permaculture

[rick valley <bamboogrove@cmug.com>]

>I did think more couples would be interested in attending together though...
>shows how much out of touch I am.
Usually economics decrees one half of the couple study while the other pays
or does childcare; following the lead of some folks in Oregon teaching
wholistic sheep courses, I have pushed for significant couples discounts
(spurred also by my losing a relationship to Pc (well, partly))
Alas, it has never penciled out for the convenors. But I might well offer it
on my own (by accepting less than usual payment) in the future. I think
couples need help these days & I think the PDC would 'take' better for both
if they attended together. I know I've seen many cases of one half of a
couple taking advantage of a PDC or workshop to be single for awhile,
although that's not quite what I'm talking about! (and not what sank my
relationship, if you were wondering)
But one thing I know I have wanted more everytime I break my personnal
commitment- I am most comfortable facilitating PDC's in mixed-sex teams. This
has meant, for me, encouraging women to teach, and finding women to work
with. I don't feel women are naturally inclined to Pc any more than men,
(it's impossible w/o both?) but maybe a group of women is more so than a
group of men?! Some friends I know & have worked with find it very effective
to, when they have the luxury of limiting enrollment in a workshop or PDC, to
purposely choose a slight majority of women. We feel it leads to a better
workshop, and is the most effective way to influence the outcome, and much
easier than trying to select appropriate individuals on criteria like
personnal interests or whatever.
-Rick

Rick Valley Northern Groves 
PO Box 1236, Philomath, OR 97370 
Mobile-(541)602-1315, hm.& msg. (541)929-7152  Bamboo catalog $3 or at 
<http://www.teleport.com/~dbrooks/bamboo.html>
"Useful Bamboos and other plants‹ Permaculture education‹ Ecological design &
consultation centering on water,landform and horticultural systems"