permaculture

[rick valley <bamboogrove@cmug.com>]

L L asked:
>Do you do landscape design/contracting or the same
>with influences from permaculture or strictly permaculture design?
I guess the answer is yes; I don't contract, mostly design & consult, work
with friends who are contractors sometimes, and take work only if it is
permaculturally correct by my view. That is, the place may not be a Pc
design, but I'll be working on an aspect that is, or I may be brought in to
do the broad-view part of it, or... I may or may not use the "P" word.
Actually, many of the roughest times I've had were with people who wanted a
"permaculture" design- often I think much of the difficulty is due to
Mollison-Sensei's  emphasis on not working! "they work not, neither do they
observe; only in their dreams shall they eat of the fruits"(I forget what
Bible verse, but it's in there, I'm sure)  Clients who are suprisingly short
on basic concepts- like the guy with a forestry degree (!) who purchased the
pines I recommended in super tubes, and planted 'em *in* the poly tubes!
Since it is not my primary bread and butter, I don't have to make
compromises, I can take on just the projects that are "right" by me, no
temptations. Since I am primarily a farmer (nurseryman) and I also teach, I
feel what I do as far as design is well-grounded (so to speak, eh?) in the
practical, and I'm well aware that change of view, change of perception, is
crucial to getting this stuff actually happening. Since I am always busy, and
my paper qualifications few, I spread the work around to others with the
licenses, time, or in-depth expertise as needed. And I think I usually save
my clients alot of money.
-Rick

Rick Valley Northern Groves 
PO Box 1236, Philomath, OR 97370 
Mobile-(541)602-1315, hm.& msg. (541)456-4364  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"