Abundance on a Dry Land

There isn't a lot that Western states in the U.S. can do about ending devastating drought conditions these days, but much can still be done related to conserving and using water more effectively. Filmmaker Jocelyn Demers's documentary explores various permaculture practices that, among other things, eschew chemicals and restore relationships within natural systems to create healthy, water-absorbent topsoil and microbe-rich subsoil for growing plant life. Permaculture also involves the reshaping of barren lands in order to move rainwater where it needs to go for irrigating orchards and crops—as opposed to watching thousands of gallons run off over poorly-maintained, non-absorbent ground. The capturing of water from rooftops, which is then stored in large tanks to be disseminated through an irrigation system, is also ingenious, as are methods of recycling household water into small underground tanks that is then spread through topsoil via valves. Smarter practices that encourage symbiotic connections between animal life, insects, microbes, and plants may seem like a no-brainer, but this is not the norm in modern farming and big agriculture. In our era of increasing problems due to climate change, Demers makes a persuasive case for permaculture becoming the standard for using water wisely. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)