permaculture

[Heather Coburn Flores <seedgeek@yahoo.com>]

Hi folks. I have been getting an interesting diversity of responses to my 
commecnts on permaculture in my new book, Food Not Lawns (chelsea green 
2006). If you haven't seen it, check out my website at www.foodnotlawns.com/. 
The book is getting many and excellent reviews, but a few people, fo rwhom i 
have the utmost respect, are very upset about a few paragraphs in the first 
chapter, in which I choose to drop the term permaculture from the rest of the 
text and attempt to explain why. Several people posted angry and malicious 
messages here, and several others came quickly to my defense. Thank you all 
for your spirited and heartfelt exchange!
   
  Let me say that because of the violent and angry nature of some of the more 
extreme responses, I will probably change the wording for the next printing. 
my feelings have not changed, but I wish to clarify my intentions.
   
  First, my intent was to eliminate the buzzword in the interest of 
inclusion, and to bring up a much-needed class analysis of the permaculture 
community. In the UK it may be different but here in the states you would be 
lucky to find a pc course for less than $600, (more like $1200) and even then 
you would often have to work many hours in trade for tuition. this may seem 
like a nominal charge to those who have grown up with homes, medical care, 
access to education, cars, but to a poor person who lives on minimum wage it 
is totally inaccessible. and to an activist who already works full-time for 
no pay, it is also inaccessible.
   
  I want the information to be less proprietary, more of a resource for the 
general public. we, as a movement, complain about being mostly white, 
middle-class people yet expect to get paid for our earth stewardship. we 
cannot maintain a cushy middle-class lifestyle and also be a sustainable 
culture. it is just not going to happen. i am not white or middle-class, and 
of course i like to get paid for my work, but I live on less than $10,000 a 
year and don't think anyone should try to make a middle-class or better 
salary teaching permaculture (unless of course you want to cater to the 
wealthy homeowner types--and yes, they deserve to have access too). But if we 
really want to diversify the color and shape of our community we are going to 
have to completely change the way many people feel when they inquire into 
taking a permaculture course. They need to feel like it is within their reach 
to participate, and the price is the first thing they ask about.
   
  The main reason I "abandoned the term" is because, while I wanted my 
readers to know about permaculture, I did not want to write a "permaculture 
book." And because it seems like whenever anyone even mentions the term, all 
of the grumpy old permies get all worked up over the "right" to use it. 
Absurd. It's a word. Subject to personal interpretation like all other words. 
I have my certificate, and a right to my opinion. And when was the last time 
anyone read a book in which they agreed with every single paragraph anyway? 
It's nice to rock the boat a little, keeps us on our toes!
   
  Please feel free to forward this to anyone you like.
   
  peace
Heather Flores


Now Available! 


Food Not Lawns, How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden and Your Neighborhood 
into a Community, by Heather Coburn Flores. 

The premier guide for ecological living in the city through paradise 
gardening and shared resources by a co-founder of the original Food Not Lawns 
grassroots gardening project in Eugene, OR. With a foreword by Toby Hemenway 
and over 400 pages of text, enhanced by almost a hundred drawings by 
Northwest artist Jackie Holmstrom, Food Not Lawns offers a theoretical and 
practical handbook for ecological community transformation. (Chelsea Green, 
2006, 334 p.) ISBN 1-933392-07-X

Keep your eyes open for a book release party near you as Heather embarks on 
her national tour. Order your author-signed first editions today by sending a 
check or money order for $25 plus $4.05 S&H ($29.05) to Heather Coburn 
Flores, 31139 Lanes Turn Road, Coburg, OR 97408. Estimate 5-8 business days 
for delivery.
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