Re: PERMACULTURE & PEAK OIL: Beyond 'Sustainability
Posted: Fri 08 Nov 2013, 03:02:08
OK, 10 Random facts on Permaculture.
1. The latest number I have heard is there are 75,000 certified permaculturists world wide (and the number is growing fast). Personally I'm thinking it has hit or close to hitting critical mass.
2. This works out to one certified Permie to 100,000 people. Only about 1 in ten certified Permie actually teaches a Permaculture Design Course. Anyone see a source of income here????
3. Permies believe that knowledge without action is worthless, so I wouild be pretty surprised to see a Permie NOT get his/her hands dirty.
4. A climax food forest takes at least ten years to reach that point, since Permaculture wasn't formalized until the seventies, there are not a lot of them around but they exist. There are however sustainable food forests hundreds if not thousands of years old.
Here is a former Organic Orchard converted to a permaculture orchard:
http://vimeo.com/78527630
I don't think he teaches Permaculture, but I'm not sure. His orchard produces more, takes significantly less work, and very few external inputs.
5. No matter how sustainable or self sufficient you are today, you still need money. I can't barter with the government for my property taxes I need money for that. That said, you should need much less money, the less the better. Like all permaculture efforts, you should seek diversity in your income, ideally 3-5 different sources.
6. Permies love to pull stuff from the waste streams, and find new uses for them.
7. Permaculturists are a recognized specialty by the United Nations and used in disaster relief efforts among other things.
8. Probably if you know a Permie, he teaches, just by the mere fact they advertise so are more visible.
9. Permies come from all walks of life, all religions, all political persuasions, and all parts of the world.
10. Not all permie techniques work everywhere, it depends on climate, latitude, elevation etc. But a certified Permie knows which techniques to use no matter where in the world he goes to.
1. The latest number I have heard is there are 75,000 certified permaculturists world wide (and the number is growing fast). Personally I'm thinking it has hit or close to hitting critical mass.
2. This works out to one certified Permie to 100,000 people. Only about 1 in ten certified Permie actually teaches a Permaculture Design Course. Anyone see a source of income here????
3. Permies believe that knowledge without action is worthless, so I wouild be pretty surprised to see a Permie NOT get his/her hands dirty.
4. A climax food forest takes at least ten years to reach that point, since Permaculture wasn't formalized until the seventies, there are not a lot of them around but they exist. There are however sustainable food forests hundreds if not thousands of years old.
Here is a former Organic Orchard converted to a permaculture orchard:
http://vimeo.com/78527630
I don't think he teaches Permaculture, but I'm not sure. His orchard produces more, takes significantly less work, and very few external inputs.
5. No matter how sustainable or self sufficient you are today, you still need money. I can't barter with the government for my property taxes I need money for that. That said, you should need much less money, the less the better. Like all permaculture efforts, you should seek diversity in your income, ideally 3-5 different sources.
6. Permies love to pull stuff from the waste streams, and find new uses for them.
7. Permaculturists are a recognized specialty by the United Nations and used in disaster relief efforts among other things.
8. Probably if you know a Permie, he teaches, just by the mere fact they advertise so are more visible.
9. Permies come from all walks of life, all religions, all political persuasions, and all parts of the world.
10. Not all permie techniques work everywhere, it depends on climate, latitude, elevation etc. But a certified Permie knows which techniques to use no matter where in the world he goes to.