PowerSwitch

(from the other thread)

Gundula Azeez, from the Soil Association, described benefits of Organic farming (such as drought tolerance), as well as the yields in comparison to existing methods (slightly less in UK, about the same in America, much more in the developing world). Rob Hopkins mentioned Agro-Forestry with sweet chestnuts and walnut trees growing reliably in the UK. Market gardening is the most efficient production method, and woodland is best for EMERGY. Uppsala University is studying EMERGY. A lengthy discussion was mostly about whether the UK could feed itself, the consensus was "just about", but all wastage would have to be minimised, with less meat production, and little or nothing left over for energy crops. Which would leave no room for population growth. The idea of community land ownership (a kind of tribal system) was also banded about. It appeared that a lot of the "Permaculture crew" were in the workshop; I do think there are worthwhile synergies between Peak Oil solutions, Permaculture and the Soil Association.