permaculture

[jamesdavid Sneed <harvestcircle@hotmail.com>]

Since I have recently said I intend to quit using petroleum products and 
toxic man-made materials within a year, I am exploring exactly what this 
means. I invite everyone to comment on what this entails, and help me set 
honest goals for this. It can be an exercise in assessment, and for some who 
may wish to join in this endeavor, it can be the beginning of their own plan.
First off, this machine I am using to post these thoughts will have to go. 
Their is not all that much truly recyclable about computer materials, and 
even that little recycling may cost more energy and pollution than it saves. 
The only thing enduring about my computer is the continuing toxicity of the 
materials it is made from. 
So if I quit driving, build a houseboat small enough to use oars and sails 
instead of a motor, will that do it? Well, not if I order bulk foods to be 
sent to Alaska by air or by oil-burning barge lines. Must mean I need to 
intensify my quest to grow or gather100% of my food. That is quite possible. 
Can I store away and then plant enough to keep going? What about my brewing 
grains? I grow some, must grow them all, and the hops, but maybe I'll use 
medieval recipes for beer that utilize easier-to-grow-in-the-north herbs 
instead of hops.
Lots of wild blue and huckleberries, which have made some mighty fine wine 
for me in the past.
I have no major need for things from a pharmacy. I am lucky. I have honed my 
old-time veterinary skills and have kept healthy livestock and pets without 
store-bought medicines. I guess I better stay out of any areas in which 
rabies is endemic.
Since I eat wild meets, I best learn better about using my bow made from 
local woods since bullets for my rifle come shipped via petroleum-fueled 
vehicles. Yes, I've made black powder, but who wants to lug a heavy octagon 
barrel around and try to reload in time to dissuade the brown bears I often 
encounter. 
My garden supplies come from the sea, the woods, and from the butts of 
livestock. I labor by hand, make more of my own tools each year.
Clearly this will be complex as I try to simplify, but once a person starts, 
the simplicity seems to snowball and reveal it's own viability.
What are your thoughts on this? 

> From: harvestcircle@hotmail.com
> To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> Date: Fri, 7 May 2010 11:04:25 -0700
> Subject: Re: [permaculture] From TruthOut
> 
> 
> People should have begun long ago to prepare by practicing real skills, so 
> when civilization reaches critical mass and collapses the needed skills 
> will be second nature rather than something written and read about in a 
> groovy magazine or manual. The best way to practice is to fully live a 
> lifestyle that primarily or totally utilizes those skills. 
> While for most folks a transition must be gradual, time is of the essence 
> and those who can't practice this weekend because their favorite sports 
> event is scheduled (or other entertainment) might just miss the boat.
> 
> > Date: Fri, 7 May 2010 11:55:44 -0600
> > From: johntnaisbitt@gmail.com
> > To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> > Subject: Re: [permaculture] From TruthOut
> > 
> > Yes....... again.
> > 
> > I believe that the "we" should be defined.
> > 
> > Taking into consideration that "we" relates to those of European descent, 
> > we
> > have invasively migrated into just about every corner of the indigenous
> > world do to our greed or demand for a more "suitable" environment. These
> > indigenous environments could support the native populations on their own
> > and through natural selection and evolution those peoples were getting by
> > just fine.... until more modern agriculture practices came into play
> > increasing yield and pleasure.... thus creating greed.
> > 
> > Through our own greed for new land "we" have moved into just about every
> > nook and cranny of the earth and, with the aid of modern oil driven 
> > machines
> > to make those places more like the "home" we have become accustomed to
> > living in, we are getting by just peachy.......
> > 
> > Along with domineering corporate agendas, corruption, oil, and advances in
> > "modern" medicine we have been able to out domineer, out produce, out
> > reproduce, and out live the competition for those lands..... destroying
> > everything in our path due to greed. So.... what do we do to solve the
> > problem?  Who retains the knowledge of those lands when the so called
> > "modern" conveniences run out? What right do we have to be there if we
> > cannot exist without the comforts of the outside world?
> > 
> > At which point do we begin prepare for the to overall panic?
> > 
> > John Thomas Naisbitt
> > Colombia
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On Thu, May 6, 2010 at 12:54 PM, <fdnokes@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> > > Hi James, or anyone with a 'take' on this.
> > >
> > > Here is my little question:
> > >
> > > Do you think we have overstepped the bounds of what is habitable space 
> > > on
> > > earth?
> > > Are we trying to live in too many places that are not supportive enough 
> > > of
> > > life?
> > >
> > > Frances
> > >
> > > --------------------------------------------------
> > > From: "jamesdavid Sneed" <harvestcircle@hotmail.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 8:15 AM
> > > To: <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> > > Subject: Re: [permaculture] From TruthOut
> > >
> > > >
> > > > It was completely avoidable if we would cease our addiction to oil, or
> > > any
> > > > "easy" energy.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
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> > >
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>                                         
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