Permaculture Design Introductory Module (1 of 3 for … · Permaculture Design Introductory Module (1 of 3 for full PDC): Topic One: Ethics rejuvenate dying cells, and to reproduce

Permaculture Design Introductory Module (1 of 3 for full PDC): Topic One: Ethics

Permaculture Ethics

‘If we’re not part of the solution we’re part of the problem’ Bill Mollison.

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You need to answer only ONE homework Topic per Chapter. Mailto: [email protected]

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http://www.permaculturevisions.com/

mailto:[email protected]


The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children.

THE CORE PERMACULTURE ETHICS:

“Care of the Earth” including all living andnon-living things, such as animals, plants, land,water and air. The Earth will continue withoutus, but if we want to stay on it, we need tomaintain the delicate habitat that we currentlyenjoy

“Care of People1”: promoting self-relianceand community responsibility enables us tohealthily engage with our habitat, planet Earth.

“Fair Share”: Finding a way to have a win-win relationship for the Planet and it's People.

HOMEWORK [Ref: Ethics]

How does each ethic and strategy apply to you? What more can you do in developing these ideas in your home, work and community situation?

What is My ‘Environment?’We cannot simply say, “The environment is everything I am not2” because we live within our environment and our environment is able to penetrate our skin and tissues (eg. our eyes), on ourtongues, in our stomach and intestines, in our nostrils, and within our lungs and blood. Today I may have viruses in my body and small bacteria attacking a part of me. Tomorrow I may have a small cut or lump from a bite, often my body is busy reacting to a multitude of environmental effects. Without daily challenges, some people’s immune systems become unstable. Our health is closely interconnected with and influenced daily by microbes of the natural world. We are fluid beings (55-60% water), able to withstand only small temperature fluctuations, with sensitive and permeable outer membranes (our skin). In many environments we struggle to survive and have to adapt by wearing protective clothing, sunscreen and sometimes masks.

When can I say “this much of what is going on inside me is the real me, and that, out there is the environment?” The food that passes through me is not me but enables me to grow, to

1 Photo: 2004 Rider in Berlin in the designated Bike-lane with flowers, handbag and dress coat.2Albert Einstein



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rejuvenate dying cells, and to reproduce. The air I inhale is part of my environment but it becomes part of my body. It also changes as a result of my using it. The air I exhale changes my environment. The germs, worms, fungi and micro organisms breed in my body. They alter by my body’s resistance and instigate reactions. They are not part of my body, yet they affect and change my body. They evolve and adapt within my body before they re-enter the environment. The shadow I cast is not me. These are simply the effects of my existence. If the environment is altered by my existence how can I assume the environment cannot alter my existence?

“Environment” is a complex thing to understand. Not only must we try to pin down what environment is, but also where it is and when. What may be good for the environment today, may not be so good in 20 years time and vice versa. " George Bekier3

J. Krishnamurti4 said: “Most of us in this confused and brutal world try to carve out a private lifeof our own, a life in which we can be happy and peaceful and yet live with the things of this world. We seem to think that the daily life we lead, the life of struggle, conflict, pain and sorrow, is something separate from the outer world of misery and confusion. We seem to think the individual, the ‘you’ , is different from the rest of the world with all its atrocities, wars and riots, inequality and injustice and that this is something entirely different from our particular individual life. When you look a little more closely, not only at your own life but also at the world, you will see that what you are – your daily life, what you feel- is the external world, the world about you. You are the world, you are the human being that has made this world of utter disorder, the world that is crying helplessly in great sorrow. It is you, the human being that has built this world. So that world outside you is not different from the world in which you live yourprivate life. The division between the individual and society does not really exist at all….In bringing about a radical change in the human being, in you, you are naturally bringing about aradical change in the structure and the nature of society….”

3 George Bekier- a PermacultureVisions student in 20064 Krishnamurti Talks with American Students 1970 ISBN 0877730210



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Zachary Jones, one of our students also pointed out that each of us is part of another person's environment. He wrote: My environment is everything. From the view I see when I wake up or walk outside, to the objects and people I interact with, to the air Ibreath in. One thing that is important to remember, is that although all those things are “external” to me, to another human, I am a part of their environment.The things I do and actions I take, affect the overall and universal “environment”.

HOMEWORK [Ref: Ethics]: What is your environment? What brings you to want to change your environment? How can you make a change?

Where can we go from here?There is a growing awareness that we really are having adetrimental effect on the Earth. The use of fossil fuels hasgiven us power that can’t be sustained. Unfortunately, itis not only our lifestyle that will be affected as theresources diminish. Our basic survival will be threatened.

The current methods of food production and distributionare dependent on high-energy methods. This energycomes in the form of fossil fuels and chemical fertilisersand poisons. Paul Harrison writes that we are in thethroes of a Third Revolution (the first was a shift fromhunter-gather to agriculture, the second was the shiftfrom wood to fossil fuel and hence the industrial revolution).

The third revolution is about how to deal with all the problems associated with our waste. He argues that the three equally responsible main pressures on the globe are high population, consumption and technology. Permaculture is a nature-based technology we all can adopt to reduce consumption and waste.

Permaculture aims to Reduce Consumption and Adopt Sustainable Production.

Why Localised Production Localised Production means reduced pollution by reduced consumption. Food produced locally requires less energy to distribute. Everyone wants food. Food can be selected by and grown near the people who want it. It can managed by local people and can be harvested by them. Most people like some form of exercise and this can be part of the growing and harvesting exercise.



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We can combine the need for healthy food, fresh water, clean air and the desire for a pleasant and interesting environment to provide a rewarding, pleasant lifestyle: Permaculture.

Better BuyingPart of the other steps to reduced consumption lies in the involvement of consumers in production. When people realise how much energy goes into a product (food or clothingor heating fuel) they use it more sparingly.

Embodied Energy: for example people would eat meat less regularly if they themselves grew the pasture for the animal, housed, treated and raised the stock, and slaughtered it.

Embodied pollution: permaculture promotes a more diverse diet containing nourishing foods, fresh food consumption, skill development through home cooking and preserving abundance produce. Learning to cook what we grow helps us create an easy system of food security. The food moves quickly from the garden fork to the plate fork. When people see how many chemicals go into the production of food they



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become more selective. We can choose harvesting and cooking methods that retain vitamins, and we can cycle any food waste back into our local production system. Organic Farming is a small part of the technological shift required for sustainability. It addresses toxic residues in food and harmful pollutants in the rural environment.

Human resources management: Most people have to go to work to pay someone else to harvest their food. Permaculture aims toretain our link to the land and nature through ourfood and exercise. Permaculture is a lifestyle.

The true cost of a product’s disposal: eachtime we dispose of a product we have to decidehow. If the product is biodegradable and wehave access to the land, we can compost it, if itis made from non-degradable materials we haveto pay to dispose it, however the true cost ismuch greater than what we pay. Landfill is alimited resourced and not sustainable. (eg. Nexttime we need to buy a laundry basket, a pillow, amattress or piece of furniture we can seek onemade of a degradable materials such as cane,feather, rubber or wood.)

We Cannot Step Back Simple peasant agriculture means much lower living standards anddaily drudgery although people living on the land can be slimmer,better nourished, healthier and much fitter than city dwellers.Understandably, the average highly paid consumer will not welcomethis. Peasant agriculture and some traditional agricultural methods(such as slash and burn) are not feasible with the modern, highworld population that has come about due to the reliance on fossilfuels for mechanised food production and energy supply. Peasantliving would mean greater loss of natural forests as each family is forced to seek a ploton which to live.

There is still the risk of damage to existing soils from our loss of knowledge aboutsuitable agricultural traditions over recent generations. People still living in peasantagriculture life-styles today on average have shorter life spans, higher infant mortalityand greater risk of malnutrition and disease. Their land is stressed by populationgrowth. Even wealthy landlords have to eventually divide the farm for their children.

Permaculture aims to use some effective traditional methods and mostly design to buildnew agricultural models.



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Nature In Our Home EnvironmentPermaculture is about creating localised edible ecosystems.Permaculture aims to mimic nature, and to developsustainable productive systems5. The information revolutionof the 1990’s allowed Permaculture to spread across theglobe, providing the information needed to form aproductive environment whereever people live. Educationcan relieve the continuing pressure on our last remainingnatural areas AND it brings natural areas back into thecities. Permaculture combines ideas and skills that are bothtraditional (ie. organic farming practices) and modern(science and technology). Permaculture is continuallydeveloping as more information is collected and shared.

Permaculture has shown that natural forest, containingindigenous and other foods, useful and medicinal plants,insects, fish and animals can replace exhausted agricultural areas. Conservationistsmust face basic issues at every meal. To eat only indigenous foods would quickly depletethe food remaining reserves, and yet to support the expanding commercial productionof food threatens the dwindling nature reserves. The conservationist has here theopportunity to do something.

5 Whitefield 1993.



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“When enough people act, the leaders will follow” 6

"If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a stateas are the souls of those who live under tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the U.S.A.

HOMEWORK [Ref. The Pollution Culture]: What actions by humans cause pollution? Which actions are immediate, which are slow, which can grow to become irreparable, which can become accepted or even deemed ‘necessary’ as part of our culture? For example: some actions such as war cause sudden and immediate degradation, others such as nuclear or chemical

build-up are slow and cumulative.

6 Wisdom Gardens - Earth Repair Foundation, Hazelbrook NSW.



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Care of People7

Care of people is essential to the health of the globe.Care of People can help arrest greed, land ownershipdisputes and war. Most poverty and suffering in thirdworld countries is not just the result of high populationgrowth, it is nearly always the result of land ownershipinequality8,. Many nations with starving people export food andimport weaponry. Food-power9, water control andaccess to heating can fuel wars. If each person wasable to grow food, control some of their own water

supply, and generate power there would be less power over them from their owngovernment and other nations.

Care of People, from it’s ideals to realities,affects us in all areas: from industry, politics tofamily and friends. Many issues are addressed inour aim for care of people. These includereduced stress, the concept of work versus play,preventive medical treatment, fulfilling thepotential of those people unfit for work,preparing for our future needs and those of ourfamily.

7 Photos: The children in the garden at Mt Kembla, in 1992 when there was mainly grass, then just a year later where there is fresh food, privacy and critters (creatures) to find.8 Paul Harrison 19939Food power is the use of agriculture as a means of political control whereby one nation or group of nations offers or withholdscommodities from another nation or group of nations in order to manipulate behavior.



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Permaculture inspires people at ‘grass roots’ level. It empowers people, giving them actions to overcome their despair with the health of their environment. Permaculturalists become an example for others to follow. They work in their ‘area of control’: their circle of influence. They change their lifestyle in a way that can be sustained. The breaking of habits and building of healthy choices is individualised and personalised. Permaculture is about a lasting change in social behaviour as much as change in home and community structure. Permaculture often involves comprehensive life style changes. Teachers, in any field,should aim to develop the student’s natural ability to teach themselves. The challengefor the Permaculturalist is to sway opinion and arouse interest in a non-threatening way.Below are a few comments from other students as they came through this course, as youwill see they vary remarkably and may sow some seeds of thought:

Helen Mitchell:“Care of People involves giving people confidence to be able accomplish their desires and to express their opinions. It involves taking care ofourselves but not at the expense of others.Self-reliance is the confidence in ones own abilities and opinions, whatever endeavours we are making. We must do all we can to boost others, and especially not to have a negative effect on a person (e.g. no destructive criticism, no put-downs).

Self-sufficiency is the ability to provide for all our own material needs. Self-sufficiency really only occurs in regions, not ones own small backyard. We must be prepared to plan, to share materials; products; labour and information in our communities.”

Fran Thompson:“Surplus distribution is a community conceptthat when implemented means that individualsbecome part of a wider system. My‘distributions’ include energy in bushregeneration projects, and informationsupporting co-workers both directly in workand in various study endeavours. Surplusproduce from the garden is welcomed whether itfeeds the soul (a bunch of golden roses) orthe body (a box of potatoes).

The concept of self-sufficiency implies totalreliance on the self and seeing yourselfoutside the larger ‘whole’ system. Thisapproach can negate links and strengths thatall those within the system can offer eachother - “No man [or woman or creature] is anisland” (John Donne 1572-1631). While the selfsufficient organism may not call on otherresources it in turn does not contribute to the whole.”

Leigh Vial [Vic]:“I see the first step towards this ethic as being to apply it to myself - to develop my own self reliance and community responsibility, to ensure I am not a burden on others. The outward manifestation of this ethic will then flow from my attitude and example.”



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Allison Wells:“I want to be able to provide the people I care about with food, shelter, love, help etc. I can extend this idea of care and nourishmentto the wider community, through my friends and family and other associations, I’m creating my own bit of peace and successful communication...People often lose sight of the connections that make things harmonious”

Sue Maples: “I honestly think that People care is much more important...It is often easier to care for animals, plants, land, water, air as we do not personally clash with these, they do not answer back, mostly going alongwith your ideas...I see and want to help others to see that “people” arethe main reason for doing all Care of the Earth”

Phillippa Simpson:“Our 20th century lifestyle has led to a revved up existence leading to stress, sickness and potent drugs to fix illnesses quickly...more and more people are asking us what can they do to improve life. We are stilla novelty to some. To give up two very good jobs to be at home and livefrugally!”

Kim Gould:“..my child is part of a recognised market andtreated as such. No wonder we are all starting totreat each other as “things”- clients, products,competitors etc.” ...I would like to contrast ourexisting culture which is based on scarcity andcompetition, to one based on abundance and co-operation.”

Graham Johnson writes: “At a personal and professional level I am activelytrying to remove my normal tendency to criticiseothers - no matter how subtly. Developing a gentle,supportive approach is much more productive for all in the long run.”

Sharon Moore“I believe the more we separate ourselves from the natural world, the sicker we become physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Muchknowledge has been lost through the displacement of people in the race for natural resources. Seeing people as expendable creates inequity, poverty and dependence on outside authorities”...“to develop an economy that is supportive of life in general we need to reassess and balance our ideology of piling up resources for our own benefit. There needs tobe a shift world wide towards the sharing of resources...It is a sad indictment … when rich countries dump surplus food to manipulate financial markets while millions around the globe die of starvation”. Photo: graffiti on poster calling for the care of ‘human companions’ rather than dogs & cats: Paris Metro 2004

Cheryl and Robert K, USA “We have sold both of our cars in order to walk and occupy ourselves locally. As parents we try to role model caring for the earth as a basicneed. Within our community we initiate dialogue about our earth and we participate in Greensboro Beautiful, a local “ earth care” organization.



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Rejuvenating our home and yard into a more sustainable system is a goal of ours that will incorporate care of the Earth at a community level since the neighborhood is already coming around to see what’s going on at our site. Cooperation becomes important and a joy; giving and receiving makes living fun.”

Joel M Veterinary doctor, Aus“I was just reading again the 'food politics' supplement to this sectionwith interest. The reference to eggs and free-range vs cage eggs is one we debated at university when the Australian Veterinary Association produced a policy regarding the welfare of caged chooks, which basicallysupported the status quo of the caged chook industry producing the vast majority of eggs. (In the opinion of many vets including myself, a clearly unacceptable position if animal welfare is to be our primary concern.) In the news recently has been acrackdown on major egg companies deliberatelymisleading buyers - the amount of 'free range'labelled eggs on the market significantlyexceeds the true production of free range eggs.Free range eggs, like organic vegies, have aproblem in the mass marketplace where food isexported and imported over big distances andthere is a marked producer/consumer dichotomywith the producers in a tiny minority. A commonargument made by proponents of caged eggproduction is that there simply isn't enoughland to produce the eggs people want to eat ifall eggs were 'free range'. This is a problemworthy of consideration, but it is solved bythe Permaculture approach of localisedproduction- if not in the backyard, then fromanother local backyard- there is enough landfor this, except in heavily built-up areas, which could import eggs fromconventional free range farms. Permaculture also provides answers to another free range quandry- the fact that chooks are not 'at home' in the big spaces and bright light of open fields (the usual setup for freerange farms), with their jungle fowl heritage. Integration of chooks into an orchard environment provides a useful aid in pest control while providing the birds with an entirely appropriate living environment.”

Eric Sonie of southern France wrote: “I believe that culture and nature protection are linked....When a species disappears, it is a bit of me that disappears too, my world is shrinking.”

There are many powerful reasons to care for others: 1. Through ignorance and poor communication we can quickly loose thousands of

years of communal knowledge and skills (including traditional knowledge) . 2. If we do not share with others we risk that our work will be undone.

3. War is one of the most damaging elements to the environment. It is oftentriggered by famine and hardship. A healthy relationship with nature can help buildabundance and inner peace. Without inner peace there cannot be world peace.



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Permaculture communitiesThere are some existing and developingcommunities that were established toattract like-minded people with care ofearth and people ethics. Some of thesecommunities came out of the 1960’s peacemovement. Other communities are beingdrawn up today as Eco-cities planned bygovernment bodies in collaboration witharchitects and community representatives. Some permaculture communities haveguidelines for housing and use of the land,some share orchards and natural areas.There is a growing interest in communityaspects of environmentally responsibleliving in many nations from Indian women’s revolving loans systems (see Grameen Foundation bare foot microfinance banking http://www.grameenfoundation.org/ ) through to formal permaculture estates (Example Villages such as Crystal Waters http://www.ecologicalsolutions.com.au/crystalwaters/ . Village living and design is discussed in greater depth in our last course Module (see chapter called Villages).



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Quandong and Cassowary Fruits

Illustration 1: Rosyln C's homework


http://www.ecologicalsolutions.com.au/crystalwaters/

http://www.grameenfoundation.org/



Our existence as part of the whole:If we are to improve the environment,we have to see the earth as oneorganism; we can’t simply enrich ourown environment (although we shouldstart at home) and expect theecological destruction elsewhere notto affect us. Similarly, we can’tenrich conditions for peopleelsewhere in ignorance of poverty andsuffering at home. We can aim to assist other nations toaddress problems arising fromunsustainable population, inequalityin land-ownership, and education forall. Measures can focus on thepotential for all individuals to achieveself-reliance. We can always lead byexample and when working abroad, oroutside our own community, aim tosupplement the work done by localpeople not impose our own values andchanges, as this is neither empoweringnor sustainable10. The Care of Peopleideals must aim to enrich theenvironment and living conditions for all.

"Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions oflife for all men are recognised and accepted as a common

obligation of all men...shall we... be able to speak of mankind ascivilised." Albert Einstein

HOMEWORK [Ref.: Ethics - global ‘needs’]: In less than 200 words, describe the basic requirements of the worldwide natural system in order to continue to sustain diverse life forms. What are some of the Earth’s problems today? And what effect does mankind have on the state of the Earth? What are some of the possible solutions?

10 Chris Evans is a leading permaculture adviser in Nepal.



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Permaculture Starts by Simply CaringPermaculture is an ethical system, stressing positive attitudes and cooperation. Permaculture is about sustainable living by producing more, cleanly and ethically AND consuming less non-renewable resources.

Permaculture is a practical way to care for our environment. It can be practised on a small or large scale. Each step forward is one less backwards. Things we can do:

Aim to turn our problems into solutions. Be resourceful and maximise our assets of time, sun, water, soil, skills and more.

Try to make all our work (productive activities) valuable to the world, our community and ourselves, and not just ‘profitable’. Similarly, our leisure time should not be at the cost of other people’s time or the environment’s needs. We canwork where it counts and we can play where it benefits others (eg. supporting eco-tourism, making music) or does little impact on the environment (eg. walking or trekking).

Bring food production back to the cities; maximise our yields, minimise maintenance and energy yields. “6% of the earth could feed 6,000 million people if managed properly.” [Mollison] Good land management would include small-scale land use; intensive rather than extensive cropping; diversity of habitants; use of microclimates and more (see Cultivated Ecology). Photo: harvesting olives simply - Ancient Greek vessel, British Museum

Help others to be self-reliant.



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Steiner school garden Kuranda N.QLD




HOMEWORK [Ref.: Ethics-consumption]: List what you and your family currently consume and produce. Mark each product on your consumption list that could be produced at home or purchased locally. What items on your production list could be modified to reduce waste? How can you reduce packaging and transport costs?

The fabulous outdoor theatre in Granada, Spain

This natural solution at the Alhambra, Granada became a market advantage. The wholesite allows nature to participate in its shape, evolution and is offers seasonal surprises for everyone who visits and uses the site.

Setting Goals Comes LastStuart Hill urges us to be driven by our ethics and values. From there we will find purpose, plans and activities.



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http://www.stuartbhill.com/





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Recommended Reading:Permaculture Design: A Step-by-Step Guide Paperback – 2012 by Aranya (Author), Patrick Whitefield (Foreword) Permaculture in a Nutshell by Patrick Whitefield pub. Permanent ProductionsThe Earth users Guide to Permaculture by Rosemary Morrow Biodiversity by E.O.Wilson Pub. National academy Press, Washington.Silent Spring by Racheal Carson. One Straw Revolution by M. FukuokaThe Gaia Hypothesis by J. Lovelace The Third Revolution Paul Harrison Penguin London 1993



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http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_2?ie=UTF8&text=Patrick+Whitefield&search-alias=books&field-author=Patrick+Whitefield&sort=relevancerank

http://www.amazon.com/Aranya/e/B00BHEAGLQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1



Please send this additional HOMEWORK [Ref: Guidance for your tutor]:

What do you hope to do with this design course when completed?

What are your priorities at this stage?

Setting up a permaculture system of your own

Incorporating permaculture into an existing business or lifestyle that will provide financial benefits (commercial permaculture)

Teaching permaculture to others (children or adults) (industrialised or “under developed” nations). In existing education institution or with freedom of presentation and educational methods? Please specify

Starting from scratch: planning for a future system, choosing a suitable site, and developing know-how and resources.

Investigating and developing the social aspects of permaculture: empowerment; village or eco-city living; economic structures or networking (associations, trusts or internet).

Developing a specialist field within permaculture. E.g. Vegetarian/Vegan, raw foods diet, religious, rehabilitation, native foods, rare breeds, seed saving etc.

Other, please specify



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The Problem is the SolutionBill Mollison strongly argues that the problem is the solution. For instance, he writes: “you don’t have a snail problem, you have a duck deficiency”.

Here is a light-hearted example:

The Donkey11 ”One day a farmer's donkey fell down into awell. The animal cried piteously for hours as the hard-hearted farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, hedecided the animal was old, and the well needed to becovered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve thedonkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. Theyall grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of

11 Author unknown



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dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top ofthe animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Prettysoon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over theedge of the well and happily trotted off!” The donkey was quickto turn the threat into his solution! Here's another little example of making the problem thesolution: for 190 years small birds keep nesting under the eaves of the high ceiling of the veranda of a convict built magistrates house in Wollombi. The nests cause the proprietor to have to clean the chairs and tables and flooring below. The mess is a good source of fertiliser, so, large potted plants or small wall pots can be placed underneath to harness the waste.

“You don't have snail problem you have a duck deficiency” Mollison

HOMEWORK [Ref.: Ethics – Problem is the Solution]: Do you have a “problem”? How could this problem be turned into your solution?



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The Notion of an EcolutionAt the EcoArts Australis 2nd National Conference, Catherine van Wilgenburg: gave an inspiring presentation entitled: 'I have been transformed by this land' …the Ecolution of an artist’s practice.

Stages of an Ecolution:1. Awareness2. Hope that we can make a change3. Inspiration to act4. Means to equip action5. Empowerment to act 6. Feeling supported and being supportive to others



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http://www.livingcolourstudio.com.au/

http://www.ecoartsaustralis.org.au/events-and-projects/conference-2016-building-sustainability-with-the-arts/



1. AwareFirstly we need to become aware of the challenges to a clean our environment and stay informed of the facts. Planet earth will go onturning without us but humanity exists only whilst the conditionsare right.Clean air, clean drinking water, nutrients from healthy soil andgenetic material are vital to our survival. Each time a species dies,our complex network of genetic resources dwindle.For many peopletoday the news is depressing. Young people are turning away fromnews sources and focusing on entertainment. There is also agrowing disconnect between consumers and nature. The city haspushed out the native forests and wildlife and it takes a specialeffort for people to find a connection with nature.

2. HopefulThe task of educating people about the horrors of pollution isgetting more difficult. When young people face the enormityof the build up of pollution from almost a decade of abuse,they feel overwhelmed. Often they succumb to a feeling ofhopelessness and some think that by removing themselves fromthe world it will help the planet. Youth suicide due toenvironmental degradation is devastating for the wholecommunity. Lets not leave young people feeling powerless,let's equip and empower them.Key advocates like Bob Brown understand the importance ofstaying optimistic. Optimism has more staying power than fear. Fear can overwhelm us but it usually fails to sustain a change. One of the most powerful tools to build our hope for the future is the immerse ourselves in nature. Go for a walk, climb a tree, nurture a plant, tend a beehive, photograph the birds, spot the butterflies.

3. Inspired

When we are driven by our feelings and passions, we arestrong and resilient. An honest understanding of ourfeelings does not change with periods of abundance andhard times. The setting of goals comes last.

Stuart Hill urges us to be driven by our ethics and values.Then get a good understanding of our feelings andpassions. From this we collect ideas, create a vision,design our lifestyle, formulate action plans and get onwith the daily task of activities.



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http://www.stuartbhill.com/

http://www.bobbrown.org.au/optimism_the_introduction




http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/proceedings/13/hassan.pdf



http://www.boomerangalliance.org.au/



4. EquippedWe can build our skills and resources to make meaningful changes. Proven techniques are learning through immersion (eg. working on permaculturesites), courses, cultural change, education about life skills,reading up on permaculture and gathering experience on theground.

A mentor guides inspired participants through the process ofskill acquisition and research. No single course on its own canequip us. It can start the process but as we develop and findour niche, it is great to have a mentor or at least other study-buddies to enable discussion and sharing of ideas.

5. Empowered

In this stage of the ecolution process individuals are skilled,armed with knowledge and enthusiastic about observing nature.The ecolution of a community, would have sharing at the heart ofthe solutions. There is great potential to collectively makesignificant changes. Community projects make the flavour of acommunity and can build empowerment. This includes communityRadio stations, newsgroups, freecycle, clothes swap, and goodold car-boot sales. The town of Tyalgum (which hosts one of thefirst permaculture sites) are going off grid by buying their ownsolar power.

6. Supported and Supportive

Collaboration is more powerful than competition. The biggest permaculture project in the world was self-fundedand driven by collaboration. People saw what permaculturecould do for them (more food and water) and they learntfrom their neighbours and then began to develop communalresources including rehabilitated lands into forests.

The ecolution is cyclic. When there is a need forregeneration of our ecolution we can revisit the foundations ofthe development process. We can renew our awareness.Then building our hope knowing that previous hope wasactioned upon and had a positive outcome.



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Dare to be different


http://www.thechikukwaproject.com/

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/this-northern-nsw-town-could-be-first-to-decide-to-quit-the-grid-16793




https://www.freecycle.org/

http://www.sharing.org/why-nations-need-to-share/the-environmental-crisis

http://www.permaculturevisions.com/courses/courses-fees/

http://www.wwoof.com.au/

http://permacultureaustralia.org.au/permafund/



Thank you for participating in our Ethics Course. We hope we gave you inspiration.

All of the work at Permaculture Visions is carried out without grants or external supports. We value your support and encouragement.

Permaculture Visions offers scholarship to people in need. If you would like to donate a small amount to keep our service running, we will be able to offer more for free.

For substantial sums of money we prefer you to support: PermaFund. Permafund is the charitable arm of Permaculture Australia. Its charter is to promote and support projects around the world that have a strong permaculture element.



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http://permacultureaustralia.org.au/permafund/



Permaculture Design Course DownloadsCongratulations, you have now completed the first topic of 20 in our full Permaculture Design Course.

You can Enrol online with us and start right now.

NB. Please do not try to download files until you have paid for access as this wastes download resources.

Module 1: Permaculture PrinciplesAbout the Course - Your Orientation

1-2-Ethics 1-3-Natural Systems Design

1-4-Recycling 1-5-CultivatedEcology.pdf

Module 2: Elements of Permaculture Design2-1-Soils 2-2-Water 2-3-Forests

2-4-Buildings 2-5-Aquaculture 2-6-WildlifeBio.pdf

Module 3: Design In Practice - You are nearly finished!!!!

3-1-Village 3-2-Patterns in Design 3-3-Catastrophe.pdf

3-4-Supplies3-5-Appropriate EnergyConserving Technology

3-6 Classical LandscapeProfiles.pdf

3-7-Community.pdf 3-8-Trainee 3-9-Final.pdf

If you enjoyed this free course, please tell us and tell a friend!



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http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-9-Final.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-8-Trainee.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-7-Community.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-6-CLandscape.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-6-CLandscape.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-5-Energy.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-5-Energy.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-4-Supplies.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-3-Catastrophe.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-2-Patterns.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/3/3-1-Village.pdf

http://www.permaculturevisions.org/CN/2/2-6-WildlifeBio.pdf

http://www.permaculturevisions.org/CN/2/2-5-Aquaculture.pdf

http://www.permaculturevisions.org/CN/2/2-4-Buildings.pdf

http://www.permaculturevisions.org/CN/2/2-3-Forests.pdf

http://www.permaculturevisions.org/CN/2/2-2-Water.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/2/2-1-Soils.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/1/1-5-CultivatedEcology.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/1/1-4-Recycling.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/1/1-3-NaturalSystemsDesign.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/CN/1/Ethics.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.org/1-1-About-the-course.pdf

http://permaculturevisions.com/courses/enrol-here/


Documents

Permaculture Design Introductory Module (1 of 3 for … · Permaculture Design Introductory Module (1 of 3 for full PDC): Topic One: Ethics rejuvenate dying cells, and to reproduce