Over the last few years as I have become interested and indeed now work in the field of Permaculture I have found an increasingly strong connection between the ethics and principles of this inspiring design science and my interest in people care and movement science and arts.

Now in the 2010′s at the age of 42 and after a decade and a bit of diverse and challenging events I have started to apply the ethics and principles of pemaculture to my movement passion. In reinterpreting my scientific skill and interest in awareness through movement fundamentals along the lines of another albeit ecological design science I have been finding some interesting parallels.

If stress or physical limitation has changed your quality of life, before you decide to go to a ‘specialist’ and expend resources (produce no waste) to get specific advice think about your own power (use and value renewable resources & services) to educate yourself somatically (use small and slow solutions) and take a holistic approach  (integrate rather than segregrate).

By slowing down (creatively use and respond to change) and taking notice (observe and interact) how your body functions, you gain feedback (apply self regulation and accept feedback) upon which your nervous system can build enhanced self-awareness and improved functioning (design from patterns to details).

This approach seems to align well with the sort of cognitive approach that I would argue each of us functioning within community needs to adopt in order to develop richness, responsibility and resilience.

It seems to me that this is good permaculture strategy and one based on science that is worthy of further research and development.

Perhaps this embodies a more concrete perma-inspired sense of wellness. One that connects people, projects and places into a more productive whole?

“no other analytic method can involve one in the world as much as observation, but observation and its methods need to be practised and developed, whereas analysis needs no prior practice and requires less field-research or first-hand knowledge. As an observer, however, you are very likely to stumble on unique and effective strategies and thus become an innovator“.

This quote raises an interesting insight the relevance of which to my own permaculture learning journey I am only now starting to realise. In my experience often true observation takes a back seat to intellectualised analysis. Intellectualised analysis, lets call it the ‘intel approach’ is perceived as and in effect is easier than observation – it is quicker, it is rationalised, it can be argued, it does not in practice require locality which therefore enables the importation of a standard patchwork of potentially irrelevant ideas, knowledge and techniques (lets say shapes and patterns, square pegs and round holes) to produce design outcomes.

The intel approach suits a modern world dominated by competitive individualism – where an individuals identity is inextricably linked directly to his or her intelligence combined with the competitive tendency to need to out-intellectualise others to remain strong, to ‘win the comp’ as it were. The intel approach also fits the economic and commercial imperative in which ’time is money’. Game over, intels in charge … observation please jump in the back and be quiet.

But what is the cost of maintaining observation as central to the design process - the failure to truly observe? Clearly intellectualised analysis does provide design outcomes but do these outcomes truly represent the “most beneficial assembly of all components (or elements) in their proper relationships?”

If permaculture design is “a system of assembling conceptual, material and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms” do design outcomes which have been predominantly based on the intel method truly ‘crack open’ the site-specific patterns and enable a truly effective and inovative design outcome to be achieved that benefits life in all its forms? It is easy to argue that potentially they do not as they have failed not only to truly observe and interact but they have failed in essence to design from patterns to details, a powerful principle in the permaculture design system as it were.  A design based on the intel method without the benefit of observation informing and shaping it can and often does become an impost on the site. Such a design it could be said becomes an installation of artifact, perhaps with some attempted balance, but all in all a manufactured and irrelevant one none the less as it has failed to take stock of all components and as a result can only fail to arrange them in their proper relationships.

My experience of watching the design process unfold where poorly developed observation skill takes the back seat to intelligence and analysis is that details (often imported and irrelevant) lead which in turn dominates and confounds the creative process and with the design outcome itself. Nothing unique, nothing innovative. The design solution in effect is rendered ineffectual.

True observation is a skill that takes time as it is itself an art and a science.

“Short practice at refining field observation as a design tool will convince you that no complex map overlays, library, computer data or remote analysis will ever supplant field observation for dependability and relevance.”

I do think that there is the possibility that some designers with a dominance of the ‘intel approach’ ‘believe’ or let themselves ’think’ that they ‘do observation’. This really talks to the nature of the intel method as a whole where construed by thought one believes one is ‘doing observation”  when really it a subjugated version of analysis dressed up by the intellect to ‘feel’ like ‘observation’. Sort of like a token gesture as it were.

“Observation is not easily directed, and it is therefore regarded as largely unscientific and individualistic. Process and events, as we encounter them on a real site, are never revealed just by maps or other fixed data. Yet is is from observation of processes and events (such as heavy rain and subsequent run-off) that we can devise strategies of “least change”, and so save energy and time. No static method can reveal processes or dynamic interactions.”

The ability to self audit is critical to developing powerful observation skills. Methods of observation need to be practiced and developed and their meaning experienced with all the senses free of judgement. The ‘intel approach’ dominated designer carries the perception that the process of observation takes too much time and that without time true observation can never be achieved. While this is to some extent true it is not reason enough to fail to observe nor to actually refine and develop the skills of observation in the first instance.

If  it is true that “from observation of processes and events that we can devise strategies of “least change”, and so save energy and time” then it is economic, effective, efficient and potentially innovative to ensure observation remains central to the design process. Sure it might take time to firstly observe and to develop the skills of observation but as an “observer, however, you are very likely to stumble on unique and effective strategies and thus become an innovator”

Knowers learn only based on what they know.

Knowers are non-doing thinkers stuck in their ‘groove’,

‘Doers’ do but rarely think or aim to know. Doers are non-knowing thinkers stuck in their ‘move’

‘Learners’ by contrast learn.

Learners are a holism of the Knower and the Doer.

Learners learn and they do so in a multitude of ways – they feel, they think and they do so as to know and they do to enrich to their learning in order to know more.

Learners understand when to be creative and innovative and within a sense of individual order and structure.

The aim of permaculture and perma teaching should be to increase the output of Learners.

Learners in the above sense are Effective Permaculturists.

the people you meet. the things they do and the projects they are working on. the places they live,.

i call them the all-embracing 3P’s of Perma – People, Projects and Places and they make up the permacommunity.

there is also a strong bond of values. the ethical principles of permaculture provide a triangulated strength of connection that attracts highly effective, truly holistic people.

my personal experience of the permacommunity is how valuable it has been for me. it has  enabled a sense of place for being and for thinking, feeling, living and socialising in ways that are sustainable and regenerative.

the amazing world of permaculture is a very diverse and a creatively inspiring space to be in.

and diversity is without any doubt one of the great keys to Permaculture.

the diversity of the 3P’s is one that is well used and valued. one that culminates in strong resilient Community (C)

its no different here at Milkwood.

an example of this diversity is my past 24hrs.

My Activity Notes –  the diarised flow of my day within a work team of 4 ppl

• checked the pigs and that their pen and shelter structures are in order good
• installed 2 grandpa feeders into the chook run
• carted 3 full wheelbarrows of grass cut from the Food Forest path construction to ‘prime’ the chooks Gravity Run with inputs.
• moved the 3 rooster boys in the Chook Dome up the hill in Patch 7 – the wind break of the Food Forest construction.
• installed a mesh fence around 20m2 of 5 varieties of garlic in raised beds - the geese were having a go.
• installed 5m of trimming pine into the ceiling of the Tiny House for lighting, smoke detectors and light pull switches.
• installed a hand-crafted recycled timber awning window that weighed 100kg
• measured up 5m2 of exterior wall framing to enable depth extension for corrugated iron cladding.
• cut 20m of hillside ground into on-contour swale based 600mm wide pathways for access through the Milkwood Food Forest.
• Dug out a 250kg boulder from the ground and repositioned it using a pinch bar as a thermal mass element on the ground within the Food Forest.
• 3 hour of collaborative web-based work flow management

Tools Used List – the tools I used for the job – multiple jobs across multiple tasks

• hammer,
• cordless drill,
• screwdriver,
• ladder,
• tape measure,
• wheelbarrow,
• mallet,
• mattock,
• post hole shovel,
• crow bar,
• hose,
• fire fighting pump,
• hand saw,
• rake,
• ruler,
• square,
• straight edge
• saw guide
• power saw,
• a chisel,
• pliers,
• broom,
• caulking gun,
• pincers,
• nail punch,
• g-clamp,
• tin snips,
• electric planer,
• spanner,
• quad bike,
• walkie talkie,
• laptop,
• multiple online management apps

perhaps there should be a subset to the People Care ethic. That People Care constitutes the value of People, Place and Project.

And that 3P’s = Community (C)

And that C is powered by Diversity.

…. is a combination of foods groups (root vege, nuts & yoghurt) that when combined not only pack a nutrient dense punch but when prepared slowly and with care for taste and texture are amazing.

slow roasted caramellised beetroot and roasted almond dip.

Nutritionally this mix is good for the production of red blood cells (blood) in the bone marrow. the nutrient and functional food values from the combination of probiotics, trace elements, minerals – especially iron and protein combine to be a very good food for the Blood … hence Trev’s Blood Dip.

ingredients

• 2x medium beetroots – slow roasted for 2 hrs until shiny caramellised.
• 1 cup yr choice of nut (here is almond but could use whatever) – slow toasted until yum smelling, chop into small pieces or grind using mortar pestle if you have time
• black pepper – 2 tsp whole corns ground in a mortar & pestle – use good fresh, bitey pepper.
• sea salt – 2-3 tsp flakes or granules (good sea salt has a broad mineral & trace element value) – here i used hawaiian pink salt – alalea sea salt – ‘mineral from the land & sea’ they say
• fresh yoghurt – 5Tbs – here i made a fresh batch using a pre-set method – the greek yoghurt using this method is super yum.
• egg mayonnaise  (optional) – 1tsp

in fact without doubt a bit of Spring has sprung. there is pair of ganders with 4 geese on farm. you see them everywhere. you hear them from anywhere. this mob of geese are a real bunch of laughs to be around. and boy do they get around.

there are numerous dams and waterholes around and the geese just walk from spot to spot chattering and being noisy as they do.

this morning when we started at the Tiny House there they were up at the top dam screeching at each other and warming the valley with their antics. the other night they camped outside my caravan which is a fair bit away. they are so funny to live daily around.  i reckon their walking range is a good 500m radius.

by lunch they had wandered down from the high swale dam passed the Bees, the Chooks and through the Food Forest to us at the Tiny House. To get to the Tiny House and their destination the Tiny House Dam (coz afterall you gotta have purpose) they wander down the House Swale making so much noise you sort of have to stop what you are doing and go watch them

for me its a bit like they are all saying “hey everyone We, The Geese have arrived” .

they just so like to be welcomed.

anyways down the swale they waddle jumping through deep puddles, puddles btw that are being held high in milkwoods landscape by awesome swale infrastructure.

as they navigate their way around via the “milkwood on-contour goose freeway” I cant help but think how much of a lark this place is for geese. they can do what they want, how they want, when they want … and you know what … they do  …. and they put in on show.

down they waddle yelling at each other getting into single file and then …  a quick trot down the wall and plop they are in the House Dam. they love it in there. actually they really Love it . yep, straight into Love.

the ganders get straight onto ride romping their bunch of geese right smartly in the Tiny House Dam.   No mucking around – straight down to business. The Sex in the Tiny House Dam show keeps up for as long as it takes to ensure each goose has been ridden and romped once.

With the job done they diligently move on for the next site.

They are getting to know the pigs – sossy and milly

(photos of the gander boys and their goosey girls to follow)

One of my on-farm tasks over the next month is to ensure preparation of access paths and soil in time to support the learning outcomes attached to the Food Forest Design Workshop to be run at Milkwood from Sept 2-4 2010 and facilitated by Forest Ecologist Dan and Milkwood’s Nick Ritar.

This afternoon I cut open 14m of access track into the Food Forest and in doing so got up close and personal with the soil across 3 different patches.

The on-contour path I started work on the Map in brown is adjacent to Patch 3 (the downhill side) and with Patch 1,2 and 4 above it (the uphill side).

I cut firstly in Patch 1 alongside the roadway which is area of established acacias and other young but functional support species and fruit trees. The area also has great protection from the western sun and cold westerly winds provided by magnificent Yellow Box eucalyptus trees.

I then cut through to Patch 2 and then just at dusk through to the middle of Patch 4.

From Patch 1 to Patch 4 the density of tree plantings becomes significantly less with the ground more exposed.

Here are my notes taken in observation of the soil as I cut through these differing areas:

“ comment on the soil at the level of the lowest access path -

I am cutting the track open (the FF access path) and mounding the swale out of the material.

• In Patch 1 the soil is of good quality. it has a red crumb and is moist. It has 5-6 earthworms per m at the established forest end
• In Patch 2 the soil is still a red crumb but not as moist. It has 3-4 earthworms per m
• In Patch 4 the soil is compacted and dry. It has 1-2 earthworms.

there are a few rocks of a range of sizes in the ground – hand size to soccer ball.

placing rocks around the beds for thermal mass micro-spots“

(Milkwood Food Forest Design courtesy of Dan Harris Pascale)

In terms of projects, the OMG is an exciting collaboration between Milkwood and Allsun Garden Farm. The project is innovative because it will involve a 12 month traineeship for one lucky candidate who for this year is Stephen Couling as well as series of 3-day workshops to be taught on farm at Milkwood. The collaboration and project aims to get the knowledge and skills needed for viable Market Gardening up and out there.

So the OMG is well underway and is using a nice set of small and slow solutions to meet the challenge.  The 500m2 area of the OMG is now enclosed on the River Flat with an appropriate fencing built with meticulous care by the Milkwood Winter crew. The Design and seed-seedling work is well underway at Allsun and as of this week so too is the soil preparation.  At dusk on Monday 8 Aug 2010 arrived the very noisy, spirited and very hungry ploughs in the shape of 2 rent-a-pig sows courtesy of Ormiston Free Range Pork. Milly (the Black Berkshire) and Sossy (the Large White) are a small and slow force to be reckoned with. Much more interesting and ‘organically zen’ than a noisy fuel-guzzling machine for sure.

This pair of floppy-eared, long-tongued, bucket-mouthed girls have been given the thankful task of tilling and fertilising the OMG site in exchange for a daily supply of sweet fresh rain water and a goodly portion of lovingly cooked whole corn, grain mash, whey and bread. This all in the luxury of a 5-star rawbale shelter. The girls are here for one month and they are well and happily underway.

One of my on-farm tasks is to ensure Sossy and Milly get the deal they signed up to – a daily feed and water. Now I have not had much to do with Pigs but as with anyone charged with the responsibility of food provision there comes with that task a great deal of excitement from the customer. In terms of Milly and Sossy they get super excited when they see me with pale in hand and hose in toe.

Now Sossy the Large White comes apparently from a challenging upbringing and has a few questionable social skills. To me she is sort of like the attention-challenged kid at the soccer BBQ that always has to get the most food and that always has to eat it the quickest so as to get back for more before anyone else.  Compared to her mellow pen mate. Milly, the Berkshire, Sossy has confirmed for me the meaning of the saying ‘to eat like a pig’.

So this over-excited feeding frenzy caused me my first challenge of keeping on-task of preparing the OMG soilscape in the period of one month. The pigs were not spreading their tillage effort evenly. My first few days were spent dishing out their mash in a selection of spots around the pen. But sossy would just bolt around from spot to spot eating like a pig within minutes while Milly would just stay at one spot. No tillage, no tramping.

So yesterday I tried a new trick. I sprayed the whole area with the cooked corn before spreading the mash. Milly and Sossy tramped and snouted for every single piece of that corn (literally every piece) and 3 hrs later were still at it. Their tillage action has overnight been more impressive just from this simple small solution.

So its good to see Milly and Sossy, the transient Milkwood pigs-for-hire, earning their keep and slowly but surely well on the way to preparing the OMG soilscape for food production.

you just gotta love the small and slow solution and you just gotta dig the pig.

(all images courtesy of Milkwood Permaculture)

through the creative application of permaculture principles combined with relevant practical experience and technical knowledge of Trev Bamford, permaculture strategy strives to help people and organisations develop a sustainable and integrated permaculture strategy

permaculture strategy:

• is a People Care initiative
• identifies organisational strategies for actioning and teaching permaculture.
• supports the integration of e-learning systems with participatory-based workshop environments for knowledge empowerment.
• enables better zone 00 sensibility into the permaculture design and learning process