Adaptive Permaculture: How do we integrate folks with disabilities?

Alan - You are kind and serve to remind me what it is about permaculture people that I like so much. They are kind, caring, considerate people. I think that I could get my dad to help with the install here and there and I have a new dear that, while he didn't know anything about fibromyalgia when we me, has been learning and I think that he would do what he could to help. There really isn't a permaculture "community" locally. The very few permaculture people I have met or talked to tend to keep very closely to themselves around here.

You asked about my plans. Here is the concept for the front half of the property. The area, from the left edge to where it jogs on the right is 50 ft x 200 ft. The back area of my yard (not shown) is 100 ft x 78 ft and has been planted with fruit trees in rows that follow the contour and has berries, nut bushes and trees and such along the edge boundaries. This front area does have some stuff that I would have to move around that I planted, but I don't think that will be a big deal. The entire yard is relatively flat with very little fall from back to front.

Hi Jen

you are on the right tract with the raised beds,just cut the pallets so there is only 2 runners instead of 3 and leave the slats attached to the 2 runners
this will give you a 20'' x 40'' panel for the side of the raised bed then just build what ever size you want.
you can run a wider board on top to stiffen them and make a seat all the way around.
also torx screws and cordless tools are awesome for us people with disability's [able to change things around as needed]and the battery charge last longer than I do.

ill share my issues at a later time [still having a hard time dealing with them] thankfully my wife and 2 sons are very help full and supportive

this forum has helped me out a lot with adapting to the way things are now.

Mike

Hi Jen,

thanks for the reply. I'm sorry to take so long getting back to you. I don't have internet access where I'm currently living.

Your design is nicely drawn. I have to confess, I'm having trouble understanding your design, what's path and what's beds. As to getting folks to help, I'm still learning about that myself. My missing leg is more obvious than fibromyalgia, but I still have an ongoing task of communicating my needs and creating a situation where people can help and not lose something in the process. We always want everyone to be better off.

That said, I am finding that people are generally willing to help. What helps is when I'm organized enough to let people help as little or as much as they are inclined to do so. I'm really working on that one. It seems like you have a real handle on the work you want done, so if you were to break it down into specific tasks, folks will be able to pick a task they're willing to take on.

Another idea is a work party, pot-luck or other such gathering of friends. This can be fun!

I've been able to do some barters with friends who helped me with some painting in return for my design work. Maybe you could make a pie, design a rain garden, or do some other work in return for the physical work.

I'm surprised that you're not finding permies to be friendly and welcomin, but who knows.

One other thought, your design doesn't have to have a permaculture label on it. Having a water harvesting, healthy food producing garden seems like enough.

Thanks again for sharing your challenges. Please keep us posted. I think we can establish beneficial relationships and healthy interactions where everyone wins.

Alan McGill wrote:Hi Jen,

thanks for the reply. I'm sorry to take so long getting back to you. I don't have internet access where I'm currently living.

Your design is nicely drawn. I have to confess, I'm having trouble understanding your design, what's path and what's beds. As to getting folks to help, I'm still learning about that myself. My missing leg is more obvious than fibromyalgia, but I still have an ongoing task of communicating my needs and creating a situation where people can help and not lose something in the process. We always want everyone to be better off.

That said, I am finding that people are generally willing to help. What helps is when I'm organized enough to let people help as little or as much as they are inclined to do so. I'm really working on that one. It seems like you have a real handle on the work you want done, so if you were to break it down into specific tasks, folks will be able to pick a task they're willing to take on.

Another idea is a work party, pot-luck or other such gathering of friends. This can be fun!

I've been able to do some barters with friends who helped me with some painting in return for my design work.  Maybe you could make a pie, design a rain garden, or do some other work in return for the physical work.

I'm surprised that you're not finding permies to be friendly and welcomin, but who knows.

One other thought, your design doesn't have to have a permaculture label on it. Having a water harvesting, healthy food producing garden seems like enough.

Thanks again for sharing your challenges. Please keep us posted. I think we can establish beneficial relationships and healthy interactions where everyone wins.

HI all,

WELL, it's 2016 November and let's get more excited about ADAPTIVE PERMACULTURE.

We now have a new ally in AUtism Housing Network, who are dedicated to helping folks with Disabilities of all sorts, because this helps everyone.

I have emailed with Desiree Kameka. asked them to put Toby Hemenway's book, the Permabulture City, on their resources page.

PLEASE feel free to add more Permabulture to the Resources page, this will help get folks to here and we can collectively build our critical mass!

http://www.autismhousingnetwork.org/

I am on the awesome Spectrum and have challenges with typing and putting thoughts to words, so will be writing more later.

As Valerie says, we Autists have some ideas which are differenct and we dream of sharing them too!

Valerie, if you're still there, please PM me. I did a search for Adaptive Permaculture. as well as your name, ane Zero came up.


I have also emailed to Cassie Langstraat about Diversity in permaculture, and she is enthusiastic to help move this forward.

Hi everyone, I am looking for a Sustainable /Intentional community for living.
I was exposed to some Black Mold about 4+ years ago & developed severe sudden onset Rheumatoid Arthritis & some food allergies. I have been wanting to do or be a part of a sustainable/intentional community for as long as I can remember. AND still do!!! I love growing & can grow just about anything, I love chickens & their eggs but can't eat ANY Soy products, which is in most chicken feed.
I have always just wanted to live on a little farm & do the farm thing, I'm not short on ambition, or motivation I find that working in/with the Earth is actually very healing, but there are those days...that the pain is so bad I can't even pick up a glass of water.

Recently, my landlords asked me to move; their house flooded due to a water line break & they need the rental house back to live in while their's is being repaired.
I live in Santa Fe, NM where rent is very high, economy, education & health care are now the worst in the country, and recently we were declared the Most Dangerous state in the country.
I have been selling almost everything I own, except my tools & a few items I cannot replace, I put those is a storage unit & paid the rent through December. I am probably going to be living in my truck after I get things sorted out.

I came up with this idea a few years ago of a Sustainable Shelter & have been trying to get that going with another woman. But she has finally had enough of Santa Fe & is moving to Colorado. There is one in Austin Tx. Community First Village! but you have to be a Texas resident to apply & you can't get a Texas Drivers license without an address...big ol catch 22...

My Brother offered to purchase a property in his name for this community I want to get started as long as the mortgage & insurance get paid, but property is awfully expensive here... any ideas?

If there is anyone out there that is interested in having me, I would be more than willing to discuss any terms. I know how to do a lot of stuff, I have a small SS disability income & a small savings, some tools, a little furniture; bed, a comfy chair, etc... a small Stihl Chainsaw, lots of shade cloth (essential for growing in NM) a shoe box of seeds I'v collected & my dear companion Gladys; a 16 yo Border Collie, I don't expect her to be around much longer... :-(

I have 6 days to vacate & leave the house clean, after that my email will be BarbaraZiegler505@gmail.com and I'll have limited service, my phone # is 505 660-3852 any calls will always be welcome.

Thanks,
Barbara Ziegler
505 660-3852

PS if anyone knows how to change my email address on the permies website please let me know, not so great on computers...

Hi Barbara,

As far as location, do you need to stay in New Mexico, or the southwestish area for your health?

What type of living facility do you need for yourself and Gladys?  a few hundred square feet with some nice outdoor area?

Let us know.

thanks and many heartfelt blessings to you.

I'm reviving this thread because of extreme life changes I'm facing.  On Friday we found out my husband has Leukemia.  We don't know exactly what kind but it looks like Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.  If it is he may be fine for years but will eventually develop symptoms and then death.  Today I found out I have a degenerative condition of the spine, but will need an MRI to know more.  This is on top of Bipolar disorder.   I'm also caregiver for my 86 year old Dad who is experiencing increasing Alzheimers symptoms.

I'm trying to formulate some plans for my life in the future, when I am alone, and I know that I want to live in community.  One of my ideas is to invite a permies family to live here in the house, with me also as a house resident, and then pass the property on to the family.  But other times I think I should sell (preferably to a permie) and move somewhere else.  In either case I will be a disabled person looking for community.  I'm reaching out to the permies community for moral support right now, and perhaps for some ideas about how to think about the future, and how to make plans.

Feeling really piled on and overwhelmed right now.