permaculture

["E. E. Mitchamore Jr" <emitch@att.net>]

Hope is easy, especially for the young or newly "converted".  The next step 
is Faith (by that I mean confidence in a positive outcome).  The older you 
get, and the more times you have had to get up, after having fallen or been 
knocked down, the harder it is to have Faith.  That's not new.  What is new, 
I think, is being constantly reminded of atrocities against the environment 
and society that are FAR beyond our personal ability to influence.

My dad used to say that "sometimes all you can do is put one foot in front of 
the other".  But he also said that it was our responsibility to do that (and 
HE DID).  So I will too.

E. E. "Mitch" Mitchamore
www.hillcountrynatives.biz
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Thomas Gorman 
  To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org 
  Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 6:23 AM
  Subject: [permaculture] Gardeners can slow climate change


  This has become an interesting thread!  I believe 'faith' to be one  
  of the more problematic and irrational of human traits (inventions?),  
  whether it is placed in technology or in 'the market' or in 'god.'   
  In either case it's a sort of externalization, an abdication of our  
  individual responsibilities.
  "Science will eventually solve our problem."
  "When the problems become profitable to solve, the market and  
  entrepreneurship will solve our problem."
  "God will provide and solve our problem. "
  ANYTHING to avoid actually having to really do something or make a  
  real sacrifice ourselves!  Now, 'hope' is a different story....
  I'm with Kathy- it's got to be a holistic approach if we're going to  
  get through this.  The more I learn about natural building,  
  permaculture, personal relationships, cooperation and community,  
  economy and social justice the more I begin to see each of these  
  'interests' are part of the same whole (I shy away from including  
  spirituality, though it belongs as well- it has simply been too co- 
  opted and corrupted by the 'opposition').  I feel a little bit like  
  the blind men and the elephant, and that I'm starting to gain sight  
  and SEE the elephant, and it is a hopeful realization.  If more and  
  more people come to 'see the elephant' and all these interconnected,  
  seemingly individual interests are unified into a cohesive whole,  
  well maybe we'll have a chance.  It's actually pretty exciting- we're  
  at a time of evolutionary crisis and we will either destroy ourselves  
  or we will achieve a new, amazing level of human existence.  I don't  
  have faith, but I am hopeful!
  No, no, no Kathy!  This isn't off the permaculture track at all!   
  Peremaculture is a part of this larger, necessary track!


  <<<I agree wholeheartedly...that if we start by balancing ourSELVES
  emotionally, physically, spiritually, then what proceeds outward from  
  that
  into family, farm, politics, and environment will be whole and life
  affirming and not depleting to us as individuals. Likewise the  
  opposite is
  true...if we do not attend to our inner balance, we may end up in
  polarizing outer situations, like adversarial relationships,  
  politics, and
  uh, war. Hope this isn't too far off the permaculture track, but each  
  of us
  is part of this whole, yes?      Kathy in St. Louis>>>
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