permaculture

[John Fritz <johnfritz77@yahoo.com>]

Hi.  My name is John Fritz and I am new to the list.  I have completed the 
PDC twice, most recently in Occidental, CA in 1997.  When I first became 
aware of Permaculture in the Mother Earth News interview of Mollison back in 
the early 80's,  I was particularly taken by the work of Jean Pain and his 
use of "forest thicket compost" for the heating of water, including that 
which heated the floors of his residence by radiance through underfloor 
tubing.  I wrote Mollison for access to Pain's written work, but he only had 
the title: Another Kind of Garden.  This was before I was aware of the 
inter-library loan system and so another interest of the Prince of Unfinished 
Projects languished at the wayside.  I have recently finished reading Another 
Kind of Garden (through inter-library loan) and my interest is now even more 
keen, given the nearing peak of natural gas production for North America and 
stories already making the news of some people having to choose between heat 
and and other
 necessities.
   
  So my immediate interest in posting here is to correspond with anyone who 
has successfully employed Jean Pain's use of "forest thicket compost" in the 
heating of water.  As used by Pain, the "forest thicket compost" also yielded 
nourishing compost for gardens and the thickets from which it was obtained;  
and also methane gas.  Given these yields it is incredible to me that his 
methods have not become wildly popular, at least in Permaculture circles.  
Yet, I have not heard of such.  The only obstacle that I can think of (and it 
is a doosy) is the need for 50 tons of such "forest thicket compost" for each 
generating application, per Pain's use.  Still I would like to determine if 
the method could be modified for smaller applications.  
   
  Those who are interested but have not employed Pain's methods are also 
encouraged to correspond. 
   
  John Fritz, NW Arkansas. 
   
   

                
---------------------------------
Yahoo! Photos
 Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, 
whatever.