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permaculture - [permaculture] Agrofuels (aka biofuels) and phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: Robyn Williamson <robinet@aapt.net.au>
  • To: Pil-pc-oceania NETWORK <pil-pc-oceania@lists.permacultureinternational.org>, PermacultureInternational NETWORK <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Cc: info@grain.org
  • Subject: [permaculture] Agrofuels (aka biofuels) and phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons
  • Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2007 13:07:52 +1000

The latest issue of "Seedling", a journal published by GRAIN http://www.grain.org/ is solely devoted to information about the emerging, or should I say stampeding, industry for the production of agrofuels precipitated by the oil crisis and global warming. Also previously known as "biofuels", the team at Seedling is now suggesting that biofuels have indeed become "agrofuels" as they join cattle ranching, monocultural food cropping, genetic modification and other unsustainable activities that are collectively known as modern agriculture. The entire July 2007 edition of Seedling is now available online in English at http://www.grain.org/seedling/?type=68. Translations into French and Spanish will be made available in September and October.

Phytoremediation is basically biochemical/ecological engineering or plant-assisted remediation of degraded sites, a practice well-known to permaculturists, that captures the essence of synergistic relationships between plants, micro-organisms and the environment . The University of Saskatchewan's Department of Soil Science has developed an excellent website full of information about phytoremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons including methane, ethane, propane, benzene, toluene, fluorene, ethylbenzene, xylene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, benzopyrene and creosote. A quick browse of their comprehensive database leads me to believe that many of the plant species permaculturists are already using for remediation such as legumes and sunflowers are particularly beneficial for mopping up the mess caused by manufacturing and transportation of modern fuels. I note too that Zoysia, a no-mow grass recommended as a lawn substitute in permaculture systems, is also on the list: http://www.phytopet.usask.ca/index.html is well worth a look for anyone interested in this topic.

Luv & peas,
Robyn

CONTACT DETAILS:

Robyn Williamson
Education Team
PERMACULTURE SYDNEY WEST INC.
PDC, Urban Horticulturist
Local Seed Network Coordinator
NORTH WESTERN SYDNEY COMMUNITY SEED SAVERS
mobile: 0409 151 435
ph/fx: (612) 9629 3560
http://www.seedsavers.net
http://www.communityfoods.org.au
http://www.communitygarden.org.au
http://www.bidjiwongcommunitynursery.org.au
http://www.permaculturesydneybasin.org.au




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