For thousands of years humans have adapted to their environments through the process of design. Weaving local materials to meet their needs and interwining nature's patterns with their lives, indigenous communities live within the limits of their local ecosystem. Nature, technology and culture maintain a dynamic balance.
However, our modern day industrialized world has developed systems that can only function beyond the limits of local ecosystems. This means that someone else in some other part of the world is being exploited in order for us to live in this synthetic and unfair system. It is a sad situation that the majority of humanity are still unaware of these consequences. Today our global tecnologies are depleting the earth's resources, darkening the skies and waters with waste while endangering life's bounties and diversity.
The question than is; Can we invent a more comprehensive way of designing which will integrate the built world with the natural environment ? Can we find a way of life which will create harmony between nature, technology, and humanity ?
The answer is yes. Through collective efforts of communities that strive to live off a more balanced way of life, less profit driven lifestyles and more altruistic approaches, comes a philosophy and design science called Applied Permaculture. This umbrella term gathers a simple answer solution to many questions and problems that have been raised before and that have been applied by many ecological communities in many parts of the world.
In reality, living a more simplistic, earthy and holistic way that can do more with less while appreciating local resources to their maximum benefit. Permaculture shows us to a great depth, the relations between humans and their environments the path to syncronicity. From design and waste management, to growing of food, forest management, rainwater harvesting, ecological design and choice of safe materials for construction. It is a philosophy and a path that if taken seriously will open many doors to a happier and more tranquil way of life.
I would like to finish this blog with a guiding verse from Goethe....'Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.' Enjoy the earth with love.
