permaculture

[Rain Tenaqiya <raincascadia@yahoo.com>]

The question about animals in permaculture systems is not "Should we include 
animals in permacultures?" but "How do we design for animals in 
permacultures?" because animals are always part of ecosystems, whether we put 
them there or not, from soil creatures to wild birds to wild small mammals 
and so on.  Large mammals introduced into humun ecosystems can produce many 
benefits if properly managed, from weed control, to the utilization of wasted 
food, to quicker nutrient cycling, but they are not a necessary component of 
sustainable food systems, as demonstrated in numerous ecosystems and cultures 
around the world (especially on islands).  Many horticultural people have 
intensely managed food systems near their homes with a limited animal 
component surrounded by wilder areas where wild animals are hunted for meat.  
Maybe this is a good model to imitate.
 
I am interested in exporing the idea that grazing mammals are the best choice 
for grasslands, especially since I live in California where there is a lot of 
grassland.  I think it is impossible to make blanket statements about whether 
or not we should use grazers when the context is not included.  If growing 
food only for yourself and a few others, it is probably possible to do so 
from irrigated food forests and fields, even in a grassland, and use less 
space than if you were to derive most of your food from grazing mammals.  
Extensive irrigation may not be sustainable for large-scale production 
systems, however (but I doubt that any large-scale production system is 
sustainable), and in this context grazing might be more appropriate.  
However, the fact that grasslands tend to be more fragile than forested areas 
begs the question of whether the extensive domestication of grasslands should 
even be considered.  History shows that it is difficult to sustainably manage 
grazers on
 grasslands and huge areas of the world are now desert or severely degraded 
because of this practice.  Maybe (especially after the humun population 
starts to decrease) we should allow grasslands to remain wild (possible used 
only for hunting) and focus our food-growing efforts on more humid areas.
 
I would like to hear what others have to say about this.
 
Rain 


                
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