permaculture

[<fdnokes@hotmail.com>]

One of the most amazing visits we had in Costa Rica was from Frank Cook, 
master herbalist.
His stated mission was to meditate with every plant species he could on all 
continents.
(Or something to that effect)
He came as part of a tour, to the farm where we were staying, and spoke about 
many, many plants that he saw. 
He said he had learned them by families, and spoke of that as well.
He knew of their uses, where they like to grow, their interactions, but 
mainly their structural features by which to recognize them and how they 
serve humans.
Notice the term is meditate, not talk...

It's interesting when you look into it, and people speak of this other way of 
knowing...
How so much information about plants and foods would not have come merely 
through trial and error, but came through meditation.
That plants actually 'tell' humans how to use them...

And it's an honour and a privilege to meet someone like Frank who dedicated 
his life to this pursuit.
Sadly, he is no longer with us.
I am fortunate to have met him.

On our way back, we met a friend of his in Virginia. His specialty was trees. 
He was very attuned to them. Also a lover of lichens.  I imagine that he 
could strike up a good conversation about specification which was mentioned 
by Tripp recently, and which I have yet to find my way into.
But, he just had a way of appreciating trees. And would spend time with them.

It's a different world, isn't it?

One I am glad to know about, and in my own way, and in my own time, 
participate in.

I would not get along well with the 'alcoholic farmer' paradigm, but this 
other paradigm, of relating more fully and appreciatively to nature, does 
attract me. After all, we spend hours watching movies, t.v., internet, 
music... Why not  'nature straight'.

And as to this list, it doesn't matter if you're a hard working farmer who 
likes to drink, I can get along with you just fine, cause I don't have to 
live with you, and am not overwhelmed by your personal presence.

Hope you catch my drift, if you're still reading...

Frances
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fdnokes@hotmail.com wrote:
> The word 'magical' should not offend you, as it relates only to the
> 'quality' of being.
>
It doesn't offend me.  I don't think you read my post too carefully.
The word "magical" is not what I complained about at all.

> To work with
> land and with plants is to work with the mystery of life at some of its
> deepest levels.
I agree with this, as I've already said several times in this
discussion.  What I don't agree with is recommending a book that
requires belief in a discorporate being who is channeled through someone
else's body.

> As to science, those that travel deeply into fields of science are witness
> to the deepening of the mystery, not the stripping of life from it.
>

Again, we agree.  But that doesn't mean a scientist would read a Seth
book and take it seriously.
> So, before you imply censorship, think again.  Some of your ideas are
> getting rather 'crusty' and to give yourself license to censor, and limit,
> will only make them more so.
I'm not trying to "censor" anything.  If you don't see the reasoning
behind what I'm saying, then by all means carry on however you wish.

> I was not aware that anyone was playing 'teacher' on this list, but thought
> that everyone was here for their own purposes. If that purpose is merely to
> gather students, I would not say that would be a list that I would feel as
> comfortable in as one where everyone felt that had something to gain from
> some of the posts, and knew which ones they could ignore.
>
I don't think it's so much that anyone's "playing teacher" as that
sometimes we can lose sight of the fact that there are folks joining
(who may not participate much if at all) who are entirely new to
permaculture, and I happen to feel it's important to consider these
folks.  Sure, different people have different purposes in being here, me
included.  But in any public forum I do try to consider the impact of my
words on others who may not be part of the discussion.  You may or may
not feel the same way, but you can expect my responses to be in
consideration of those folks.