Permaculture Revolution mashed into Beverly Sustaina-hill-bilities

(In the style of “Revolution” by The Beatles)

1st Verse

Permaculture revolution

Well, you know,

This is going to change the world.

A pathway to our evolution,

Well, you know.

We all want a better world.

   But when you have over consumption

   Don’t you know that you should just opt out

Chorus

   So you know it’s going to be alright,

   Alright,     alright.

2^nd Verse

Permaculture solutions,

Well, you know,

We all gotta make a plan, 

Like surplus redistribution

Well, you know,

We’ll all care for the land.

    So if you want systems that ger-mi-nate

    All I can tell you is brother, you’ll have to prop-a-gate!

(In the style of Beverly Hillbillies)

Seeds, that is

Mother nature’s gift…

Well…

Here’s a little story ‘bout Sustainability,

Permaculture Principles

And design theory,

Observe and interact

Catch and store energy

Then you obtain

A yield to maintain.

A feedbook loop

Its so you use and value your resources.

Well…

The next thing you know,

The earth’s a millionaire

Remember not to waste!

Hey! Design a pattern there!

Maximize your edges

Plant yourself a row of fedges!

And remember ta integrate,

instead of segregate!

Use small slow solutions! 

Use and value diversity!

This song has been brought to you by the Association of Creative Uses and Responses to Change performed by Jon Brown’s PSU Permaculture Guild of Portland, Oregon. 

Reading Response 4-Biomimicry for social change

After Jesse brought up this idea of mimicking nature for social change it has stuck with me. Reading Biomimcry I am frustrated at times, inspired by the creative innovation it describes, but worried about the intentions of such innovation. Are these innovations necessary technology? Often they are not. How long will we have the materials to create such technologies? (What is the fate of the science lab?) I find myself scowling quite often, intrigued by the ideas, but unsure about my ethical response to them. Despite all of these frustrations, I am seeking inspiration, a model from nature for the process of social change. For these ‘sustainable’ technologies are not necessitating change, but rather allowing stagnation.

Here’s my idea: Us permaculturalists (and other ecosystem-lovers), sometimes considered ‘hippies,’ are weeds. To many we look like weeds, we obstruct like weeds, we break through concrete like weeds. By weeds I of course mean that we are the pioneers, but I think we must await our history book moment before gaining that title. Finding this land (and society) in disarray, disturbed, unhealthy, out of balance, we are attempting to prepare it for future generations; to rehabilitate it. Like dandelions, we’re reaching deeply into the earth, far out into the community, to bring up helpful nutrients and minerals, to educate and inspire. Just as we reach out to our gardens and pull from them our own nutrition. As we prepare the grounds for social change, we are creating a healthy layer of humus, slowly, but surely, life is accumulating here. Like a network of mycelia we must be concerned with staying connected in a number of ways. Eventually we will have worked the earth enough that it will begin to flourish with life, slowly accumulating diversity, sustenance, and balanced peace.

On this scarred piece of ground that we’re fiercely popping our heads out of and spreading root systems in, is a system that is not working. Our capitalist, consuming society must be ended, it is that simple, that is why we’re here, to shade out that perfectly trimmed sod, which rips nutrients from the ground, consumes and consumes. Perhaps once we’re mowed down we resemble ‘sustainability.’ This plan to sustain the way things are as of now isn’t admitting to the fact that our economic system does not benefit humans and surely not the earth, hence my frustrations with biomimics. To mimic nature, let’s look to the process of healing disturbed land and apply it to healing our species. At some point the ground will be healthy enough to sustain life, our duty will be filled, and we will be shaded out by the overarching belief that nature is a wise system and that we must fulfill our position in this system, not take advantage of it. So as we make room for the seeds dropped by birds and brought in from wildlife, we must strengthen our network, balance the system, and seek new forms of information and companions. Most importantly we must find patience, for all is an ongoing process of change; like nature we must remain resilient, and be prepared to firmly root ourselves lest we be pulled up.

Permaculture Lens

Once we have the permaculture lens we start to see the world in a different light.  Manicured lawns reveal an exercise in futility and a major waste of resources such as water, gas, oil, human attention and their energy.  These patches of time wasters only represent a self indulgent pride filled endeavor with little green strands of grass to show for it all.  "Food Not Lawns" is the battle cry and we now find ourselves in the midst of a seed revolution!  Before starting this journey on the permaculture train I did not know about Mansanto and their monopolization of the world's seed supply.  They make genetically modified seeds that they promote as having better yields, reportedly will solve the world's famine problems, and even be a positive growth models for small farmers.  However Independent studies already show crop failures. http://www.i-sis.org.uk/IBTCF.php 

We need a seed revolution!  

They are attempting to monopolized the world's seed supply but the bees who pollinate the plants don't know the difference so when small farmers end up with their strand, agents come with guns a blazin' and destroy the small farms or they extort and intimidate the farmers into submission.  That's not much of a positive growth model for small farmers!  

Now Monsanto is even having laws enacted to prosecute those who save their own seeds, working with the FDA to make seeds a health hazard!

http://www.ethicalinvesting.com/monsanto/news/10040.htm

http://www.fda.gov/oc/speeches/2004/asta0629.html

Farmers in India are committing suicide by the thousands because of this Mansanto garbage.  Because of the seed patents, Monsanto is able to sell Bt-cotton seed 1000 times higher than normal prices.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1082559/The-GM-genocide-Thousands-Indian-farmers-committing-suicide-using-genetically-modified-crops.html.

Never before have I understood the meaning of revolution more clearly.  

We also need a water revolution!  Water issues had entered my consciousness from living in the desert and seeing the absolute waste of water on frickin' golf course in places like Phoenix.  The one place on the planet that should not be allowed to have the most golf courses in the world is Phoenix, AZ, but that's the reality.  I felt paralyzed by my awareness of water waste and not knowing what to do about it other than taking shorter showers.  

Now I know a community of people, like Becky and Jenny, who go to the Rebuilding Center on Mississippi and build a water catchment system for their gardens.  That inspires me.    

Even though I had heard about soil depletion, I had no idea how to build soil back up.  Now I'm sheet mulching and cultivating my own soil in my front yard.  The more the issues facing our time are revealed to me, the more I realize how much more I need to learn.  The more questions raised, the more answers sought.  Sounds pretty straight forward, but without honoring the process and reflecting on the progress made from where I started, this daunting task ahead could get to be a bit depressing.  By taking a moment to reflect on lessons learned and mistakes made.  The more strength I gain to learn more and strive toward fearlessness in the face of making more mistakes.  Maybe our world is in the process of learning from our mistakes.  Let's hope and grow together.

Biomimicry and "necessary products and services"

As I’ve been reading the book Cradle to Cradle I’ve been both simultaneously inspired and frustrated. I’ve been inspired by many of the ideas put forth in the book, but frustrated by how little action I see in making these ideas a reality. Obviously there are tons of great ideas out there and I don’t expect everyone to follow the ideas outlined in one book. However, my frustration surfaces because the degradation of our natural world is not one person’s idea, but is instead, at this point, a pretty well known phenomenon. Thus, while I don’t expect to see every idea in this book acted upon, I do want to see the underlying inspiration for these ideas (finding ways of doing things that enhance the vitality natural systems) gain greater acceptance. While I believe in permaculture as a way to restore natural systems and simultaneously produce food, I believe there are many other things that permaculture isn’t capable of providing for us. For example, living in the Northwest and fiddling with our permaculture gardens round the year, it can be expected that we will get cold and wet from time to time (or nearly all the time). As such, it’s nice to have a well-made raincoat to keep me dry. I suppose there are some oils that I could extract from plants that could serve this function, but I think it’s also reasonable to assume that there are ways of making things that will not destroy the earth. Currently however, my options are limited. While the outdoor gear company’s raincoat does a great job of keeping me dry, it simultaneously pollutes and destroys our environment. My other option, the oils extracted from plants and animals is (I’m sure) totally time consuming and beyond my understanding. Thus, in a more sustainable future it makes sense that we will retain some degree of specialization. And that’s where biomimicry comes in. How cool would it be if you could trade some food from your permaculture garden for a compostable raincoat that repels water not with chemicals, but instead with the power of design? As I was thinking about how the “lotus effect” is currently being utilized I began thinking how great it would be for raincoats. However, raincoats are just one example of what I’m going to call “necessary products.” There are many other “necessary products” as well as “necessary services” that aren’t essential to our lives, but they certainly make things easier and more enjoyable. However, because of the destructive way we produce things in this country and around the world, we are often made to feel guilty for wanting these products and services. Instead of imagining a future without these products and services, we should instead imagine a future in which we can have these things (I’m not talking about extravagances such as margarita machines, but useful products) while simultaneously encouraging natural systems. I believe biomimicry is a fantastic way to achieve this goal and I’m excited to see what development come from this field as we move forward.

Matthew's Post #3

In my first two blogs (which should now be uploaded to the site) I tried to focus on the idea that humans don’t have to be destructive, but instead can be productive. Obviously this is going to require a giant paradigm shift, but it’s possible. In fact, the more we believe and begin acting as if this is true, the more likely it is to happen. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about limiting our destruction. As McDonough and Braungart (2002) suggest, “the key is not to make human industries and systems smaller, as efficiency advocates propound, but to design them to get bigger and better in a way that replenishes, restores, and nourishes the rest of the world” (p. 78). So, what I’m talking about is encouraging humans to be good as opposed to less bad. Permaculture is one way to be good; it allows for us to design systems that restore and replenish. So, by practicing permaculture we can begin shifting our mindset towards creating systems of abundance for all life. However, I’m curious to what degree our involvement in other systems is perpetuating human destructiveness.

For example, I have considered myself a liberal for many years, but is being a liberal and voting democrat really doing anything good? Isn’t the liberal agenda, by regulating and allowing government control, merely reducing how destructive humans are? Does voting along liberal lines really incentivize doing good? Obviously there are some good things that come with a liberal viewpoint. For example, I completely agree with the liberal social agenda and its focus on individual freedom. In the long run though, does this priority outdo the continuation of destructive systems? Is it time for a new party, one focused on incentivizing the human potential for good? What about our food systems? Obviously environmentalists like to promote organic food, I certainly try and eat entirely organic. However, if this organic food is still raised in a monoculture and trucked in from California and Mexico, are we really supporting good or are we just being less bad? What about going to work? If we’re not working towards creating nourishing and replenishing systems is it worth going to work? Where do we draw the line? How can we help support one another in not just being less bad, but being more good? Permaculture is one idea, but it’s not the only idea. How can we support other systems of abundance so that we can begin mimicking ecological complexity with many overlapping systems of abundance? I don’t have the answers, just the questions. My hope is that together we can start generating soutions.

Matthew's Post #2 (Again, Finally!)

In my previous response paper I focused on the idea that it’s important to have
hope. As a basis for this idea I cited the fact that the biomass of all the ants in the world
is much greater than that of humans. Thus, I argued that maybe we shouldn’t concern
ourselves so much with unchecked population growth, but instead with the actions of a
given population. Today I believe this idea more than ever (and now I know why). I’m
currently sitting at the Urban Ecology and Conservation Symposium having just
experienced an amazingly inspirational lecture from my mycological hero Paul Stamets.
For those of you unfamiliar with Paul Stamets, he is the author of the book Mycelium
Running, which is an incredible introduction to the wonders of fungi. For the remainder
of this response (blog) I’d like to share some of the ideas Stamets discussed.
First things first, what on earth do ants have to do with mushrooms? Well, there
are four species on Earth that cultivate fungi. Ants and humans comprise two of the
four species (termites and bark beetles are the other two). So, even though the
combined biomass of ants on Earth is rather ridiculous, they remain an integral part of
our ecosystems precisely because of their intimate connection with fungi. What I (re)-
learned today is that the population of humans can potentially become as ecologically
productive and beneficial as ants if we begin to cultivate fungi in ways that we now
know are possible.

First, a little background about fungi. Fungi have been known to act as a
mothering influence in ecosystems by transferring nutrients from trees in favorable
conditions to trees in less favorable conditions. The idea here is that the fungi will
benefit from an optimally functioning ecosystem as they will have more food. Although
this sounds a bit far out, like maybe the fungi have intelligence, that’s because they do.
Stamets first cited a study in which slime molds were able to learn the quickest way
through a maze. He then mentioned who a similar slime mold was able to redesign the
Tokyo subway system by finding the quickest routes between stations. The way these
slime molds do this is what’s really amazing. The slime molds spread out in a
branching pattern as they search for food. The fungi then sends out nuclei through all
the branches that then respond to the terminal conditions. If there’s food then they’ll
stay, but if not, they will find alternative destinations. Ultimately, through communication
between these different branches, the fungi will reshape itself so that is efficient as
possible.

So, that’s definitely cool, but what does that have to do with humans not messing up
the world? Well, as we realize how amazing fungi really are, we’re now starting to use
fungi in new and incredible ways. For example, we’re starting to use oyster mushrooms
as a method for breaking down hydrocarbons in contaminated sites. Not only do these
mushrooms break down the toxic material, but after they’re finished they die back
and provide food for insects. These insects then provide food for birds who further
complement the process by dispersing seeds. Thus, fungi not only break down toxic
material, but they also recreate ecosystems.

Another way we’re starting to use fungi is by inoculating burlap sacks of wood-
chips with oyster mushrooms and then placing them in runoff swales. The result of this
process is a dramatic reduction of fecal-coliform. Turkey tail mushrooms are also able
to neutralize mercury while other types of fungi are known to live on radioactive waste.
Long story short, if humans begin working with fungi to manage the world around us, we
will be much more successful in surviving over the long haul.

Matthew's First Post (Finally!!)

I was excited to learn that we would all have an opportunity to read different
books in order to bring our diverse perspectives and inspirations back to the class for
general discussion. Not only will this provide a rich fusion of ideas, but it will also mean
that I can finally read Cradle to Cradle by William Mcdonough and Michael Braungart.
This book has been on my shelf for at least the past three years, but has unfortunately
been passed over time and time again. However, this is all history now as I’ ve begun
reading it for this class. Although I’ m not very far along, this book has offered some
wonderful topics for consideration. For example, at the end of chapter one, the authors
suggest that, “ all the ants on the planet taken together have a biomass greater than that of
humans. Ants have been incredibly industrious for millions of years. Yet their
productiveness nourishes plants, animals, and soil” (Mcdonough & Braungart, 2002,
p.16). This simple statement is profoundly meaningful to me because I can get
discouraged sometimes when I think about my own insignificance compared to the
exponentially expanding population of human beings on Earth. When population is the
main culprit for all of our problems it leads one to a sense of hopelessness. However,
when population is viewed as a potential positive it completely changes everything.

I’ m currently taking Educational Organization and Administration as my other
class right now and during our first meeting we watched a youtube video about how
rapidly our (human created) world is changing. For example, it showed the unbelievable
amount of children currently being born in India and China. It’ s hard to express how this
video affected me, but the numbers and the visual representations of these numbers were
truly staggering. As such, it left me feeling kind of helpless. It was like someone came
out and said everything I’ m doing right now doesn’ t make one bit of difference because
I’ m swimming upstream against a torrent that will continually knock me back. However,
if this rushing of waters doesn’ t necessarily spell doom, then everything I’ m doing and
we’ re doing together makes a whole lot more sense.

In the book the authors also ask the readers to think about designing a system
that will recreate all of the deleterious effects of our current industrial model. When you
think about it like this (which I certainly have) it makes absolutely no sense. However,
my previous thinking has led me to believe that a superior system would involve less
people. I think that’ s a complete misnomer and an unproductive desire that leads me to
unhealthy fascination with apocalyptic literature. Instead, when we think about designing
a superior system for the future we necessarily need to include all of Earth’ s current
and potential inhabitants. They’ re here, so it’ s best that we all work together towards a
brighter tomorrow. It’ s hard to say in what direction this book is ultimately going to lead
me, but I feel confident that I’ m going to learn some helpful and inspiring lessons. If ants
can be so productive, why can’ t humans?

Farmin' in the Backyard

Here's a video of Julie's backyard farm.  She has goats folks!  

That's right!  Horizontal eyed, chew on anything, two toe, cloven hoofed goats!   And chickens!!  And the cutest angora furred bunny in the world!  IT'S SO FLUFFY!

Those chickens have a job, so do those lovely goats as does the FLUFFY BUNNY!  Julie spins her own wool from that angora bunny fur.  Perhaps some of you remember when she shared her hand spinning wheel with us last term.  It's called a drop spindle!

All of this in her very own backyard.  It's like a dream come true for all of us permaculturephiles!  So I say, "I've been to the mountain top!"  It's in Julie's backyard!

Our permaculture principle #2 is Catch and Store Energy: Make hay while the sun shines.  Well I was inspired by how Julie is catching and storing energy.  She's making lifestyle choices that enrich her life and will provide energy for her to catch and store.  The goats will offer milk, chickens will lay eggs (when this cold weather lets up) and that FLUFFY BUNNY

will give us infinite cuteness to warm our hearts and its fur to warm our ears, heads and toes.  Oh yeah, here's the new album cover for our new Bluegrass band

Yep, that's Baby and Sweetheart posing for our album cover. Really, they just want to chew on my camera.  Look at those eyes!

David Holmgren writes, "In a time of rapid change and short-term thinking we need to rebuild the aspect of our culture that emphasises (he's from Australia; that's how they spell down there; I wonder if zoo is soo?) caring for the future, as well as deciding what is worth investing in for the benefit of our grandchildren and descendants."  

These types of choices: raising goats, sheet mulching, biking, composting, and gardening all give us hope and ground us in a more intentional way of life that does not feed into the NOW culture.  When we decide to invest in activities that will positively affect the lives of future generations, we add value to the world, to our lives and to lives around us.  The principle of catch and store energy allows us to envision a future that will benefit from the work we do today.  Julie's farm allows us to envision a future full of backyard farms!
Possible band names?
Nibblin' Goats
Strummin' N Milkin'
Cloven Pickin'

i LOVE her

Short Vandana Shiva interview. There is hope, one step at a time.

Lawn Care

For our experiment in cross-pollination reading in this class, I have chosen to read Michael Pollan's first book called Second Nature: A Gardener's Education, published in 1991. I am a fan of his writing and find it very promising that his books have become so popular. I have not read all of his books, but of the ones that I have read, this is the first one that I am excitedly reading through my new found permaculture lens. Since Pollan is seemingly much more widely read in this country than Mollison and Holmgren, I think it is fantastic that he has, on his own, and in his own way, come to many of the same conclusions as our dynamic duo.

Pollans's topics are usually food and plants, from the macro to the micro. Gardening is his way of getting to know and connecting intimately with the world around him. His conversational style of writing is easy to read, thought provoking and clearly very thoroughly researched, and his passion and feelings on the topics are far from opaque. On page 178 he writes "Lawns, I am convinced, are a symptom of, and a metaphor for, our skewed relationship to the land." On page 140: "It looks sort of natural -it's green, it grows- but in fact it represents a subjugation of the forest as utter and complete as a parking lot ... a lawn is nature under totalitarian rule." He goes into a lot of detail about the history of the lawn in America. He writes about our complicated and destructive cultural relationship with lawns, and describes how he eventually got up the courage to dig up his own lawn despite the inevitable negative reactions from his neighbors.

Another topic he touches on here and there, and that I hope he will face head on as my reading progresses, is a topic that we have discussed in class often. On page 142 he asks "Why is it we can't see ourselves, and what we make and do, as part and parcel of nature?" And on page 144: "We number the beaver dam among nature's creations; why not also the garden wall?" Well, I can think of an answer to those questions. Because we have done such a terrific job of so thoroughly destroying our environment that it is hard to see our actions and the results of them as 'natural'. I think the better question to ask is: How is it that we came to feel so disconnected from our surroundings, the community of life around us, and ourselves essentially, that we feel so free to decimate it? When did humans forget that we are all one? When will we collectively realize that to destroy the environment is to destroy ourselves?

I know that the disconnect didn't happen over night. Its taken many, many moons for us to evolve into what we are today. So what next? A graceful descent toward embracing the less destructive habits of long ago? Is fate marching us relentlessly toward the end of knowable time on the winter solstice of 2012? Will it be a new beginning? Will we come full circle? Nobody knows. So, for now I'll plan my spring garden and look forward to laying on the lawn, reading to my kids by day and looking at the stars by night.

Sunflower Playhouse

At the Sabin Orchard neighborhood meeting, everyone shared what they wanted out of their neighborhood park orchard, and they even gave the kids a forum to share what they wanted.  They wanted a tire swing.  Of course, they want to play!
What if at the orchard there was a play house that was a living structure designed with plenty of twists and turns to increase both the edges and little imagined scenarios.  A water catchment system could be included to educate young minds while they play (bwa-ha-ha! the sinister mind of an educator strikes again!) and they could use the system to water the herb garden that borders their living play house.
Oh yeah, there should be a tire swing, too.  Edible shrubs could line the outskirts of the park.
So Rebecca mentioned that a seven year old requested fairy houses so I looked it up and here they are!

 There should be fairy house workshops in the orchard where the neighborhood fairy enthusiasts show us how to make fairy houses!

Instructions to make your Fairy House:

1. Using serrated knife, cut a small slice from wide end of foam egg to make the form for the Fairy House; angle cut slightly to egg tilts to the back. (HINT: For smoother cuts, wax the knife blade with an old candle.) Glue egg to the back corner of the foam sheet.

2. Paint egg and base brown; let dry. Glue on small pebbles to form walkway, front door, and two windows; as you glue, press pebbles firmly into foam.

3. Create a fine "dust" from the sphagnum moss by forcing several chunks through a strainer; the moss dust will be used to texture the surface of the base and house. Spread a thin layer of glue on house, avoiding the door and windows, and on the base, but not on the walkway; sprinkle moss dust over glue.

4. Slice branch in half by pounding a screwdriver into one end. Using saw, cut the following pieces from the halved branch: • One 1" piece (door step) • Two 3/4" pieces (window boxes) • Two 1-1/4" pieces (walkway steps) Glue pieces in place, using utility knife as needed to cut away foam.

5. Glue small dried flowers in window boxes. Glue small seed pods on either side of window for shutters

6. Cut apart pinecone; pinecone scales will serve as the shingles. Glue scales around narrow end of egg, overlapping scales as you go. (The model's roof has five layers of scales.) For the final layer, trim to a point the stem ends of three scales and glue to the very top with points touching. Add mushroom chimney.

7. Spread glue on walkway; sprinkle with sand.

8. Create a garden by adding small dried flowers and greens on either side of the walkway; use a skewer or sharp pencil to poke holes in foam first, then add glue and insert stems.

9. Glue reindeer moss around the base of house, creating "bushes".

10. Using sphagnum moss and deer moss, fill in bare spots and cover sides of base. Add fungus and mushrooms as desired for accents.

11. Create a backdrop around the Fairy House by adding dried flowers and greens of various sizes and textures; use a skewer or sharp pencil to poke holes in foam first, then add glue and insert stems.

12. Glue berry or small bead onto door for doorknob.

These fairy houses are such beautiful representations of how we can get back to living in harmony with nature.  We are just one of the species on this planet and we possess the power to destroy or cultivate.  In relation to harvesting trees for our energy source, this is most apparent.  We could easily wipe out entire forests if we make it a policy to use trees as our "sustainable" energy source because it is seen as renewable because we can just grow more.  I've already become cynical with the use of sustainable and I've only recently become comfortable even using it correctly.  It's become the new word to bastardize and pervert in the name of money.  In a budget proposal issued from the district I work for they introduced "sustainable cuts" for the district and they were deemed sustainable because these cuts to personnel such as teachers or counselors would not have to be cut the next year.  I guess they are choosing to see these as sustainable cuts because it's a cut that won't go away.  WTF?  Are they kidding?

No.  They are not.    These are not sustainable cuts in the spirit of or the actual definition of the word.  Let's see:  Sustainable- Capable of being sustained, to supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for.
Well, cutting teachers, raising class sizes and taking away counselors doesn't seem to nourish or provide for our children.  This is a going to be a trendy wave businesses and government entities are going to ride in the near future and even closer present.  They will use the word sustainable to sell their unsustainable practices in order to package a rotting a piece of legislature and call it a fresh idea.  These types of relabeling is reminiscent of the "healthy forests" act during the George W. Bush regime.  By the way, the proposed budget from the district was a glossy full color print with little copper pennies with silver dimes and nickels falling down the bottom right corner of the page!  What the...?

Permaculture Song

This is way better than my "Sailing" parody that I sang while digging swales with Becky, Rachel and Fruit Tree Project last term, "Sw-a-a-a-llin' takes me away..."  Maybe we can have class at a karaokee bar and sing this song for our final!!!  Let's reserve one of those private rooms so we just get embarrassed with each other!  You probably won't even have to wear socks there, Jon!  

Dig it!

http://www.voiceboxpdx.com/

from the ground up

The idea of nested systems has been particularly resonant in the recent developments of my understanding of the universe. Through discussions and readings in and out of class, I have begun to think of mass and energy existing in layers. From the infinitely large universe to the infinitely small sub-atomic particles, each layer seems simultaneously connected and distinct.

It is through this lens that I have been gradually adapting my view of the world around me. From my standpoint I am only exposed to a limited range of the infinite, able to comprehend only a fraction of the layers in which I reside. Further, within the scope of my awareness, there is but a fragment of reality where I might exhibit influence.

From my minute perspective of this existence, I have come to sense a building tension within the systems we are a part of. Holmgren describes our age as defined by uncertainty. In response to the apparent crisis that overshadows our lives, I have been led to wonder what choices might we make as individuals to cultivate balance and peace with the fragment of influence we may have.

In the introduction to Permaculture: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability, Holmgren gracefully presents permaculture design as an integrated approach to human life on this planet that asks us to consider all life in our choices. Permaculture, in many ways, calls us not only to pause and consider this, but also to apply our deductions in humility and wonder. This praxis, however, would not seem complete unless it permeates all the layers we have access to.

As we are propelled by the momentum built over centuries toward the finite capacity of our planet, many facets of our growing predicament seem far beyond the scope of our choices as individuals. But to claim ownership of our choices

“Is not to deny the inequities and oppressions that exist and that need to be addressed within our societies, but rather to acknowledge that each of these can be traced to collective and individual patterns of behavior, which if not changed will continue to wreak havoc with our precious planet, our societies and our individual wellbeing” (Hill qtd in Holmgren, xxii).

In this sense, I think we might subvert the impending doom upon us if we were to adapt our culture to promote personal responsibility to the extent of its reach (Holmgren, 6) within a framework that accepts all life forms as “valid parts of the living earth with intrinsic value” (Holmgren, 5).

As each moment offers the opportunity to forge new patterns of behavior, to exercise our sliver influence conscientiously, I believe that we might honor life’s intrinsic value more fully and claim considerate responsibility if we rooted these patterns in a foundation of love. M. Scott Peck describes this practice, as “the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth” (qtd in Hooks, 4). By choosing to engage with Life as agents of love, it seems that we can embody its transformative power to heal and are reconnected to the wholeness of which we are a part.

Perhaps this foundation of love will afford us the grace we need to survive the decent.

Methods, Scientific and Otherwise

I'm taking a class in Syntax, the study of how we humans decide what language is and is not allowed to do. It's obviously real mysterious, but interestingly, the professor today introduced the Scientific Method using these steps:

1. Observe and record data
2. Organize data and find patterns
3. Generate some hypothesis
4. Test hypothesis with more data
5. Evaluate results
6. Refine/extend hypothesis

...that's the first iteration - of course this is circular and in the second round you end up just repeating steps 1, 4, and 5 (observe/record, test, evaluate) again and again. Reading Holmgren again made me think about how cerebral and rational his book is (and in fact when he acknowledges the contribution of his partner Su to the book, he talks about how she reminds him to trust his intuition more because he needs that). Still, I see some really important differences between the ways I am taught to observe and analyze the world as a linguist, and what I am starting to understand a permaculture designer does. The "scientific method" above isn't really much different from Mollison's or Holmgren's approach to describing and designing a site, but it seems so shallow, flimsy, and isolated, like a tomato sitting plant all by itself in a greenhouse in the winter with just a dim growlight far above it. The loops that Jon drew last week with phrases like "examine mental models" and "change or challenge assumptions" rather than "evaluate results", and "new prototype or strategy" rather than "refine/extend hypothesis" seems to speak to the real world so much more. Despite David's heady and model-laden approach to talking about permaculture in his book, it has such more interesting and inspiring words in it: act! transform! make choices! respond! As a linguist, these lexical and semantic data are compelling to me.

I think the process which we are embarking on (creating a design for a real site that will or at least might be actually implemented) has the potential to be daunting and complex - I mean look at that book Mollison wrote! How can a person keep track of all that? Reading this book calmed me down a little and made me realize that, rather than being indundated with facts and figures from all sides, data for us to manage and test and evaluate, we are surrounded by endless and consistent suggestions as to how to proceed, found in the patterns of nature and our own experience. Can we be disciplined and rational while throwing away the white coat and test tube, choosing to work collaboratively and receptively with nature and our own cellular reality? Shoot, man, I don't know! I'm ready to make a small change in my approach and see what happens.

Give an Old Dog a Bone

In the preface of the preface of the book Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability, David Holmgren mentions his teenage son Oliver as an inspiration and says "He has confirmed for me that it takes more than a single generation to create a new ecological culture; some difficult aspects that I have grappled with, he has easily digested and integrated." (page xiii) What he's saying, in a way, is that we can't change the world overnight, in no small part because you can't teach old dogs new tricks. No matter how much we study, we're the old dogs.

Technology is a great example of this. My 4 year old son, who can't read yet, can navigate the internet, sometimes better than his 74 year old grandfather. My dad's pretty capable for someone of his generation, but he's stuck circling the same applications - any advances or updates leave him stumped. In contrast, my 4 & 7 year olds integrate the world of technology intuitively, despite their relatively low level of exposure.

Holmgren and Mollison both frequently mention indigenous cultures and their intuitive or cultural understanding of the earth's natural ecology and their ability to live sustainable lives. "I believe many of the insights [i've had] of systems thinking that are difficult to grasp as abstractions are truths that are embodied in the stories and myths of indigenous cultures." (Holmgren, page xxvi) This makes me sad, because these ancient cultures have all but disappeared - their knowledge and understanding with them, and there is no way to get them back. Never mind the fact that this old dog would never really be able to fully grasp their culture anyway! But I could go live with them and be the humble, ignorant old dog with the hopes that they'd let me stay and my kids would figure it out. Why was I not born in a different time-place-culture? One that I could be proud of?

What if instead of teaching our kids to surf the web and master their Play Stations (we don't have one of those things - but best believe many of their friends do. "It's not FAIR, mom!") while listening to their iPod shuffles, we surrounded them with the patterns of nature? What if schools and society (their friends!) taught - instilled - nothing but How to be One with the Earth and Your Community? And it didn't have to have such a silly name because everyone knew that there was nothing else worth doing? If we don't do something along those lines, I feel that life during, and for some time after, 'energy descent' is going to be very painful for a lot of people. I feel, as Holmgren obviously does as well, that we are on the cusp of this decent, and I am fearful of what my children may have to face. Because, although the world's societies seem to be making advances in 'environmentalism' or whatever, there is still PLENTY of destructive behavior going on, big and small, every day. It's hard to feel that we are really moving in the right direction. Really.

When I lived in community there was a sign over the group kitchen sink that read: **YOUR MOMMA DOESN'T LIVE HERE * CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR SELF** That's a lesson all the old dogs of the world shouldn't have a choice but to learn.

The Growth of Ideas

I find it interesting how one idea hatched on a continent far from here, then, not many years after being thoughtfully nurtured by a few people, it flew across many oceans. Its principles are now being considered inside my head, and my fingers are transmitting my interpretation of it.

What am I pondering in this moment? I’m thinking about the growth of ideas. I think it’s inspiring to read books, the flashes of brilliance from another creature’s brain. From what I can interpret, the dynamics between the co-originators of the permaculture concept is complex, and it seems they have both taken their own ideas and developed their own visions of permaculture.

This flexibility within permaculture is one of the reasons I am drawn to it. The principles that are taught can be considered to be universal, yet will change from place to place (or person to person), depending on the needs of the inhabitants, and even the physical limitations or strengths (depending on your perspective.) of the land (Holmgren, p. xxv).

I think one of the reasons Permaculture has been so successful is this flexibility to work within other cultures, and not impose an “Australian” worldview. Since the permaculture principles ideally start from within the person and their household, the embodiment of these principles has to be flexible, since there is no way to ethically control people and their decisions. It seems to me that once an idea finds its way into some other person, there is little we can do to control that idea. It will mix with the subjective inner weavings of the individual. Permaculture is grassroots; that is the way it began and spread, and I imagine it will continue in this way.

Permaculture does start from the bottom, and then works its way up. I like that personal decision to claim responsibility for your household’s actions (Holmgren p. xvi). I like that you can be a family anywhere in the world, and not feel hesitant to practice Permaculture, and that you can effect the larger systems, wherever you might be. There is so much empowerment in this concept.

I found it interesting that Bill Mollison thinks the original teachings are being diluted. I can’t imagine he didn’t perceive this would be impossible to prevent (I’d like to know how he views the word “dilute.”). If these principles were intended to be taken by individuals to be applied in their “place,” then of course new interpretations would evolve. I really appreciated David Holmgren’s response to this concern of dilution. He said, “I have always found the perception of dilution has to be balanced by the value of diversity even when, like weeds, it comes in forms we don’t particularly like” (Holmgren xxi).

At the same time I wonder how I would feel to see people taking the product of my convictions in directions I would have never chosen. I hope I would respond more like Holmgren. I think its neat how other people (even other disciplines) can take permaculture principles and possibly develop a new perspective. I wouldn’t consider these “weeds,” they are one of the principles of Permaculture: the “value of diversity.”

Space, Time and Culture

Patterns in nature provide a model for us to follow and potentially anticipate inevitable declines.  Physical patterns as well as nature’s time cycle patterns provide us with ecological principles of design.  The descent of our economy has been seen as a negative occurrence because our “growth culture” values dictate that success is defined by our ability to grow indefinitely.  This is not a reasonable or sustainable expectation. In “Permaculture: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability,” David Holmgren stated, “The real issue of our age is how we make a graceful and ethical descent.”  

The ecological reality that decline is inevitable allows us to view decline as an opportunity.

A few months ago, during the fall, I started cultivating soil by sheet mulching my front lawn.  The layers of used coffee grounds, decomposing leaves and broken eggshells combined their collective decomposing powers and represent an opportunity for growth potential in the spring.  For now, the sheet mulching pile has consumed the grass, which was an inefficient consumer of resources and did not provide a useful output.  Using nature’s decomposition cycle will create nutrient rich soil in time for the growth cycle of the spring.  This type of useful application of ecological principles provides a potential model for our society to apply to our economic and social systems to make a graceful and ethical descent.  

Our societal values and organizational patterns have the potential to be inspired by ecological principles and implementing permaculture site design.  For example, instead of constantly expanding garden sizes and creating more complex production systems, surpluses and knowledge is used to set up new gardens.  New efficient systems added to preexisting efficient systems follow the patterns of cellular designs seen in nature such as beehive honeycombs.  This type of approach or design has the potential to be applied to living systems such as co-habitation or co-ops to meet our expanding populous needs. 

Application of nature’s time and space principles is an empowering model to follow and help guide our personal efforts.  Permaculture zones and sectors provide a conceptual model for understanding the power and ripple effect of how our personal choices influence and extend outward throughout our communities all the way out to the global sphere.  

Last Monday night, Katie said, "Rather than sharing our vision in the hopes for others to follow, allow others to envision for themselves."  Imagine the possibilities of this type of efficient cellular expansion of ideas pulsating from your center out to the global level.  

Advanced Patterning in Design

Comment to this posting for your reflection on the Holmgren reading pp. v to 13 127-154.