permaculture

["Myk Rushton" <permaculture@wave.co.nz>]

Greetings

Lee Flier wrote on the subject of Keyhole beds:

> Yeah.  The trouble is, then you get people telling you that permaculture
is
> "all theory" and demanding to see some concrete
> data/examples/recipes/whatever.  If you don't provide these, everything
you
> say is dismissed as "impractical", or your level of "real world"
experience
> is questioned.

As a design system isn't it 'all theory'? A set of
Ethics/Principles/techniques/procedures/theories/patterns/ideas...etc. that
are applied to a social group/community/house/task/landscape...etc. to
find/provide sustainable/permanent solution to requirements/needs/goals...
etc.

To my mind 'data/examples/recipes/whatever' are examples of permaculture's
application not permaculture - Isn't it when the
data/examples/recipes/pictures/drawings... etc. are taken as permaculture
(rather than the result of the application of permaculture as a design
system/methodology) and implemented by rote in inappropriate circumstances
that the problems occur? i.e. Keyhole beds - A good demonstration of
edge\habitat creation/zone and sector application/biodiversity
increase/companion planting/guild formation/intensive planting/space
maximisation...etc. but not permaculture and not applicable to all
circumstances or situations - but never the less a very good demonstration
of the application of permaculture.

Myk
--
Caveat: I represent myself and speak only my opinion