Permaculture is based on some pretty sound and well-proven foundations. Those foundations are found in the ethics and principles of permaculture.
First ethic of permaculture is
Care of Earth
this is where it all begin for permaculture, rebuilding the natural capital.
Soil building
Increasing organic matter in the soil
Keeping water in the soil
Protecting the soil
Treating soil as a valuable resource
Not degrading it
Not spraying it with chemicals
Not concreting over the top of everything
It extends to care of the landscape and care of the environment.
One of the most interesting things I noticed after I did my Permaculture Design Course (PDC) was the way I viewed the landscape. I could see where to place a swale, where to put a turkey nest dam, prevailing wind directions, how air and water moved across its surface and evidence of what was happening below the surface.
My PDC allowed me to see the landscape through permaculture eyes. It taught me how to read it like a book.
Caring for the soil, the Earth, the environment is crucial. But we all know that, it's just not many of us actually live it.
Next up we have
Care of people
Starting with self, kin and then community.
This reminds us to care for ourselves. Not in some greedy selfish way, but in a way that we honour ourselves as a resource. So many people in permaculture burn out. Volunteerism is rife and often little value is placed on education and teaching. Caring for ourselves means we renew our energies, we take care, we ensure we are resilent and strong for the things that lie ahead for all of us (climate change and peak oil). Then we care for our nearest and dearest, then that spread out into our community. We make connections, we network, we support others. We build community just as we build soil.
Third and final ethic has many names
Fair Share
Reduce consumption
Fair distribution
Redistribution of surplus
It all says the thing - take your fair share, but consider others (see ethics 1 and 2 for clarification on this one!).
We all know how unfairly the world's resources and finances are distributed. We live in a highly inequitable world. A cruel world that uses the poor to support the rich. Ensuring you take responsibility for what you consume and that you take as little as you need ensures you are doing what you can to right this wrong.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
First permaculture groups
Yesterday a group of students from Crystal Waters visited our gardens to take a look through our food production systems and to talk Transition Towns.
They have been at CW for 4 months as part of a residential eco-village course with Max Lindegger.
It was great to catch up with Max and to talk about permaculture and how it has developed over since the 70's.
In 1976 an article was published in a Tasmanian organic gardening and farming magazine which included an interview with Bill Mollison about this new idea "permaculture".
It was probably the very first mention of the concept, this is two years before Permaculture One was published.
Max was in Queensland at the time and contact Bill to invite him up here to do a talk. Max then started Permaculture Nambour - which is most likely the first ever permaculture group.
Max placed an ad in the local paper and held meetings in his home. Geoff Lawton was there (he went on to start Permaculture Noosa which is still going strong - and Geoff continues to promote the formation of pc groups around the world). The idea was to have a permaculture group in every council shire.
The Sunshine Coast has Permaculture Noosa, Permaculture Maroochy and I believe there used to be a Permaculture Caloundra. These reflected the three coast councils - they have now amalgamated into the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, so it's time to look at the formation of Permaculture Sunshine Coast too.
But back to Permaculture Nambour - Nambour is the nearest 'big' town to where I live and I'm planning on relaunching it this spring (sounds like a fashion collection doesn't it?).
Whether its Permaculture Nambour or Transition Town Nambour, I don't know yet. There are a group of people who are interested in being part of it.
It doesn't reflect the council boundaries, but Nambour is set to become somewhat of a sustainability hub in the future, so permaculture certainly has a place there.
I heading up to Crystal Waters in the next week or so to take a look around (haven't been there for a while) and to talk more about permaculture with Max and his group of international students.
It will be interesting to see how this new manifestation of permaculture - in the form of energy descent action planning and transition towns - will unfold for all our futures.
They have been at CW for 4 months as part of a residential eco-village course with Max Lindegger.
It was great to catch up with Max and to talk about permaculture and how it has developed over since the 70's.
In 1976 an article was published in a Tasmanian organic gardening and farming magazine which included an interview with Bill Mollison about this new idea "permaculture".
It was probably the very first mention of the concept, this is two years before Permaculture One was published.
Max was in Queensland at the time and contact Bill to invite him up here to do a talk. Max then started Permaculture Nambour - which is most likely the first ever permaculture group.
Max placed an ad in the local paper and held meetings in his home. Geoff Lawton was there (he went on to start Permaculture Noosa which is still going strong - and Geoff continues to promote the formation of pc groups around the world). The idea was to have a permaculture group in every council shire.
The Sunshine Coast has Permaculture Noosa, Permaculture Maroochy and I believe there used to be a Permaculture Caloundra. These reflected the three coast councils - they have now amalgamated into the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, so it's time to look at the formation of Permaculture Sunshine Coast too.
But back to Permaculture Nambour - Nambour is the nearest 'big' town to where I live and I'm planning on relaunching it this spring (sounds like a fashion collection doesn't it?).
Whether its Permaculture Nambour or Transition Town Nambour, I don't know yet. There are a group of people who are interested in being part of it.
It doesn't reflect the council boundaries, but Nambour is set to become somewhat of a sustainability hub in the future, so permaculture certainly has a place there.
I heading up to Crystal Waters in the next week or so to take a look around (haven't been there for a while) and to talk more about permaculture with Max and his group of international students.
It will be interesting to see how this new manifestation of permaculture - in the form of energy descent action planning and transition towns - will unfold for all our futures.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Permaculture One
I was looking through Permaculture One the other day at a friend's house. It was written in 1978 (I think) and was essentially the thesis that came from David Holmgren (student) working with Bill Mollison (mentor/tutor).
It is Permaculture's first book.
In about the second paragraph there is a mention about how this concept is to prepare for our 'fast-depleting energy'.
Way back then, the warnings were there to prepare for a decline in energy production - very few listened.
I'll be interested in seeing how the current oil/energy crisis will affect the popularity of permaculture.
Will we have groups forming everywhere like mushrooms?
Will there be a huge increase in demand for permaculture skills?
Will there be a huge rise in the number of people doing PDCs?
Will we see a weekly tv show called 'Permablitz' where people have their backyards made over into food producing cornucopias?
I'll wait and watch from the vegie patch me thinks!
It is Permaculture's first book.
In about the second paragraph there is a mention about how this concept is to prepare for our 'fast-depleting energy'.
Way back then, the warnings were there to prepare for a decline in energy production - very few listened.
I'll be interested in seeing how the current oil/energy crisis will affect the popularity of permaculture.
Will we have groups forming everywhere like mushrooms?
Will there be a huge increase in demand for permaculture skills?
Will there be a huge rise in the number of people doing PDCs?
Will we see a weekly tv show called 'Permablitz' where people have their backyards made over into food producing cornucopias?
I'll wait and watch from the vegie patch me thinks!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Catch up
Been a while since the last post and I do apologise. I know how annoying it is to start reading blogs and find they aren't that regular.
But it's been such a busy, busy time. Seems peak oil and climate change are everywhere you turn.
We've just had a big expo on last weekend and that attracted so many people, we have Roberto Perez from Cuba here talking about The Power of Community and Cuba's experience.
Was pleased to see so many people turn up, but it makes it busy.
While it feels like everything - that is the energy descent action planning, the community education, the train the trainer courses, funding - is so far off, but I have to keep positive and keep my eye on the future.
Soon I'm sure it will all turn for the better.
My biggest concern is that we won't have the arms and legs to actually do all this. We need lots of permaculture teachers and practitioners out in the community teaching others and sharing knowledge and resources.
Oh, I saw Morag Gamble's and Evan Raymond's new DVD Think Global Act Local on the relocalisation of our food supply last week.
Fifteen countries in 15 minutes. It's excellent, highly recommended and a great introduction into the ways we can provide food in our communities without the big supermarkets.
Did you know that no peak oil experts or permaculture experts were invited to the Federal Government's 2020 summit??
But it's been such a busy, busy time. Seems peak oil and climate change are everywhere you turn.
We've just had a big expo on last weekend and that attracted so many people, we have Roberto Perez from Cuba here talking about The Power of Community and Cuba's experience.
Was pleased to see so many people turn up, but it makes it busy.
While it feels like everything - that is the energy descent action planning, the community education, the train the trainer courses, funding - is so far off, but I have to keep positive and keep my eye on the future.
Soon I'm sure it will all turn for the better.
My biggest concern is that we won't have the arms and legs to actually do all this. We need lots of permaculture teachers and practitioners out in the community teaching others and sharing knowledge and resources.
Oh, I saw Morag Gamble's and Evan Raymond's new DVD Think Global Act Local on the relocalisation of our food supply last week.
Fifteen countries in 15 minutes. It's excellent, highly recommended and a great introduction into the ways we can provide food in our communities without the big supermarkets.
Did you know that no peak oil experts or permaculture experts were invited to the Federal Government's 2020 summit??
Sunday, February 24, 2008
New ideas...
I've added a video bar and a latest news feed on the right - all focussed on Permaculture. Now I have broadband I'll actually be able to watch a couple of those You Tube posts.
I've also started another blog - http://lifeboatpowerdown.blogspot.com/ which IS different to this one.
This blog was started to explore the links and connections between Permaculture and Peak Oil.
The new blog is to explore the changes I'm making around my home, my garden, my community and region in regard to peak oil and climate change.
We'll see how it all goes...
Sonya
I've also started another blog - http://lifeboatpowerdown.blogspot.com/ which IS different to this one.
This blog was started to explore the links and connections between Permaculture and Peak Oil.
The new blog is to explore the changes I'm making around my home, my garden, my community and region in regard to peak oil and climate change.
We'll see how it all goes...
Sonya
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Climate change & Peak oil are not a problem
There is so much media, government and public attention focused on the ‘problem’ of climate change and, to a lesser degree peak oil, but aren’t we all looking at this from the wrong angle?
I see the changes in our climate and our impending energy descent as symptoms, not problems.
The problem is much deeper and much more personal.
The problem is the way we – those of us in developed countries – are living our lives.
It’s the way we consume way beyond what we actually need, it’s about the food we throw away, the culture of consumerism we’ve created and have now become enslaved to.
Try telling someone that they don’t need the latest model car, they don’t need a wardrobe full of clothes they don’t wear, that we don’t actually need shopping malls full of useless ‘crap’ and see how far you get.
Somewhere, somehow, we all started believing we had the right to live the high life. Marketers jumped on the bandwagon – or perhaps kicked it all off – and we were on our way. The latest handbags, boxes and boxes of shoes, the latest in-season fashion. Live like a celebrity!
What’s hot and what’s not? Our passion for fashion (not just clothes of course, but the latest model kitchen appliance, the celebrity style overseas get away …) is directly related to what’s hot that’s for sure. And another thing that’s hot is the climate.
Human behaviour – consumerism, land use, deforestation, fossil fuel burning – has now changed the world’s weather patterns – perhaps irreversibly. Warning after warning, each more dire than the one before and appearing in our newspapers, our nightly news programs yet… where is the revolution?
Yet, we continue on our merry way, worshipping the consumerism of today’s life… very few people have really made any serious effort to change the way they live. Our societies make it hard for those of us who would like to seriously change the way we live – you try living without a car on the Sunshine Coast!
We continue to pump out (the problem) carbon emissions in huge amounts (the symptom) despite knowing it is going to cause extinction of species (note to all – WE are a species!), destruction of the environment, major disruptions to food supply and loss of available land…
As for peak oil, do you think an ant cares that we are running out of oil, or a bird, or an elephant?
We care that we are running out of oil because we’ve built ourselves into a corner. A corner built on oil, lives dependant on oil, economies dependant on oil, employment, housing, food, mobility… all dependant on oil.
We’re running out because we’ve consumed what was available at an alarming rate. We’ve wasted oil on frivolous, meaningless things that have done nothing to really improve our lives. We’re less happy and more stressed than our pre-oil ancestors.
Looking at climate change as an environmental problem is taking us off course and away from where we should be focussing. We are losing valuable time and wasting valuable energy if we look at this as an environmental problem.
Because what happens is councils and other organisations, thinking they are doing the right thing – climate change is about the environment right? – employ environmental scientists to get to work fixing the problem.
But then, the poor person put in that position realises the problem is not the environment, the problem is people - social, economic, psychological, planning, infrastructure, systems, systems, systems.
Yes, climate change is about the environment, but climate change is only a symptom, not the problem. Same with peak oil – if we didn’t use (waste?) so much of this precious fuel and if we hadn’t designed our whole lives to revolve around it – it wouldn’t be reaching it’s peak and if it was, we wouldn’t care.
When I worked in the medical field, often patients would be being treated and hospitalised for their symptoms, not the problem. Our health system is a reflection of our current crisis.
Yes we can treat symptoms, we can mask symptoms – but unless we treat the underlying problem – and in this case it’s human behaviour and abuse of earth’s resources – we are only ever going to have a bandaid effect.
Let’s instead bite the bullet and address the real issues 1) consumption – or more to the point overconsumption and 2) a change away from linear globalised systems – resource in waste out – extraordinary transport miles and carbon emissions attached to everything we buy.
Let’s be brave and
reduce consumption,
produce locally,
build resilient communities
relocalise and
make the transition to our post carbon future with our eyes wide open and looking forward.
I see the changes in our climate and our impending energy descent as symptoms, not problems.
The problem is much deeper and much more personal.
The problem is the way we – those of us in developed countries – are living our lives.
It’s the way we consume way beyond what we actually need, it’s about the food we throw away, the culture of consumerism we’ve created and have now become enslaved to.
Try telling someone that they don’t need the latest model car, they don’t need a wardrobe full of clothes they don’t wear, that we don’t actually need shopping malls full of useless ‘crap’ and see how far you get.
Somewhere, somehow, we all started believing we had the right to live the high life. Marketers jumped on the bandwagon – or perhaps kicked it all off – and we were on our way. The latest handbags, boxes and boxes of shoes, the latest in-season fashion. Live like a celebrity!
What’s hot and what’s not? Our passion for fashion (not just clothes of course, but the latest model kitchen appliance, the celebrity style overseas get away …) is directly related to what’s hot that’s for sure. And another thing that’s hot is the climate.
Human behaviour – consumerism, land use, deforestation, fossil fuel burning – has now changed the world’s weather patterns – perhaps irreversibly. Warning after warning, each more dire than the one before and appearing in our newspapers, our nightly news programs yet… where is the revolution?
Yet, we continue on our merry way, worshipping the consumerism of today’s life… very few people have really made any serious effort to change the way they live. Our societies make it hard for those of us who would like to seriously change the way we live – you try living without a car on the Sunshine Coast!
We continue to pump out (the problem) carbon emissions in huge amounts (the symptom) despite knowing it is going to cause extinction of species (note to all – WE are a species!), destruction of the environment, major disruptions to food supply and loss of available land…
As for peak oil, do you think an ant cares that we are running out of oil, or a bird, or an elephant?
We care that we are running out of oil because we’ve built ourselves into a corner. A corner built on oil, lives dependant on oil, economies dependant on oil, employment, housing, food, mobility… all dependant on oil.
We’re running out because we’ve consumed what was available at an alarming rate. We’ve wasted oil on frivolous, meaningless things that have done nothing to really improve our lives. We’re less happy and more stressed than our pre-oil ancestors.
Looking at climate change as an environmental problem is taking us off course and away from where we should be focussing. We are losing valuable time and wasting valuable energy if we look at this as an environmental problem.
Because what happens is councils and other organisations, thinking they are doing the right thing – climate change is about the environment right? – employ environmental scientists to get to work fixing the problem.
But then, the poor person put in that position realises the problem is not the environment, the problem is people - social, economic, psychological, planning, infrastructure, systems, systems, systems.
Yes, climate change is about the environment, but climate change is only a symptom, not the problem. Same with peak oil – if we didn’t use (waste?) so much of this precious fuel and if we hadn’t designed our whole lives to revolve around it – it wouldn’t be reaching it’s peak and if it was, we wouldn’t care.
When I worked in the medical field, often patients would be being treated and hospitalised for their symptoms, not the problem. Our health system is a reflection of our current crisis.
Yes we can treat symptoms, we can mask symptoms – but unless we treat the underlying problem – and in this case it’s human behaviour and abuse of earth’s resources – we are only ever going to have a bandaid effect.
Let’s instead bite the bullet and address the real issues 1) consumption – or more to the point overconsumption and 2) a change away from linear globalised systems – resource in waste out – extraordinary transport miles and carbon emissions attached to everything we buy.
Let’s be brave and
reduce consumption,
produce locally,
build resilient communities
relocalise and
make the transition to our post carbon future with our eyes wide open and looking forward.
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