Doors Close, New Ones Open
I left work at the Department of Planning and Community Development on 14 December, having accepted a voluntary departure package. No more daily commute or 8.30 to 6 grind. No more back-ache from sitting behind a flat screen all day. At least until I get another job - and there's no rush.
In the mean time I'll play with a new small business idea: clipsthatsell.com Have a gander and tell me what you reckon? This is certainly keeping me busy, but I still love my permaculture. I've always wanted to have a go at small business. I expect making money from it will be hard.
Why am I into Permaculture again?
Currently I'm reading Permaculture Pioneers. I thought it might be a bit boring reading the reminiscing of a bunch of old hippies, on the contrary I'm really enjoying it. Stories from friends like Max Lindegger who set up Crystal Waters ecovillage who I stayed with, and of course understanding the David Holmgren/ Bill Mollison relationship. There are lots of bits that resonate eg:Depending on deceptively simple measures to solve deep, endemic problems is like bingeing on sugar when you feel depressed. It seems like you're solving the problem...Deceptively simple fixes often wind up making the problem worse by smoothing the way for more of what caused it. Building freeways ultimately helps generate more car use. With more congestion people have to live further away in dormitory suburbs. Local shops are no longer accessible on foot. Shopping centres become islands in seas of parking. People stop walking and grow fat. Without the casual conversations on the footpath, people no longer know their neighbours. The place becomes less safe...It seems "inevitable".
There are negative feedback loops like this all around us. Look at the fiscal cliff in the US right now, which has come about by their bingeing on debt. The solution? Increase the debt limit, to avoid tax increases and Gov't service cuts. Crazy. But turning a negative cycle into a positive one doesn't always have to be a radical sudden change. Live a bit more simply. Consume a bit less. Grow some of your own food instead of importing something manufactured. That's what permaculture is about. Learning to be a bit more self sufficient in the fundamental skills of living - food, fibre, shelter, solving problems, living as a community. Giving back our confidence to look after ourselves.
I was given the Permaculture Pioneers book by Richard Telford, a permi who's walking the talk in Seymour who I recently visited. He built Abdallah house, an icon example of sustainability. He also maintains the Permaculture Principles website which is a global authority on permaculture on the internet. (Thanks Richard for your help designing my website).
So maybe leaving work will be the best thing that happened in 2012. It will be interesting to see.
