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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] Way of life

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  • From: Lee Flier <lflier@mindspring.com>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Way of life
  • Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 13:02:43 -0400

Tradingpost wrote:

Deborah, what I'm trying to clarify is why Permaculture is being redefined to
include almost anything from 10,000 acre cattle ranches to balcony lettuce
pots on the 60th floor of a Manhattan apartment. And the replies raise the
question of why bringing up the original concept of Permaculture gets such a
hostile reaction. And why this list disavows completely the original concept
of Permaculture as envisioned by those who coined the term. A simple
explanation would be nice.

Hmm. As far as I can see - and I DID get my Permaculture certificate from Bill Mollison directly, if that impresses you ;) - nobody's redefining anything. Permaculture is a set of design principles, not a specific implementation of those principles. Therefore anywhere that one applies those principles one is practicing Permaculture.

Also one thing that Mollison stressed very forcefully to his students is that you have to begin where you are. There is no use waiting around for some theoretical ideal circumstances before you can consider applying Permaculture. Anywhere that one can begin to apply the principles, it's a step forward, and that's far better than doing nothing. And I'm sure Mollison would be quite happy to call such efforts Permaculture, as he has certainly done in the Global Gardener film and elsewhere.

Lee




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