PDC Spain October 2014 - Alta Garrotxa,near Barcelona

join us for this amazing experience in Spain this October

Permaculture Design Course Spain - Alta Garrotxa

join us for this amazing experience in Spain

Classic 14 day Permaculture Design Certificate Curriculum with more then 72hours schedule, full of practical knowledge and some hands-on experiences plus Design Exercises in groups. There will be optional yoga, mindfulness and Deep Ecology practices offered too. The course takes place in a wonderful nature reserve, la Alta Garrotxa near Girona, Barcelona.Participants will be immersed in an inspiring and natural learning environment while living with nature for the full duration of the course.

Topics will include the following plus more from your needs:

• History and Definition of Permaculture
• Ethics and Principles of Permaculture
• Design Process and its ecological design application
• Patterns in Nature
• Climatic Factors and microclimate enhancement
• Hydrological Cycle
• Land Restoration Techniques
• Hot Composting
• Soil Food Web and its repair
• Water Harvesting Techniques
• Tree Crops and Food Forests
• Regenerative Earthworks
• Climatic Specific building and cultivated ecology techniques
• Natural Building Strategies
• Animal Management in Permaculture
• Social and Financial Permaculture
• Local Food systems

and many more fun and dynamic activities!

Extras like:optional Yoga, Meditation, Deep Ecology and Mindfulness practices.

The course is adapted to a wide variety of learning styles and is presented via lecture, images, video, group discussion, individual and group exercises, and design projects. Class usually lasts from about 9AM to 6PM.

hosted in a beautiful natural reserve near Barcelona,Alta Garroxta by ActiveEarth.Come and join us for the amazing 2 weeks experience in October 2014!


The Permaculture way of looking at things,everything is a gift,everything has a value,nothing should be wasted.Permaculture is the harmonious integration of all life kingdoms into agriculturally productive ecosystems and socially just environments producing sound economic outcomes through systems management. Itis a regenerative design intention reflecting patterns in nature that seeks to build interconnections allowing for energy efficiency and abundance of yield.


In other words its ecology in action,positive responses to new opportunities as culture evolves towards anew height of consciousness.


WHO is it for?


For everybody from young to old from all backgrounds and all walks of life! In particular those wanting to lead projects of regeneration, urban agriculture, community development, and broad-scale farming. This unique opportunity to recharge and gain environmental literacy will be spent over two weeks in a natural environment with limited access to wifi and transport links. Total natural immersion is to be expected and hopefully embraced.

Why a PDC with us ??


1-it is a ethical and transparent investment that gives you tools for ecological design


2-The diverse learning environment will appeal to multiple different learning styles 


3-Facilitator's combine an in-depth understanding stemming from many years of experience of permaculture at the personal, practical and community level. 


4-you will have the chance to participate in other fun, outdoor activities like swimming in the beautiful river, climbing, hiking in the valley, watching the sunset from the mountain, yoga, meditation ,mindfulness exercises and more! 


5-plus you will get to wake up to an incredible view over the mountains and the unique location will provide a very special, natural learning experience far from the noise, pollution and hectic ambiance of the city! 





Main Facilitator will be Doug Crouch from TreeYo Permaculture plus he is assisted by Roman Eisenkoelbl and Active Earth Founder Korbi Hort with Kate Curtis leading Yoga and Deep Ecology practices.

Doug Crouch:

Trained as both a Permaculture Designer and Fish and Wildlife Manager, Doug

has extensive knowledge surrounding landscape planning and food production systems. This regenerative design and implementation work spans the globe ranging in contexts and climates including tropical agro-forestry, Mediterranean organic gardening, and temperate suburban edible landscaping. To facilitate this work he founded TreeYo Permaculture thus building off his other formal training in small business management. Incorporating this knowledge and experience into sustainability educational programming has now become Doug’s main focus as he continues his ecological design and holistic development in various ecosystems.

He holds a Diploma in Permaculture Education which demonstrates his commitment to crafting his creative facilitation style. Because Portugal is the longest running host site for TreeYo, the local support team is quite familiar with the TreeYo facilitation style and process. To view some of the presentation you can expect during the course via PowerPoint, please visit Doug’s slideshare account at the following: www.slideshare.net/DougeCrouch 

http://treeyopermaculture.com/
http://treeyopermacultureedu.wordpress.com/

http://www.permacultureglobal.com/users/2280-roman-eisenkoelbl
http://www.soil-sun-soul.blogspot.com

http://www.active-earth.net/

Price: 550 Euro with mainly local organic vegetarian food and camping or shared dorm accomodation in magical location is included.


VenueInformation:

The Active Earth Centre for transformative learning is a place of great natural beauty and power. It is in the Alta Garrotxa Nature Reserve,2 hours by car northeast of Barcelona and 50 minutes north of Girona.Our vision for the project is the creation of a world-class adult education venue hosting individuals, students and organisations on programmes and courses that encourage and support human flourishing.


for more infos and to recieve the detailed infro brochure please contact:


permaculturainfo@gmail.com


here is a slideshow from our last course in June 2014.enjoy and looking forward to hear from you soon.

INTO ETERNITY

Every day, the world over, large amounts of high-level radioactive waste created by nuclear power plants is placed in interim storages, which are vulnerable to natural disasters, man-made disasters, and to societal changes. In Finland the world's first permanent repository is being hewn out of solid rock - a huge system of underground tunnels - that must last 100,000 years as this is how long the waste remains hazardous.

Once the waste has been deposited and the repository is full, the facility is to be sealed off and never opened again. Or so we hope, but can we ensure that? And how is it possible to warn our descendants of the deadly waste we left behind? How do we prevent them from thinking they have found the pyramids of our time, mystical burial grounds, hidden treasures? Which languages and signs will they understand? And if they understand, will they respect our instructions? While gigantic monster machines dig deeper and deeper into the dark, experts above ground strive to find solutions to this crucially important radioactive waste issue to secure mankind and all species on planet Earth now and in the near and very distant future.

Captivating, wondrous and extremely frightening, this feature documentary takes viewers on a journey never seen before into the underworld and into the future

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

I am interested in the areas of documentary filmmaking where additional reality is created. By this I mean, that I do not think reality constitutes a fixed entity which accordingly can be documented - revealed - in this or that respect. Instead, I suspect reality to be dependent on and susceptible to the nature of it's interpretation. I am in other words interested in the potentials and requirements of how reality can be - and is - interpreted.

The ONKALO project of creating the world's first final nuclear waste facility capable of lasting at least 100 000 years, transgresses both in construction and on a philosophical level all previous human endeavours. It represents something new. And as such I suspect it to be emblematic of our time - and in a strange way out of time, a unique vantage point for any documentary.

- Michael Madsen

Sandor Katz "The Art of Fermentation"

Sandor Ellix Katz is a renowned fermentation revivalist and author of "Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition and Craft of Live-Culture Foods" and "The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved". In this seminar, he discusses his new book (June 2012) "The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World". 

http://www.wildfermentation.com/

Abundance, Austerity & Anti-Capitalism

'Abundance, Austerity & Anti-Capitalism - Stories from the front-lines of the 'Spanish Revolution 2011'' - Guhyapati on how ecodharma can help us awaken from the industrial-growth consumer nightmare into a culture of compassion.

A talk given at Buddhafield 2011 in the Dharma Parlour on 15 July 2011

link to the website fo the ecodharma project: http://www.ecodharma.com/

THE FOURTEEN PRECEPTS OF ENGAGED BUDDHISM

THE FOURTEEN PRECEPTS
OF ENGAGED BUDDHISM

By Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh (From the book Interbeing)

1
Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.

2
Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout your entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the 

                                                                    world at all times.

3

Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrow-mindedness.

4

Do not avoid suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering, including personal contact, visits, images and sounds. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.

5
Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of your life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.

6
Do not maintain anger or hatred. Learn to penetrate and transform them when they are still seeds in your consciousness. As soon as they arise, turn your attention to your breath in order to see and understand the nature of your hatred.

7
Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. Be in touch with what is wondrous, refreshing, and healing both inside and around you. Plant seeds of joy, peace, and understanding in yourself in order to facilitate the work of transformation in the depths of your consciousness.

8
Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

9
Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest or to impress people. Do not utter words that cause division and hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things of which you are not sure. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.

10
Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community, however, should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.

11
Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. Select a vocation that helps realise your ideal of compassion.

12
Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and prevent war.

13
Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others, but prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.

14
Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect. Do not look on your body as only an instrument. Preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realisation of the Way. (For brothers and sisters who are not monks and nuns:) Sexual expression should not take place without love and commitment. In sexual relations, be aware of future suffering that may be caused. To preserve the happiness of others, respect the rights and commitments of others. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.

From the book 'Interbeing': Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism, revised edition: Oct. l993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California

Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist monk, poet, peace activist, and the author of Being Peace, The Miracle of Mindfulness, and many other books. He lives in a monastic community in south-western France called Plum Village, where he teaches, writes, gardens, and works to help refugees world-wide. He conducts retreats throughout the world on the art of mindful living, and has conducted special retreats for American Vietnam War veterans, psychotherapists, artists, environmental activists and children.

from the website:  http://viewonbuddhism.org/resources/14_precepts.html

interesting links and articels here: http://www.dharmanet.org/lcengaged.htm

Soil Carbon Cowboys – Case Studies in Holistic Management

Meet Allen Williams, Gabe Brown and Neil Dennis — heroes and innovators! These ranchers now know how to regenerate their soils while making their animals healthier and their operations more profitable. They are turning on their soils, enabling rainwater to sink into the earth, rather than run off. And these turned on soils retain that water, so the ranches are much more resilient in drought. It’s an amazing story that has just begun.

have a look here:

http://vimeo.com/80518559

Abode of the Clouds (North-east India)

In the Garo Hills, North East India, local communities are taking the lead in adapting to climate change. By abandoning the age old tradition of slash and burn "jhum" cultivation in favor of large scale ecorestorative projects, the Garo's are actively creating a favorable environment for a wide variety of flora and fauna, including the Asian elephant and the Hoolock Gibbon. IUCN NL and the Wildlife Trust of India support these efforts by cooperating closely with the local communities.

Since time immemorial people and the wilder beasts have co-existed in the Garo hills. The land, blessed with abundant water, fertile soil and thick forest cover, is home to one million people and wild animals — like elephants, gibbons and leopards. Since ancient times, the forests around the village communities are seen as sacred groves and have been preserved and worshiped. They appreciated and respected the fact that the forests provided them with food, water, shelter and everything they needed for life.

"Abode of the Clouds" is a film by Megan Haagh and Paul Hendrix, narrated by John D. Liu. It is the result of two years of reporting on the elephant corridor projects in the Garo Hills and is a part of IUCN NL's What if we Change project.

For more, go to www.whatifwechange.org

What is Accelerated Learning ?

Accelerated learning (A.L.) is the most advanced teaching and learning method in use today. It's a total system for speeding and enhancing both the design process and the learning processes. Based on the latest brain research, it has proven again and again to increase learning effectiveness while saving time and money in the process.

Many of today's leading organizations and educational institutions are benefiting from the power of accelerated learning.

What makes accelerated learning so effective is that it's based on the way we all naturally learn.

A.L. unlocks much of our potential for learning that has been left largely untapped by most conventional learning methods. It does this by actively involving the whole person, using physical activity, creativity, music, images, color, and other methods designed to get people deeply involved in their own learning.

According to accelerated learning, here's what people need for an optimal learning environment:

A Positive Learning Environment. People learn best in a positive physical, emotional, and social environment, one that is both relaxed and stimulating. A sense of wholeness, safety, interest, and enjoyment is essential for optimizing human learning.

Total Learner Involvement. People learn best when they are totally and actively involved and take full responsibility for their own learning. Learning is not a spectator sport but a participatory one. Knowledge is not something a learner passively absorbs, but something a learner actively creates. Thus A.L. tends to be more activity-based rather than materials-based or presentations-based.

Collaboration Among Learners. People generally learn best in an environment of collaboration. All good learning tends to be social. Whereas traditional learning emphasizes competition between isolated individuals, A.L. emphasizes collaboration between learners in a learning community.

Variety That Appeals To All Learning Styles. People learn best when they have a rich variety of learning options that allows them to use all their senses and exercise their preferred learning style. Rather than thinking of a learning program as a one-dish meal, A.L. thinks of it as a results-driven, learner-centered smorgasbord.

Contextual Learning. People learn best in context. Facts and skills learned in isolation are hard to absorb and quick to evaporate. The best learning comes from doing the work itself in a continual process of "real-world" immersion, feedback, reflection, evaluation, and reimmersion.

Accelerated learning has really one aim, though: to get results. Accelerated learning is paying off handsomely for many organizations. Here are just a few examples.

Also, see our Tips and Techniques and Workshop pages for some additional A.L. successes.

The Guiding Principles of Accelerated Learning

1. Learning Involves the Whole Mind and Body. Learning is not all merely "head" learning (conscious, rational, "left-brained," and verbal) but involves the whole body/mind with all its emotions, senses, and receptors.

2. Learning is Creation, Not Consumption. Knowledge is not something a learner absorbs, but something a learner creates. Learning happens when a learner integrates new knowledge and skill into his or her existing structure of self. Learning is literally a matter of creating new meanings, new neural networks, and new patterns of electro/chemical interactions within one's total brain/body system.

3. Collaboration Aids Learning. All good learning has a social base. We often learn more by interacting with peers than we learn by any other means. Competition between learners slows learning. Cooperation among learners speeds it. A genuine learning community is always better for learning than a collection of isolated individuals.

4. Learning Takes Place on Many Levels Simultaneously. Learning is not a matter of absorbing one little thing at a time in linear fashion, but absorbing many things at once. Good learning engages people on many levels simultaneously (conscious and paraconscious, mental and physical) and uses all the receptors and senses and paths it can into a person's total brain/body system. The brain, after all, is not a sequential, but a parallel processor and thrives when it is challenged to do many things at once.

5. Learning Comes From Doing the Work Itself (With Feedback). People learn best in context. Things learned in isolation are hard to remember and quick to evaporate. We learn how to swim by swimming, how to manage by managing, how to sing by singing, how to sell by selling, and how to care for customers by caring for customers. The real and the concrete are far better teachers than the hypothetical and the abstract - provided there is time for total immersion, feedback, reflection, and reimmersion.

6. Positive Emotions Greatly Improve Learning. Feelings determine both the quality and quantity of one's learning. Negative feelings inhibit learning. Positive feelings accelerate it. Learning that is stressful, painful, and dreary can't hold a candle to learning that is joyful, relaxed, and engaging.

7. The Image Brain Absorbs Information Instantly and Automatically. The human nervous system is more of an image processor than a word processor. Concrete images are much easier to grasp and retain than are verbal abstractions. Translating verbal abstractions into concrete images of all kinds will make those verbal abstractions faster to learn and easier to remember.

---------------------------------------

Read a real-world success story that embodies the principles of A.L. (from the new book The Accelerated Learning Handbook).

here is the link to the website:

http://www.alcenter.com/

Don Emilio & His Little Doctors (1982), by Luis Eduardo

Luis Eduardo Luna runs interdisciplinary seminars at his Research Center in Brazil. See:http://www.wasiwaska.org/

This film, by Luis Eduardo Luna, is one of the very first films -if not the first- documenting ayahuasca among mestizo population of the Peruvian Amazon. It was part of Luna's field work carried out in the Iquitos area
during July and August 1981, concentrated on the practices of Don Emilio Andrade Gomez, a "vegetalista" living 12 km from the city. The film Don Emilio and his Little Doctors (1982) was made during that time. It is a
complement to Luna's doctoral dissertation "Vegetalismo. Shamanism Among the Mestizo Population of the Peruvian Amazon", published in Stockholm in 1986.

Don Emilio was born in Iquitos in 1918. When he was 14 years old, and while working in the Amazon river, near the mouth of the Napo river, he took ayahuasca for the first time. He did it in order to curarse, a term that implies the cleansing and strengthening of the body. When he took ayahuasca for the fifth time, while keeping to the prescribed diet imposed by his teacher, an old man with a flute and a drum appeared in his visions to teach him icaros, magic melodies.

Reconnecting to Nature through Spiritual Permaculture - by Dr Leonid Sharashkin

Dr Sharashkin shows how Russian families have preserved a unique traditional lifestyle grounded in self-sufficiency and self-reliance - offering a path to a more fulfilling, independent, connected and mortgage-free existence. As millions of people the world over begin to embrace these ideas, humanity may now be entering an age of harmony and peace. This insightful presentation - revealing how we may each play our part - met with a standing ovation at the 2007 Earth Transformation Conference in Hawaii.

an interesting articel can be found here:

http://www.friendsofthetrees.net/articles/2010/Anastasia2010.pdf

Allan Savory - Reversing Global Warming while Meeting Human needs

Allan Savory's presentation on January 25, 2013, about how Holistic Management restores grasslands from land that's degraded to desert. This innovative, natural, and simple idea mimics Nature by using careful management of livestock to stimulate the regrowth of grasses, animals, and puts large amount of greenhouse gases (GHG's) from the air into the soil. The event was sponsored by the Center for International Environment and Resource Policy (CIERP) at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and Planet-TECH Associates, a consultancy focusing on innovations for a regenerative future. Videography provided by Local Flavor LLC

PDC Spain 2014 Slideshow

some impressions from the June PDC in Spain with Rico Zook and myself

here are some pictures for you to enjoy of the PDC in June 2014 with Rico Zook,Active Earth,Kate and myself.It was a wonderful and transformational experience with a wonderful group of motivated people coming to share and learn together for 2 weeks in an magical location in Altra Garrotxa Nature Reserve,2 hours from Barcelona.

enjoy!! love,gratidute and respect for all the people involved

Learning - You ARE so damn beautiful…

A time comes in your life when you finally "get it . . !!!!" When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop------ dead in your tracks and somewhere, the voice inside your head cries out ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying, or struggling to hold on, and, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes, you begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening...

You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that she is not Cinderella and you are not Prince Charming and that in the real world, there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you and in the process, a sense of serenity is born of acceptance. You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are . . . and that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process, a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process, a sense of safety & security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and in the process, a sense of peace & contentment is born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself and the world around you, is a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. You begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look and how much you should weigh, what you should wear and where you should shop and what you should drive, how and where you should live and what you should do for a living, who you should marry and what you should expect of a marriage, the importance of having and raising children or what you owe your parents. You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with and in the process, you learn to go with your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive and that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a by gone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don't know everything; it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change, so it is with love; and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms, just to make you happy. You learn that alone does not mean lonely. You look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up."

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK and that it is your right, to want things and to ask for the things that you want and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands. You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. You allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you, to glorify you with their touch and in the process, you internalize the meaning of self-respect.

And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. Just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul; so you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that for the most part in life, you get what you believe you deserve and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen, is different from working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time; FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears, because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear, is to give away the right to live life on your terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions, you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers; it's just life happening.

You learn to deal with evil in its most primal state; the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted; things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about; a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself, by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart's desire. You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind, and you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can. Yes, you can open your eyes…and you ARE so damn beautiful…

Redesigning Civilization -- with Permaculture

Modern agriculture, industry and finance all extract more than they give back, and the Earth is starting to show the strain. How did we get in this mess and what can we do to help our culture get back on track? The ecological design approach known as permaculture offers powerful tools for the design of regenerative, fair ways to provide food, energy, livelihood, and other needs while letting humans share the planet with the rest of nature. This presentation will give you insight into why our culture has become fundamentally unsustainable, and offers ecologically based solutions that can help create a just and sustainable society. This is the sequel to Toby's popular talk, "How Permaculture Can Save Humanity and The Planet, but not Civilization." A related article is at

http://www.patternliteracy.com/697-the-last-nomads-and-the-culture-of-fear

how permaculture can save humanity and the earth but not civilization

Hemenway is a frequent teacher, consultant and lecturer on permaculture and ecological design throughout the U.S. and other countries. His writing has appeared in magazines such as Natural Home, Whole Earth Review and American Gardener. He is an adjunct professor in the School of Graduate Education at Portland State University, a Scholar-in-Residence at Pacific University, and a biologist consultant for the Biomimicry Guild.

Permaculture: Leadership for Sustainable Futures

A presentation by Professor Stuart Hill University of Western Sydney, to the Blue Mountains Permaculture community in June 2011, on permaculture and the 'inner landscape'.

http://www.stuartbhill.com