080 – Sepp Holzer Permaculture chapter 1

Podcast (videos-and-audio): Download (25.4MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS

Paul Wheaton and Kelda Miller review chapter one of the book, Sepp Holzer‘s Permaculture. Sepp talks about his early childhood experiences, and the value of observation. When Sepp was 19, he went into the army, and got called out for his dad. His dad had gambling debts that were so big that he gave the farm to Sepp who payed the debts and mortgage. He then talks about past mistakes he’s made, and the value of mistakes.

Paul shares about his Master Gardeners training. Paul mentions Sepp making “sausages” in urban farming scenarios. He and Kelda also talk about legal issues getting in Sepp’s way. Kelda mentions the quote, “All permaculture is restoration,” and how permaculture is about land stewardship. Sepp reshapes land, yet does it very consciously. When he makes terraces, for example, he will only do a few at a time. Sepp went to Ag School, yet what he learned there did not work for him at all.

Paul draws connections between Sepp and Masanobu Fukuoka. Kelda shares about Haiti. Paul shares about Toby Hemenway‘s thoughts on native plants. Kelda mentions Starhawk’s writing on rewilding cities. Sepp likes to minimize dead ends in terracing, and prefers big logs rather than mulch in hugelkultur beds. Paul mentions his strategy for making a hugelkultur bed that doesn’t scare the neighbors. Kelda mentions that it is a lot like Ruth Stout‘s approach. Sepp writes on how livestock plays an integral role in helping with food systems. Sepp is not a fan of burning biomass. Sepp writes how it is illegal to innovate. Kelda mentions her local rain garden project. Paul shares how Sepp gets around the government. Paul shares about how people get food from the Krameterhof.

Relevant Threads

Sepp Making Felt Sausage
Permaculture and the Kramterhof
Conifers at the Kramterhof

You can discuss this podcast on this thread at Permies.

Get all of the podcasts in convenient, giant zip files