Videos

Most recent video from Andrew Millison's YouTube channel Links to an external site.

What is Permaculture?

In this video, the definition of Permaculture is given and a little bit of its history is discussed.

The Foundations of Permaculture Design

The structure and pieces of the Permaculture design system are discussed.

The Permaculture Principles

The Permaculture Principles guide our design decisions and formulate the structure of our Permaculture system. We are using David Holmgren's 12 principle version which are used to help guide every Permaculture design.

Permaculture Design for Slope

Designing for slope in a permaculture system is a key aspect for being in beneficial relationships with water, soil, warm and cold air flows, forests, gardens, and the appropriate placement of all elements. This video is an animated summary of much of the information on slope provided by Bill Mollison in the 'Permaculture Designer's Manual'.
There is an error in this diagram. The 30% slope section is drawn too gently. That section should be drawn slightly steeper then the 25% slope section, but it is instead drawn more gently than that section. The corrected drawing would show that the slope that Mollison recommends for permanent forest is steeper than what is drawn.

Permaculture Design by Sectors

Sectors are a key design tool in the permaculture system. This is a brief overview of how to respond to sector forces with design.

Permaculture Zones

A permaculture site is divided into zones. Understanding the five zones allows for a design that considers the most effective placement of components and how they relate to each other. Each zone has a different requirement for maintenance and function. Zones 1 and 2, or areas needing the most attention, are placed closer to the home and heavy traffic areas while zones 3, 4, and 5 radiate out from heavy traffic areas as upkeep needs become less intensive.

Permaculture Design for Food

Permaculture is most well known for it's food systems and forest gardens. This video provides an introduction to producing food in Permaculture systems and what that looks like in different climate zones.

Permaculture Design for Water

Design for water is the bones of any Permaculture system and often times the way the layout works with water determines the basic shape of things. The Permaculture principles, which tell us to Observe and Interact and Design from Patterns to Details, need to be followed and developed in order for us to design for water on our sites. Temperate, Tropical, and Dryland climates each pose unique opportunities while designing for water.

Permaculture Shelter Design

Buildings and structures are an important part of the human element in a Permaculture system. Ecological design and green architecture are vast fields that this video is just scratching the surface on. This video provides a simple overview of building design for the major climate zones.

The Ultimate Fruiting Permaculture Hedge

Permaculture Berry Maze - Integrate Not Segregate

Permaculture Decision Making Matrix

The four parts to the Permaculture Decision Making Matrix are discussed: Topography, Sectors, Zones, and Principles.

State of the World: Google Earth Demonstration

With the help of Google Earth, the state of the world's resource consumption is discussed.

Challenges of the World

An introduction into how Permaculture may help remedy global environmental and social problems. Thank you to John Liu, the Environmental Education Media Project, and Commonland Foundation for their contribution of footage used in this video.

Permaculture Ethics

Ethics are a crucial part of any Permaculture design. In this video, the three permaculture ethics of Earth care, People care, and Fair share are explained.

Regenerative Investments

Regenerative investments are key in Permaculture. This video discusses what a regenerative investment is and compares them to degenerative and generative investments.

Permaculture Directives

Designing with nature, designing for culture, and pattern observation are the main Permaculture directives that are discussed in this video.

Climate Zones, Climate Change and Permaculture

Learn about the jet stream and how it affects the major climate patterns of the world. Discover the effects of climate change on climate patterns and how the jet stream plays a major role in those changes.

Introduction to Permaculture Site Analysis

This video introduces us to the concepts of site analysis. By using the Permaculture Decision Making Matrix, which includes topography, zones, sectors, and principles, we can begin to compose a thorough site analysis. Remember, a site analysis should always begin by knowing where you are: from macro to micro.

Climate and Topography

This video gives a basic overview of how topography affects climate.

Understanding the Watershed

Understanding where you are in the watershed is an important step in site analysis. This video discusses how water moves in the large scale landscape and how location within a watershed affects a site.

Watershed Patterns

This video discusses how dividing the watershed in square sections, characteristic of the human imposed grid, can disrupt the natural flow of the watershed.

How Trees Affect the Watershed

Trees act as a sponge to absorb and slow the movement of water. When trees are removed from the top of the watershed it causes erosion and does not allow for absorption of water into the landscape.

The Beaver: Watershed Engineer

The beaver builds small dams in waterways and slows the flow of water, trapping sediments and filling the watershed with sponges that slow and sink the flow. As Permaculture practitioners, we can take on the function of the beaver and restore the hydrologic cycle to enhance the health of the entire ecosystem. We do this by starting at the top of the watershed, building smaller structures that will do the job to slow, sink and spread the water.

Permaculture Decision Making Matrix: Sectors

We previously looked at how understanding topography is an important first step to creating a design. Let's now move into the next element of the matrix, understanding the sectors.

Solar Aspect

Understanding how the sun moves through the sky is key in determining your solar aspect and microclimate. The sun-facing direction of an object is the hot and dry side. The East-facing side of an object gets morning light and is first to burn off the spring time frost. The West is the hottest side because this is where the sun is shining later in the day when the atmosphere has had time to warm up. Finally, the pole-facing side of an object is considered the moist and cool side.

Identifying Microclimates

A microclimate is an area that has a distinct climate that differs from the area around it. It can be as small as a few square feet or meters, or as large as many miles or kilometers. Understanding microclimates is really important in order to take advantage of the heat, cold, protection, moisture, dryness, or whatever the microclimate provides.

Assessing Solar Aspect in Urban Areas

The presence of tall skyscrapers in urban areas creates a special challenge when assessing solar aspect.

Zones in the Matrix

We previously looked at how understanding topography and sectors are important to creating a design. Let's now move into the next element of the matrix, understanding the zones.

Design as a Response to Zones and Sectors: Tropics

Here's an example of the design of a property in response to site conditions characteristic of tropical climates near the equator.

Design as a Response to Zones and Sectors: Low Desert Community

Here's an example of the design of a community in response to site conditions characteristic of low desert climates.

Scales of Landscape Permanence

The Scales of Landscape permanence was originated by Australian agricultural innovator, P.A. Yeomans, who developed the Keyline Design system. Here's an example of how the scales of permanence illustrate the order in which elements should be designed for.

Trees in the Permaculture Landscape

Permaculture is permanent agriculture, and there is no plant that is more permanent in the landscape than trees. The integration of trees in the Permaculture landscape is essential for climatic, economic, and environmental reasons. Founder Bill Mollison recommends at least 20-30% of a Permaculture landscape dedicated to trees for windbreak and forage.

Permaculture Trees in the Drylands

In the drylands, getting trees established in degraded landscapes is an important step towards regenerating fertility and water cycles. Trees have the ability to fix nitrogen and hold moisture, creating an enhanced microclimate for other species to grow.

Permaculture Trees in Temperate Climates

In temperate climates, trees can be established without long term irrigation for forest, timber, and orchard.

Permaculture Trees in the Tropics

Food systems in the tropics are best as mostly forested food-scapes that emulate the same structure as the jungle, with it’s multi-storied production. Remember, in the tropics the nutrients are held in plants instead of soils, and tropical soils should not be left bare. So tree plantings in the tropics should be designed to include multiple layers.

Energy Systems Permaculture

Energy systems in a Permaculture design are small scale and decentralized, using renewable sources. This video gives a very brief glance at types of renewable energy systems commonly employed in Permaculture.

Permaculture Soils Perspective

Soil is a crucial part of life and especially food production. Learn about the components of soil and what it means for food production, water storage, and nutrient availability in tropical, dryland, and temperate climates.

India's Water Revolution #1: Solving the Crisis in 45 days with the Paani Foundation

Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison journeys to India to film the epic work of the Paani Foundation’s Water Cup Competition. We tour the village of Garavadi, in Maharashtra, who competed in the 2019 competition to install the most amount of water harvesting structures in a 45 day period. Guided by Paani Foundation’s chief advisor, Dr. Avinash Pol, we visit the work and see the effects of a watershed-scale groundwater restoration project that has dramatically improved the lives, economy, ecology and stability of this village, all in 45 days!

India's Water Revolution #2: The Biggest Permaculture Project on Earth! with the Paani Foundation

Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison journeys to India to film the epic work of the Paani Foundation’s Water Cup Competition. We tour the village of Velu, in Maharashtra, who won the 2016 competition to install the most amount of water harvesting structures in a 45 day period. Guided by Paani Foundation’s chief advisor, Dr. Avinash Pol, we take a ride through the village watershed and see a massive water diversion and groundwater recharge project that has dramatically improved the lives, economy, ecology and stability of this village. Although the Paani Foundation doesn't use the word Permaculture to describe what they do, we examine why their work has turned into the biggest Permaculture project on Earth!

India's Water Revolution #3: From Poverty to Permaculture with DRCSC

Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison journeys to India to film the epic work of the Development Research Communication and Services Centre (DRCSC) in the state of West Bengal. We tour multiple villages in the tribal district of Purulia, and see the life changing work that DRCSC is doing on water security, food security, poverty alleviation and ecosystem restoration. Guided by DRCSC founder Ardhendu Chatterjee, we visit the work and see the effects of water storage and groundwater restoration projects that are enabling the poorest of the poor to stay on their lands and thrive instead of migrating far away for low wage work.

India's Water Revolution #4: Permaculture for Wastelands at Aranya Farm

Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison journeys to India to film the epic work at Aranya Farm in the state of Telangana. We tour the twenty-year-old farm that was established on bare bedrock, and now boasts 11.5 acres of permaculture food forests, which has restored the groundwater table to plentiful abundance. Guided by Aranya's directors Narsanna and Padma Koppula, we visit the surrounding area where the landless poor are now farming their own lands and turning bedrock into bounty using permaculture principles. This video clearly proves that wastelands can be transformed into verdant and productive agricultural systems, improving the lives of many.

India's Water Revolution #5: Permaculture Rescue for Dying Farmland

Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison journeys to India to film the epic work of Aranya Agricultural Alternatives. We tour the village of Ellarthi, in Andhra Pradesh, where the Andhra Pradesh Drought Mitigation Project has saved dying farmland through rainwater harvesting, tree planting, composting, and bio-organic fertilizer production. Guided by Aranya Agricultural Alternative's co-founder, Padma Koppula, we visit the work and see the effects of a watershed-scale water storage project that has dramatically improved the lives, economy, ecology and stability of this region!

India's Water Revolution #6: Urban Mega-Drought Solutions

Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison journeys to India to film the water harvesting work of the Ramachandran family in the drought-prone city of Chennai. We tour their home site where they have been developing water and food resilience over the last 30 years on a small city lot. They were able to maintain their own water supplies while the city of 10 million was crippled by water shortages. Guided by daughter Gayathri Ramachandran, we visit the work and see the effects of a small-scale groundwater restoration and water harvesting project that has dramatically improved the lives and sustainability of this family, setting a shining example for Chennai and the world.

India's Water Revolution #7: 50 YEARS of Permaculture @ Auroville

Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison journeys to India to film 50 years of permaculture in the epic eco-township of Auroville. We tour a number of sites within the vast project, including the Sadhana Forest, a series of check dams in the Auroville canyons, and the biological water treatment systems prevalent throughout the community. Guided by a number of Auroville residents, we visit the work and see the effects of a region-wide reforestation and groundwater restoration project that has dramatically improved the lives, economy, ecology and stability of this visionary settlement!

Water is Life

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Farm Water Innovators

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Yeoman's Yobarnie Farm

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Yeoman's Nevallan Farm

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Falloon's Taranaki Farm

Taranaki Farm: https://www.facebook.com/TaranakiFarm/ Links to an external site.
This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Design Consideration

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Storing Water in Soil

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Reservoir Suitability

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Regrarians Handbook

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Seven Seeds Farm

Seven Seeds Farm: http://www.sevenseedsfarm.com/ Links to an external site.
This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Wolf Gulch Farm

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Saddle Dam

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Contour Dam

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Keypoint Dam

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Valley Dam

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Turkey's Nest Dam

Ridge Versus Valley Dams

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Spillway Considerations

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

On-contour Swales

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.>

Off Contour Collection

Swale Keyline Comparison

This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.

Cougar Mountain Farm

Cougar Mountain Farm: https://www.facebook.com/cougarmountainfarm/ Links to an external site.
This video is one in a series that is part of an online module "Permaculture Water Design: Drought Proofing Farms" produced by Andrew Millison at Oregon State University.