Three Key Obstacles in Permaculture
By: Hunter Keyser
Tags: Permaculture, Organic Farming, Agriculture, Farming, Organic

The first thing we must understand is that in Permaculture there are three problems we aim to solve, which are non-agricultural, and increasingly large.

The first of these problems is man’s inherent sense of dependency on the economy. When we come to live a Permaculture lifestyle we understand the we enter a. deep communion with nature in which forces beyond our control are acknowledged in their power, and careful practice is applied to provide for ourselves in the knowledge that the forces of nature could destroy our endeavors at any moment. The human relies on his or her skill and commitment in cultivating the resources necessary for survival, be they food, or materials for shelter, or what have you. If nature should choose for humans to go in need for a time because she has thrown something our way which we could not have accounted for, then so be it. Allow the state of lack and live with it.

As persons of a world which produces more food then necessary, and throws away 30% of it while much of the world starves, we must understand that the economy which is overly productive and allows us to eat wholesomely regardless of the state of our immediate natural surroundings, is temporary. When a system this large becomes so unbalanced, it is the result of disregard for the truths of humanity which, when acknowledged and cared for, can result in great creations, but which can also, when disregarded so, can topple us altogether. It is simply a yin-yang reaction. Humans must become consciously aware of a building wave of temperance, and we are either going to correct our actions in time, or reap disaster. Either way, the lesson will be learned.

“The Truths of Humanity”, of which I have spoken, are not eternal or holy. In this case I reference such truths which are simple and practical, and when viewed from a clear vantage point can help us to level ourselves before we are leveled by our unconscious desires, which will bite us. Man has built an economy which is the natural result of the forces of trade and a human desire for variety and exotica. This is just fine. However, in doing so we have built a mental state in which “wealth” is opposed to dependency on the Earth. Any person who toils in the dirt must be a heathen, a poverty stricken mule, a slave of the old days whose laws and social norms have gone by. Unfortunately, this mentality is largely justified because of the state of most farmers in our current day. Who would want to be a farmer? They are socially isolated, poor, and have nothing in their life to provide entertainment. So is the perception. Who can say it is wrong?

I am not opposed to a flourishing economy. Trade, variety, and exotica, are all humans’ natural desires and practices. However, we must remember that this is the first time in our species’ evolution in which so great a number out of the general population are disposed to living a lavish lifestyle. We can no longer be so irresponsible in providing ourselves this lifestyle. We must understand that all economic activities begin in the ground, save perhaps education. All materials for food, machinery, buildings and structures, household niceties, chemical products, and even musical instruments come from the ground. Rocks and minerals, lumber, plant fibers, all vegetables, even animal products, come directly from the ground. And, if we can provide for ourselves a greater deal of our needs from our immediate environment, and then participate in the economy where it seems natural, then we can save ourselves a great many resources and be much less dependent on those current sources of our food, lumber, and other manufactured possessions.

The second thing which we are dealing with is an inability to collaborate because of individuals’ goals and needs being at odds. Unless there is an organized systems, which the people agree is good and should be abided, then there inevitably crop up disagreements when problems arise, as to the means, methods, and even the ends, in solving them.

This problem is largely tied in with our third obstacle. And this is that the usual method of unifying people under a common ideal, namely leadership, is highly resisted by the selfsame souls who are attracted to the Permaculture Community. We all seek self sovereignty, and we do not wish to be led by others. However, I will make an argument for leadership, as I believe that when a true leader rises, all those in collaboration with the leader will be happy to accept this leadership because it does not infringe on their being in any way whatsoever.

Leadership usually arises because a certain individual or group of individuals understands the connections between and among a network of typically human activities, while those people who actually perform the activities may not understand this whole picture so well. A great example is a common supermarket. Somebody understands that we must transport meat a certain number of miles to reach the market under freezing conditions in order for the butcher in the deli line to do his job. This transportation costs money for fuel, electricity, labor, and the meat itself. Once all this is accomplished, only then can the butcher do his job. It is a necessary job, but there were large tasks to accomplish before it could be completed, and the butcher could not fathom the way to make these happen. Thus is the need for leadership. The leader is probably poorly skilled in making cuts of meat. The two need each other.

Thus it is that in order to grow as Permaculturalists we must step up to the plate in our natural roles, and if we have the capacity to comprehend actions which allow a network of human participation, then we needn’t be afraid to claim our seat.

We are reworking the sources of materials which constitute our economy, by becoming more mindful of their production, and we are recreating systems under which many humans must be in agreeance on the nature of the whole. These are our challenges.

Thank you for reading,

Hunter Keyser