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  • From: Heather Coburn Flores <seedgeek@yahoo.com>
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [permaculture] Food Not Lawns book
  • Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2006 10:49:10 -0800 (PST)

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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