How then, do we move backwards? How does a society, with most of the people having no clue of future events, move from being dependent on a vast and intertwined network of goods and services produced by the indigenous people of whereever, to a local resource and renewable energy based society, and do so in the timeframe available (20-30 years using the most liberal extimates, 10-20 with resonable estimates, 5-10 with worst case scenarios), all the while prices on everything increasing, world politics getting more militaristic, governments continuously reducing civil liberties, shortages of goods on the market and weather patterns resembling bad Hollywood movies?
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 309 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 5:14 pm Post subject: Permaculture - perfect Peak Oil prep training?
White I was reading the Canadian Green Party website, I came accross a term I'd never heard before: Permaculture
I did some quick googling, http://www.permaculture.net/ was the top of the list, but even it's full page list of definitions couldn't make clear exactly what permaculture is. Just seems to be some personal/community level, sustainable living and farming movement. Most importantly, there are books and workshops and courses on the subject.
Is anyone else familiar with this? I mean, if there are people out there giving formalized lessons on sustainable farming, energy efficent self-sustaining homes, etc., sounds like just the sort of thing to prepare for a peak oil world.
Does anyone have some experience on the subject? Could spread some light on it for the rest of us? _________________ "Our forces are now closer to the center of Baghdad than most American commuters are to their downtown office."
--Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, April 2003
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6371 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 5:33 pm Post subject:
Where is Spork?
WC, I think a simple definition, at least ag wise, is to plant perennials. Trees, vines, permanent pasture, etc, avoid constant soil loss and (important here) oil inputs. In addition, multi-cropping can reduce pest and disease by mimicking a natural system as much as possible. _________________ Make a plan and work it:
Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 6:44 pm Post subject: more than that...
WhiteCrab - you are more right than you know! Permaculture, at least the vision put forward by one of it's co-originators, David Holmgren, is being developed largely as a response to peak oil. The first section of Holmgren's 2002 book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability is something of a peak oil primer. Energy systems modelling is one of permacultures theoretical underpinnings. He says something along the lines of: in as much as permaculture principles provide a useful response to energy descent, they will move towards the cultural and political mainstream.
I recently interviewed him about peak oil, and will post a transcript soon on the new website:
www.energybulletin.net
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