Permaculture 101

The impetus for wanting to start a garden revolution in the backyard was when I started thinking about consumerism, and how it is such a sad, unfulfilling way to live. The need to constantly have more stuff, on demand, for the soul equivalent of a sugar fix is no way to go about life on the planet. When you look at a plastic toy that came out of a cereal box that was made by some Korean toddler, and you think about how much work went into its production, and how much I paid for it, and how much I value it (very little), it is clear that there is an imbalance. I don't need toys in my cereal. So anyway, I mused for a while (a year or something. On and off. Not a year of constant musing.), and I decided that I was unhappy to be part of a system that is constantly sapping energy out of the cycle.

So a garden is my small way of seeing a stable system operate, in order to restore my faith in humanity and so forth. I know it doesn't make a difference to carbon emissions, but I hope I have some small ripple effect so that at least humanity's decline into energy deficit is somewhat stunted.

So permaculture is a way of operating in life so that you have a neutral impact on your surroundings. It is being aware that we should be part of a stable ecosystem, rather than the plunderers of said ecosystem. I also think our package-dependent society has a disconnect with our fundamental needs, and reconnecting to the things that we most desire is a more fulfilling way to spend your years. So food is the first step, then I plan to build a house, make some clothes, get off the internet and socialise for real, and become a spiritual guru/cult leader. If I only get as far as food, I'll be satisfied.