Feel free to browse this section for more information on how I weave each of three foundations –
the ecological, the social and the economic.
the ecological, the social and the economic.
Permaculture is a collage of techniques and disciplines, both ancient and modern, gathered from all around the world that guide a designer towards building resilient systems for human habitation. It is a design process often explained as “whole systems design” – founded upon three ethics: Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share. In other words, to put a true permaculture project into motion, one needs to lay out a plan that covers:
EArth Care: Ecological Core values
This may include growing food, designing a garden, animal management, land restoration, remediation techniques, natural building and ideally a mix of it all. Specific strategies vary upon climate zone and site characteristics of a project.
If you need advice about a landscape project, please get in touch!
If you need advice about a landscape project, please get in touch!
PEOPLE CARE: SOCIAL DYNAMICS AWARENESS
True permaculture design must also focus on building community. Strategies about how to do this infiltrate the field from many different schools of thought that have been previously developed interdependent of ecology. Tools used include non-violent communication, dragon dreaming, organizational structuring, re-skilling and team-building. Yet again, the social dynamics of a given project are its basic fertility. A group must work well with each other before they can begin expressing themselves onto the land.
FAIR SHARE: Fiscal Sustainability
A truly resilient financial system needs to support a community rather than divide them, maximize creativity, preserve resources rather than spend them frivolously. Currently, many strategies that suit these goals include local currencies, community supported agriculture, Transition Towns and responsible entrepreneurship.
Every region and community is different. Some people may be highly skilled in economics, but may have very little experience growing a garden. Others might be expert horticulturalists or farmers without a clue about how to reconnect with their community. Every workshop of mine includes lectures/instructions, sharing stories/experiences and practical work/exercises. Where all three ethics (ecological, social and financial) are expressed, it is up to the group to assess their own needs and request where they want the main activities to focus.