Permaculture applied to landscape design integrates each space with its regional & cultural context. This minimizes ecological impact while maximizing utility, aesthetic value, and quality of life. "Permaculture is revolution disguised as organic gardening" Graham Burnett Permaculture  A Beginners Guide Learn Permaculture in Philippines & 40 poor farmers learn Permaculture free! 72 hour accredited Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course 1-13 Nov in Cebu City. "Permaculture is a holistic approach to landscape design and human culture. It is an attempt to integrate several disciplines, including biology, ecology, geography, agriculture, architecture, appropriate technology, gardening and community building." Guy Baldwin The course's teacher is Greg Knibbs (www.edge5.com.au), from Australia- Greg has regularly teaches with the father of Permaculture, Bill Mollison, and has ongoing projects with communities, non-government organizations and private companies in the Philippines, West Africa, Cambodia and Australia. Over the last 30 years Greg has worked in the Environmental field and his expertise lies in Permaculture, Earth Restoration, Education and Design. Enrol now online! http://www.permacultureph.org/enroll.html Course Fee Php37,500 (or about US$875 depending on the exchange rate on any given day)- DISCOUNTS of up to 15% AVAILABLE FOR EARLY REGISTRATION! EVERY enrolled student in this PDC WILL ENABLE Permaculture Action Asia to teach Permaculture to 40 below poverty line beneficiaries FOR FREE in 2011 and set up 9 Permaculture demo sites Cebu province wide! Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/permacultureph Subscribe to our Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/permacultureph PDC 1-13 Nov in Cebu City, Philippines Permaculture Design Certificate Course Held over a period of 12 days, the curriculum for this course is based on subjects covered by Bill Mollison, widely regarded as the father of permaculture, in his book Permaculture: A DesignerÂs Manual. "Though the problems that face the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple." - Bill Mollison, Father of Permaculture The course includes:  Introduction to Permaculture  Methods of design  Pattern understanding  Climate  Trees & their energy transactions  Designing against disaster; fire; drought  Soil  Water  The humid tropics  Dry lands stragies  Humid cool to cold climates  Aquacultures  Earthworking & repair  Effective aid  Right livelihoods  Village development Php37,500 Course Fee DISCOUNT AVAILABLE! Discounts for early payments or early deposit of Php12,000. Reserve your place early and receive a discount on full fee: Receive the following discounts on course fee if deposit or full payment made before- 15 Aug 2010 receive 15% Discount- Php31,875 Total 31 Aug 2010 receives 10% Discount- Php33,750 Total 15 Sep 2010 receives 5% Discount- Php35,625 Total The balance of your course fee is due before the course starts. "It is our collective responsibility to protect and nurture the global family, to support its weaker members and to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live" - Dalai Lama ABOUT CEBU CEBU was ranked third best island in Asia recently by New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure magazine recently released the results of the survey, which covers hotels, airlines, cruises, islands and cities all over the world. http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2010/islands/asia-islands/23 Only a few minutes away from the city are numerous white sand beaches, crystal blue waters, and swaying palms, making Cebu a perfect destination for both business and leisure. Mactan Island is a coral island and famous scuba diving and beach site. It is also the site of the Export Processing Zone. Malapascua Island is endowed with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the west coast is ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The sleepy little market town of Moalboal was one of the first places where scuba diving caught on in the Philippines. From here, you can dive straight off Panagsama Beach, which is home to an extraordinary array of coral, anemones, sponges, and a swarming host of brightly colored reef fish. Olango Island, 20 minutes from the airport in Cebu supports the largest concentration of migratory birds found in the country. These birds migrating from Russia stop here en route to Australia. See more at http://www.cebucitytourism.com/aboutcebucity.html "What Permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet" Dr. David Takayoshi Suzuki- World renown Japanese-Canadian academic, science broadcaster & environmental activist. ABOUT US Permaculture Action Asia is a brand new non-profit social enterprise focused on Permaculture. We provide free Permaculture courses and distribute seeds and plants to low income beneficiaries. This program will start Jan 2011 Cebu province-wide, and from 2012, is to spread around Region 7, and from 2013, Philippines wide. Permaculture Action Asia manages 8 Permaculture demonstration sites (opening 2011) located around Cebu province. Our flagship demo site, Cebu Eco-Culture Club, showcases the 5 zones of Permaculture in a 64 hectare Cebu City site, and houses 40 beneficiary families as a model eco village. ENROL NOW online! http://www.permacultureph.org/enroll.html Hi there, We are a NGO in Philippines looking for volunteers on our eco farms (permaculture) . The volunteer opportunity is- After a 2 weeks permaculture course/orientation, Volunteers would work on the Permaculture demo sites and with below poverty line beneficiaries on their own sites. Alternatively, also in our head office in admin/clerical, marketing, IT or other capacities depending on skills of volunteers. -- JENSEN GO CHOW B Business/ LLB Executive Director Permaculture Action Asia, Inc. "Solving the World's Problems in a Garden" www.PermaculturePh.org www.facebook.com/permacultureph www.twitter.com/permacultureph www.youtube.com/permacultureph http://www.linkedin.com/companies/permaculture-action-asia-inc.?trk=copro_tab "Permaculture is revolution disguised as organic gardening" Graham Burnett ÂPermaculture  A Beginners Guide Unit 2, Ground Floor, Josepha Arcade, Sergio V. Lim Building General Maxilom Ave, Cebu City 6000, Philippines Phone: +63 (32) 412 4076 Fax: +63 (32) 231 7537

Blow,blow,blow! Are we having March winds already? It was so noisy last night that I got very little sleep. Tommy went out before I went to bed, and I kept listening for his attempts to get my attention to let him back in. It was 2 AM before the noise I heard was him. The hover on our chimney came lose on one end, a few days ago, and was the big part of the racket. Naturally Nolon is no longer able to tend to such things, so no telling when it can be fixed. Prairiemoon, My DH's health problems are mostly from old age. He is 80! He has had heart problems, but that seems to be okay now. He has a very bad back, and emphysema. He also has frequent memory lapses, and mood swings. I am 74, and have battled the Fibromyalgia Syndrome and osteoarthritis for many years. I am the 'queen of Googling', ( smile) for answers to my health and for the meds that I take. I am only taking 2 prescriptions regularly...my blood pressure med, and a rather strong pain med. I have got it pretty well regulated, along with the OTC meds and supplements that I take. The OTCs are for high cholestral, low potassium, allergies, acid reflux...etc. ( I keep telling my friends that I am a factory reject and need to be recalled! ) LOL I really do not think I am depressed. I don't have those type symptoms. Discouraged often, but not depressed. Beautiful swan pic...:-) Marie, I enjoy all your pics of the new family, and I enjoy your DH's humor...:-) The idea of him bronzed is a hoot! Weird...but funny...lol. I saw a red tailed hawk on my way to town recently, then on a later trip, there is a dead one in the highway! I can't think it was hit by a vehicle, and hate to think someone shot it! What a wonderful thing for you and your DH to do... purchase 'half a house' for the new family. I am thinking you are as thrilled with all the 'newness' as your dear grandson is! How wonderful for all of you. We never know what tomorrow will bring. LOL about the old boyfriend's picture. Mary, I liked your "Holland" story. A lot to think about . I love the 'dragon'. Wish I were ambitious enough to make one! I am glad the missing girls showed up and were okay. And I am espacially glad Annie wasn't with them! LOL, V. I have had dreams of unseen friends also ( but then, you have seen many of 'us', and had the pleasure of having a bunch at your home). I can identify with the tiredness from some dreams, also anger or sadness. I have never been to an Opera. A theatrical group puts on shows in Harrison, but I have never gone. Once several of my aquaintences were acting in one. I almost went...:-) Eden, I never did tell you how happy I am that your mom's tests came out good. I hope she is feeling okay. Michelle...such a handsome family!(Both yours and Ricks.) The newlyweds are 'beautiful'. The groom reminds me so much of a dear friend that is a bank manager in Harrison. His nickname is Cub , and he is like a cuddly bear...(smile). Martie, I guess I am pretty strong, else I wouldn't have made it this far. But then, you know from whence comes my strength. Deanne, I haven't been commenting on all your ezcellent bird pics, but you know I consider you a master at all you do! Cindy, I really do not mind winter, but it has become increasingly a challenge with the wood heat! I do admit long dark days can get to me, but I have pretty much learned to 'tune' them out. Stormy weather, regardless of the type, invigorates me. I agree on your analysis of the 'youthful spirit'( Been there, done that!) ;-) That is strange about the PictureTrail pics. That is what most of us use. T, I love your wintry scene. Honey, I hope your funk is lifting. I hope you saw my answer to your xmas cactus question. Ei, I am still enjoying 'your' orchid's blooms. They are hanging right in there. Norma, has the artic express reached you? You are fortunate that the firewood debris is in your basement. Mine is through the breakfast room and into the livingroom. Our aging stove has taken to down-puffing, and blowing ashes out of the draft door! ( Actually, it is probably not the age of the stove, it is the shortness of the chimney. It needs another joint on top! ) I love the BD pic you posted for Taryn. Where is that? Drema, that is great that your DB is improving. I can hardly imagine the heartaches. It's so good that he is close so you can visit regularly. My old Jade plant surprised me with a few blooms this winter. It had never done that before. Woody, I think I am due for more MRIs . It's been several years, and various new problems have came up that xrays don't cover. I will be thinking of you and yours, and praying that you get a good report. I like the sweater. I hope your DH will at least wear it around home. It doesn't look like a target to me. :-) I hope you find the perfect helper. I made another trip to town today. With the incoming bad weather I needed more stuff than I got yesterday. I think we are pretty well set, regardless of what comes! The wind is still strong, but warmer than yesterday. I wore one of my new flannel-lined jeans. It felt good! Marian

The rain had been gentle until this afternoon. I love a steady gentle rain. But at dinner time things got more serious with heavy downpours, thunder, lightning. Our company was not deterred by it though and we visited the new greenspace in our town and also went to Lee Valley's store where they purchased indoor plant watering devices for when they are away traveling. We also went to a great little shop where you can buy saffron for $1.35 and I bought maple syrup buckets (for cut flowers)for $2.50 each. Heard from David B the other day...for those who remember him. Just sold his "new" house. He seems to be doing well through lots of changes and spoke of plants and things which still interest him. 'bug

Good, Jon. Now I still have to figure out whether I prefer beautiful roses or fast cars, someone else's parks and palaces or a modern house for myself ... tough choice. Campanula, I hear you. Our childminder lives in a council house, and we often chat especially about local politics and such. I have learned quite a bit from her. And I agree on what you say. Btw, why don't you swing by and relieve my roses from their rampant growth by taking some cuttings, perhaps later this summer after their first flush? See, elemire takes already inspiration from Chelsea, turning her overgrown chives into big bucks/quid. Juliet, I haven't even seen the DA video, haven't had any time for checking back on the Chelsea links today. I guess I'm now under pressure to produce a socio-political photo commentary. Oh my. Andrea