David Bauer interviews suburban pioneer Jan Spencer of Eugene, Oregon. Spencer has transformed his quarter acre suburban property. The permaculture design means the grass is gone and so is the driveway. There is solar water and space heating, a 6500 gallon rain water catchment system, and edible landscaping all over - over 50 different edible plants on site. The place is aesthetically beautiful and an educational resource for the community.

This is suburban home economics where a useful amount of the resident's needs are taken care of on site - food, energy, water, creative expression.

Moving these ideas into the neighborhood is also part of the project and interview. There are allies and assets common to most neighborhoods and most cities across the country. Within minutes walking, there are a half dozen smilar projects.

Spencer puts this suburban transformation project into context given today's trends in economics, resources, the environment, culture, human potential and global relations.

The fotos are all from the property discussed.
More at suburbanpermaculture.org