Wayne et al., My sister and niece are advocates for permaculture and have taken and assisted with a couple of these workshops, but I am not affiliated with this group or an advocate for this approach, although it is intriguing. My niece is actually working on a permaculture project in Ghana over the next couple of years, primarily focused on aquaponics (in her words, "an agricultural method, based in water, which combines growing fish – 'aquaculture' – with growing plants in water – 'hydroponics.' Instead of costly filtration to remove fish waste from the water, the water in the system is cleaned by the plants, and instead of costly chemical fertilization of the hydroponic water beneath the plants, the plants are fertilized by the fish. All in all, it's possible to grow eight times as many vegetables, with much less cost and maintenance, using 5% of the water as growing in the ground – and you can do this anywhere.)
Most of what I have heard about permaculture and aquaponics from my sister's family jives with what this workshop describes. The only thing I would add to what David McNeely wrote about the link between ecology and permaculture is the use of natural processes of nutrient and carbon cycling in agricultural design and using landscapes in ways more consistent with natural gradients of time and space. Aquaponics is an interesting example of an ecosystem approach to producing meat from aquaculture and vegetables from hydroponics by linking the systems to use the products of one process to benefit the other process. Permaculture is a similar perspective but for terrestrial systems, to take advantage of soil processes and natural variability in rock types and seasons to produce crops that are appropriate for a particular region, sustainably grown and harvested to protect the earth for future agriculture, and to invest a group of people in community agriculture practice. Like David said, things many of us practice, try to teach, or advocate in our own ways as ecologists and educated, concerned citizens. The social community aspects of permaculture are the places that have caused many scientists and mainstream agriculture to question the enterprise. In some ways, it seems an interesting ecosocial experiment in communal living, but I can see how cynical people (including myself to some degree) might see it as entrepreneurs taking advantage of naive and idealistic people who are interested in saving the planet. I am interested to see how broadly implemented permaculture becomes in agriculture across the U.S. At the moment, I see it pretty commonly in localized areas of the Pacific Northwest, northern California, and Hawaii with smaller enclaves in the Northeast. Other parts of the world have been using these approaches far longer, but our subsidized agricultural system seems to resist innovative movements like this. The future is uncertain, but I'm sure my sister and niece will keep me informed. Good luck in your search for answers... Matt On Fri, Dec 23, 2011 at 9:40 AM, David L. McNeely <[email protected]> wrote: > Wayne, I am not connected with the organization, nor had I ever heard of > it until this post. > > >From the description of "permaculture," it is an approach to personal and > community living that incorporates technologies intended to be sustainable. > In fact, it looks similar to some things that a good many of us do already > in our lives, and that we encourage communities to do. > > What does it have to do with ecology? Well, some of the things evidently > advocated are supposed to conserve and protect resources. Certainly in the > popular mind (not that of we professionals of course, where we are focused > on the science of natural systems -- figuring out how things work), > conservation and protection of natural resources is what "ecology" is > (though we would tend to call that "applied environmental science" or > "environmental engineering." > > Is this institute and its use of the term "permaculture" just another case > of an entrapreneur exploiting concern for "the environment"? I don't know. > > What does a hiring criterion for graduate researchers and its > sociopolitical implications have to do with ecology? > > mcneely > > ---- Wayne Tyson <[email protected]> wrote: > > Ecolog: > > > > Can some ecologist out there, not connected to the organization, tell me > > anything about the relationship of "Permaculture" to ecology? > > > > WT > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Common Circle Education" <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 6:04 PM > > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Regenerative Leadership and Urban Permaculture - > > Deadline > > > > > > > Hello friends, > > > > > > Join an unforgettable program in leadership, permaculture > > > and sustainable design and change the world! The upcoming > > > Regenerative Leadership and Permaculture Design course will > > > change your life with nature connection, leadership, > > > permaculture and more. Details @ http://commoncircle.com > > > > > > Who: Common Circle Education, the nation's leadership, > > > sustainable living and permaculture school. > > > What: Regenerative Leadership & Urban Permaculture Design > > > Dates: April 14 - 22nd - Eugene, Oregon > > > August 11 - 19th - Eugene, Oregon > > > > > > -- Find out details @ http://www.commoncircle.com/pdc -- > > > -- Read reviews @ http://www.commoncircle.com/reviews -- > > > -- Sign up before January 15 and take 40%+ off tuition -- > > > > > > "Common Circle's Permaculture Design course was a genuine > > > heart and mind opening experience. If you are interested > > > in finding how you can be part of the life giving earth > > > healing solution in today's global ecological and social > > > crisis this course gives you an in depth and extensive > > > overview of what it takes to make it happen." > > > - Jessica M, Course Graduate > > > (read the reviews @ http://commoncircle.com/reviews) > > > > > > During the workshop, we will talk about: > > > > > > * Smart nature-inspired design principles > > > * Rainwater catchment and storage > > > * Greywater - smart water re-use with plant filters > > > * Food forest design for abundance > > > * Eco-psychology and Regenerative Leadership > > > * Intentional community design and dynamics > > > * Bio-remediation and toxic waste cleanup > > > * Natural building design - cob, strawbale and more > > > * Soil biology and regeneration > > > * Sustainable transportation and fuels > > > * Green business and sustainable economics > > > * Natural patterns and principles > > > * Everything you ever wanted to know about plants and soil! > > > > > > "My experience in the course was invaluable. I find > > > myself with a new permaculture lens that I can put on at > > > will, and see the world around me in a way that I feel > > > leads to making more conscious decisions and living > > > better in harmony with the earth." > > > - Deborah F., Course Graduate > > > (read the reviews @ http://commoncircle.com/reviews) > > > > > > This course will combine critical design skills with > > > leadership, nature connection, and most importantly an > > > urban focus, building and exceeding upon the > > > internationally-recognized Permaculture Design > > > Certification curriculum. Our programs offer by far the > > > most complete curriculum of any similar course -- with a > > > huge focus on leadership, personal growth and community > > > design as well as green business. > > > > > > "This course was the BEST time I have had in the past > > > 6 years" - Lana T, Graduate > > > (read the reviews @ http://commoncircle.com/reviews) > > > > > > You'll learn how to create sustainable, thriving human > > > systems, from green houses and organic gardens, to local > > > micro-economies and communities, using sustainable design > > > principles that are applicable to every human system, > > > from businesses, communities, and cities to personal > > > relationships. > > > > > > "The experiences I have had and people I have met through > > > Common Circle has been life changing. On these trips, a > > > community is created and everyone's individuality is > > > honored, welcomed and celebrated as you work together > > > each day to prepare meals, confront issues large and > > > small and find out how each and every one of us can be > > > the change that we wish to see in the world." > > > - Marlee F, Course Graduate > > > (read the reviews @ http://commoncircle.com/reviews) > > > > > > Because of our unique focus on Urban and Suburban > > > solutions, our courses are radically different from most > > > other programs, teaching permaculture as a design science > > > rooted in nature. With most of the world's population in > > > cities, we must meet people where they live with real > > > sustainable solutions. > > > > > > -- Find out details @ http://www.commoncircle.com/pdc -- > > > -- Read reviews @ http://www.commoncircle.com/reviews -- > > > > > > Starting by learning the lessons from nature with some of > > > the world's most renowned organic farming experts, we > > > will then look at how to apply what we learned from the > > > soil and the water to building sustainable, lasting > > > institutions. > > > > > > We hope you will be able to join us for this incredible, > > > life-changing experiential course! > > > > > > Much gratitude, > > > > > > > > > Vladislav for Common Circle Education > > > web: commoncircle.com > > > phone: 1-800-376-3775 > > > > > > -- > > > common circle education > > > 14525 sw millikan way, suite 17760, beaverton, or 97005 > > > > > > > > > ----- > > > No virus found in this message. > > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > > Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4096 - Release Date: 12/22/11 > > > > > -- > David McNeely > -- Matthew E. McTammany, Ph.D. Associate professor, Biology & Environmental Studies Bucknell University Department of Biology Lewisburg, PA 17837 570-577-3975
