I came across this article and it put into words many of the random opinions I have long held on the subject but was unable to articulate. I couldn't basically because I couldn't be bothered to do the research I guess. There are so many things to get a handle on today and only so many hours in the day. To me permaculture always smacked of a religion, what with it's ardent disciples, it's regular gatherings of the faithful and it's Holy script on how to plant your garden for the best results. I simply couldn't see the value in it, at least not for me in middle-age.
I know I know, when society collapses... But society isn't collapsing, and it doesn't look like it will in the foreseeable future either. Anyway here is the article, written by an expert in the field, who has worked "in the field" I would encourage anyone who hasn't been baptized into permaculture yet to give it a read before they go out and start tilling the yard. It might save them a lot of toil and effort for little reward.
https://www.darkgreenauckland.nz/posts/why-permaculture-wont-save-the-world
Excerpts:
Permaculture and regenerative agriculture’s core insight is pretty simple. "We can grow a lot of organic food if we all become non-mechanised, semi-subsistence farmers." But we knew that already.
That’s what most of us were doing for the last 10,000 years, until the last 250. And most of us had a terrible time. We built colonies, industrialised civilisation and modern dentistry to get away from all that.
I have permaculture friends who have been living in everything from buses in South America to woods in South Wales. All of them enjoy international flights, hospital visits and inherited money. All of that would be impossible if everyone lived completely in the style permaculture suggests. None of them actually produce enough food for their household, let alone beyond it.
I've tried to set up home in at least half a dozen permaculture based eco-communities in New Zealand and the UK. One of the main reasons I never did was because their inhabitants generally displayed all the harmony and practical usefulness of an octopus playing bagpipes in a tank full of custard.
I know I know, when society collapses... But society isn't collapsing, and it doesn't look like it will in the foreseeable future either. Anyway here is the article, written by an expert in the field, who has worked "in the field" I would encourage anyone who hasn't been baptized into permaculture yet to give it a read before they go out and start tilling the yard. It might save them a lot of toil and effort for little reward.
https://www.darkgreenauckland.nz/posts/why-permaculture-wont-save-the-world
Excerpts:
Permaculture and regenerative agriculture’s core insight is pretty simple. "We can grow a lot of organic food if we all become non-mechanised, semi-subsistence farmers." But we knew that already.
That’s what most of us were doing for the last 10,000 years, until the last 250. And most of us had a terrible time. We built colonies, industrialised civilisation and modern dentistry to get away from all that.
I have permaculture friends who have been living in everything from buses in South America to woods in South Wales. All of them enjoy international flights, hospital visits and inherited money. All of that would be impossible if everyone lived completely in the style permaculture suggests. None of them actually produce enough food for their household, let alone beyond it.
I've tried to set up home in at least half a dozen permaculture based eco-communities in New Zealand and the UK. One of the main reasons I never did was because their inhabitants generally displayed all the harmony and practical usefulness of an octopus playing bagpipes in a tank full of custard.