Permaculture is a pragmatic activity. It is intended to use
present knowledge to accomplish its principles. It recognizes
that research and new knowledge are useful but not essential to
present sustainable use of the land and building of humane societies.
Most problems are caused by failure to apply ideas that are already
known and tested.
Such an approach means that the permaculturist will be consciously
searching for ideas and trying to integrate them into design thinking.
Such a holistic approach makes the role of associated movements
and other resources extremely important. These are the sources
of inspiration and specific ideas and practices that can be applied
to permaculture projects. They broaden our base of knowledge.
One of the biggest criticisms of education is that the holistic
world has been divided and subdivided into ever smaller units
of study following a scientific model. The practical result of
this fracturing of knowledge is that we all tend to see pieces
of the picture but no one sees the whole. Each discipline tends
to approach problems from its own point-of-view, with its own
limited set of tools and never a concern that its concepts and
tools may not even be appropriate to the problem or that there
might be other ways to do a job.
A prime example of this, with which we are all familiar, is the
sewage treatment plant. At some point in the early part of the
20th century, the mechanical/chemical method of treatment was
developed. It never was a very satisfactory system. The water
at the end of the treatment cycle was only partially purified
and carried excessive nutrient loads into waterways. However,
no one seriously questioned the technology for decades. Some treatment
plants were smaller, some were bigger, but thousands of municipalities
had one or more of them. Finally, in the last ten years, expense
of treatment plants and water quality concerns led to a search
for alternatives. Wetland treatment systems and living machines,
using biological rather than mechanical/chemical approaches, have
quickly proven to be less costly and more efficient than the older
technology that has held on for so long.
Such change took a change in thinking. Engineers had become accustomed
to dealing with holding tanks and vats, mechanical mixers, screens,
aeration pumps and chemicals. The world of biology as a method
of treatment never entered the picture because engineers are usually
not trained in biology. And, no public works department would
ask a biologist about sewage treatment -- obviously the job of
a civil engineer. How many other examples of compartmentalized
thinking may be holding back valuable innovations?
An associated movement is defined as a group of people, a profession
or a way of thinking that has a general or specific connection
to some aspect of permaculture. It is a source from which a permaculturist
might draw inspiration or specific practices for incorporation
into a design project.
For inspiration and goals there are lessons to be learned from
bioregionalism, deep ecology and other similar movements. Our
gains here are in the realm of generalist thinking, philosophy
or approaches to life. They set the big
framework within which our work takes place.
On another level, organic gardeners, biodynamic farmers, landscape
architects, architects and planners have written about their interests
in development. These parallel groups are often doing and saying
similar things, perhaps with twists or variations reflecting some
specific point-of-view or approach to practice. However, each
has the ability to inform the others. From organic gardening,
we might gain information on biological pest control; from biodynamic
farming, schedules and techniques of planting; from landscape
architecture and architecture, concepts of design organization
and form; and from planning, an appreciation of problems of large
scale resource allocation. Almost any associated movement can
contribute something to our approach.
As permaculturists we want to be aware of what others are doing
and have a basic understanding of their thinking patterns and
belief systems. As we need further material for specific use we
can draw upon these resources as needed. We want to remain open
to new ideas and stay connected to the greater world around us
as we pursue our own specific interests. We need to prepare ourselves
to think and act holistically.