Sustainable Living | Hardcore Sustainable – Page 17 – Skills and knowledge to heal the planet

Sustainable Living Skills You Need to Survive

It might not seem so serious to the average consumer in the First World, but the future of the world as we know hangs in the balance. The media is full of bad news that can make changing things for the better seem hopeless, but there are simple and radical things you can do to reduce your impact and set an example for others. It's not just a choice, our survival depends on it.

Follow my YouTube Channel Hardcore Sustainable to find out how I've implemented sustainable technologies and techniques at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage to help me live more lightly on the Earth.

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Look what climate change is doing to my vineyard

The crazy fluctuations in movement of the jet stream these days caused by the warming of the Arctic are leading to extreme variations in winter temps, which wreaks havoc on even the hardiest of grape varieties.

A lot of farmers in the US are denying climate change instead of anticipating and preparing for it. If they were smart, like European farmers, they would be doing something about it, or at least not denying its existence.

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/pruning_severely_winter_damaged_grapevines_in_michigan

Hoop house spinach: Season extension

My hoop house has been a great asset in recent years for getting early season greens. I got started a little late this year, but still have a good crop of spinach going. It always does much better than spinach outside the hoop house because it can get a longer cooler season with the passive solar heating and temperature regulation of the hoop house. I also talk about the starts I’ve gotten going this season.

Turning conduit into low cost low tunnels

I got this gadget for turning conduit into quick hoops that can be used for either quick frost protection, quick pest protection, or longer term low tunnels. I plan to make mobile low tunnels for between my grape rows.

Permaculture Skills: Cloning Your Favorite Autumn Olive

Part of permaculture knowledge is plant propagation. Learn these skills and you might never have to pay for plant material again. It’s also incredibly fun to see the results of your knowledge growing and producing fruit. I love grafting and layering and taking cuttings of plants to produce more or to propagate varieties that I like.