The big problem is the insane dominant culture, in which we all swim, are captive, enmeshed, indoctrinated, inculcated. It tends to pull us back in the instant we confront or try to move away from it. The M.I.I.P.C.C. (military-industrial-intelligence-pharma-corporate-complex) uses 90% of the energy, fuel, metals, minerals, water, soil....and creates most of the pollution and environmental damage.
But (BY DESIGN) when we do, we're steered into individual lifestyle-ism virtue signalling. A little Permaculture garden here or food forest there does not threaten the dominant paradigm.
So what needs to go along with Permaculture, is revolutionary resistance to this dominant insanity, fierce support of activists on the barricades, especially local organisers and any remnant indigenous cultures who know how to live sustainably.
If we are soooo awesomely lucky to get a future, it will be very local, very low tech, very light ecological footprint. Head in that direction and defend your beloved!
"If people are still alive in 50 years, they will look back at this time, and wonder, what the fuck was wrong with us, that we didn't fight back as the biosphere was going down. Love is a verb. Defend your beloved!" Lierre Keith
This resonated with me. I spent much of my life dreaming, planning, waiting for that opportunity to buy some land, live sustainably, wisely, abundantly. Permaculture was always in my greater plan, as was living off grid. My partner and I achieved this goal in 2021. Over the last decade or so, the homesteading movement became less about healthy, sustainable, free living and more about generating revenue from YouTube, podcasts, the workshop circuit and selling books. All from the comfort a 40 acre farm with a large house with power, gas, electricity, fiber internet, sewer and waste services, multiple tractors and a seemingly endless budget for buying and maintaining flocks and herds of livestock.
My partner and I spent 2 years clearing land, acquiring animals (small scale chicken & rabbit), establishing a garden and all the systems we would need to live (rainwater catchment, humanure composting, 12v power for small things like lights and cell phone charging). We cooked on open flame, baked bread and cooked roasts in a Dutch oven over coals, yadda-yadda. Any opportunity we had to learn about what the outside world homesteaders were doing became a frustration, really. Things like "baking is so easy, just pop this into the oven at 450 for 20 minutes and voila! P.S. Subscribe and Like! P.S.S. You can buy our book at <link>"
I attempted a podcast, primarily to educate, but also to generate a few bucks. One of my episodes was on this very topic - I can't stand behind the homesteaders who spend half the season traveling to teach at paid workshops, rather than being a homesteader. I may sound a little bitter. I am. What can I say. I stopped podcasting because I felt cheap, hypocritical and disingenuous.
In any case, I enjoyed the read and I appreciate the message! I'll be looking for ways to evangelize and propagate the values and knowledge of simpler homesteading without selling out.
Really appreciate this thoughtful comment. It’s a strange time to be alive, but whenever my head starts to spin, I just head out to the garden or the woods and do what I know I’m supposed to be doing. Best cure I’ve found.
I don't think all these things are absolutely wrong, although perhaps in degree.
I'm 100% with you about eliminating plastic. It physically pains me in the chest to see plastic mulch used!
Invasives are. I would not suggest to propogate them, but we should be open to using them once they've become established. They can be an incredible resource. The local "anti-invasive" charity used to hold work parties where they'd go pull up Scotch Broom… and deliver it to my goat feeders! Yay! Meanwhile, the broom grows right back. It is firmly established.
(BTW: I know how to get rid of Scotch Broom! It's a pioneer species, and like all pioneers, it wants full sun and disturbed soil. Want to get rid of it? QUIT CLEARING LAND! Let the fields and roadways revert to a natural succession! Within a decade, the broom will have been succeeded out!)
The other arguments seem to be matters of degree. Sure, anything to excess is bound to have unintended consequences. But Permaculture is based on patterns, and the problem is people tend to follow specific examples, rather than pick something with the same pattern that fits your situation.
The fact that people use examples, rather than patterns, is not a problem with Permaculture; it's a problem with its practitioners.
Lots of good points. Especially kudos on calling out the plastics. I’m so OVER plastic seed trays and any other plastic used in gardening, especially single use. I like things that break down.
I will say though I do think it’s both - as far as setting example versus top-down activism. I think grassroots, small scale is valuable alongside top down activism.
Right on! This is why I find the Bioregional Organizing movement so inspiring. By focusing on landscape scale it gets people out of their private yard and farm projects and develops the whole systems view. There are now bioiregional regeneration networks all over the globe, with many permacuturists involved. See examples: Regenerate Cascadia and other examples at https://www.bioregionalearth.org/pathway/design-school.
The Crisis and Transition: A Common Way Forward substack wants to help connect these dots.
Majority of the changes are occurring from people individually and collectively attempting to play the role of a creator. The chart is easy to read. L shaped chart. Left side reads ‘find out’. Bottom reads ‘playing around’. Both measured and marked equally based on amount of effort applied. Play around, find out. Very historic, as we all see this chart.
The big problem is the insane dominant culture, in which we all swim, are captive, enmeshed, indoctrinated, inculcated. It tends to pull us back in the instant we confront or try to move away from it. The M.I.I.P.C.C. (military-industrial-intelligence-pharma-corporate-complex) uses 90% of the energy, fuel, metals, minerals, water, soil....and creates most of the pollution and environmental damage.
But (BY DESIGN) when we do, we're steered into individual lifestyle-ism virtue signalling. A little Permaculture garden here or food forest there does not threaten the dominant paradigm.
So what needs to go along with Permaculture, is revolutionary resistance to this dominant insanity, fierce support of activists on the barricades, especially local organisers and any remnant indigenous cultures who know how to live sustainably.
If we are soooo awesomely lucky to get a future, it will be very local, very low tech, very light ecological footprint. Head in that direction and defend your beloved!
"If people are still alive in 50 years, they will look back at this time, and wonder, what the fuck was wrong with us, that we didn't fight back as the biosphere was going down. Love is a verb. Defend your beloved!" Lierre Keith
I must admit I clicked on your SS expecting to defend permaculture, but you’re right
Quite a compliment, thank you!
This resonated with me. I spent much of my life dreaming, planning, waiting for that opportunity to buy some land, live sustainably, wisely, abundantly. Permaculture was always in my greater plan, as was living off grid. My partner and I achieved this goal in 2021. Over the last decade or so, the homesteading movement became less about healthy, sustainable, free living and more about generating revenue from YouTube, podcasts, the workshop circuit and selling books. All from the comfort a 40 acre farm with a large house with power, gas, electricity, fiber internet, sewer and waste services, multiple tractors and a seemingly endless budget for buying and maintaining flocks and herds of livestock.
My partner and I spent 2 years clearing land, acquiring animals (small scale chicken & rabbit), establishing a garden and all the systems we would need to live (rainwater catchment, humanure composting, 12v power for small things like lights and cell phone charging). We cooked on open flame, baked bread and cooked roasts in a Dutch oven over coals, yadda-yadda. Any opportunity we had to learn about what the outside world homesteaders were doing became a frustration, really. Things like "baking is so easy, just pop this into the oven at 450 for 20 minutes and voila! P.S. Subscribe and Like! P.S.S. You can buy our book at <link>"
I attempted a podcast, primarily to educate, but also to generate a few bucks. One of my episodes was on this very topic - I can't stand behind the homesteaders who spend half the season traveling to teach at paid workshops, rather than being a homesteader. I may sound a little bitter. I am. What can I say. I stopped podcasting because I felt cheap, hypocritical and disingenuous.
In any case, I enjoyed the read and I appreciate the message! I'll be looking for ways to evangelize and propagate the values and knowledge of simpler homesteading without selling out.
Really appreciate this thoughtful comment. It’s a strange time to be alive, but whenever my head starts to spin, I just head out to the garden or the woods and do what I know I’m supposed to be doing. Best cure I’ve found.
You hit the nail on the head with this post, and not just once but five times.
Thank you, Lynn!
Thanks for this thoughtful analysis. I can’t disagree. It will be good food for thought for me.
🙏🙏🙏
I don't think all these things are absolutely wrong, although perhaps in degree.
I'm 100% with you about eliminating plastic. It physically pains me in the chest to see plastic mulch used!
Invasives are. I would not suggest to propogate them, but we should be open to using them once they've become established. They can be an incredible resource. The local "anti-invasive" charity used to hold work parties where they'd go pull up Scotch Broom… and deliver it to my goat feeders! Yay! Meanwhile, the broom grows right back. It is firmly established.
(BTW: I know how to get rid of Scotch Broom! It's a pioneer species, and like all pioneers, it wants full sun and disturbed soil. Want to get rid of it? QUIT CLEARING LAND! Let the fields and roadways revert to a natural succession! Within a decade, the broom will have been succeeded out!)
The other arguments seem to be matters of degree. Sure, anything to excess is bound to have unintended consequences. But Permaculture is based on patterns, and the problem is people tend to follow specific examples, rather than pick something with the same pattern that fits your situation.
The fact that people use examples, rather than patterns, is not a problem with Permaculture; it's a problem with its practitioners.
Lots of good points. Especially kudos on calling out the plastics. I’m so OVER plastic seed trays and any other plastic used in gardening, especially single use. I like things that break down.
I will say though I do think it’s both - as far as setting example versus top-down activism. I think grassroots, small scale is valuable alongside top down activism.
Right on! This is why I find the Bioregional Organizing movement so inspiring. By focusing on landscape scale it gets people out of their private yard and farm projects and develops the whole systems view. There are now bioiregional regeneration networks all over the globe, with many permacuturists involved. See examples: Regenerate Cascadia and other examples at https://www.bioregionalearth.org/pathway/design-school.
The Crisis and Transition: A Common Way Forward substack wants to help connect these dots.
An idea for how to organize at bioregional level https://climatewaterproject.substack.com/p/how-to-activate-your-local-community
And also how to grow the permaculture movement faster, also from my newsletter https://climatewaterproject.substack.com/p/a-permaculture-framework-to-create
Majority of the changes are occurring from people individually and collectively attempting to play the role of a creator. The chart is easy to read. L shaped chart. Left side reads ‘find out’. Bottom reads ‘playing around’. Both measured and marked equally based on amount of effort applied. Play around, find out. Very historic, as we all see this chart.
https://open.substack.com/pub/misrule/p/permaculture-is-misunderstood?r=1lz2r1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I dont' plant it but Japanese knotweed could be mega harvested for reserveretrol
I’m supportive of the idea of using invasive species for something after they have been removed, but only if the goal is their eradication.