permaculture

["Ava Devenport" <essenheal@iname.com>]

On 06/07/00, "Judith Hanna <jehanna@gn.apc.org>" wrote:

> 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. 

Judith:

I'd like to add that it quite often seems as though people have the 
tendency to believe if it's free, it has no value.  Therefore, even if you 
charge a very small fee for a course, you not only add to your own economic 
sustainability, but you're adding value to permaculture.

> -- with follow up mutual support/mentoring -- would, I believe, be
> useful.

I think you've hit on a very important issue here.  It's easy to launch a 
beginning business, but without mutual support and mentoring, too many 
individuals lose their grasp.  They need a shoulder to lean on for support. 
 Someone they can rely on to 'be there' when they need advise, help or 
re-evaluation of a situation/goal.  Someone who can look at it from all 
angles without being too emotionally wrapped-up in the dilemma they may be 
facing.
 
> 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.

I know a couple at this time who are in this position.  They both came from 
a spiritual community and now live in a small mountain community.  Melinda 
actually holds their contractors license as she has more time/patience to 
attend licensing workshops and Tom does the actual contracting.  They spent 
two years as volunteers on an 'earthship' project out of the country and 
have been back for two years now.  They also attended a passive-solar Adobe 
workshop wih us in New Mexico.  Tom has the desire and expertise but 
they're not knowledgeable nor have the time involved to persue grants, 
funding.  They'd like to build an eco-village for the low-income families 
in Colorado.  I have the expertise in grants/funding, but hardly anymore 
available time.  One of these days, we're going to be able to co-ordinate 
our efforts and accomplish this, but as yet, it seems very far in the 
future.  We haven't even built our own shelter, yet.

Tom wanted my husband to work with him, but Randy is a computer specialist 
and has arthritis in both hands.  As a group, we've decided to go in 
together to purchase a pressed-adobe block machine, work together to 
construct our homes, but it's also very labor-intensive.  My brother-in-law 
would love to help in this venture, plus go the step further with the 
eco-village, BUT, not until after he retires.  We have quite a few 
individuals who are willing to camp out and work together to accomplish 
some of these goals, but getting them all together in one place at one time 
seems nearly impossible.

I completely understand how the 'spirit' is engaged in such a project, but 
the actual work and support comes and goes.

Blessings,
Ava 
 
> Judith Hanna
> jehanna@gn.apc.org
> 15 Jansons Rd, Tottenham, London N15 4JU