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Permaculture Convergence 2008 | (Read 429 times) |
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kelda
Posts: 265
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February 05, 2008, 06:35:33 PM |
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Michael Pilarski michael@friendsofthetrees.netA PROPOSAL FOR A WASHINGTON STATE PERMACULTURE CONVERGENCE in 2008 Evergreen State Permaculture Convergence - 2008
Proposed by Michael Pilarski,
Friends of the Trees Society.
michael@friendsofthetrees.net
Please repond if you are interested.
Convergence Goals: To discuss how to strengthen information
flow and cooperation between permaculturists
in the state of Washington (and beyond). To work
on a vision of how permaculture can better serve the
people and land of Washington state. How can permaculture
reach more people? How can more permaculturists
make their living doing consulting, installation,
teaching, etc? I personally lean towards this convergence
being an organizational meeting by people seriously
into permaculture and not an educational event
for the general public on gardening, water catchments,
forest gardens, etc. But what actually is attempted depends
on the wishes of those who get involved.
What, where, why, when, how, who for, how many,
cost 
Why? What is the major theme(s)? Why are we getting
together? Educational workshops? Internal organization
and planning? Hands-on activities? Informal networking?
Partying?
Who? Is this for the general public? For course graduates
only? For pc professionals (to use the term loosely)
such as teachers, consultants, landscapers. I would like
to see the elders of the movement come together with
the enthusiastic, new generation coming on strong. People
who have been involved for a long time and people
newly involved. Mostly course graduates but open to
people who are keenly interested in coming on board.
Where? Hmmm . . . Well somewhere central, but not
on I-5. How about a site where you could do it cheaply.
A site that has something permaculture going on.
Hmmmm . . . Anyone have any ideas? Albert Postema
had 50 people at his WiseEarth site in Snohomish. But I
suspect that it would take major work and expense to
bring the place up to snuff again.
Cost. Perhaps we want nicer digs to do this in? After
all, not all permaculturists like roughing it anymore.
Have everything functioning smoothly so we have time
to converse instead of building infrastructure. Plus more
permaculturists can afford a motel fee these days. Is there
a "green" camp/quasi motel that we could rent? Ideal
would be a place that has camping space so that some
people can rough it and pay less fees, and some people
can have private rooms. Some rooms can be shared. The
perfect mix for everyone's pocket book.
Any ideas on suitable places? Many need long-term
booking.
When? It is January now. Seems too late to do anything
this winter. Certainly not the spring or fall. High summer,
maybe? August 22-24 for instance. Late fall, November
14-16. Next winter? What are people's thoughts on timing?
In 2007 the Oregon permaculture gathering was the
3rd weekend in August. What about the idea of doing a
joint event in southern Washington?
I am making this proposal reluctantly because I am already
overbooked. But at the same time I feel a sense of
urgency. It appears to me that the economic (and food
system) structure is looking very shaky. A lot more people
might be needing permaculture soon. If (or when) the
economy crashes how can permaculture be most effective?
How can we prepare for this eventuality? Permaculture
played a big role in Cuba's gardening movement in
it's "special period". Of course PC is just one out of a
multitude of movements that are creating the grassroots
solutions to the needs of our time. It is a matter of forging
alliances rather then leading anything.
On January 9, I was inspired to write a brief history of
permaculture in Washington State. In the course of doing
so it made me reflect on how dis-organized us Washington
permaculturists are in general. We each are doing
good jobs in our own arenas and we are reaching many
people in total. What is not happening is good information
flow within the state-wide, permaculture community.
This is because: 1) we are all so busy; 2) no charismatic,
competent, dedicated person(s) has taken on the task; and
3) in some cases because of personality differences.
So this proposal started taking shape. I will start by sending
this to small circle for feedback. If I get positive feedback
and offers of collaboration then we can expand the
circle. By the time 25 people or so have given their opinions
we ought to have a good idea what the group mind
wants.
Let me be clear. I don't want to organize this gathering. I
want someone else to do it. However, I am willing to step
up to the plate and participate in a group effort. It is important
that a diversity of people and age groups are involved.
If you get this letter, please respond with your positive or
negative reaction.
Thank you,
Michael Pilarski
January 11, 2008
------------------follow up email--------------------------------------
Two weeks have passed since I put out my proposal for
an Evergreen State Permaculture Convergence in 2008.
Initially to about 30 people. So far, a dozen people have
responded that they would like to be involved; including:
Marisha Auerbach
David Boelheim
Tracy Dee Cook, Upper Midwest delegate
Brian Hindman
Chris Hogan & staff of In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes.
Chris Mare
Kelda Miller
Maria Moore
Brent Naylor
Jenny Pell
Michael Pilarski
Albert Postema
I lost the contact info for a guy south of Oly? RSVP
Here is a second batch of proposals and thoughts for
people to consider. This will go out to the initial 30
folks plus an additional 65 people.
How many permaculture course graduates reside in
Washington state? 300? 400? 500? Only some of them
use the word permaculture in their work. How can we
connect with these grads to invite them to the convergence?
Not everyone will want to, or be able to, attend.
At the International Permaculture Convergences only
people who are pc course graduates can attend. In reality,
there is always a small % of people who haven't
done a pcdc but are there because of their keenness and
they know somebody who will sponsor them. The associated
International Permaculture Conference, held
shortly after the convergence is for convergence participants
as well as open to the general public. It is much
larger.
There are thousands of people in Washington who are
very knowledgeable about permaculture even though
they haven't done a pcdc. There are additional thousands
of people who have recently become interested in
permaculture. If someone had time, money and good
marketing savvy they could probably attract 500 to 1,000
people to a gala Washington permaculture event. This is
not the goal of this ESPC, although this could be something
that could happen further down the road.
Permaculturists from elsewhere are welcome to join us.
Cross-pollination between different states and regions increases
biodiversity of ideas. It would be nice to have
participation from Oregon, BC and farther afield. Several
PCists from other regions of the US have already said
they would like to attend.
At this point I would guess that 50 to 100 participants is a
likely number for the first 2008 ESPC.
How long of an event?
Friday evening (or perhaps earlier in the day), Saturday
and most of Sunday. Ideally with the option that people
who wish can stay over Sunday night. Perhaps it could be
held during weekdays . . ? Many more venues are available
during the week and perhaps cheaper.
How about hosting one or several public permaculture
workshops on the day after? The steering committee
can select a number of the more experienced permaculturists
to teach one or a number of workshops. The workshop
is open to convergence participants and to the general
public. This satisfies some of the demand for
information by the interested public.
Format during the convergence? Participatory, egalitarian,
synergistic. Mostly circles of many voices rather then
a rectangle of audience facing a single speaker. Perhaps
there can be some short keynote speeches, but I see this
mainly as an egalitarian planning council. Some plenary
sessions and some small groups.
Displays, vending, poster session, show & tell, barter.
Vending shouldn't take center state, but it is handy to see
the useful books, inventions, tools, and resources that are
available. Relevant items only. Portfolios, photo albums,
posters, and many forms of show & tell can be useful.
Would we like to have a specific barter period?
A website presence would be very helpful. Who can put
together some web pages? What site can we post it on?
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alexisavoire
Posts: 120
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March 25, 2008, 06:53:39 PM |
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2 hours, 59 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - A chunk of Antarctic ice about seven times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk, scientists said Tuesday.
Satellite images show the runaway disintegration of a 160-square-mile chunk in western Antarctica, which started Feb. 28. It was the edge of the Wilkins ice shelf and has been there for hundreds, maybe 1,500 years.
This is the result of global warming, said British Antarctic Survey scientist David Vaughan.
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