permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

At 12:48 AM 8/27/02 -0700, you wrote:
> 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
> -------------------------

Almighty goddess help us, but I have an opinion here too.  I have lived in 
three housing co-ops and one "unintentional community" with a PC focus.  I 
think in general these are worthy ventures, economically and culturally a 
good thing.  However, like many ventures in "community" they are curiously 
insular in some ways, inwardly focused and sometimes insufferable and 
arrogant, dismissive of local customs and practices or change and newcomers 
depending on the social orientation of the group.  The inward focus is 
probably necessary in the development phase, so many rely on sweat equity 
to make it all work.  It is the long term failure to engage with the 
broader community that is kind of disappointing to me.  I have come to the 
conclusion that real "community" is not the people you agree with, but the 
whole mish mash of humanity within a days walk.  The real challenge is 
making things work with the lawn poisoners and confinement dairy farmers, 
not the granola chewers.


Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM