and control. |
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| * The demographic breakdown and scale of impact must be taken into consideration. There is an urgent need for integration. This is extremely crucial in countries like India and Bangladesh, where a large section of the population is poor, illiterate and remains disconnected from the mainstream. | * We need a counterpoint to the ongoing movement of 'fast and furious' with a 'slow and deep' mind set. We have to be able to foster responsibility towards a long term view. Greening up our excessive consumption without changing our habits will not work. Humanity must consume less and we must slow down. Population growth is at the centre of this issue. We must look at authentic solutions for reversing population growth through improving women's rights and by making contraceptives available.((http://www.greenpeace.org/international/about/deep-green))((http://www.longnow.org/about/)) |
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| * The most insightful ideas are also the most basic. These can come from any source, independent of age, status and academic background. | * There is a need for a gradual shift towards a 'we' and 'us' based culture from a 'me' and 'I' based approach. This is one of the most crucial directives and also one of the most difficult to achieve. In some way, it amounts to tranforming the culture of a place. Collective communities like India, are today facing a reverse trend with the recent shift towards a capitalist, individual based, self serving attitude. This can have a serious impact owing to the sheer magnitude of India's population. Spirituality, media and the government can play a purposeful role to check this shift. Ideas of 'social capitalism' and 'social entrepreneurship' are hopeful signs. |
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| * Urban communities should join hands with rural areas to create a prosperous and contented countryside, which inturn would become a great support for our future. | * In cultural contexts, links with tradition should involve the use of past processes of change rather than the maintenance of past structures and patterns. We have to constantly reevaluate and revalidate our responses and ideas of 'growth' and 'progress' in such recursive times. Having said that, if a thing needs to disintegrate and be left behind, we must let new systems be born. The aspect of ethics is important in such a situation and should be openly discussed. |
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| * Critical focus on agricultural research backed by scientific education, traditional wisdom, aggressive trial and error and practical farming experience. This field needs action. We need spirited individuals willing to do physical work with strategic technical assistance. | * People in most parts of the world crave to be in an urban setting. It gives them a sense of pride and achievement apart from other tangible benefits. This is an important factor for continued unsustainable migration from villages to cities. There is a need to redefine the mental and physical construct of an 'urban' space and a 'rural' place and treat them as a unified whole. |
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| * From an urban farming perspective, personal kitchen gardens seem most effective. They are small, dispersed, diverse, flexible, simple to maintain, easily transformed and directly impact the food situation at a family and community level. They personify the idea of self reliance and feeding ourselves and can be catalysts for larger green initiatives at community, regional level. | * Urban communities should join hands with rural areas to create a prosperous countryside, which inturn would support our future. Though urban character and the dynamics of a city vary vastly as one moves from the west to the east, there is a need for exchange and dialogue. |
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| * The need for a gradual shift towards a 'we' and 'us' based culture from a 'me' and 'I' based approach. This is one of the most crucial directives and also one of the most difficult to achieve. In some way, it amounts to tranforming the culture of a place and a group. Collective communities like India, are facing a reverse trend with the recent shift towards a capitalist, individual based, self serving attitude under the influence of 'progress'. This can have serious impact owing to the sheer magnitude of India's population. Spirituality, media and the government can play a purposeful role to check this shift. Ironically, a lot of traditional economies which were based on capitalist ideologies are reflecting on a more holistic, inclusive and sustainable approach. Ideas of 'social capitalism' and 'social entrepreneurship' are hopeful signs. | * It is important to bring out the connection between a fertile soil, and healthy crops, healthy animals and healthy humans. This highlights the role of education and media. |
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| * There is a need for information 'exchange' and collaborations between different cultures and contexts to develop a 'greater' system with self reliance and interdependence. Strategic assimilation as a design approach has valid relevance. There needs to be a balance between clear streamlined structures and flexible organic systems; between small self organised clusters and larger fabrics; between independent points of view and a general concensus. | * Land must be safeguarded from the operations of finance. This calls for reforms in the legal system where the rights of other life forms should also be safeguarded. A gradual and determined approach for recovering the land and celebrating the farmer is needed and the benefits of this shared with everyone. This is becoming even more relevant in the Indian context where there is a visible rush to embrace the global marketplace. |
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| * In cultural contexts, links with tradition should involve the use of past processes of change rather than the maintenance of past structures and patterns. We have to constantly reevaluate and revalidate our responses and ideas of 'growth' and 'progress' in such turbulent and recursive times. Such metaphors of progress and growth must move towards leaving things inside us rather than behind us. Having said that, if a thing needs to disintegrate and be left behind, we must let it go and let new systems be born. The aspect of ethics is important in such a situation and should be openly discussed. | * The demographic breakdown and scale of impact is crucial. In countries like India and Bangladesh, a large section of the population is poor, illiterate and remains disconnected from the mainstream. They need to be integrated. When people develop pride in their work, they feel accountable and responsible, and this results in purposeful change. This is an important aspect for bottom up change. |
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| | * There is a need to focus on agricultural research backed by scientific education, traditional wisdom, aggressive trial and error and practical farming experience. We need spirited individuals willing to go the distance in developing a long term sustainable strategy. |
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| | * From an urban farming perspective, personal kitchen gardens seem most effective. They are small, dispersed, diverse, flexible, simple to maintain, easily transformed and directly impact the food situation at a family and community level. They personify the idea of self reliance and can be catalysts for larger green initiatives at community, regional level. Roof top gardens and community gardens are other options and, with assistance from regional authorities, can make a positive contribution. |
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| | * There is a need for collaboration between different cultures and contexts to develop a 'greater' self reliant system. Strategic assimilation as a design approach has valid relevance. There needs to be a balance between clear streamlined structures and flexible organic systems; between small self organised clusters and larger fabrics; between independent points of view and a general concensus. |
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| * We must constantly strive to create fertile and diverse systems which bring culture and nature together. This could be through technology, media or traditional mediums. An important example is the use of science and technology through 'e-choupals'in rural Indian villages to increase crop productivity('choupal' is a hindi term for a village gathering place) . | * We must constantly strive to create fertile and diverse systems which bring culture and nature together. This could be through technology, media or traditional mediums. An important example is the use of science and technology through 'e-choupals'in rural Indian villages to increase crop productivity('choupal' is a hindi term for a village gathering place) . |
| The researcher would like to suggest the following threads for the future: | The researcher would like to suggest the following threads for the future: |
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| * Looking at traditional systems of living, farming and education in India which are comparable to permaculture as a holistic approach. The researcher would like to research on Vedanta((http://vedantaworld.org/vedanta.htm)) and other aspects of Indian philosophy. | * Looking at traditional systems of living, farming and education in India which are comparable to permaculture as a holistic approach. The researcher would like to research on Vedanta((http://vedantaworld.org/vedanta.htm)) which is based on laws common to spiritual traditions worldwide. |
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| * Analysing the attributes of community based approaches in countries like India and how can we create such initiatives in western societies. | * Analysing the attributes of community based approaches in countries like India and how can we create such initiatives in western societies. |
| * Rethinking our relationship with other life forms in an infinitely interconnected world. | * Rethinking our relationship with other life forms in an infinitely interconnected world. |
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| * Finding appropriate ways and methods to bring 'ethical' thinking as a core topic in design education and education in general. | * Finding appropriate ways and methods to bring 'ethical' thinking and practical experience as a core topic in design education and education in general. |
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| * Creating an **International Platform for Growth and Resilience**, which tinkers towards a more inclusive, collaborative methodology through a system of integration, informed by scientific research, practical experience, randomness, risk and travel. One of the intiatives could be to bring apparently polar groups together to find a common ground. These groups could include men with women; young with old; scientists with traditional farmers; environmentalists with corporate executives; capitalists with social entrepreneurs; secular groups with military regime heads; real estate developers with conservationists; politicians with middle class people; middle class western families with parallel families from the east and so on. At a regional level, the model could work in a bottom up manner with conflicting interest groups being brought together to openly discuss issues. | * Creating an **International Platform for Growth and Resilience**, which tinkers towards a more inclusive, collaborative methodology through a system of integration. Informed by scientific research, practical experience and travel, the platform would act as an independent facilitator and arbiter of emerging knowledge domains. One of the intiatives could be to bring 'polar' groups together to find a common ground. These groups could include young and old; scientists and traditional farmers; environmentalists and corporate executives; capitalists and social entrepreneurs; secular groups with military regime heads; real estate developers with conservationists; politicians with middle class people and so on. |
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| * Creating tangible manifestations of human plant interaction to nudge it out of the speculative zone. How would a new relevant design practice emerge through observation of and cooperation with natural systems? The researcher envisions the emergence of a new field of research which merges aspects of urban ecology, design ethnography, cultural anthropology and life science. | * Creating tangible manifestations of human plant interaction to nudge it out of the speculative zone. How would a new relevant design practice emerge through observation of and cooperation with natural systems? The researcher envisions the emergence of a new field of research which merges aspects of urban ecology, design ethnography, cultural anthropology and life science. |
| ====References==== | ====References==== |
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| The claims and insights in this research have been informed by the [[delhi interviews|interviews]], [[site visit and survey notes|site visits and surveys]] conducted by the design researcher. The surveys have been based on online research and published papers and books. | The claims and insights in this research have been informed by the [[delhi interviews|interviews]], [[site visit and survey notes|site visits and surveys]] conducted by the researcher. The surveys have been based on online research and published papers and books. |
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| Books | Books |
| * http://www.materialecology.com/ | * http://www.materialecology.com/ |
| * http://ecotality.com/life/ | * http://ecotality.com/life/ |
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| Films | Films |
sanjeev