permaculture

[tom <tom@honeychrome.com>]

On Apr 11, 2007, at 2:09 AM, permaculture-request@lists.ibiblio.org  
wrote:

> Yes, the average Doe on the street is ignorant and all they can
> comprehend and hold on to is "Global Warming". You should have seen  
> the
> glazed eyes over when I told the lunch table about Permaculture,
> recapture of resources/energy and the 3 R's  working into our  
> lifestyle.

I've also tried to use permaculture as a wedge into the consciousness  
of, shall we say 'the ignorant,' generally with little success,  
except in cases where whomever I am talking to already has an  
interest or experience in gardening.  In the occasions that a  
gardener isn't already aware of permaculture they take to the ideas  
readily.  Without an already existing interest or experience in  
horticulture or agriculture it all comes off as meaningless to most  
people- 'food' comes in colorful packages from the 'store' and the  
chain apparently ends there.  I figured something as fundamental as  
food could be used as a means of getting through to just about  
anyone, but it seems that industrial Ag and the food industry have  
done such a thorough job decoupling the reality of food from most  
people's lives.  What I have found to get the most response from  
people, and often serving as the first 'domino' so to speak, is  
natural building.  I guess the 'primitive' desire to build one's own  
home is somehow more compelling than that to raise one's own food  
(maybe because it is perceived as more materialistic or fun), but  
start talking about cob and strawbale, etc., supplement with some  
photos and cite the affordability and DIY aspects (not to mention the  
sustainability and 'beyond-green' qualities) and people show real  
interest.  Get them excited about that and they are on the path to  
permaculture and a deeper understanding of our world and the issues  
we're facing.  Part of it I think is that the notion that one could  
build one's own house, without special tools or particular expertise,  
is amazingly empowering, even if one never ends up actually doing  
it.  It comes as a great positive to counterbalance the fatigue,  
aversion and fear of sacrifice and overwhelming sense of 'what can I  
possibly do?' so many people feel in the face of global warming,  
environmental degradation, etc.

Tom