How to Make Your Property Fire Resistant with Permaculture Design

To learn more about permaculture watch the Permaculture Masterclass, a 4-part documentary-style film, here: www.discoverpermaculture.com/....
Many people have asked how Zaytuna Farm is going with this year's wildfire season and the 2019/2020 drought. In this video, Geoff gives us an update and offers his top five permaculture design principles that help make Zaytuna Farm drought-proof and fire-resistant.
Editors note: since filming this video Zaytuna Farm has received over 150ml of rain, and the fire in the Nightcap National park has been extinguished.
If you would like to donate, we recommend a direct donation to the Rural Fire Service to support local brigades. Bushfire affected areas include the following:
New South Wales (NSW): www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/...
Queensland (QLD): www.rfbaq.org/donate-to-rfbaq
Victoria (VIC): www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supp...
South Australia (SA): cfsfoundation.org.au/donate
Support us in making more films by:
► Signing up to our newsletter and the Permaculture Circle - 100+ free videos: start.geofflawtononline.com/p...
► Liking us on Facebook: / geofflawtononline
► Following us on Instagram: / geofflawtononline
► Subscribing to our channel: / @discoverpermaculture
About Geoff:
Geoff is a world-renowned permaculture consultant, designer, and teacher. He has established permaculture demonstration sites that function as education centers in all the world’s extreme climates - information on the success of these systems is networked through the Permaculture Research Institute and the www.permaculturenews.org website.
About Permaculture:
Permaculture integrates land, resources, people and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies - imitating the no waste, closed-loop systems seen in diverse natural systems. Permaculture applies holistic solutions that are applicable in rural and urban contexts and at any scale. It is a multidisciplinary toolbox including agriculture, water harvesting and hydrology, energy, natural building, forestry, waste management, animal systems, aquaculture, appropriate technology, economics, and community development.
#permaculture #wildfires #permaculturedesign

[@LeJimster]

Zaytuna always looks so lush even in droughts. I can only imagine what could be acheived if you had the ability to roll out your designs over a larger area of Australia.

[@LogicallySoundMM]

I was there in late December. It wasn't at all THIS green. the recent rains have probably propped up the greenery

[@LureThosePixels]

@@LogicallySoundMM The point is that when it DOES rain, it uses and is able to retain more of that water for longer. Not that it isn't still at the mercy of the wider climate.

[@ripme6616]

@@LogicallySoundMM it came back beautifully

[@fullcirclegardensolutions]

seriously! give him the keys to Australia!

[@helenbunch9065]

While most of Australia is suffering through the fires, and the world watches in anguish, may Zaytuna Farm and Permaculture reaffirm and show the way.... Thank you for your good work.

[@ausfoodgarden]

Excellent update and good information. I've lived around Melbourne since 1979 and have never seen such prolonged and widespread bushfires here. Anyone who says the weather isn't getting more extreme are just fooling themselves. My thanks go out to all the firefighters, defense forces and others who are helping in the fight and recovery of these terrible fires. Help how you can, give to a charity or recovery fund, or if money is a bit tight, after the fires are under control, go to an affected area near you and buy everything you need from the local stores, eat in the restaurants, have a weekend stay in accommodation. It all helps

[@elenarf879]

Agreed. I add: campaign for authorities to take these issues seriously, beyond words, so they invite permaculture methods at national level.

[@jessiemartinez7681]

Geoff, I've been waiting for this video. All the while watching your videos on greening the desert, I wondered how Zatuna Farms was fairing because of the fires in your country. You didn't look worried in those videos. Glad to see your land is safe.

[@elenarf879]

Yes, me too !! 🙏

[@ToonLeighporpeangfarmThailand]

Fantastic as always guys. If only more farmers would look to introduce permaculture principles.

[@melindalancaster9648]

Agree 100%... & stop the gmo/monsanto 💩

[@allonesame6467]

If all your country had implemented your design, think of the resilience force that might be exerted on the fires? Relieved to see the lush growth at Zaytuna! Blessings Abound

[@saucywench9122]

Chiming in from the U.S. I'm not afraid to say I cried when you said Zaytuna was okay. So glad to hear this and I've been shamelessly plugging Peter Andrews, Mulloon Creek and most importantly you, Geoff in any news feeds about drought, along with the new drought boss Shane Stone. As always thanks to you and your teams and interns for all you do at home and abroad.

[@LeJimster]

My thoughts exactly. Australia politicians have seen what proper land management and design results in, I've seen the Peter Andrews docu and the answers are there, yet I wonder if anything really changes?

[@Zoe-sj7of]

@@LeJimster This is all by design, just like the fires in California. These fires are a controlled demolition.

[@veganchiefwarrior6444]

(pictures some american crying because Zaytuna farm is ok) lol

[@saucywench9122]

@LeJimster. Great point but the politicians should be the last of the equation. The best place to start is by keeping all eyes on Shane Stone, he's the metaphorical "boots on the ground" guy or he appears to be, he's the one who can get the balls rolling in the needed direction. Once the people see the results of what Geoff and Mulloon Creek can do on the agricultural and environmental scale the politicians can no longer avoid what needs to be done and are forced by the documented results to concede.

[@Christodophilus]

@@Zoe-sj7of Geoff explained the terms in the beginning. It's the longest and hottest drought on record - hence the reason behind the extent of the bushfires. That is what's causing the demolition.

[@meyssafar7703]

Hi Geoff, I was so worried about your Zaytuna farm, glad to see that it is safe. Thank you for posting this video

[@sarahflanagan9345]

Geoff, I am so happy you shared with us an update on Zaytuna Farm. I knew it would survive! How many videos have you shared with us over the years that stressed the importance of rainwater harvesting and keeping that water stored on the farm in physical structures, but more importantly storing the water in the ground for future use! I hope that you and other permaculturalists will be consulted and asked to incorporate the design you have demonstrated at Zaytuna Farm to county-scale and even larger scale applications. Humans have engineered the climate crisis and we must engineer our way out of it. You have consistently and successfully demonstrated at least one way we can do this. Thank you for your work and your willingness to share with all of us.

[@DavidBelliveau]

I'm surprised that insurance companies aren't funding armies of permaculture designers. They'd save so much money if more land was permaculturally designed and managed. The savings during wildfires and floods alone should be able to fund armies of permaculture designers. Imagine Geoff giving PDCs in packed football stadiums. Wouldn't that be something.

[@Tony-Blake]

That would require foresight. Bean counters compare risks, as opposed to spending money to reduce risk. (I don't approve of their strategy, btw.)

[@worthlessprofessor6477]

I agree. I hate to be a downer, but the permaculture approach of more modest homes means less $$$ for insurance companies. The smaller the house, the smaller the premium. Also, when huge disasters strike, insurance companies find ways of not paying. I remember talking to someone whose house had been hit by Katrina and they were finally getting the money ten years later, and that was due in large part to the countless hours jumping through hoops to get it.

[@charleswalters5284]

So they get their slice off a smaller pie? Maybe you think doctors, hospital holding corporations, and drug factory conglomerates want us all to be healthy so they have to cancel the order for their new gold plated shark tank bar next to the pool, maybe sell one of their vacation homes in france.

[@DaveTpletsch]

I knew this video would be coming to us because of the circumstances in Australia right now. Zaytuna farm may not have been in the line of fire yet, but it's still amazing to see how green all the plants are and how dark and moist the footpaths and other places of exposed soil look. You'd never know Australia was in the worst drought of the century if all you had to go by was Zaytuna farm. It's such a testament to the efficacy of Permacultural design.

[@mjfalcon007]

Fantastic to hear the Zaytuna Farm has not been affected by the bushfires. I hope more and more farmers learn from Permaculture techniques and and begin to make changes to our farming systems in this great country of ours.

[@kenmaingot]

Great tips--very happy to hear Zaytuna Farm has fared well.

[@misst1586]

Glad your farm okay. Thank you for update.

[@mechasmccrary1734]

I’m glad the farm is OK. We have been prayer for rain in your country. 🙏🏽

[@nillespermahave3525]

Oh thank you so much for sharing Geoff! I've been waiting to hear about the fires and Zaytunas condition for about a month 🙈 🌴💚👍

[@katjordan3733]

My heart goes out to all the living beings of Australia! Hope these tragic events are turned into an opportunity to change. Glad Zaytuna is still standing. t was wonderful to see how Greening the Desert is thriving. Best wishes for the future!

[@Raj-yy7xx]

Hi Geoff, really very glad to hear Zaytuna survived the catastrophe, and amazingly looking "very lush" compared to regions, farms and friends I've visited. Can you pls elaborate more on fire resistent species across NSW. We were burnt out in Oct, still burning in parts, and in disaster recovery mode, so looking to re establish permaculture methods we discovered only early last year...

[@GB-bb5oi]

Conscious, tenacious and welcome words Geoff! May we all live soon with the possibility to develop the potentiality for every sector that human ecosystemical design of landscapes can achieve, promoting life! Love to see you and Zaytuna safe and standing!

[@michel3691]

Are you saying that you want no wild areas anywhere?

[@GB-bb5oi]

@@michel3691 No, actually i was thinking more to the urban zones when I came out with that misleading assemblage of words as a “definition“ of Permacultural process that I wrote in the comment mentioned. It is a very hard subject also to be defined!

[@GB-bb5oi]

@@michel3691 of course not..

[@michel3691]

@@GB-bb5oi sorry that I misunderstood.

[@elenarf879]

@@michel3691 Permaculture alwaysrespect wildness as the primary teacher. You have zone 5 (=wild) every time possible.

[@nomadgigi4051]

Thank you for the update Geoff, it's good to know Zaytuna's farm design is working well. I'm on the Darling Downs SEQLD, have had 110 mm in the last week while we only had 169 mm in all of 2019. Captured all I could, dug channels to the trees to give them a good drink, filled the rain tank but it's only a small house block in the country. Would love to do so much more. Thanks for all your videos, discovered them recently and have watched a lot of them already, very inspiring.

[@thomasreto2997]

Good to hear your farm is alright. Such great information to reduce damage from future events. Wishing All the best to those of you over there coping with loses due to this.

[@prabhakararaja9379]

Hi sir happy to hear that Your farm is safe. Glad to see the lush growth.Thank you for this video

[@notshellhampie6330]

Zaytuna is a living testimonial. This update is an answer to prayer, as Soo much death and destruction surrounded you. What a beacon to the world ...... Your designed systems are truly wise and blessed, put that together with your intentions to help the world learn to help themselves and flourish, and this is truly the hand of God over your lives. Thank you for making this video ❤️💕. I hope this can come to be on the nightly news and on the front page of the newspapers..... God continue to bless everything you do and may your government come to you and adopt your designs to help your country reset itself after this horrible time of testing. ❤️❤️❤️

[@kazzana9013]

I would imagine Zaytuna is not safe yet, as the scale of the fires in Australia have the potential to overrun any patch that is well managed, but you have given the land the best chance possible through great management. All the best from New Zealand.

[@PietroSperonidiFenizio]

Thanks, I was waiting for this video. Please keep us up to date, and invite fellow permaculturists from Australia to share their experience, too.

[@mikepowell8611]

Now would be a great time to create a "conservation corps" to go into all those burnt up parks cut down all the dead trees and mulch them, create some giant swales, and put in some dams to collect water. We can't just leave these parks to nature we've already botched that up. You're gonna have to start managing these parks. Just my 2 cents.

[@alanblanes2876]

I wonder if Ducks Unlimited is active in Australia? It would be also good to know if the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 supporters have been working with Permaculture in Goals: 6,9,11,15 and 17? This decade should have as the top priority making continental water management that conserves flood and rainwater in constructed wetlands. This would purify water and would make it suitable to transport to all depleted water tables via underground pipelines. Has such an idea been discussed yet? Thanks for all responses.

[@mumbairay]

Millions of tasty animals. Could have hunted them instead prior.

[@user-py8dv2dp1m]

The forest is burned intentionally specifically to change the climate on the planet ,in Russia it is cut and sold to China.We no longer have summer in the Urals and the winter is warm .

[@audreycermak]

Thank you for the update on your farm and area. I was wondering how you were doing and praying for your safety. The farm looks amazing! 💓💓🌎

[@shevekanarres2926]

All the best Geoff, we are feeling for you. Here in BC Canada we had record fires in 2017/18.

[@Alex_Plante]

Thanks for the update. I've been worrying about your farm

[@timsbitsca]

Thanks Geoff, great update.

[@Danfoodforest]

It’s really sad of lost of lives , animals and land My heart goes out to everyone

[@JustineDodd]

As one of those whose home and land was razed to the ground (Nymboida) ~ including a newly planted topical food forest ~ I can say without a doubt that this is salient advice. My concrete tank survived... the plastic fittings and exposed pipe, along with other plastic tanks - all melted. The plastic tank on a 8m stand survived... but the fittings melted, releasing 5000l of water to effectively protect the vege garden and fruit trees below - food for thought about tank placement if they are plastic! nearly 4 years on and many species have not returned. What a relief Zaytuna was spared. Of course then the floods arrived

[@nessav7258]

I am amazed how mostly national parks were ablaze this summer. Was it for salvage logging? Economic inputs? Continuous fires promote the growth of fire accelerant species and as one RFS member told me, we burn all the 'rubbish' down at ground level, and I would say this is what is keeping the moisture in at ground level. So we burn and effect a dryer landscape then burn again to mitigate any future fires which will burn with much more intensity. We save all the eucalypts that dominate the landscape and even plant more in parks and along roadways to continue the 'endemic' species and remove all the ember reducing 'non-native' plants that provide moisture. We drain rivers from irrigation of thirsty crops, we remove thousands of acres of trees and plants for broad acre farming, we run cattle and sheep until the ground is dirt - it's just madness! Permaculture IS a huge part of the answer.

[@whereisangie]

its so sad and scary about the bushfires 😟 i hope you all stay safe

[@HFTLMate]

Amazing thank you

[@sethl3702]

Glad to hear the farm is still ok. I think about it every time I hear news of the fires.

[@TheVigilantStewards]

Glad you are safe, would love to have seen your water levels

[@dianehall4959]

I've been waiting months to hear how Zaytuna was doing during these horrible fires. So happy to see Zaytuna proving the reason Permaculture needs to be mainstream in dealing with drought and climate change. Thanks for letting us know. (PDC 2008 Melbourne, AUS)

[@melindalancaster9648]

I wish our governments would catch on & encourage this...thx very educational

[@melindalancaster9648]

@Jason Rockwell yes...4 some reason i can't help but feel they play a big part...saw a vid on them using lazers from planes a few months after they signed documents allowing it...like what happened n California.. But of course the document r written n greek so harder 2 understand. Also can have dual meaning so u hv 2 read between the lines...that'a y thr dumbing us down & rewritting history

[@gcb6185]

Very happy to hear that Zaytuna Farm is intact and Safe Thank God

[@HelenRullesteg]

Thank you for the update, was looking forward to hearing how your farm has been doing.

[@Michaelibre]

Thank you Geoff for your continue love, service and dedication.

[@1yogachris]

Keep up the good work Geoff. People need to learn this stuff and implement it everywhere. We even had firest on the heather moorlands in the Uk during the last two years.

[@Zalakajin]

Since I knew about Australia bushfires my first thoughts were about your status in Zaytuna Farm. Glad you're OK. Thanks for the lessons within this video.

[@taylorlogsdon6086]

Glad you’re all ok at Zaytuna. It’s heartbreaking to watch these wildfires continue. Thanks for your continued work in educating the public on appropriate design!

[@AbsoluteHaven]

Zaytuna has much been on my mind since we first got word of NSW burning; thank you so much for letting us know you're safe. Although I had no doubts that your property would be the MOST fire resistant in Australia, one can't help but get nervous when you see the incredible flame storms and wonder if anything short of being completely under water would survive them. Perhaps this terrible event will push the importance of permaculture even further into the world's consciousness when this is all over. My thoughts are with you and your family, Geoff. Be safe.

[@evalerchesecher4623]

thx for the update

[@EcosystemDesignConsulting]

Geoff, keep doing the good work!

[@joansmith3492]

So glad your Ok

[@nalinivenuturumilli6417]

Thank you for inspiring us

[@miloutanfari6582]

حمدا لله على السلامة، ومزيدا من العطاء إن شاء الله.

[@MrFatist]

Woot Woot. Would love to take Arial footage of some of Geoff's designs so many years down the track. Like I said you need to plan from the beginnings, and incorporate contingency strategies throughout the entirety. Holistic design strategies. Geoff knows his stuff. :)

[@mousasaab2652]

Zaytuna stands for olive in Arabic! I just discovered your channel so I don’t know if you have olive trees, but I’m already loving your channel.

[@courageeye5563]

I hope and pray I can visit Zaytuna!

[@elenarf879]

I hope authorities listen to you and you get invited to be envolved in these wise actions at national level to prevent future catastrophe. Thanks teacher for the update.

[@worthlessprofessor6477]

Great to see. I'd been wondering how things were going. Is all the footage recent? If so, all the more amazing.

[@jeff6899]

My thumbs get sore from continually giving good video's like this a thumbs up :)

[@tonycutler9080]

Been waiting to hear how Zaytuna Farm had fared. Thank you.

[@emilmoldovan1789]

Perfect speech!

[@suginami123]

Brilliant.

[@leafdesi5967]

Praying for you all

[@lorebrown5307]

Geoff you need to title this video or do another one titled "How to Prevent Bush fire with Permaculture design" you need to, pardon the pun, strike while the iron is hot. Very good video but with a better title you could reach more people rather than preaching to the choir

[@Fyrlance]

Hey Geoff, I was wondering if you offer a permaculture design certificate online? I've watched your videos on the website but the only certificate courses I've seen were overseas as I live in the US. Glad to see you're safe. It's just like you said, "you can solve all the worlds problems, in a garden."

[@bonniefreibergs6046]

Geoff has an online PDC. It lasts for 6 months and he runs it as an event about once a year. This years course dates have not been released but it will launch in the first half of 2020. Add your details to his mailing list, here: start.geofflawtononline.com/pdc-2017/ and you will be emailed as soon as it launches.

[@theresadailey5809]

Yes you can, go into Geoff Lawton online classes, I still have my classes when I need to refresh.

[@elenarf879]

@@theresadailey5809 me too

[@elizabethflynn8455]

What's so infuriating is that the solution is in front of us and for some insane reason,it's still not being taken up. I don't live in Australia. My country is quite damp but believe me, Permaculture is such a brilliant solution to problems like ye have witnessed in your country. I wish ye well.

[@elenarf879]

Anger is an energy that, converted in possitive action, can be very productive and relieving. Just do something possitive about ! Free your enthropy

[@yukey2587]

No place like home!

[@ronsmith1364]

Would be nice to have managed Buffers to direct & slow wildfires. Allow controlled burns in vulnerable areas to mitigate damage by local knowledgeable folks. Preserve fragile species by concentrated buffers while, allowing wildlife corridors to enhance genetic diversity. Acknowledge Zaytuna Farms & other permaculture sites as seed areas to renew native species devastated by habitat loss. Prayers to Australia for solace & renewal

[@SHANONisRegenerate]

How does the property compare to the surrounding area?

[@saucywench9122]

Told mom that Zaytuna was okay when she asked. Her next comment was that Geoff's farm must've been the only moist spot on the map.

[@Christodophilus]

Glad to hear your property is safe, Geoff. Ours property in the Lockyer Valley, had a near miss too. We recently received some good rain, in the past few weeks. The sediment is on the move though, as I expected it would be. What are your thoughts on keeping woody material on the ground, versus clearing it? For us, we couldn't irrigate, nor did we have the capacity to put dams in certain locations. Which means, those spots simply turned to dust. Such was the extent of the drought. I had to choose whether we should leave the woody material in situ, or pile it all together. I left in situ, and it helped catch sediment and hold back the water, once the downpours returned. As I knew it would. But is was like playing Russian Roulette with the bushfires in play. I'm leaning towards clearing woody material and spreading it on contour, on the slopes, come winter. As a bushfire preventative. It would capture water and silt, what little accumulates. Where as ash just becomes mobile, that much easier, and still leaves the soil to erosion. While I really like the solutions you outlined, it's not always possible. I think our country needs to have a conversation on whether to periodically burn (which I'm not in favour of) or laying the deadwood on contour, like hugel mounds.

[@jeroenvkr7503]

I hope u may learn the world a lot!

[@LyndseyRDavis]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. I am curious about the syncarpia glomulifera/turpentine tree as a fire-resistant tree. How is 'turpentine' fire resistant? Eucalyptus is explosively susceptible to fire. Isn't turpentine similar?

[@alanblanes2876]

Thanks for a very uplifting video, Geoff. I am very interested in finding out if Australia has any plans to conserve runoff and rain/floodwater in constructed wetlands? We who support the 17 SDGs for 2030 should make it a top priority that continental water management that redirects phyto-remediation-purified water to depleted water tables via underground pipelines - be the preeminent climate goal for the rest of the decade. When can Permaculture help set this as a priority for the world?

[@maxraynaud1037]

Urban planning is starting to look at water recirculation systems, rain gardens, and constructed wetlands to remediate and drought proof our cities in aus. However the federal policy on this is lagging and it is primarily local initiatives

[@alanblanes2876]

@@maxraynaud1037 This is where it would be very strategic if community groups and independent activists could become connected with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and help create an action plan to restore a healthy biosphere and climate by synchronizing policies and actions at all levels of society.

[@maxraynaud1037]

There is a reason Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide CBD and suburbs didn't burn, because design (although objectively reckless in many ways) has created fire suppression with the planting of fire suppressant species and the over mowing of lawns. While there is still so much to be done, it is good to know that we can design to minimise risk in the future with fire seasons even worse than this (scary to think about), while growing food and supporting nature

[@Jo-xf4nt]

Hey Geoff, I have 2 acres (1 wooded, 1 cleared w/ house) on a hill. The 2 acres are flat. I watch your videos, but don't know how or where to start. I need step by step pictures. I'm in 7A east coast of USA. Lots of rain, but I want to plan for if there's not. I'd like it all to be productive and eventually cut out all the non productive trees that's there now. What do you suggest? Thank you in advance. Love what you do and your videos are just the best.

[@rockandthistle3391]

HI I like to thank you for your life long effort to help people too help themselves. I was wondering your view of using oxen( Aussies call them bullocks) fit in with as a way to help power a Permaculture system.

[@paulmcconkey2759]

Looking at the devastation in Australia, made we wonder. How come even the most basic of these measures have not applied in every agricultural, area in the world. Is it now not time that as part of any land management or agricultural course worldwide that permaculture should be mandatory? Even with the advancement of technology and monitored indoor growing systems the principles of design will still hold up.

[@stevenwicks6451]

As far as I understand, permaculture tries to emulate nature. Much of the fires has ravaged natural landscapes such as national parks and state forests, with agriculture and urban areas affected on these fringes. So the natural systems didn't reduce the fires. If anything they exacerbated it, thanks to the volatile oils in the Eucalyptus species and the shallow, rocky soils holding little moisture thanks to a sustained drought

[@dyllos7]

​@@stevenwicks6451 natural systems are out of kilter due to human influence - Australia used to have megafauna before people and they had a massive influence, then aboriginal fire culture favoured the fire species over time, then colonialism halted most of the burning in the last 100 years + and thus the fuel loads are too high - nature is not able to deal with this in such a short time period

[@dyllos7]

@@stevenwicks6451 ​ Steven Wicks natural systems are out of kilter due to human influence - Australia used to have megafauna before people and they had a massive influence, then aboriginal fire culture favoured the fire species over time, then colonialism halted most of the burning in the last 100 years + and thus the fuel loads are too high - nature is not able to deal with this in such a short time period

[@alliecatnz]

Thanks Geoff, I really hope the fires stay well clear but it was also be interest to see how resilient your designs are in a real fire (even though I hope it never happens) it might help others see the light... out of curiosity have you done any work in Earthquake prone areas? Not too sure how concrete tanks would go where we line in NZ. Also curious if there are ways to make a food forest resilient in the case of volcanic ash knocking out light. As always love your important work, if there was a permaculture “church” on Sundays I’d sign up for that I hope you also qualify for all of the same tax breaks! Thank you

[@Mandy-cn5cl]

I have been waiting for your comments on the fires & wish the authorities & the world will start to listen to you before its too late

[@blancaartgallery]

Our local council seems to believe one of the main strategies for preventing bush fires is to make buyers of properties clear fell everything for, I think, 40m from where a house will built. No matter if it’s native forest, lush regrowth, native animals live on it, or if its on a hill, the first priority is to clear it all.

[@geoffreyvanpelt6147]

Trees can for quite some time be living water tanks. Storing water in the ground is even better. Ponds are good, but can be the source of a bug problem if mismanaged. Clear cutting lust leads to more erosion. On the bright side, if you are an unscrupulous water baron, you don't want drought mitigation, because you can charge a premium.

[@rebeccamillanlawler5405]

Hi, first, thanks so much for your videos! I need some help because I'm searching the name of the village where the vietnamese 300 year old food forest is located (you did a video about it 8 years ago!). I'm in Vietnam at the moment and I would love to visit it... Can you help me please? Thank you...

[@seoexpertsandyrowley6598]

Are there any case studies on the affect of synthetic fertilizers run off, drying out plants out in nature?

[@amyjones2490]

Just think if you designed all the infrastructure in Australia. The fires are so sad.

[@rame-sprayer]

any update or a video for europeen permaculturist. specialli spain portugal france..; 125 fires last week in portugal..we need strategie and some help to get good technic to prevent land to get destroyed

[@HomsteadingThePioneerWay]

Geoff Mississippi USA has gotten you water fall, we have been flooding all spring, summer ,fall and now winter, its been recorded as the wettest year in history, farmers have planted over and over and failed crops, we will have a food shortage

[@saucywench9122]

Meanwhile NC had a drought and tree frogs out of hibernation in January due to a 30 day warm snap at the beginning of winter.

[@KD-cg9iq]

The Australian bushfires were much worse in 1939, more homes destroyed and more people died despite lower population at the time, however permaculture is a great way to tackle many issues like bush fires for example.

[@stewartkerr1493]

A good question is how much of our "drought" has been caused by mining operations, fracking wells (said to number around 43,000) and diversion/damming of complete river systems (Cuddly Station etc)? Add this to weather manipulation and geo engineering, and deforestation rates in NSW/QLD among the highest in the world, leads me to believe this is a man-made drought by design.

[@elenite396]

You are the only one so far who is understanding the cause of these fires, and seeing that there is a bigger more evil agenda. These fires were planned for. Your /our governments see us as cattle and the slow genocide is moving on month by month.

[@stewartkerr1493]

@@elenite396 Thank you for your reply. The bigger picture becomes easy to see when you connect enough dots together, it requires an open mind and discerment. There is so much mis-information and dis-information around that it is being used as a tool to divide people. Labels like "conspiracy theorist", "denialist", "flat earthers" etc. are tossed around to demean people and generate debate and a lot of hate. There are a myriad of problems that have been created in the world (intentionally and unintentionally) but it always seems to be the "climate change narrative" which gleams the bulk of the spotlight, why are we not openly discussing geo-engineering for example (an elephant in the room)? For me it seems the "climate change discussion" is the great distraction, while harmful 5G technology gets rolled out. + increasing people protests (which is required for the wake up) only add fuel to the police state agenda. Alas, the irony is that the solutions are already here, the low-tech answers to living a bountiful life are staring us right in the face and are relatively inexpensive. Could you imagine what 1/10 of the ADF annual budget (around $A36Billion) could do to establish a network of permaculture training centres throughout all regional areas in Australia? The hemp industry alone is a multi-billion dollar untapped solution industry and that is just one example. That is why I love Geoff and his work because he can shut out the noise and focus his energy towards solutions, everyday we as individuals and the collective have the choice to be a part of the problems or part of the solutions. May his movement and permaculture continue to grow and prosper, heaven forbid a politician actually might have a brilliant idea, but I won't hold my breath for that one!

[@baubojan4862]

Hello Geoff, would you say that Zaytuna farm was safe because it happened to be 10 km from the fires or did the design reduce the spread of the fires?

[@Raj-yy7xx]

Having seen the fires ravage our farm in NSW, a mere 10km is a blink of an eye, a minute, in fire velocity spread terms... Speed of fire is terrifying, you can't outrun it in a vehicle. Think of water likes to take the easiest path, so does fire. Our fire fighters are true heroes. They risked their lives, to hydrate people's home areas, farm fronts and pathways to enable escape or divert fire direction. But the velocity and scale of fire was collossal. We truly are insignificant to the sheer power of nature... We better find ways to align to it, to be allowed to survive by it. Or we may be the species going extinct soon.

[@Chordially]

Paradoxal facts : you teach all around the world how to design soil and water protection with permaculture, and in your own continent, very few is done. Is it because Australia is not poor enough ? Is there a link between cotton industry capture of water, drying rivers, and the intensity and duration of the fires ?

[@calinradulescupro8390]

From a socio-environmental point of view, it's logical that where a lot of destruction has taken place, people tend to become resilient and come up with Science-based approaches, such as PermaCulture. Everything is linked. Industry, Agriculture, Human Settlement, Nature. What we need on a social level is medium and long-term development plans. And it's entirely up to us, the people, to go into action.

[@Raj-yy7xx]

In farming, NSW AU, many farming mates would love to take a permaculture approach, but are systematically blocked from doing so. Commercial farming forcefully gears us to commercial input dependency through our economic system. If U take a loan to develop the farm it comes with bank conditions on "how" that money can be used on "which" specific inputs, like fertilizer purchase, pesticides, herbicides etc. Dictated by banks and govt AG plans with thier commercial corporate sponsorships of the next election campaign. If you break away from that prescribed economic formula, bank loan interest charges are much heavier, pretty unaffordable. We all have to pay the mortgage, albeit a short term survival view. We are forced to. Don't want to.

[@kikikut22]

good ideas, from permaculture thinking of course, but not sure i totally understood #3 about maintaining grasses by mowing/cutting them low... i get how there'd be less fuel for the fire, buuuut.. to PREVENT a fire.. seems like it would be fine if one did just not worry about mowing it, or if other animals, like cows, help mow it, and it wouldn't INCREASE the risk of fire if left outside of our interference... with overgrown grass, you could say it's sucking out the water, contributing to fire-provoking drought... but with transpiration effects?.. am i missing something?

[@ramthian]

❤🎉

[@ripme6616]

If I ever win the Lotto, I will be employing you on my property for a bit' love your work mate.. looks like there's 6 pyromaniacs who have thumb down.. or brain dead so and so's

[@jellyfishbones0]

to be fair, zaytuna is right up in northern nsw, the fires were in southern nsw and in victoria, about 1000km away. they are different areas climactically, zaytunas area is nowhere near as fire prone.

[@ireneforestfairy1017]

Are these droughts related to the destruction of forest world wide.?

[@veganchiefwarrior6444]

the council would probably force you guys to burn off all that "fuel" but personally i dont think burning is the right way to go about it cause then you just dry everything up, i imagine the trick is to make it wetter not dryer but i can see how that could go wrong in a dry summer, the aboriginals did do burning so maybe im wrong

[@rosalbadelriogarcia9598]

When did fires become a normal phenomena??? When i was young one never really heard about the huge fires like this...

[@oliverbyrne508]

Love your stuff, didn't like the new jumpy edit style. I know lots of you tubers do it but I liked that you didn't

[@MotherlandMoors]

The future belongs to those who works with Mother Nature

[@MakeSomeNoiseAgencyPlaylists]

just imagine 40% of the people in governemnts would listen to this man ! Just imagine....

[@wendysurbanhomestead5011]

I thought these serious bush fires were due to the Eucalyptus Trees exploding when on fire.

[@toffeebluenose7331]

Wonder how many cane toad were killed in the fires

[@stevenwicks6451]

Fire resistant trees = not Eucalypts