permaculture

["Greg Moeser" <gregmoeser@hotmail.com>]

Thanks for all the great replies!

What I would like to do I have heard best described as "ecological design."  
Using ecological concepts to develop places for human use that incorporate 
and respect the natural systems of the earth.  So far, I have felt that the 
best way to go about this is to combine landscape architecture with 
environmental science training.  A number of university programs seem to be 
heading in this direction already.  Some examples of what I am talking about 
include green roofs, ecological restoration, and all kinds of water 
retention/filtration designs.  I’d like to think there is a happy medium in 
between design and science.

With all this being said, I don't know if my strategy is the best way to go 
about this, and ultimately I will need to acquire the skills that will allow 
me to obtain an actual job, at least until I obtain certification and 
develop the other skills I need to start a professional practice.  Several 
suggestions allude to "environmental planning" or "land use planning" but I 
honestly have a tough time pegging these terms down exactly, and what these 
positions entail in definitive terms, other than being regional as opposed 
to site based.  It seems there are a number of landscape architects do work 
that falls somewhere in between.

So if you have any more input, I would love to hear it!



> From: Paul Cereghino <paul.cereghino@comcast.net>
> Reply-To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Subject: Re: [permaculture] Landscape Architecture
> Date: Tue, 03 Oct 2006 23:36:44 -0700
>
> May be semantic but I don't think so... I don't know a scientists that
> complete quantitative studies on "ecosystems"...more typically we'd
> analyze bits and pieces, then through some elaborate conceptual model
> infer system behavior.  Similarly there are many sources of quantitative
> research that can be used to analyze and infer the functions of bits and
> pieces of permaculture systems (between agriculture, forestry,
> restoration ecology, ecosystem research, vegetation ecology, and
> agroforestry journals).  But quantitative research "on permaculture" is
> kind of tricky, as "permaculture" in the conversatinoal realm is a vague
> concept of convenience, half political, and science is interested more
> in things and what they are doing.
> http://www.rngr.net/Publications/tpn/index_html?volno=on
> http://ecologicalrestoration.info/backissues.asp
> ... and then there is that Bill Mollison guy, but I think he stopped
> doing research...
>
> Regarding the MLA - i turned away from that path in favor of science
> training - no regrets -- I appreciate the analytical methods.
>
> I think we ought to be careful to differentiate between professional
> certifications, skill sets, and a business models.  "landscape
> architect" is pretty vague in terms of skill set and business model, and
> is primarily a professional certification.  It is easy to be a LA and do
> permaculture, just like its easy to be a mechanic or a street sweeper
> and do permaculture... it is harder to develop a viable business model,
> and LA training likely will not give you a permaculture skill set, but
> it does give you skills that help you present complex ideas, like
> permaculture... I'd just be clear on what kind of specific contacts and
> skills you are expecting to get out of a MLA program and then carefully
> check to see if that 'ole ivory tower can deliver, or if you are after a
> business model... generate some business models and then determine the
> credentials necessary to implement in your market of interest.
>
> MY QUESTION IS -- If you wanted a scientist to quantitatively test some
> hypothesis about permaculture, what exactly would it be?!
>
> Paul Cereghino, Olympia, WA -- card carrying M.S.
>
> >Greg-
> >
> >I've never met a stamp-carrying, M. L.Arch. degree-holding, practicing
> >landscaper that uses Permaculture ideas full-time. It's regulated at the
> >state level. In Illinois you need 8 years with an existing licensed
> >Landscape Architecture firm before you can have your own stamp. In
> >Illinois, at least, it's illegal to advertise yourself as "landscape
> >architect" if you don't have a stamp. Other terms such as "landscape
> >designer" and "landscaper" are unregulated here.
> >
> >Similarly, I've never met a M.S. or Ph.D. holding scientist that does
> >quantitative research on Permaculture. If they exist they don't publish.
> >
> >I'd be delighted to hear of an exception.
> >
> >Rob Scott
> >Urbana, IL
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> >
> >
>
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