permaculture

["Graham Burnett" <gburnett@unisonfree.net>]

>Permaculture, for me, is clearly laid out and defined in Permaculture A 
>Designer's Manual anything
outside of the general themes described in Bill's book needs to be carefully 
looked out before
being added to the Permaculture Curriculum.  I know for a fact that Bill 
never intended to
incorporate psychology, politics, or metaphysics into permaculture.

But then is it right that Permaculture begins and ends with the Designers 
Manual? Surely
Permaculture is an evolving, ever developing and changing system, just like a 
woodland, a garden or
community development project... If we reject anything that isn't in 'The 
Sacred Text' (ho ho),
then permaculture is nothing more than a dead, ossified system, and I'm sure 
that isn't what
Mollison & holmgren intended... At least i hope not, they might have 
developed the initial concept,
but there will always be space for 'pioneer species' or cutting edge thinkers 
like Carl Smith who
are developing the concepts onwards and outwards....

It's interesting that there seems to be a bit of a dichotomy between those 
who still see
permaculture primarily in terms of 'PERMAnent AgriCULTURE' (ie, primarily 
about land development
systems) and those who see it as being about wider 'PERMAnent CULTURE' 
issues, ie, how we develop
ourselves and our cultures & communities to be truly sustainable and to work 
in harmony with with
planet wide systems to meet our needs, not just in a physical but in a 
'spiritual' sense...

I also sense there is a lot of suspision around the concept of 
'spirituality', which I totally
share, I'm as sceptical and distrustful of the whole 'New Age', crystal 
healing, rent-a-guru
bullshit as the next person, in fact probably more so if you actually met me 
(Myk will I hope vouch
for this!!!), because I've seen too many damaged, desperate people who've 
allowed themselves to be
conned in the search to make sense of the craziness we live in at present, 
and seen too many sharks
happy to take their last pound note or leech off their desperation and 
confusion. When I've used
the term 'Spirituality' I just mean maybe acknowledging that there might be 
higher forces at work
than we can understand or comprehend, I like Julia Cameron's defintion of GOD 
as standing for Good,
Orderly Direction- who can argue with that as a central permaculture tennet- 
it's just the same as
'Work With Natutre, Not Against'- though until recently I've always 
considered myself totally an
atheist....

Sooo, when teaching (though I prefer the word 'facilitating') a permaculture 
session, I would (do)
introduce the concept of 'Zone 00', ie, we need to pay some attention to 
ourselves, as we are
actually at the centre of any system, ie, we need to look after ourselves 
mentally & physically,
make sure we have support, give support to those around us, etc, etc, but 
would leave 'Zone 6' as
an 'optional extra', ie, maybe acknowledge there might be other realms out 
there- I think this
whole thread started as nobody is that clear what 'Zone 6' as defined by Carl 
Smith really meant,
and of course he is no longer on this plane to tell us, though he certainly 
seems to have laid a
fertile seed bed for debate.....

What I certainly WOULDN'T do is start spouting a load of New Age mumbo jumbo 
about crystals and
angels and other such metaphysical gobbledegook and I'm the first to 
emphasise that permaculture is
about common sense and good, solid, tried & tested practice.. but can you 
walk in a well designed
(by peoplekind or by nature) and abundant garden or wood and NOT feel that 
there are perhaps other
forces at work? We don't have to name and define them and bring them into the 
service of any
particular dogma, just acknowledge the wonder of natural forces (patterns?) 
and be a bit humble and
reverent...

>What is the problem with dealing with those items separate from 
>permaculture?  If people who
attend my classes want to talk about Feng Shui, or Geomancy I tell them I 
will meet them after
class and we can talk about it then but that neither of the topics is part of 
the Permaculture
Design Process.  This approach has never seemed to cause any problems with my 
students.

Hmmm, I've always seen the PC design course as more participatory, and where 
people are free
(within reason) to share their stuff.. eg, a course I recently helped with in 
South London with
Green Adventure, I led a session on 'water'- a participant on the course with 
particular knowledge
and interest in Fung Shui wanted to contribute, so did a 20 minute slot 
outlining this area-
personally I was sceptical, and remain so, but I think he gave a good 
overview which maybe opens up
another direction which who am I to say isn't valid...

>It seems that many who would like to expand permaculture to include the 
>belief systems of the
world take it very personally when they are met with resistance from more 
conservative and
traditional permaculture teachers like me.  It is never a personal matter 
with me but a matter of
keeping clear boundaries between what can be clearly demonstrated and 
replicated and those things
that are a matter of faith or belief.

No it's nothing personal at all, and I know what you mean about what can be 
demonstrated &
replicated, but lets not throw our babies with bathwater... Of course the 
'other' stuff shouldn't
be allowed to dominate, but we can still make space for it, particularly Post 
72 hour design
course, when maybe we can start to expand and explore.... It would be good to 
chat face to face,
but I guess that ain't too lightly what with distances (physical) between 
us...

Cheers matey,

Graham Burnett
35 Rayleigh Avenue
Westcliff On Sea
Essex, UK
SS0 7DS

South East Essex LETS
http://pages.unisonfree.net/gburnett/