Permaculture and off grid living.

Question

I've got an ambition to live off the land, go off grid and to grow my own organic food and produce using environmentally friendly permaculture methods and techniques, and I'd love to hear from like minded vegans with similar dreams and ambitions.

LadyG · Answer

Check out the website permies.com

I don't respect the admin/founder of that site but there  are many like-minded individuals and you'll get a lot of information and resources.

Also,  zaytunafarm.com (Geoff Lawton's place) is very inspiring.

Lesley1961 · Answer

Hi Steve

Welcome to a kinder more thoughtful world.

I don’t post very often, but I do 'lurk'! I noticed your post because of your interest in permaculture - here’s a site linked to Geoff Lawton... 

https://permaculturenews.org/?mc_cid=429121bd1a&mc_eid=86b94c57e5

I also have lots of books which I could list if you like - what sort of research have you done so far?

marlicious · Answer

Sadly a lot of these sites fix is on survivalist topics and promote paleo diets and the like...

marlicious · Answer

Sadly a lot of these sites fix is on survivalist topics and promote paleo diets and the like...

Lesley1961 · Answer

Permaculture is the antithesis of the survivalist ('prepper') culture. Names to look out for; Bill Mollison and David Holmgren (founders), Sepp Holzer, Toby Hemenway for a start. 

And here’s a free course which I completed last year - intense but well worth it, even if you already know lots about permaculture!

https://open.oregonstate.edu/courses/permaculture/

It’s brilliant!

MountainVegan · Answer

Living off the land and growing permaculture are great soundbites. But to be truly low impact - we need to start thinking local and avoid global. This means no plastics (like hoses and other water lines), No fossil fuels (for tillers and mowers and trimmers and generators, for heat and cooking), It means seed production and intense calorie gardens. I would recommend focusing on native edibles where you are at, then moving toward tree and bush crops, finally getting into the "garden"

Lesley1961 · Answer

Hi mountain vegan
I’m not sure where you’ve got your info regarding permaculture, but your description is not what I’ve been following for the last 12 years! Off grid renewables, bicycle power for transport and definitely no tilling! The only disagreement I have is my choice to be vegetarian. Perennial vegetables, forest farming, water conservation, soil building, guilds, local seasonal veg when necessary, foraging etc, need I go on? Please do your research before making assumptions. Thanks. And it’s definitely not a sound bite or fad.

MountainVegan · Answer

Well Leslie - for someone who doesn't post much (but lurks) you sure have blown up this thread with "sound bites"
As for assumptions - what makes you think (or assume) I have not done the research? (see what you did there?)
As for soundbites - what I am pointing out - is that todays use of and exploration of Permaculture - are often about as sustainable and low impact as , hmmm - solar power!
The point I am trying to make - is to go well below the surface - if you want to be living truly sustainably - or - a perma(nent)-(agri)culture. When you are using things like plastic water devices, gas power, wood from out of the area, solar power, cellphones, etc - you are far from a permanent culture.
 Yes - you can be less impact - but until we face the fact that global and industrialised production, consumption and grid technology are the opposite of sustainable - we are kidding ourselves, and just spouting soundbites. It's great to have water wise gardens and some low till areas, and I am not attempting to take anything away from any steps one may take to live a less impactful life - but lets not fool ourselves.
 True permaculture is self sustainability - everything else falls far short. It's time to be honest about our terminology and abilities.

Lesley1961 · Answer

I agree, mountain vegan. There is a lot of misinformation out there and a lot of 'greenwash' especially regarding renewables. I apologise if you feel my approach seems lightweight, but I was considering the fact that Steve is a beginner in permaculture and needed some pointers on how to find out more. I am genuinely interested in how you generate energy  True permaculture is totally sustainable, as you say and I assumed (wrongly) that you were dismissing permaculture -and I also know that we do what we can do which is more than the majority of the western consumer world.

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