Summary: TweetHarvesting Ice at Whole Systems Design Ben Falk developed Whole Systems Design, LLC as a land-based response to biological and cultural extinction and the increasing separation between people and elemental things. Life as a designer, builder, ecologist, tree-tender, and backcountry traveler continually informs Ben’s integrative approach to developing landscapes and buildings. His home landscape and the Whole Systems Design studio site in Vermont’s Mad River Valley serve as a proving ground for the regenerative land developments featured in the projects of Whole Systems Design. Ben has studied architecture and landscape architecture at the graduate level and holds a master’s degree in land-use planning and design. Ben has conducted nearly 200 site development consultations across New England and facilitated dozens of courses on permaculture design, property selection, microclimate design, and design for climate change. Today Ben joins us to discuss soundscapes, an often over looked component of permaculture and homestead design. Soundscapes have a huge impact on the quality of our lives and actually on the performance of a homestead and farm. Ben will discuss how in his design firm, IDs and maps soundscapes, and what considerations they take into account when designing to improve them. Also what’s worked well and what hasn’t here for them – what mistakes he’s personally made (like cutting down some pines far downhill that actually made the road noise reflected off a local cliff, considerably noisier) to working with water and co-location of buildings to enhance soundscapes We also delve into a lot about proximity and line of sight between sleeping spaces especially and the barn yard and entry to deal with predators and also heightened awareness of when someone is coming into the property. Resources for today’s show… Join the Members Brigade The Year 1495 Photo of the Last Supper for History Segment Join Our Forum Walking To Freedom GenForward.com TSP Gear PermaEthos.com AgriTrue.com Knife Kits – (sponsor of the day) Backwoods Home – (sponsor of the day) Whole Systems Design Ben on Facebook Whole Systems Design on Facebook Resources from Ben on Soundscapes Interview with Bernie Krause on Soundscapes An award winning soundscape deign in Germany An article on the value of silence and soundscapes Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air. Also remember we have an expert council you can address your calls to. If you do this you should email me right after your call at jack at thesurvivalpodcast.com with expert council call in the subject line. In the body of your email tell me that you just called in a question for the council and what number you called in from. I will then give the call priority when I screen calls. Join the MSB Today Want Every Episode of TSP Ever Produced? Remember in addition to discounts to over 40 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.
