#arkship

[scottmullins-relentless-blog]

Concept stages of the salvage ship Richard Bell Davies #promise #arkship #scottmullins

[wildstaronline]

Is there any chance of being able to revisit, or at least have another chance at getting the Arkship's datacube/TALES for those who skipped it?

This is something we actually looked at recently. In a future update, we’ll be making these accessible on the surface of Nexus.

[inkublot]

ヴィジュアル系バンドの彩冷えるでは作曲、ベーシストとして活動。2013年12月に脱退後、2014年より本格的にプロカメラマンとして活動開始。アーティストならではのセンスと、以前から学んでいたカメラ技術は多くのクライアントから注目されている。紅茶とお菓子が大好きで定期的に「ひみつカフェ」を開催。台湾人の血を引くクォーター。 Source: ARKSHIP

Intetsu's Ameblo Intetsu's Twitter

[permarija]

VAC, VACR and permaculture in Vietnam

When I was living in Europe and was preparing my relocation to Hong Kong, I put Vietnam on top of my list of country to visit once I've settled in the region. As I became an environmental activist in Hong Kong, I discovered permaculture at about the same time as the first opportunity to go to Vietnam appears. After researching permaculture in Vietnam, I came across a conference paper about VAC.

What is VAC

VAC is a method of agriculture, apparently practiced in Vietnam from aeons and that got forgotten in modern times. It stands for Vuon - Ao - Chuong which translates to Garden - Pond - Animal shed.

(illustrations from fao.org)

So is this like permaculture?

From what I saw when I finally visited Vietnam, VAC and permaculture are indeed closely related.

VAC system is a small scale farming system that makes optimal use of the land (think of permaculture zone) and of the output of its elements (multiple functions, energies reused multiple times)

Timeline

Although almost forgotten, these techniques have been brought back in the 80s through the collaboration of a local NGO (VACVINA) and Australian permaculturist (Rosemary Morrow) as a solution to issues that was plaguing Vietnamese people throughout the country at that time.

In the 90s, local governments started to pay attention to the permaculture ethics and principles that were attached to the redeployment of VAC practices. The Vietnamese government was also promoting VAC and permaculture in schools.

Prior to my visit to Vietnam, I got in touch with a local NGO called The Ecological Economy Institute(Eco Eco), established for 23 years, and throughout their portfolio of activities, I saw a story consistent and similar to that of VACVINA. I do like Eco Eco's approach of mixing model eco-villages, enhancement of existing villages and the regeneration of declining villages.

Phases

It seems that the regain of popularity of VAC in Vietnam started in the deltas where VAC/permaculture techniques was used to alleviate poverty and increase local self-reliance in sandy coastal areas. It later reached mountainous areas, where ethnic minorities facing poverty and deforestation benefited from the introduction of VAC techniques.

Certainly when I visited Thai Binh and Hanoi, everyone I met knew about VAC and I saw VAC somehow practiced everywhere I could see in the countryside. Its seems locals like to start with pigs and chickens, before a pond with ducks and fish become the central part of the system. The vegetable garden comes later.

I've written about my trip and how I whitnessed VAC being used on a blog post for the Green Sustainable Living Hong Kong.

What is VACR

VACR is VAC + Rừng

which mean forest and it is a form of agroforestry or agrosylviculture. I didn't have the chance to see it practiced in Vietnam yet, but below is a video showing an ideal example.

Natural building in Vietnam

When I did my Permaculture Design Certificate course in Thailand, I was particularly inspired by the natural building mini-project we got to work on in the local village. It made me think of the interesting natural building techniques used by the Ha Nhi ethnic minority people in Y Ty commune.

Later on, I discovered Earthships and how they have been used to regenerate settlements in Indonesia after the 2004 Tsunami and in the Philippines after the recent Yolanda typhoon.

I couldn't find any evidence of successful building of Earthships in Vietnam, the closest examples being in Cambodia.

My plans for Vietnam

For the next few months, I will be travelling to Europe to increase my practical experience in biodynamics, apiculture and Earthship building.

I'm also looking into ways to further my know-how of integrated aquaculture-agriculture.

I'm planning to return to South-east Asia end of September to volunteer on an Earthship building project in Cambodia.

This is in preparation for a long trip in Vietnam during which I'm hoping to learn a lot from the local NGOs and farmers  while at the same time sharing my permaculture knowledge and my experience in natural building, biodynamics and apiculture.

--Rija

[shaakya]

Un "Arkship", est un vaisseau très particulier puisqu'il est dédié à la colonisation de Nexus. Le Destiny est l'arche du Dominion, et ce WildStar Wednesday vous propose de le découvrir....

[mephyst]

New Wildstar Wednesday, taking a peek at the uhm.... more luxurious method the Dominion has of getting to Nexus.

Juice bar and masseuse ... scented air candles... wow guys.

~Cue Exile spittoon sound.~