We live in a strange time. Scientific data has never been so precise, so accessible, so alarming. And yet the systems we live in continue to function as if nothing has changed. This article is an attempt to explain where we really stand, why it is so difficult to act at the scale the situation … Read more
Let’s gather our thoughts around one of the most prominent books in European permaculture: The Earth Care Manual by Patrick Whitefield
At Ermitaj, we’ve stacked many piles of firewood… And during the first couple of years, we saw quite a few collapse. We were all from the city; none of us had grown up with wood heating.Then a good friend, whose life has long revolved around fireplaces and stoves, explained the basic principles. Since then, every … Read more
At Ermitaj, the association we founded aims “to support individuals and communities in moving towards a way of life that respects the Earth and people, in a spirit of sharing and solidarity.” But imagining that we are doing this “for changing the world” would be a dangerous illusion. Believing that a few local initiatives could … Read more