Permaculture - perfect Peak Oil prep training?

Whitecrab

White I was reading the Canadian Green Party website, I came accross a term I'd never heard before: Permaculture

I did some quick googling, http://www.permaculture.net/ was the top of the list, but even it's full page list of definitions couldn't make clear exactly what permaculture is. Just seems to be some personal/community level, sustainable living and farming movement. Most importantly, there are books and workshops and courses on the subject.

Is anyone else familiar with this? I mean, if there are people out there giving formalized lessons on sustainable farming, energy efficent self-sustaining homes, etc., sounds like just the sort of thing to prepare for a peak oil world.

Does anyone have some experience on the subject? Could spread some light on it for the rest of us?
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Pops · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 5:33 pm Post subject:

Where is Spork?

WC, I think a simple definition, at least ag wise, is to plant perennials. Trees, vines, permanent pasture, etc, avoid constant soil loss and (important here) oil inputs. In addition, multi-cropping can reduce pest and disease by mimicking a natural system as much as possible.
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adam · Coal Joined: May 28, 2004 Posts: 15

WhiteCrab - you are more right than you know! Permaculture, at least the vision put forward by one of it's co-originators, David Holmgren, is being developed largely as a response to peak oil. The first section of Holmgren's 2002 book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability is something of a peak oil primer. Energy systems modelling is one of permacultures theoretical underpinnings. He says something along the lines of: in as much as permaculture principles provide a useful response to energy descent, they will move towards the cultural and political mainstream.

I recently interviewed him about peak oil, and will post a transcript soon on the new website:
www.energybulletin.net

amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0646418440/103-6681829-7799868