permaculture

[<permed@nor.com.au>]

Been watching this thread with interest - the 'scientific proof' issue as 
stated by many is difficult, especially when trying to quanitify a system 
where 'the whole is greater than the sum of parts' and the pressure is to 
justify just one of those parts (crop yeild).
Pc needs to be assessed on so many levels, household, property, 
neighbourhood, bioregion and beyond; also environmental, ecological, 
social and economic; and then there's all the other personal layers of 
self reliance, quality of life, enjoyment, satisfaction, health, 
wellbeing etc.

Jarlanbah Pc Community was part of a grazing property - the 55 acres only 
yielded the farmer $1200 worth of beef per year. Now there are numerous 
half acre private gardens on that same piece of land that harvest well 
over $1200 worth of vegetables, fruit and eggs per year each from their 
half acre. Plus there's the reduced energy consumption (compared to 
average rural residential household), rainwater collection, composting 
toilets etc etc. Then there's the 33 acres of community land with 
rainforest regeneration along the gully, increased wildlife habitat, 
populations and diversity, the woodlots planted with fuel and cabinet 
timbers, the organic market garden that supplies our local village stores 
and on and on.

Here at Djanbung Gardens (was part of the same grazing property as 
Jarlanbah) the 5 acres is providing 60% of my food and food for courses 
(estimated value $4000), and earns approx $5000 through value-adding 
(conserves & herbal products, and casual canteen food sales) and sale of 
tropical tubers, vegetative propagules and surplus veg. If the 55 acres 
of Jarlanbah yeilded the farmer only $1200, then my 5 acres was probably 
only worth around $110 a year. Plus there's the educational income of all 
the visitors who come here to see a working permaculture system,and 
there's the numerous other products harvested, the increase in 
biodiversity & wildlife etc etc.
Could add sooooo much more and cite numerous examples of pc successes if 
I only had the time...
I get constant feedback from former students thanking me and describing 
their systems, how much pleasure and production they derive from their 
permacultures. 

Robyn


Djanbung Gardens Permaculture Education Centre
home to: 
Permaculture Education
ERDA Institute Trust
Nimbin Eco-Village Project Office
Robyn Francis - permaculture designer & educator
PO Box 379, Nimbin NSW 2480 Australia
Ph 02-6689 1755 Fax 02-6689 1225
permed@nor.com.au  www.earthwise.org.au