I never quite know what to say or do about those critical of permaculture
based on a partial understanding of what it is.
While I couldn't agree more that the visible parts of permaculture
gardening, building houses, water harvesting and remediation, forestry are
at best survival techniques in the coming hard times - but that is just the
beginning of what permaculture has to offer. There is a whole other part of
the design system called "invisible structures" that deals with economic,
social, and financial aspects of life and it is within this section is the
true opportunity to offer new strategies to deal with corporatism,
capitalism, and rampant consumerism. If this isn't happening then it is the
fault of the teachers who either don't understand the implications of
"invisible structures" or are too lazy to give it the depth of thought and
creativity to be able to teach it to their students.
I have developed an unsavory reputation as a conservative grump (to put it
kindly) for my insistence on retaining "all" of the curriculum for the
permaculture design course, as handed down by Bill Mollison. That does not
mean that there aren't thing that can be added and updated but that the
pedagogy of the course as directed by the curriculum is a whole system and
was designed that way. I can't tell you how many certified designers I have
met who don't use or teach "invisible structures", so it is no wonder that
in many quarters permaculture is considered another gardening technique. It
is like teaching organic gardening without mentioning soil!
Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.