“Inhabit” is a documentary film project that aims to expand the reach and relatability of permaculture. Permaculture is a design science based on the observation and replication of patterns and relationships found in nature; it is an approach to designing sustainable systems of agriculture, community, economics, politics, and more.
We will travel in a solar and veggie-oil-powered bus documenting the people and projects currently giving voice to permaculture in the Northeast. We will look at permaculture practices in rural, suburban, and urban environments to break away from the conception of it being purely agricultural, and we will explore the breadth of its application to current local and global challenges - from issues of food, water, and medicine, to governance, economy, and culture.
We are so happy to share the first teaser with all of you!
We are only a quarter of the way through the filming process and we are looking for donations to keep this project moving. Here's a link to our contribution page if you are interested and able to help: http://inhabitfilm.com/support
Scott Kellog is the founder of the Radix Center in Albany, NY where he is practicing "ecological literacy and environmental stewardship through educational programs based around demonstrations of sustainable technologies."
He is designing closed loop ecosystems that can work well in the urban landscape for food production and animal feed! Aquaponics, Duck-A-PooP-A-Ponics and many other small scale systems that have ecological strength and resilience.
We got to speak in depth with him about how these systems can be scaled up and what cities can be when seen as cyclical ecosystems.
Urban Permaculture takes on new shapes and sounds at the Radix Center with chickens, ducks, fish, pigeons and silkworms!
Washington Square Park in Brooklyn, NY, Is the home to the Old Stone House a historic building and site a huge battle during the revolutionary war. Claudia Joseph is the designer / caretaker of the gardens within the park and she has developed them into a permaculture influenced education garden where food, medicine and knowledge is available to all who stop by. Check out her site to learn more : http://permaculture-exchange.org
"We design and implement regenerative food, fuel, and shelter systems that operate on current solar energy. These are homesteads, farms and schools fit for a challenging future of peak oil, climate change and economic transition." www.WholeSystemsDesign.com
We got to stay at a new site he is developing in Rochester, VT where he is doing large scale "Earthworks" to optimize the water flow and resource distribution in the land by shaping and sculpting the surface of the hillside.
We got to film some of the process of measuring the contour of the hill with a laser level and then sculpting the flow of water with an excavator to bring the water across the site to the dry areas. Can't wait to return again to see this system develop more with perennial plantings, ponds and grazing!
We got to spend two days with Keith Morris at his farm in Johnson, VT. The land is planted full with nut trees, fruit trees, medicinal plants, pollinators and serves as a farm and nursery. The Lamoille River wraps around the property putting the entire farm in a flood plain creating a fascinating design challenge.
We got to stay in his beautiful yurt which is built up on a flood proof raised platform along with a newly built outdoor kitchen that makes for fine dining in the morning light.
One of the biggest projects on the farm is the Productive Riparian Buffer which is combination of river bank erosion restoration and food/medicine production. Check out his site for more information Prospect Rock Permaculture.
"The site itself is rich alluvial floodplain and floodplain terrace, including ponds, wetlands, upland forest, and over 3/4 miles of Lamoille River edge. While mismanaged in the past (from an ecological perspective), we are slowly creating a sanctuary for wildlife: birds, insects, rare and endangered wetland and riparian plants and animals; and connecting people to the natural world and the legacy of cultivated diversity."