Category Archives for "Money"

0 How to Reduce Water Usage in Your Home

Water is a Renewable but…
You have probably heard the question; if the amount of water on earth stays the same forever, why should we bother conserving it, and why are some places experiencing such a lack of it?

No one disagrees as to the supreme importance that water holds. The increased occurrence and intensity of severe environmental events, such as forest fires, hurricanes, record temperatures, heat waves, and droughts have water conservation at the forefront of countless people’s minds.

This issue also turns out to be a double-edged sword because not only are people concerned about how to save water they are also struggling to deal with the rising cost of their water bill. More than ever before…

0 Help My Electric Bill is Too High – Programs to Assist

You are not alone.
Households across the nation feeling the effect of soaring energy prices. Specifically, it is particularly hard on people living on a fixed or limited budget. It is unthinkable that anyone should suffer because they lack access to the essential energy needed for heating, cooking, and warm water -Dignity.

There Are Options
Fortunately, options exist to help those in need lower their energy bills. That help comes in the form of a growing number of programs and incentives to alleviate…

0 Permaculture Principle 12: Creatively Use and Respond to Change

Evolutionary or Unforeseen
All systems, whether natural or man-made are subject to change either through an evolutionary process or an unforeseen event. Some changes are predictable, and we can plan for them – in nature we have seasons and patterns of succession, in life, we experience rites of passage as we age and in business, market disrupters require businesses to evolve in order to remain competitive.

We Can Use It to Our Advantage
The changes we can anticipate should be accounted for in any system we design. This takes us full circle to the first design principle – the purpose of Observing and Interacting is to take stock of the shifts that are happening.

Anticipating it can help us create productive ecosystems faster, better meet the needs of population growth, assist us in successfully ridding our economic booms and busts…

0 Permaculture Principle 11: Use Edges and Value the Marginal

Living on the edge
In a society, the edge is where free thinkers go to live – innovative ideas thrive there. In nature, it’s also a wonderful place to reside. This permaculture principle takes us there.

You’re so Edgy
An edge is where two systems butt up against each other – water meets land and an estuary is born, two companies merge their similar experimental cutting-edge technologies to develop a new better product or a Ska band moves in next door to an investment banker and new friendships are made at their shared fence – Introducing new plants and animal species, inspiring technological breakthroughs and sparking new conversations that may not have ever have happened otherwise.

Edges are easier to see in nature than in other more abstract forms such as friendships and technology. I love to wander the edges of…

0 Permaculture Principle 10: Use & Value Diversity

Did You Backup Your System?

A healthy Ecosystem is characterized by biodiversity. In nature, a variety of animal and plant species co-exist to create a stable environment. In a system designed with Permaculture principles, every function should be covered by other elements, a backup or duplicate.

Compost, Rainwater, a Woodpile & Preserves

For example, compost can be produced in a compost heap or by a worm farm, water harvesting is great insurance against drought, and a woodpile sits at the ready as an alternative form of heat for warmth and cooking. The energy we store in the form of preserves will provide an alternative food supply in case of emergency.

Diversity and A Healthy Society

A diverse skill set develops transferable abilities into similar but unfamiliar roles that can open new career opportunities. Financial investors are encouraged to have diverse portfolios. In the same way that a healthy diet consists…