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New Ideas About Life and Living in the Okanagan
New Ideas About Life and Living in the Okanagan
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Permaculture Design Courses take root around the planet, here’s one
in the Okanagan...
“How do the products we consume effect things like climate change, habitat loss, water pollution and massive soil erosion? Our western industrial methods are directly affecting all of these serious global issues. For example, we are clearing our vital forests to plant intensive crops of corn, wheat and soy. These types of agriculture are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, mass tilling and chemical spraying; we are told this is the only way to feed the world, which is just not the case.
- Gordon Hiebert of Element Eco-Design
Connecting everything together requires a shift in thinking and doing. Today, we hear terms like sustainability and methods like Smartgrowth but many of the words and terms that envelop our language connected to a greener life, have at their core, certain ideas invented by certain people, who will someday be considered the visionaries that changed our world.
The founders of a term called Permaculture were such visionaries. Permaculture is an approach to designing human settlements and perennial agricultural systems that mimic the relationships found in natural ecologies. It was first developed by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren and their associates during the 1970s and shared within a series of publications. The word permaculture is a portmanteau of permanent agriculture, as well as permanent culture.
Since the 1980’s, a growing number of activists began enrolling in Permaculture Design Courses and through this the movement grew worldwide. The intent of the course encouraged a rapid training for individuals who were taught a core set of design principles; those individuals could then design their own environments and build increasingly self-sufficient human settlements — ones that reduce society's reliance on industrial systems of production and distribution that Mollison said were fundamentally and systematically destroying the Earth's ecosystems.
While originating as an agro-ecological design theory, permaculture has developed a growing international following that could now be described as “beyond gardening or farming”. This "permaculture community" continues to expand on the original concepts, integrating a range of ideas for an alternative culture through a network of publications, permaculture gardens, intentional communities, training programs, and Internet forums. In this way, permaculture has become both a design system and a culture of re-wilding the human species.
Each spring, Permaculture Design Certificate Program’s begin to appear and one such example is being presented by Element Eco-Design in Vernon, British Columbia. Beginning in March 2014, the North Okanagan will be home to its first Permaculture Design Certificate Program that will allow participants to obtain a PDC. This 72 hour design certification workshop will allow students to gain the knowledge and skills to become Certified Permaculture Designers. Students will be challenged to gain a deeper understanding of ecological systems, our role in the world, and how to have a greater positive global impact. A PDC teaches the fundamentals of Permaculture Design and covers both design theory and practical application.
Local Permaculture instructor, Gordon Hiebert of Element Eco-Design has in-depth experience in Forest Protection, Green Building and Permaculture Design and has learned personally from many of the top names in Permaculture including, Rob Avis(Into to Perm., 2009), Geoff Lawton(PDC, 2010), Daren Dorhety (Keyline Design, 2012), Anne Adams (Holistic Management, 2012), Dave Jacke (Edible Forest Gardening, 2012), Eric Toensmeier (Perennial Agro-Forestry, 2012) and Mark Shepherd (Restoration Agriculture, 2013).
"...change is happening all around us..."
Gordon Hiebert of Element Eco-Design
Hiebert is a passionate, dynamic speaker and holds a deep understanding of natural systems. He’s driven by the fact that the world is facing troubled times and with rapid population growth, natural resources are being consumed at an alarming rate; and more and more cultures are adopting an unsustainable western diet which is now causing serious global issues.
“How do the products we consume effect things like climate change, habitat loss, water pollution and massive soil erosion? Our western industrial methods are directly affecting all of these serious global issues. For example, we are clearing our vital forests to plant intensive crops of corn, wheat and soy. These types of agriculture are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, mass tilling and chemical spraying; we are told this is the only way to feed the world, which is just not the case,” said Hiebert.
According to Hiebert, Permaculture Design teaches students how to grow clean, healthy food for themselves, their families and their communities. Permaculture gardening is simple, lower maintenance and higher yielding than conventional gardening methods. Students learn how to companion plant, cycle seasonal crops and use plant architecture to design their garden to be more productive by stacking more produce over less space and time.
“Permaculture is a design science rooted in positive action and thoughtful observation, it uses a keen set of ethics and design principles that go beyond sustainability to create regenerative human settlements and relationships that are working all over the world to restore some of the most damaged environments,” said Hiebert.
Permaculture Design teaches how to grow rich, organic topsoil easily. Permaculture farming means good design, and good design means less work. A Permaculture farm is well laid out and views all waste as a resource. “Students will learn to diversify their farms while creating less work and grow their business while strengthening and supporting their community,” he said.
Permaculture Design is much more than a system for growing nutritious food. The same design principles can be applied to other areas of life such as, Sustainable Business, Community Planning and Personal Development.
Hiebert insists that it can make a global difference, he explains, “We have all heard the term “think global, act local”, by making small local change and sharing success with others, students can make a huge global impact. Change is happening all around us, Permaculture explores the opportunities for positive local impacts.”
In addition to Gordon Hiebert’s instruction, several guest instructors will provide their expertise on certain topics including, Soil and Composting by Doug Weatherbee, aka The Soil Doctor. Ecosystem functions, animal husbandry and making connections presented by Susan Cousineau who is with the 2013 Meaningful Work Project. Finally, Finding your Niche in Permaculture with Javan Bernakavitch of Permaculture BC.
“Each of these guest instructors have a vast knowledge in their fields and will enrich this course with their presence. Doug is a Soil Food Web certified advisor who has helped many large farms save money, increase yields and live more ecologically. Susan holds a Masters in Evolutionary Biology and will share her experience from her studies and on-farm work. Susan is also part of the Meaningful Work Project and will give some great strategies for making connections and finding your passion. Finally, Javan will be utilizing Permaculture Lifestyle Design to help students identify their passion in Permaculture and how to most effectively use Permaculture in their daily life. Many of Javan’s past students have gone on to start their own regenerative enterprise after completing this training.”
Hiebert, has chosen to deliver this workshop over 6 alternating weekends to make it most accessible to students. Most Permaculture Design Certificates are delivered over an incredibly intense full-time 14 day period with one, maybe 2 days off in the middle. This may not be feasible for everyone, many of us work full-time, have kids or have a farm to run, which is the reason for the part-time format for this PDC. Students still get the same amazing content, focused instruction, and community building opportunities but with some time to digest the info between sessions. This will help students retain more info and even give them a chance to put some of their skills to use at home during the 12 week program.
Permaculture is as much about Earth repair and land stewardship as it is about community building and creating meaningful relationships. As such, students will celebrate the completion of this course with a Cob Oven Potluck and Party and a chance to meet some movers and shakers in the local Permaculture and Sustainability scene, and this becomes the students’ opportunity to ask questions, make connections, spark up new projects and according to Hiebert, “Hit the ground running!”
“The PDC explores some of the grassroots movements happening around the world and how they are causing a shift in our current worldwide paradigm. Permaculture empowers individuals to take control of their lives and create the positive future they want to see,” he said.
If you would like to learn more about Element Eco-Design’s Permaculture Design Course visit their website at: www.elementecodesign.com
“…Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature, of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labour; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions rather than treating any area as a single product system.”
- Bill Mollison – A founder of Permaculture
Permaculture is a broad-based and wholistic approach that has many applications to all aspects of life. At the heart of permaculture design and practice is a fundamental set of ‘core values’ or ethics which remain constant whatever a person's situation is, whether they are creating systems for town planning or trade; whether the land they care for is simply a window box or an entire farm or forest.
These 'ethics' are often summarized as;
- Earthcare – recognizing that Earth is the source of all life (and is possibly itself a living entity), that Earth is our valuable home, and that we are a part of Earth, not apart from it.
- Peoplecare – supporting and helping each other to change to ways of living that do not harm ourselves or the planet, and to develop healthy societies.
- Fairshare (or placing limits on consumption) - ensuring that Earth's limited resources are used in ways that are equitable and wise.
2014
March
