By: gary finch

gary finch — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:34:06 +0000

This entry could be analagous of our current predicament and our responses to it. Permaculture is a very new concept (at least the delivery and the format)and we have very little evidence to show that it is the correct way to proceed and yet 1000’s of people world wide have taken a leap of faith, invested in a design course and have internalised the principles and are begining to live their lives accordingly, These people tend to be living on the edge, (financially +/-, culturally or very desperate)yet feel intuitively that this is the right path for them to pursue, and like Aranya their ‘gut feelings’ will be based on observations (1st principle-observe and interact), conscious and unconscious, of what is going on around them. they are also seeking to “obtain a yield”, “produce no waste” and “creatively use and respond to change”. Interestingly, permaculture is begining to yield some very positive results in the poorest parts of the globe that have been hardest hit by both economic and environmemtal degradation. Whilst here in the richer (not necesarily wealthier) west we tend to put our trust and invest in unproven innovations (microwaves, mobiles and the lottery ect) which our observances through the filter of the media show us can make a “real” difference to our lives however this is based upon appealing to greed and fear rather than our needs. Our current economic situation should be serving as a warning with regards to making a positive choice and investing in “natural capital” and the means to do so. Curiously the teachers of permaculture have very little by way of extrinsic reward and have no hidden agenda other than they have a faith in that which they promote and are offering to guide others. Perhaps they should be giving guaruntees of satisfaction and happiness, charging a lot more and wearing designer suits.

Comments on: Fording the floodwater with fingers crossed…

By: gary finch