Permaculture design in Lost Valley, Oregon offers sustainablefunctions, systems

Michell Spoden — Today I bring a special guest on GHN for sharing with us the inspiring work his organization is doing in Oregon. Let’s see what Colin Doyle of Lost Valley, OR, says about the helpful work done by the organization where he works.

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Michell: Colin, where do you live, and what is your job?

Colin: My name is Colin Doyle, and I live and work at Lost Valley Educational Center, where I've been for two years. For much of that time, I have been the Program Director, in charge of running our courses and hosting outside events. My role recently evolved into being the Director of Permaculture Systems, my prime directive being to get more functional permaculture systems in place at Lost Valley.  This will likely include things such as composting or biodigesting toilets, rainwater catchment off roofs, greywater systems, completed natural buildings, and many smaller projects. This is so that we 'walk the talk' more, make ourselves more independent/resilient, and become a more inspiring and appealing place for people to come in the future. I am still involved with running courses as well.

Michell: Please tell us about Lost Valley Educational Center and how it began.

Colin: Lost Valley Educational Center is both a 501(c)3 non-profit education center and an intentional community. On the business side, we run or host courses in sustainability skills – permaculture courses being the flagship – and rent our classrooms, dorms, etc. to outside groups that often run events or workshops themselves, such as personal development programs. We have been doing this since our founding in 1989. On the residential side, we have around 40 people who live on site, either working as staff or volunteers in the non-profit, or simply renting a dwelling. This is a community of people who want to live with each other (as opposed to in anonymous society) and be more ecologically responsible while doing so. We call ourselves an “aspiring ecovillage”, and are currently in the process of forming an official community entity so as to create some separation between the education center and the long-term residential community.

Lost Valley began in 1989 when a small group of like-minded friends from the Bay Area was looking for a piece of rural land where they could start an ecovillage. The site was in poor condition, having been constructed two decades before by Shiloh Christian Camps but lost by that group for tax reasons. Through luck and determination, two founding members purchased Lost Valley and started it on its track to the present.

Michell: Have you had any previous experience working in a place like this?

Colin: This is unintentionally a two-part question. Have I worked in an educational center before? Yes, but not quite like this. Before coming to Lost Valley, I taught hiking-based outdoor science to 5th- and 6th-graders for two years, in the mountains of Southern California and New Hampshire. I also led backpacking and other trips with teenagers for three summers. So I have done plenty of educating of children and teenagers, but not teaching adults in permaculture or allied areas.

Have I lived in an intentional community (such as an ecovillage or commune or co-op) before? No, this is my first time. I came to an outwardly-minded community both to support my very strong belief in ecological responsibility and to live with people while doing so. To me, the village is the one human organizational structure that has proven itself over the millenia to work, and we will return to such an arrangement whether we want to or not. So I choose to live intentionally with my neighbors and co-workers, as a model and for my own benefit and enjoyment.

Michell: How many people have you served since you started?

Colin: I don't know how many people Lost Valley has served in our 23 years, as visitors, event or course participants, residents, or otherwise. We have a large capacity, as we have a great meadow for camping and two dormitories, plus units for residents. The number served on site since 1989 is doubtless several thousand, and many others have been inspired by what they've seen on our website.

Michell: Why did you choose the state of Oregon for your center?

Colin: The founders of Lost Valley came from the Bay Area and were looking for inexpensive land, and so explored Oregon. Lost Valley therefore grew out of the progressive culture of the West Coast, and is less likely to happen in other parts of the country. The organization that built most of our infrastructure was Shiloh, and this was their national headquarters. I don't know why they chose Oregon as their hub of operations.

Michell: Do you have any new goals or plans for the organization at this time?

Colin: Yes. As I mentioned, we are putting more emphasis for the near future into bolstering our on-site permaculture systems. We are also looking to host more outside events, as a rustic conference center.  And we are looking to provide a structure in which residents can live solidly on our land for many years, providing a consistent base to both the community and non-profit, as high turnover has traditionally been a problem.

Michell: Are animals welcome when staying overnight?

Colin: Visitors should leave their pets at home when visiting, though a certain number of companion animals are allowed as residents. There have been numerous discussions amongst those living at Lost Valley about what level of pets in most appropriate at an aspiring sustainability center.

Michell: Can you explain briefly what a permaculture design certificate is and how long it takes to attain one at Lost Valley?

Colin: A Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) is the standardized baseline certification for permaculture knowledge. A course that grants one must have 72 hours of instruction time from teachers and include all the major topics covered in Bill Mollison's Permaculture, A Designer's Manual. This standard is usually followed at permaculture education centers all over the world, and as a result, the PDC is a common and known entity. Lost Valley's courses that grant a PDC are as short as two weeks (there is one such course every December) and as long as five weeks. Our courses are unusual, because few PDC classes are offered in a community setting like Lost Valley – this is a special feature that some students are attracted to.

Michell: Who can benefit from a permaculture design certificate?

Colin: Everyone can benefit from a Permaculture Design Certificate, as it provides a way of thinking about the world, a method of working with (not against) natural flows, and being cognizant of what one’s effects are on the world around them. A PDC also includes practical knowledge of soil building, water on the landscape, gardening, forestry, appropriate technology, and other areas. I think the more people who have taken a permaculture course, the better everyone and everything will be.

Michell: What are the most popular types of certificates people get from your center?

Colin: We offer one certificate now, which is the PDC. Up until two years ago, we also offered the Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) certificate, which is focused on how to make social/communal living work. It is an example of social permaculture. We may offer this course (in conjunction with a PDC) again in the future.

Michell: Do you feel that your organization has had adequate media attention throughout the years?

Colin: I have been at Lost Valley for only 2 of its 23 years, so I'm not best placed to answer this question. However, I know that Lost Valley has been prominently featured in articles about intentional communities for some time, and is one of the better known ecovillages in the country. We are also a known name in permaculture education circles (as well as personal growth circles in Oregon). A magazine named Talking Leaves was published at Lost Valley for a number of years in the 1990s and early 2000s, and this helped contribute to knowledge of our areas of interest and activities.

Michell : Thank you so much Colin for telling us about this significant work at Lost Valley.



Readers can find out about what is happening at Lost Valley now – including blog/articles, photos, upcoming courses, conference center facilities, and resident opportunities, at our website, http://lostvalley.org/

Life With Type 2 Diabetes: Part 1

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Bob Ewing - Chocolate was once a driving force in my life.  Today, I can walk right by it and not even notice that it is there. Well, that is not completely true, I do notice but there is no draw, no urge to grab a piece, then another.   How did this come about?

It did not happen over night. I have Type 2 diabetes,  as did my father and his father before him. My doctors had warned me that unless I maintained a firm control over my diet and got enough exercise, my borderline case could explode.

I kept up the exercise. I walk every day. I gave up driving over 30 years ago and have been a walker ever since. This is good for me, my pocket book and the environment, a triple win scenario.

Permaculture education teaches you how to design systems and activities that provide three or more services. This is sound advice and often happens even when you are not planning it but it does require you to pay attention, which brings another permaculture principle into play, paying attention.

Being aware of where you are, what you are doing and what is taking place around you provides a grounding force and much useful information.

I did not watch my diet close enough, my love of chocolate, cake, pie and anything sweet and a tendency to overeat ruled my behaviour. This did not change until one day about four years ago.

We had just moved here when one morning I woke up and when I opened my eyes it was as though I was seeing the world through a thin grey gauze. After a trip to my doctor and an appointment with the eye doctor, I was told that I had floaters.

The Canadian National Institute for the Bind defines floaters as:

Floaters are dark specks in the form of dots, circles, lines, or cobwebs that seem to move across your field of vision. They are most noticeable when you are looking at a light-coloured background, such as a clear sky or a white wall. Floaters come in many sizes and numbers, and they seem to move when you look in different directions.

Floaters can diminish and today I only notice them now and then, usually when I am tired.

Now, as I have Type 2 diabetes, the doctor thought it best that a specialist, an ophthalmologist take a closer look. An ophthalmologist is a doctor who specializes in the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the physiology, anatomy, and pathology of the eye and the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the eye.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of adult blindness. It is a complication of diabetes that results from damage to small blood vessels in the eye. This damage to blood vessels affects the nourishment of the retina which leads to visual loss. This condition can occur in both types 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Now by this time I had had three doctors appointments that combined lasted about three hours. This did not cost me anything. The treatment for this early stage was laser surgery. In all I have had four laser surgeries performed one ach eye and my vision is excellent.

Today, I do not eat chocolate, not even the sugar free; ignore most deserts even though a little sugar now and then cannot hurt me. Fortunately, peanut butter, another food love affair, is recommended in proper moderation.

Starting the Family Organic Garden: Plant Selection

  Bob Ewing - Food is best when it is fresh, and it is freshest when it comes from your yard. Gardening does more than put food on your table; it allows you to connect directly with nature and gives you a great reason to go outside. It also is a fun, family activity.

When you decide to begin an organic, vegetable garden, get the process started by having a family conversation. Meal time is perfect for talking about food; if you do not have a garden or a vegetable garden, then announce you are doing so and need some help.

Now this announcement may not be greeted by much enthusiasm, at first, however, let the family know, all you are looking for now, are suggestions on what to plant. The most successful gardens begin by planting vegetables that your family is already eating.

A salad garden may not get much respect but a pizza or pasta garden may. Both pizza and pasta, well tomato sauce, can use similar ingredients, for example, tomatoes, onions, green peppers. Both gardens can benefit from a few herbs, basil, thyme and oregano.

Now that you have made choices about what will grow in your first organic garden; tomatoes, onions, green peppers, basil thyme and oregano, it is time to buy the seeds. Buy organic and heritage seeds. This way you know what you are getting, and if you plan to save seeds, will be certain you have quality seeds for next year.

Leave the seed catalogues out, pass them around and let the family have an opportunity to select varieties. It is fine to buy more seeds than you can plant, put the seeds, you do not use, in a sealed container, a zip lock bag will do, and place them in a cool dark place, I use the fridge. They will keep until the following spring and likely longer. These saved seeds are your insurance that you have the beginnings of a future garden, right in your kitchen.

As spring advances, it is time to select a garden site; your pizza-pasta garden will need a site that gets eight hours of sunlight per day. If this is your first organic, vegetable garden, I would start small; a ten foot long by four foot wide plot is ample. A site this size, and you can add some beans and a few flowers for the table, will grow enough food while being manageable.

Once the site is selected it is time to prepare the bed. There are two ways to do this; one is to dig and fill; the other, my favourite is the no-dig. Why no dig, simple, I enjoy growing things but see no value in working any harder than necessary, that is my personal reason. My gardener reason is this: when you break up the soil you are disturbing a community that will help you garden. This community has many, many residents; some so small that your unaided eye cannot see them. You want their help so do not destroy or disturb their home.

Next week we will show you how to start a no-dig bed together.

This year resolve to live lightly upon the earth

Bob Ewing - Resolutions, have you made any yet? The period between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve finds people committing themselves to making their New Year’s resolutions.

These solemn promises, which people make to themselves, are made in good faith and with the best of intentions. Resolution makers are also eager to share their commitments with friends and family; an act which is made much simpler by the variety of social networks available to anyone with an Internet connection. We can now share whatever comes into our minds the very minute it does.

People promise to lose weight; give up smoking; drink less and be kinder. The variety of resolutions is amazing, however, they often all have one thing in common, and they are short-lived. What begins with good intentions may fade as the stress of daily life begins to wear away those noble plans.

I do not make resolutions. I once did but no more, not for a number of years now.

It was about twenty years ago, maybe even 25, when I began to give thought to what this short phrase “Do no harm” means. I asked myself if it was possible to design a life based upon such a seemingly simple philosophy.

During my perusal of an answer to this possibility, this search merged with my determination to find a way out of an economic and political system that required people to live in poverty, so that a few could thrive. Those who did well, benefited from the fact that they controlled the planet’s resources. I became fascinated by who owned and controlled the land and what lay beneath.

I have always been intrigued by food and was involved in the local food movement at the time, working for an anti-poverty organization and a food bank. Simplicity and living lightly upon the earth were also subjects of study and practice. It was during this period that I found permaculture and its ethics and principles.

It was then that I knew I had found a way out of the morass we call society and a method by which a better, more just and equitable system could be designed. There was no need to make resolutions because I was actively designing a life for myself that reduced my impact on the planet and I was involved in sharing, not just thoughts but resources, with others who could also benefit from them.

If you need to make a resolution this year how about deciding to reduce your impact upon the planet, by walking when you can and if you need a second give some thought to sharing your surplus with those who need it. Have a Prosperous and Happy New Year.

Permaculture: Growing Hope

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Bob Ewing - Permaculture is a nature-inspired, holistic design methodology that can be used to grow food, create communities and build businesses.

My personal experience has encompassed all three with creating communities and building businesses being combined and leading the work, both paid and volunteer, I do.

We live in false and troubled time, this reality has been brought into the light by the Occupy Movement and we must keep that light shining as it can guide our way. One of the results of Occupying was the awakening of hope.

Hope, not the buying of a lottery ticket with the goal of increasing your income type of false hope, but real hope that is rooted inaction, is what we need to encourage today.

I like the definition of hope put forward by Rebecca Solinit:”Hope just means that another world might be possible, not promised, not guaranted. Hope calls for action: action is impossible without hope.”

Permaculture design is action, considered action that can change how we see the world around us and how we related to all the elements that bring that world into being.
My study and work using permaculture ethics and principals shows that if we want economic regeneration, and we do want and indeed, need this, then the place to begin is with environmental regeneration.

Urban agriculture, for example, could create enterprises that would revitalize low-income communities. Brownfields and other vacant lands that are suitable for urban agriculture are often located in low income areas. These sites can be reclaimed by the community businesses and become attractive, productive enterprises rather than empty eyesores.

Brownfields are properties, often, industrial or commercial areas that have been abandoned because of perceived environmental contamination. Some examples include abandoned factories or manufacturing plants. Gas stations that are no longer in business are one example.

On-the-job-training, such as adult literacy projects, could be incorporated an urban agriculture enterprise which is located in a low-income community. This provides fresh food, education and work for the community members.

If the urban agricultural project is designed using permaculture techniques in will help reduce the stresses because they can contribute to the strengthening of a community’s resilience.

Resilience is the ability of an ecosystem, in this case, urban environments, to withstand extreme stress and to survive periods of catastrophic occurrences.

Resilience is often used to refer to the ability to survive natural disaster such as floods and hurricanes and permaculture design can create systems that will do this.

However, resilience is also vital when it comes to getting through the human made disaster of a false or lop-sided economy. For example, credit unions, cooperatively owned and operated are a viable alternative to banks. Workers cooperatives are a democratic business structure that empowers the worker-owners.

Permaculture design is praxis or theory in action and as such it grows and nurtures hope, hope that will generate action, action that will bring about, a just and sustainable society where no one will live in fear.

A Permaculture Lifestyle: Part One

Bob Ewing - There is no such thing as a free lunch. If you plan on living a low impact lifestyle, you must understand this.

Everything we do has a cost. Money may not exchange hands but there is a transaction taking place when we undertake any action. We will not always be aware of the extent of our affect on the world around us, but this lack of awareness does not negate the fact that we do, indeed, effect our environment. Some affects are positive others are negative.

Permaculture recognizes and maximizes beneficial relationships while minimizing or eliminating harmful ones. My choices do matter as do yours, so it is important to understand that all we do has a cost or produces an affect.

Take transportation. We all need to get from one place to another, whether it is to work, shopping, going out for dinner, or visiting friends and relatives; we all need to move from our home to other locations, school, hockey, piano lessons and so on. The list can go on and on. Our mode of transportation can have a major impact on our environment, pollution being one of the most obvious affects.

If you are committed to living a low impact life, then begin with how you get around town. Do you drive, take public transport, ride a bicycle or walk, for example.

Walking is how I get around town; it is as low an impact as you can get for personal transportation. I emit very little greenhouse gas when I walk and use almost no fossil fuels.

My wife also walks. Our choices have consequences that some may not at first consider. One, were we presently live there is no public transit. The city is simply too small to make public transit viable. This means we would need to buy a car, use taxis everyday, both to and from work, or pick a place to live that is in a reasonable walking distance to where she works. This in bad weather is ten minutes.

The weather here gets nasty, winter is long and it get down to minus 30 Celsius on a regular basis. Snow storms and heavy rain and winds are common in season. Appropriate clothing is essential; this includes boots and coats, plus a variety of layers for warmth.

Walking to work also means buying or renting a home that is located within that ten minute radius. This limits selection. We are fortunate that her work place is close to our doctor, grocery shopping and downtown so we rarely need any other mode of transportation than our feet, but the quality, affordable housing stock in this area is limited.

The upside, we have the financial freedom that walking brings; no worries about car payments, car insurance, car repairs; no pumping greenhouse gas into the atmosphere to get to work and back or to go grocery shopping or get a coffee, a great coffee shop is within easy walking distance, as is all else we need on a regular basis.

One of our major social problems is the design of our urban centres. They are stretched out and everything is miles away from everything else. This creates a situation where a personal transportation means, such as a car, is far more convenient that taking a bus; walking takes too long and the distances are too great, and bicycling, while a good option, requires bike lanes, weather gear and a change room at the work place so you can get out of your riding clothes and into your work clothes.

Our cities, villages and towns are not likely to get redesigned anytime soon, but we can redesign our lives, next week we will begin to look at how we can apply permaculture design methods to everyday living including transportation.

Permaculture Ethics: Sharing The Surplus

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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.

Permaculture Ethics: Care For The Earth

 Bob Ewing - Everything is connected: accept this short sentence as the truth, and the first step towards reducing your impact on our planet has been taken. When you take this step you become aware that each action you take, makes a difference.

It makes a difference even though it is quite unlikely you will ever know the full extent of the consequences that flow from your choice.

Care of the Earth is one of the three permaculture ethics. The first step in caring for the Earth is to know that what you do matters, for example, it makes a difference whether you compost and recycle.

Both composting and recycling keep material out of garbage dumps and thereby prevent land, possibly, valuable land, from being used as a garbage dump; at least the amount of material going to the dump will be reduced and this is good for the earth.

Composting is an excellent way to recycle material that will benefit your garden; real gardeners know that building soil, also a fine way to care for the earth, is the true purpose of gardening. Composting creates organic material that can be put on the garden bed and help the plants thrive.

So rather than toss those vegetable scraps into a garbage can, compost them. If you do not have a garden, you may have a friend, neighbour or family member who would be happy to turn your scraps into organic garden food.

Recycling is one of the important R words, along with reducing, reusing and rethinking. Recycling, not only will reduce the amount of garbage that is generated, but it can also create jobs.

An increasing number of products are being produced from recycled materials. So if you need to buy a gift for someone or need something for yourself, take a look at products that have been made from post-consumer recycled material.

There are a number of other ways an individual can take care of the earth. Growing your own food organically or buying locally grown, organic food makes a huge difference to the impact you daily need to eat has on the environment.

I buy food grown and produced within 100 miles of my home as often as I can, however, there is little available through the long winter months. If I cannot get both organic and local, I usually buy local. My main reason for buying from a local merchant is the positive impact this has on the local economy.

A strong local economy is essential, if you want to have an environmental sound community, when people are struggling to make a buck to pay the bills, environmental concerns take a back seat.

Food does not have to be certified organic to be grown without the harmful chemicals that play havoc with air, water and soil. Small farmers who may often sell through farmers markets or develop community scaled agriculture operations are aware that their consumers want healthy food, and these growers often have direct contact with their consumers, so get first hand knowledge about preferences.

Be vocal, state your preferences for pesticide free food and you have taken another major step towards caring for the earth.

Permaculture Courses

Permaculture, what is it and how do I learn more? The past two weeks I have been talking about the ethics of permaculture. It is time to stop and talk a bit about what permaculture is and how you can learn more and perhaps take a course.

A person who has permaculture training can recognize and maximize beneficial relationships while minimizing or eliminating harmful ones. If you want to reduce your impact on the environment this is a handy ability to possess.

I define permaculture as Permaculture as a holistic, nature inspired design methodology that can be used to grow food, build businesses and create communities. My recent work tends towards the latter creating communities or more accurately, creating social infrastructure that can support sustainable communities; community gardens and adult literacy programs, for example.

Why take a permaculture course?

One reason is so you can create a lifestyle that will reduce your ecological footprint while saving you money, time and energy. This illustrates a permaculture concept- taking one action and accomplishing three or more tasks.

Interested in learning more? I suggest taking an introduction to permaculture course. This will cover the basics and help you to determine whether you want or need to study further. You may discover you have enough knowledge to adapt your lifestyle or you may want to know more.
If you find you are hungry for more knowledge and want to become a designer or go even deeper and become a teacher then you will need to take further courses.
If you have your own land and want to grow all or much of your own food, the intro course will help you decide whether or not this is a realistic goal. If you are convinced that you can indeed grow the food you need than it is time to take a closer look at the permaculture design certificate (PDC). The PDC is also essential if you wish to become a permaculture teacher or to take more advanced permaculture design courses.
What I choose.

I first came to permaculture after years of working in the anti-poverty movement. I was looking for a solutions based methodology that could actually make a difference and develop positive alternatives to the problems that seem at time insurmountable.

I was an avid gardener and supporter of community gardens and one day while casually surfing the Net for some ideas, I stumbled across permaculture. I began to read widely on the subject and soon knew I was ready to take a course. Travel was not an option at the time and there were no course available even close to home.

I discovered a course being taught by April Samson Kelly at Permaculture Vision.
She had worked with Bill Mollison the co-founder of permaculture and the educational program Permaculture Vision offered met my pocket book and my schedule.
First, I took the introductory course. When I was half way through that I knew I would be continuing my study.

I do not work as a permaculture designer, however, I do use what I learned to, one, continue the learning experience and to enhance my work as both a gardener, cook ,informal educator, writer and community organizer.

As my awareness of Nature grows, my ability to share with others how we can observe Nature, learn through that observation and model our interactions, business, personal and educational upon the examples Nature so generously provides.

Permaculture design provides pathways to building sustainable lives lived in a sustainable community.

Care for the people among ethics of permaculture design

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Bob Ewing - Care for the people is one of the three ethics of permaculture design. The ethics form the foundation upon which each design is developed.

How do we translate this particular ethical principal into daily living? We can start by looking at our activities, the things we do on a regular basis. Across, North America, many people begin their day with a cup or three of coffee; some make it at home, others stop and pick it up at their favourite coffee spot on the way to work or school. Each day, people have coffee at breaks, when at the mall, or simply getting together with friends to chat.

Coffee is a great place to begin caring for people. Fair Trade coffees, hot chocolate and teas are becoming increasingly common. I have been buying fair trade coffee for some years now and not only enjoy the flavour; I drink my coffee straight, no milk, cream or sugar allowed, but also help a local charity rise a few bucks.

I admit it does cost more, however, I view the expense as an investment in a better world and a way of helping others help themselves while doing minimal harm. Much of fair trade coffee is also organic and bird friendly.

Bird friendly means that trees are not cut down to grow the coffee but remain to provide food and shelter for the songbirds which travel from the north to the coffee growing countries to get through the cold northern winters.

So what is fair trade and how does it differ from other trading systems?

Fair Trade is a trading partnership: a partnership between individuals and communities that uses dialogue, transparency and respect, to evolve greater equity in international trade.

Fair Trade contributes to sustainable development because it offers better trading conditions to, and secures the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South.

Fair Trade changes the relationship between seller and consumer and forges a new one that sees them both working towards the same goal, a just and sustainable society.
Some fair trade coffee growing enterprises are formed as cooperatives, workers cooperative in particular, are common.

A cooperative is not a business unto itself but a business model, the cooperative may sell food, clothing or furniture for example. It is a structure not a product.

Cooperatives are democratic as all members of a co-op are equal decision makers in the enterprise and employ the one-member, one vote, process of making decisions.

Each worker owns a share in the cooperative and the enterprise is owned and controlled by the workers.

If you want to build a better world and are interested in living lightly on the earth, consider the ethics of permaculture design as a means to modify your existing activities in such a way as to not only reduce the possible harm your lifestyle does but also as a way to help others improve their lives while reducing their impact on the planet. This is a true win-win situation.

Coffee, tea and hot chocolate are only the beginning. Food, clothing and much more can be produced and traded fairly. When shopping look for labels and if in doubt ask the sales staff about fair trade items.

Positive social change only takes place when people take action so make the first move and shop for fair trade products when you must shop. Care for the people and you also care for the planet.

Permaculture: Living the Green Life

Bob Ewing - Economics, environment, and ethics, living green demands that all three operate in harmony. Education and energy are two other Es that are elemental to living sustainably on the earth. Living green means to live in a sustainable way and sustainability demands that we replace, repair or restore the natural resources we use too support us.

I will explore all the Es but let us begin with the one that forms the support for all the others, ethics.

Ethics, to live green or to tread lightly on the earth requires an ethical code that informs your decisions. All we do makes a difference and when we take an approach that considers how our actions will impact not only other people but all life we have taken a major step towards living a sustainable life.

I came to the study of permaculture, a term coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren from combining permanent agriculture and more recently to stand for permanent culture, through a search for a way to not only live in harmony with other beings but to do so in an ethical manner.

Permaculture is a design system and an ethically based one the three permaculture ethics: care for the earth, care for people and fair share. Are central to permaculture and they form the foundation for permaculture design.

Permaculture Ethics:

1.Care for the earth: Provision for all life systems to continue and multiply.
2.Care for people: Provision for people to access those resources necessary to their existence.
3.Fair Share: this ethic is also known as Setting Limits to Population and Consumption—By governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to further the above principles.

It is not essential to get a permaculture education to live a life based upon the ethics. It does require that you take responsibility for your life and be aware that what you do has an impact that goes far beyond your immediate circle. Respect the right of all beings to live and use no more than you need and you are off to a good start.

The four Rs, reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink are an important part of living a lifestyle that reduces your effect on the planet. Buy only what you need, reuse what you can, recycle rather than toss away and perhaps most important be conscious about what you do.

Often our habits are so ingrained that we act without thinking, so take some time now and then and rethink what your daily routines.

If you want to learn more about permaculture and go beyond the basics, then a permaculture course is a sound investment. There are a number of reasons why a permaculture course is valuable.

Permaculture design can assist you to reduce your ecological footprint while saving you money, time and energy. This illustrates a permaculture concept- taking one action and accomplishing three or more tasks.

However, if taking a course is not what you want to do at this time, you can still reduce your impact on our planet by applying the three ethics of permaculture to you daily life.

Ethics is where making a difference begins. When you have a code to live by it will guide you when you need to make basic life decisions and it is those fundamental choices that can heal or harm the earth.