[/caption]Over the past few weeks I have written about the ethical foundation of permaculture. Prior articles covered the first two:
1- care for the earth
2- care for people.
Now I will examine the third.
3- Take responsibility for my own production and share the surplus.
It is this third ethic that makes it possible to do other two. How? When you take responsibility for your own production, which requires you to look closely at what you use; your energy consumption and how much waste you generate, you get a clear picture of your behaviour and can begin to change habits.
This examination provides information about how you can reduce how much you consume in the first place and thus how much you have to reuse or recycle. Once you understand your consumer behaviour you can rethink think the patterns that emerge form this examination and make new connections, for example, composting rather than throwing away, vegetable scraps.
Sharing the surplus has the potential to make significant changes in how we conduct our lives within the community and change how we view the economy.
There are many ways to share the surplus and do good work in your community at the same time.
You can take simple steps, such as, when grocery shopping which, of course you are doing at the local farmers market or a locally owned operation, buy some extra dry or canned beans and, once a month give them to the local food bank or meal program.
It is a good idea to contact the local food bank before deciding what to buy, ask them what they need; donating food items is good but so is a financial donation or volunteering your time. Both cover the sharing the surplus concept.
Grow a row programs are popular ways to share surplus produce; when planning your gardens set aside a row for the local food bank.
Community gardens could set up a plot which is cooperatively tended with the produce going to the local food program. This brings people together in a common cause. It is a good plan to talk with the food bank to see if they have any people who would like to lend a hand. meant for the food bank. You could contact the food bank and let them know that you are doing this and ask them if there are foods that they would prefer.
Speaking of financial donations, while few of us have what we would consider surplus when it comes to cash, it is possible to set aside say five per cent of your regular pay cheque and donate that to a local organization, which one is up to you, my choice would be a food related program, especially one that puts an emphasis on helping people help themselves.
These basic ways of sharing can change our attitude towards making a profit or generating surplus which are basically the same thing. Yes we do need to meet our needs first or we cannot help others, however, how much do we actually need?
The next step when is comes to sharing the surplus is a look at social businesses where the bottom line combines earning a living and doing good work. Stay tuned.
