Homework

The first chapters from Gaia's Garden talked about permaculture and self sustaining gardens. It explained the ideas and concepts of succession, and gave examples of its process. Further, it spoke to the effectiveness of growing methods, and how to optimize organic life.

Questions:

Could non-self sustaining gardens have better harvests?

If you create a self sustaining garden, what “gardening’ is left for you to do other than harvesting?

Can you create a self-sustaining garden within small areas?

Can you create a self-sustaining garden in ever environment?

Can you skip steps in succession?

How do we create a Self Sustaining Garden here? Is it possible?

Ethnobotany

Ethnobotany is the study of culture and plants in conjunction with the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants, this includes foods, medicine, clothing, and more. Ethnobotanists are the scientists and researchers that study this field of work.

I am particularly interested in the medicinal aspects of this discipline, for I have always wondered about the science behind “home” and “Organic” remedies for sicknesses. I would really like to learn about different organic remedies and if they could be viable alternatives for the otherwise costly drugs we purchase. For this reason I wish to have my project wrap around this idea of organic medicine and find out how to make and why these remedies work.

           

Portland Ethnobotany Project:

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/portland-ethnobotany-project/

This project is part of the Northwest Ethnobotany Conservation Program, a program dedicated to restoring Native American traditions in the West Eugene Wetlands in Eugene, Oregon. The Portland Ethnobotany Project is a project which purpose is not only to restore culturally important lands for Native Americans, but to also research, conserve, and inhance culturally important plant resources, to feed the homeless, and serve as urban nature for youth and more.