The symposium of short talks hed at Croydon buddhist Centre June 2015 came about as a response to Buddhist Action Month and the theme 'Earth Metta'.
Earth metta equates to the ethic of Earthcare (one of the three Permaculture ethics), which aims to work in harmony with our natural environment, creating abundance and meeting our needs responsibly.
Permaculture offers a way to come up with practical solutions to our current predicament (Climate change and Peak Oil). (Even if we were'nt at this point, it would still be a pretty good guide on how to get our basic needs met skilfully).
What is Permaculture?
Permacultre is a design approach that follows nature's patterns and wisdom. We are all designers. For example, we design our own breakfast. We survey what we have and imagine what we'd like to eat. Then we design how we will get from A, (what we have) to B, (what we want). Though there are parameters of course and, in Permaculture, these limits are imposed by the 3 Ethics: Earthcare, Peoplecare and Fairshares.
Applying the Earthcare ethic is for me a way to practice Earthmetta. So am going to talk a bit about how Permaculture helps me to do this.
But firstly, Where did Permaculture come from?
Is it, as I have mentioned, a design approach to living co-created by Bill Mollsion and David Holmgrem in early 1970's Australia as a response to their concerns about the degradation of the environment and as a result of protracted observation of nature. Between them they came up with the 3 ethics, frameworks and a number of princples to guide us in designing.
Permaculture practice aims to create abundance rather than scarcity, see solutions rather than problems, creates beneficial relationships rather than competing - just as nature does. (Only immature species compete apparently).
Permaculture offers a way to come up with practical solutions to our current predicament (Climate change and Peak Oil). (Even if we were'nt at this point, it would still be a pretty good guide on how to get our basic needs met skilfully).
What is Permaculture?
Permacultre is a design approach that follows nature's patterns and wisdom. We are all designers. For example, we design our own breakfast. We survey what we have and imagine what we'd like to eat. Then we design how we will get from A, (what we have) to B, (what we want). Though there are parameters of course and, in Permaculture, these limits are imposed by the 3 Ethics: Earthcare, Peoplecare and Fairshares.
Applying the Earthcare ethic is for me a way to practice Earthmetta. So am going to talk a bit about how Permaculture helps me to do this.
But firstly, Where did Permaculture come from?
Is it, as I have mentioned, a design approach to living co-created by Bill Mollsion and David Holmgrem in early 1970's Australia as a response to their concerns about the degradation of the environment and as a result of protracted observation of nature. Between them they came up with the 3 ethics, frameworks and a number of princples to guide us in designing.
Permaculture practice aims to create abundance rather than scarcity, see solutions rather than problems, creates beneficial relationships rather than competing - just as nature does. (Only immature species compete apparently).
How does Pc help us practice Earth metta.
Permaculture uses principles to help us design effectively such as 'Use and Value diversity'.
Today 50% of agriculture concentrates on 4 main crops: wheat, potatoes, corn and rice. –which results in higher numbers of pests that need to be tackled, creating more work for growers and unwanted outputs such as toxins from pesticides.
Permaculture suggests using plant guilds (plants that naturally grow together and help each other) and polycultures to maximise yield and minimise predators. permaculture also suggests Working with nature to make use of helpful bugs to control these pests. This is n't really new information, it's common sense. I have used companion planting and try to encourage ladybirds to manage blackfly.
Another Permaculture principle I've found useful is Small and Slow solutions. Before I got into Permaculture I didn't really think about things as systems and that how intervention in a system needs careful thought in order not to create imbalances.
Digging interferes with healthy soil systems (unless the soil has already been degraded and is infertile). My own personal practice of Small and Slow solutions involves regenerating depleted soil at my allotments by treating it to organic mulch, garden waste and green manure. I do need to disturb the soil to improve the structure but eventually I aim to abandon digging and leave it alone. Worms and other soil fauna do so much work for us, why not let Nature do the worK?
One of My favourite Permaculture principles is Obtain a Yield. It means that we also need to think about short term aims and successes as well as the long term. Yield can be seen in material terms or in less quantifiable ways. At my allotment I don't get much edible yield yet but I do enjoy the space to sit and draw, talk to my neighbours, potter about and listen to the birds. I can apply this principle to anything and usually find an upside to most activities, in fact, it helps me see abundance in places I wouldn't normally see it.
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Permaculture uses principles to help us design effectively such as 'Use and Value diversity'.
Today 50% of agriculture concentrates on 4 main crops: wheat, potatoes, corn and rice. –which results in higher numbers of pests that need to be tackled, creating more work for growers and unwanted outputs such as toxins from pesticides.
Permaculture suggests using plant guilds (plants that naturally grow together and help each other) and polycultures to maximise yield and minimise predators. permaculture also suggests Working with nature to make use of helpful bugs to control these pests. This is n't really new information, it's common sense. I have used companion planting and try to encourage ladybirds to manage blackfly.
Another Permaculture principle I've found useful is Small and Slow solutions. Before I got into Permaculture I didn't really think about things as systems and that how intervention in a system needs careful thought in order not to create imbalances.
Digging interferes with healthy soil systems (unless the soil has already been degraded and is infertile). My own personal practice of Small and Slow solutions involves regenerating depleted soil at my allotments by treating it to organic mulch, garden waste and green manure. I do need to disturb the soil to improve the structure but eventually I aim to abandon digging and leave it alone. Worms and other soil fauna do so much work for us, why not let Nature do the worK?
One of My favourite Permaculture principles is Obtain a Yield. It means that we also need to think about short term aims and successes as well as the long term. Yield can be seen in material terms or in less quantifiable ways. At my allotment I don't get much edible yield yet but I do enjoy the space to sit and draw, talk to my neighbours, potter about and listen to the birds. I can apply this principle to anything and usually find an upside to most activities, in fact, it helps me see abundance in places I wouldn't normally see it.
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Can we design our way out of Climate Change?
Some people are already doing it: using agroforestry, creating forest gardens, Transistion towns, installing renewable energy and earthships to name a few examples.
If we can live within the natural limits the earth has set us and creatively respond to changes by designing flexible robust systems, then it may just be possible.
NB I didn't actually give this talk, but I did give a short intro to Permaculture Principles which included some of the above material.
Some people are already doing it: using agroforestry, creating forest gardens, Transistion towns, installing renewable energy and earthships to name a few examples.
If we can live within the natural limits the earth has set us and creatively respond to changes by designing flexible robust systems, then it may just be possible.
NB I didn't actually give this talk, but I did give a short intro to Permaculture Principles which included some of the above material.