Posts

Puppet burning signifies leaving the past behind.

By Renée Portanova / December 31, 2004 / 0 Comments

December 31, 2004 The Christmas Pageant was a huge success. The “show” started with me as the Virgen Maria (Virgin Mary) perched on top of a donkey being led around town (I kid you not when I say “around town” we paraded down Simon Bolivar until we nearly reached the beach then back up Montufar) by […]

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Everyone is filled with the Christmas Holiday spirit.

By Renée Portanova / December 17, 2004 / 0 Comments

December 17, 2004 Happy Winter Solstice. The week [Dec. 12-17] started early on Sunday, as Hanna and I headed to Guayaquil to pay a visit to Mike Morgan and the folks at Pro-Bosque Cerro Blanco.  As always Mike was very hospitable, spending the entire morning on Monday showing us around, discussing trees, seeds, restoration techniques, […]

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The seedlings are developing nicely.

By Renée Portanova / November 29, 2004 / 0 Comments

November 29, 2004 Things went really well this week [November 22-28]. We started on Monday by getting the watering done at the greenhouse and revegetation sites. While Ryan, Jaime and Brette took on the tasks independently (with a few days experience under their belts), Ric and Hanna (from Italy and Germany respectively) moved through things […]

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Update on Eco Ecuador Project by Peter Berg

By Peter Berg / November 29, 2004 / 0 Comments

November 29, 2004 Dear Friend of Planet Drum Foundation, Thanks for the generous support from those who responded to our recent mailing. We are glad to say that things are moving along very well toward reorganizing Planet Drum. Preparation of a Strategic Plan for completion by February is already underway. New members are being added […]

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Efforts at the greenhouse show rewards.

By Renée Portanova / October 22, 2004 / 0 Comments

October 22, 2004   The Planet Drum house had a wonderfully relaxing, sober time at the beach last weekend.  Without sun or alcohol (due to the mayoral election all of Ecuador sustained from serving/selling booze), we spent the majority of our time curled up on hammocks engaging in long reads and stimulating conversations. It was a nice weekend relief. […]

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Japan Dispatches, 2004

By Peter Berg / October 20, 2004 / 0 Comments

Peter and Judy returned to Japan on the Autumnal Equinox 2004. Soon after, we started receiving dispatches from this journey. Ecology leader and Planet Drum Foundation Board Member Kimiharu To acted as networker supreme as well as guide and interpreter for travels & presentations. Dispatch #1, A Prescription for Japan’s Cities, Sept. 26, 2004. A discussion […]

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Aside from our plants everything is so brown and dry it is frightening.

By Renée Portanova / October 15, 2004 / 0 Comments

October 15, 2004   We had a great week to be ended by an even better weekend.  The Planet Drum house is heading to the beach for some recreating. I imagine that you are heading back home, finishing up your travels, as we depart for our weekend adventure.  It will be nice to have you back […]

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The Bioregional Approach for Making Sustainable Cities

By Peter Berg / October 1, 2004 / Comments Off on The Bioregional Approach for Making Sustainable Cities

This article discusses sustainable cities’ foundation in ecology and includes a guide for starting the transition to achieve bioregional sustainability in any city. There is a section with examples from Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador. [Originally published in Urban Green Tech, (Tokyo) 2004] Introduction There is an undeniable and urgent new reality concerning the relationship between […]

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Watering a particularly vulnerable spot, the earth below gave way.

By Renée Portanova / October 1, 2004 / 0 Comments

October 1, 2004  Monday: The week started off great.  We repaired the fence at Jorge Lomas.  Upon closer examination it seemed the pole snapped at the base. We replaced the pole and tightened the barbed wire.  We also added fallen vegetation around the end points to act as a further deterrent.  It is more secure now […]

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The Amarillo seeds have to be watered for seven consecutive days in order for them to sprout.

By Renée Portanova / September 26, 2004 / 0 Comments

September 26, 2004   This week we mainly stuck to the basics: watering, sowing seeds and maintenance.  Due to extenuating circumstances (expired visas needing renewal, illness, etc.), we were only two in the field for the majority of the week.  This lessened the opportunity for me to meet with folks regarding recruitment for the Bioregional Education […]

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