permaculture

[Loren Davidson <loren@farwalker.com>]

At 03:50 PM 10/31/02 -0600, Mark wrote:
> At 02:14 PM 10/31/02 -0500, you wrote:
> > The awareness training is so useful in that it develops one's ability to
> > understand the landscape, observing and knowing what is there and what the
> > land wants to be.  So much of this is brushed over in the Permaculture
> > design courses, or misinterpreted as an analytical exercise.  To me,
> > earthskills and caretaking in particular are what you do in zone 5.
> > Mollison says not to do anything there except learn; well, if you are one
> > with zone 5 then there's pleanty you can do there.  The great observations
> > and illuminations come from zone 5; it is there that you can learn to be at
> > home.
>
> At the risk of offending, this kind of quasi mystical stuff not only does 
> very little to inspire me, if I was one of the many deeply religious 
> people I have met through the years at organic farming functions I would 
> likely find it out right offensive.

*I* am deeply religious, and I find what you have quoted above to be 
entirely in harmony with my spiritual beliefs and values.  Granted, my 
spiritual beliefs and values are much closer to those of the Native 
Americans than the Baptists...but that does not make them any less 
spiritual, nor my orientation any less religious.

There is certainly no end to things in Permaculture that various parties 
find offensive.  There is no end to things that other people believe that 
many Permaculturists may find offensive.  Mark, I deeply respect whatever 
you happen to find inspiring, and merely request that you offer me the same 
respect for what *I* find inspiring.  If it works in creating healthy 
designs and systems, what matters it otherwise?

Isn't diversity one of the hallmarks of a healthy ecological system? :)

Happy Halloween/Samhain,

Loren


Loren Davidson        Earth steward, healer, singer/songwriter
loren@farwalker.com   http://www.earthspring.org/loren/
AIM: loren334     ICQ: 65291610
Loren's album & music info: http://www.lorendavidson.com
"There is no key to the Universe. It was never locked." - www.nancybuttons.com