permaculture

[Tripp Tibbetts <slowfoodguy@yahoo.com>]

>From a devil's advocate perspective, what's the difference between a newbie 
>with a PDC, and someone who has relentlessly studied and implemented 
>permaculture theory and on-the-ground practice for a couple of seasons?  
>Sort of like a qualifications requirement of a Masters or 3 years of 
>appropriate experience in the field.  
 
For argument's sake, let's say you have a degree in biology from a major 
land-grant university, 5 years of experience in watershed and estuarine 
ecology, botany, and soil science, 4 years of organic gardening experience, 
and a year of intense permaculture study and practice under your belt.  (You 
know, for argument's sake;)  Would that make you less of a permie than say, a 
movie star like Ellen Page who has a PDC from last summer?
 
As much as I respect the time, effort, and expense it takes to earn a PDC, I 
can't help but feel a potentially inappropriate caste system evolving from 
some of the discussion I've heard here.  Fukuoka believed that formal 
education was only necessary because of a culture that made it so.  In line 
with his idea of a fire, a pinch of salt, and real ingredients being all that 
was required for a healthy, world-class meal, I think that a humble spirit 
before Nature, an open and investigating mind, and time, is what makes one a 
true asset to the world that permaculture is trying to create.
 
If that means I can't call myself a "permaculturist," then so be it.  But 
that's what I do, what I study, what I dream about, and what I am.  I'm not 
trying to certify students or instructors, or call my garden a Permaculture 
University, but I bet I can heal a landscape as effectively as a lot of 
certificate holders out there.  
 
I have a feeling that the permaculture plot is on the verge of a mass 
immigration.  Will the world hold its breath while the waves of newcomers all 
save up their not-insignificant tuition from the smoldering embers of a dying 
economy, and locate an agreeable course to satisfy accreditation?  I can't go 
to the Orcas Island PDC next year because our baby is due just then.  Should 
I fly to Hawaii or Georgia, spend a month away from my family who needs me, 
to study in a bioregion unrelated to my own?  Would that be a more 
appropriate use of my time than watching the shadows move across my garden, 
teaching my daughter about the world, and studying the resident soil biota 
under the microscope?
 
If an advanced permaculture discussion/presentation group is a desirable 
thing, and I agree that it would be, could we come up with a less 
enculturated way to delineate the groups?  Or would a better way to conduct 
such a convergence be to have the most experienced practitioners teaching us 
all?  
 
I certainly don't need Ellen Page to teach me about fertilizing with 
urine...hell, I don't need the NRCS to teach me about capillary fringe 
behavior..
 
Tear down the wall.
 
Tripp out.


The best fertilizer is the gardener's shadow.
-Chinese proverb
 

--- On Wed, 12/9/09, paul wheaton <paul@richsoil.com> wrote:


From: paul wheaton <paul@richsoil.com>
Subject: Re: [permaculture] US National Permaculture Conference
To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 5:08 PM


I like the idea of advanced permaculture sessions.  I like meeting
people that really, really know what the hell they are doing.

There was talk of the pacific northwest convergence having two groups:
one for those that have completed a PDC and then another that is open
to the public.  The thing I like about this is that you can have
something for the newbies and then something a bit more advanced.

It seems that if there were something on a more national scale, then
the advanced stuff could end up being more advanced.

Here's a thought:  It would seem that skeeter has this idea for a
national convergence.  I would like to propose that skeeter has called
dibs.  :)  It would seem that nobody else is doing a national
convergence, so it isn't like he is stepping on any toes.  Perhaps
somebody will leap up and call dibs for a US national convergence in
2011.  So in 2010 it will be done by skeeter and in 2011 it might be
on the east coast and in 2012 it might be in the south ....

I guess my point is:  skeeter brought it up.  It doesn't seem to be
interfering with anything.  I think it's a good thing.  Go for it
skeeter!  Do a national convergence for 2010!
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Permaculture group
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 05:59:16 -0800
From: Cylia Wong <cylia@telus.net>
To: <lflj@intrex.net>

Hi there:

I am a member of Cedar Cottage Garden, My Own Backyard garden, Earthsave
Canada and the Vancouver Permaculture Meetup Group. Through my affiliation
with the permaculture meetup group, I became interested in Bill Mollison's
theory and concepts and recently completed my PDC in October 2009.  Now I am
working with my garden group and the permaculture meetup group to apply
permaculture principles to a small area which will be an orchard/forest
garden as part of Cedar Cottage Garden.

In close proximity to the proposed garden orchard is a triangle of land.
That triange is right beside a heavily trafficked road.  I am looking for
info on Bill Mollison's reference "anywhere within 75 meters of any road
where more than 1,100 vehicles travel per day are heavily leaded."  I took
this statement from circa 1983 audio tapes of Mollison which I am
transcribing.

I would like to ask others if they have any info on this subject as it is a
possible safety and health issue for the garden.  May I have membership and
access to your group?

I am keen on educating others on the benefits of permaculture. I believe
collectively and individually we each make a difference.  Thank you for your
consideration.

Cylia T. Wong