Smallish Sprouts

The proposed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline would stretch from Alberta’s tar sands to the Gulf Coast of Texas, at a great risk to human and animal habitat and fresh water.

Today a vital letter was sent to President Obama from the Dali Lama, Archbishop Tutu, and seven other Nobel Peace Laureates with these reminders: “you told the world that under your leadership—and working together—the rise of the oceans will begin to slow and the planet will begin to heal.  You spoke of creating a clean energy economy. This is a critical moment to make good on that pledge, and make a lasting contribution to the health and well being of everyone of this planet.”

The Laureates recommend to “turn your attention back to supporting renewable sources of energy and clean transportation solutions.  This will be your legacy to Americans and the global community:  energy that sustains the lives and livelihoods of future generations.”

Follow the link for a press release from The Nobel Womens’ Initiative and the complete letter.

Hello, my name is Clea and I am a songwriter, poet and permaculture student. Welcome to Smallish Sprouts, a collection of little gestures, songs and projects that hope to grow the sustainability of their local communities.  

In May, I attended a Permaculture class with Big Sky Permaculture at the Arusha Centre of Calgary and was gifted with 3 magic beans: a deep breath of hope, a bee stinging swarm of urgency and a gathering of earth action conversation over homemade soup.  In return, I am kicking off this blog with the fascinating concept of Permaculture.

Permaculture is an ethical and multidisciplinary design system based on observing and co-operating with the patterns found in nature to create what founder Bill Mollison calls ‘sustainable human environments’. The word permaculture means ‘permanent culture’ or ‘permanent agriculture’ and according to David Suzuki, “What permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet” 

Implementing permaculture begins with small changes in our own homes and gardens but it also holds practical solutions for revitalizing the human-ecosystem relationship on any level. By observing and mirroring nature’s strategies for the use of resources, we could move toward a much more positive habitation on earth.

I’m ready to put my piano hands in the dirt for this! Stay tuned to see my first permaculture project.

In the meantime, find out more by checking out this video: ‘Greening The Desert’ where Geoff Lawson from the Permaculture Institute of Australia creates a sustainable landscape in Jordan .