Following some research I am persuaded that permaculture practices can provide more food per land area and at substantially less cost and effort (win, win, win) than other farming or fruit & vegetable gardening practice.

'Permaculture - A Practical Guide for a Sustainable Future' by Bill Mollision, ISBN 1-55963-048-5, is an excellent book covering the philosophy behind permaculture, the concepts, methods, climate factors, water, soils, earth-working, aquaculture and strategies for humid, dry and temperate climates (and strategies for an alternative global nation).

A 50 minute BBC documentary 'Farm for the Future' on the prescient global farming and food crisis brings permaculture practices to life. Featuring Martin Crawford (Agroforestry Research Trust), Fordhall Farm, Richard Heinberg and others. Topics covered are the influence of oil on the food production, peak-oil, food security, carbon emissions, sustainability and permaculture. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xShCEKL-mQ8

See also Practical Permaculture in Britain documentary by Malcolm Baldwin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTyrd5aQ ... re=related

As a permaculture teacher along with my girlfriend (she has the formal permaculture qualifications and I am throwing in my ecological background for our introductory course next month) I couldn't agree with you more!

I went to Climate Camp this week-end and it was a feature of a couple of workshops there - absolutely essential re-skilling in my view for a low energy future.

The consensus there seems to be that politicians will have absolutely no incentive to wake us up until TSHTF, upon which they know they will be kicked out anyway, so it's going to be a very tough transition, driven by necessity rather than forethought unfortunately. Permaculture is a good tool to have ready.

Simon