permaculture

[Judith Hanna <jehanna@gn.apc.org>]

>Thanks Myk for picking up...
Ross wrote in addition to other things:
>> As for making Pc part of your income stream, I am aware of PDC
Seems that, were there time,
>> small business planning could be introduced into PDCs. I know of one
>> instance where that has been done in Australia.
>> I believe that the small business model is relevant to Pc where
>> people seek to make it part of their livelihood.

Seems to me that 'economic sustainability' in the world we're in is an
important aspect of mainstreaming permaculture as more than a fringe
luxury. Yes, it would be useful to include at least a starter half-day on
this aspect of design in PDCs, following on from LETS.

In Britain, George Sobol and Patsy Garrard in Devon secured funding to run
a 'Starting Your Own Business' permaculture course. I think their funding
source may have been European Social Fund, which focuses on employment and
training. They have also been running their courses within the Workers
Educational Association framework -- one of the main adult education
organisations nationwide.

In this country, there is quite a lot of funding around for business
set-up/employment creation purposes -- though getting hold of it involves
jumping through hoops. In my area, for instance, Popgee manderson set up a
'Church Road Training Centre' aiming to run permaculture and other personal
development courses in a high-employment area, as part of a strategy for
improving employability and self-confidence of local people -- but found
herself loaded down by funding conditions and 'output' measures that
required her simply to funnel people into low-paying basic jobs, with
little time or energy for development!

Some of us are lucky enough to have permaculture as part of a
portfolio/bundle of skills and experience that land us relevant work --
which may or may not get explicit attention as permaculture. In my case, it
is environmental/political campaigning and journalism -- current post, head
of policy at the National Centre for Volunteering. Others on the list have
also referred to permaculture relevant work they are making a living from.

The combination of a bit more starter information on what business
design/management involves and how to get more
support/experience/qualifications, and specialist permaculture courses
specifically taking people wanting to launch a green business through the
basics -- with follow up mutual support/mentoring -- would, I believe, be
useful.

In London, where there now seem almost enough active permaculture activists
to sustain a coherent network, we are thinking about setting up, not a
conventional association with committee, but a consultancy network that
would package and market network members' skills to put them/us in the way
of paying work (even if often enough we may find ourselves donating time
and skills to worthy but skint causes). The hold-up is that everyone
currently involved is too over-committed with other activities to put in
the time needed  as co-ordinator -- but when the right entrepreneurial
spirit comes along (findgers crossed) several of us are interested in
working to support this experimental model.








Myk wrote:
>Many ideas spring to mind so they can all go into the pot. In no particular
>order:
>
>What mainstream adult educational courses (that lead to a career) are there
>that offer favourable entrance to PcDC graduates? Can such reciprocal
>agreements be arranged?
>
>Can or are PcDC's be adapted specifically to a place or existing discipline,
>as the foundation stone underpinning that discipline?
>
>Can existing mainstream courses be rewritten from a permaculture
>prospective?
>
>What possible career avenues have been identified for budding
>permaculturalists
>
>Can those involved in main stream education help instigate such policies or
>ideas? Are they doing so?
>
>How can graduates apply their previous skills along with Pc and adapt
>themselves to untapped or available resources i.e find a niche?
>
>How do we get funding to do this?
>
>Finally! As an observation there does not appear to be enough Pc
>practitioners in enough diverse professional positions who's example and
>output can be shown as and demonstration to be Pc in action. Perhaps the
>introduction of such modules/concepts where appropriate would help to
>readdress this balance in the long term?
>
>[1] As the basis for a new approach to existing/new disiplines i.e
>sustanability officer, professional volunteer organisers, landscape
>architects, wildlife reserve managers, community facilitators, farmers,
>conservationists, horticulturalists, ecconomists, councillors, ... etc. In
>theory the list is endless because anywhere that Pc ethics and principles
>(both old and new) can be applied a job position could exist. I know that
>people from such disciplines find and adopt Pc but where are the people who
>have found Pc in the last 28 years gone on to attain these positions? I know
>of some that exist but how did they do it?
>
>
>Myk
>
>Caveat: I represent myself and speak only my opinion
>--
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Judith Hanna
jehanna@gn.apc.org
15 Jansons Rd, Tottenham, London N15 4JU