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  • From: "Gaden@ziplip.com" <Gaden@ziplip.com>
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [permaculture] Pitcairn Island
  • Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 09:50:03 -0700 (PDT)


Hi Lawrence

Here's just a few 'first impressions' (at the risk of perhaps seeming to
tell you 'how to suck eggs'.) Perhaps they are self-evident, but they are so
simple that people often overlook them.

There are three design principles I like to implement when going in cold to a
project like this.

1. Work from the familiar to the unfamiliar.

Go for a wander. Look at what 'systems' are currently in place. Good design
principles work in layer upon layer upon layer, same pattern, different
scales. Look for strong metaphors within the existing community, then
replicate those metaphors over and over. The 'metaphor' doesn't necessarily
have to be an agricultural one. But something profound (perhaps even
unconsciously), something unique to that community.

2. Tweaking.

Changing paradyms is damn hard work. Especially going in cold turkey. Much
better to progressively tweak existing patterns in the desired direction. A
'revolution' of many small steps. (Good chaos theory stuff, iteration,
outputs become the next inputs, ad infinitum)

3. Don't underestimate the transformative power of participation.

Ownership is critical. Identifying and tweaking existing systems allows local
people to feel in control of the process. It may sound a bit 'catch-22'ish,
but the personal change that comes from being participant in the change is
often the most important and enduring part of that change process. And in
turn acts as a catalyst for even greater change (often in unexpected
directions!)

As I said, quick first impressions only.

Gaiden





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