permaculture

[John Schinnerer <eco_living@yahoo.com>]

Aloha,

> ...I know
> it sounds like magic, and when it happens it feels like it, too.  I
> have
> been through the "magic" twice and through attempts that failed three
> times.
> Everyone that failed did so because the people weren't committed
> enough or
> didn't understand enough to stick it out through the stage of chaos
> and despair.

Sometimes they simply realize that the particular community they've
come to work towards/with is not what they want...or they may not be
what "it" wants.  Sometimes 'sticking it out' is not the most
appropriate course of action for all involved, beyond a certain point
of discernment.
 
> So, if you're into community, study M. Scott Peck.  He's the man.

He's done some great work in understanding and clarifying human
relatings (though I do disagree with his core thesis in "people of the
lie" - that some people are inherently evil).

Some additional resources I've found particularly useful and effective
will be in an article of mine in the next PC Activist.  They're also in
my two-part piece for Communities Journal, Winter 2001 and Spring 2002
issues.  I'd post 'em right here but I can't find the bloody docs and
no time to look right now.

There are lots of folks working on 'community' in lots of ways,
harvesting mistakes left and right and increasing understandings and
options.  The Intentional Communities website (www.ic.org) and Global
Ecovillage Network (www.gaia.org) are two good places to start, for
anyone interested. 

Quite a few intentional community and especially ecovillage groups
mention PC as part of their community design
intention/methodology/philosophy/etc.  Crystal Waters Ecovillage
(primarily designed by PC practitioner Max Lindegger, who has also been
quite active in intentional community arenas) is one fairly well-known
example.  

OTOH, some in PC at times appear to give pretty short shrift (and at
times outright derision or dismissal) to 'community' efforts in the
interpersonal realms.  IMO however the 'culture' aspect rather than the
'agriculture' aspect is the crux of meaningful change (differences that
make a difference).


=====
John Schinnerer, MA
-------------------------
- Eco-Living -
Cultural & Ecological Designing
Food - Water - Shelter - Community - Technology
john@eco-living.net
http://eco-living.net

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