[FLPERMACULTURE] TCLocal on fruit in Tompkins County

[Simon St.Laurent]

TCLocal is a group of citizens working to figure out strategies for 
dealing with energy descent in Tompkins County.  To that end, we're 
publishing one article per month on a specific subject, examining that 
topic in the light of higher energy prices.  You can find them at:

http://www.tclocal.org/

Our first article examines producing fruits in Tompkins County after the 
peak.  These perishable but delicious and nutritious foods are a 
critical component of local diets, and higher costs for transportation 
and petroleum-based fertilizers will mean that we need to look closely 
at ways of providing them locally.  Permaculture will likely be an 
important aspect of those approaches, helping growers large and small 
produce a mix of crops.

The article explores the challenges of expanding fruit production, on 
both large and small scales, and shows how different fruits can fill out 
a seasonal calendar that covers the whole year.  Action items recommend 
options for both individuals and governments.

Future articles will cover roads, water treatment, urban land use, 
household preparation, and health, with around one article per month.

The new TCLocal site is specifically designed to get your feedback on 
these plans as they are developed. These articles are a starting point 
for a conversation we hope will include a wide variety of readers coming 
at these issues from different perspectives.  We welcome comments, and 
hope to find more good ideas through public discussion.

Thanks,
Simon St.Laurent
Chair, TCLocal