““The process of providing for people’s The process of providing for people’s needs within ecological limits requires needs within ecological limits requires

a cultural revolution.” a cultural revolution.”

––David HolmgrenDavid Holmgren

Humans are subject to the Humans are subject to the same laws that govern the same laws that govern the physical universe.physical universe.

Use of fossil fuels has been Use of fossil fuels has been the primary cause of the the primary cause of the explosion in human numbers, explosion in human numbers, technology and culture in technology and culture in modern society.modern society.

The environmental crisis is The environmental crisis is real and of a magnitude that real and of a magnitude that will transform global society will transform global society beyond recognition; the well-beyond recognition; the well-being and survival of the being and survival of the world’s expanding population world’s expanding population are directly threatened.are directly threatened.

The ongoing and future The ongoing and future impacts of global society impacts of global society and population on the and population on the world’s biodiversity will be world’s biodiversity will be far greater than the far greater than the massive changes of the massive changes of the last few hundred years.last few hundred years.

Fossil fuel depletion will Fossil fuel depletion will bring a gradual return of bring a gradual return of nature-based system nature-based system design principles which design principles which rely on renewable energy rely on renewable energy and resources.and resources.

Progressively reduced energy and resource Progressively reduced energy and resource consumption.consumption.

Inevitable reduction in human numbers.Inevitable reduction in human numbers. Energy has primacy in human destiny.Energy has primacy in human destiny. Least negative description of decline, Least negative description of decline,

contraction, decay or die-off.contraction, decay or die-off. A gentle descent after an exhilarating ride.A gentle descent after an exhilarating ride. Earth is being transformed by humanity’s Earth is being transformed by humanity’s

“energy ascent,” making the future as “energy ascent,” making the future as challenging and as novel as any period in challenging and as novel as any period in history.history.

Permaculture: Permaculture: Consciously designing Consciously designing landscapes which mimic landscapes which mimic the patterns and the patterns and relationships found in relationships found in Nature, while yielding Nature, while yielding an abundance of food, an abundance of food, fiber and energy for fiber and energy for provision of local needs.provision of local needs.

Transition: Transition: Consciously Consciously designing communities designing communities to be in alignment and to be in alignment and in harmony with the in harmony with the fundamental patterns fundamental patterns and relationships of and relationships of Nature, forming a Nature, forming a sustainable culture, one sustainable culture, one that is able to provision that is able to provision its most essential needs its most essential needs locally (food, energy, locally (food, energy, economy).economy).

Permaculture/Transition draws together the Permaculture/Transition draws together the diverse ideas, skills and ways of living which diverse ideas, skills and ways of living which need to be rediscovered and developed in need to be rediscovered and developed in order to empower us to provide for our own order to empower us to provide for our own needs, while increasing the natural capital needs, while increasing the natural capital for future generations.for future generations.

  Permaculture/Transition can be used to Permaculture/Transition can be used to design, establish, manage and improve all design, establish, manage and improve all efforts made by individuals, households and efforts made by individuals, households and communities towards a sustainable future. communities towards a sustainable future.

Prevailing scientific culture of reductionism Prevailing scientific culture of reductionism that is cautious, if not hostile, to holistic that is cautious, if not hostile, to holistic methods of inquirymethods of inquiry

The dominant culture of consumerism, The dominant culture of consumerism, driven by dysfunctional economic measures driven by dysfunctional economic measures of well-being and progressof well-being and progress

Political, economic and social elites (both Political, economic and social elites (both global and local) which stand to lose global and local) which stand to lose influence and power through the adoption influence and power through the adoption of local autonomy and self-relianceof local autonomy and self-reliance

““Permaculture/Transition strategies Permaculture/Transition strategies focus on the focus on the opportunities rather than the obstaclesopportunities rather than the obstacles. In the . In the context of helping the transition from ignorant context of helping the transition from ignorant

consumption to responsible production, consumption to responsible production, Permaculture/Transition builds on the persistence Permaculture/Transition builds on the persistence

of both a culture of self-reliance, community of both a culture of self-reliance, community values, and the retention of a range of skills, both values, and the retention of a range of skills, both conceptual and practical, despite the ravages of conceptual and practical, despite the ravages of

affluence. The identification of these invisible affluence. The identification of these invisible resources is as important in any resources is as important in any

Permaculture/Transition project as the evaluation of Permaculture/Transition project as the evaluation of biophysical and material resources.”biophysical and material resources.”

Humans are subject to the same laws that govern the material Humans are subject to the same laws that govern the material universe, including the evolution of life.universe, including the evolution of life.

The exploitation of fossil fuels during the industrial era is the primary The exploitation of fossil fuels during the industrial era is the primary cause of the spectacular explosion in human numbers, technology and cause of the spectacular explosion in human numbers, technology and every other novel feature of modern society.every other novel feature of modern society.

The environmental crisis is real and of a magnitude that will certainly The environmental crisis is real and of a magnitude that will certainly transform modern global industrial society beyond recognition. In the transform modern global industrial society beyond recognition. In the process, well-being and even survival of the world's expanding process, well-being and even survival of the world's expanding population is directly threatened.population is directly threatened.

The impacts of global industrial society and human numbers on the The impacts of global industrial society and human numbers on the world's wondrous biodiversity, now and in the future, are far greater world's wondrous biodiversity, now and in the future, are far greater than the massive changes of the last few hundred years.than the massive changes of the last few hundred years.

The depletion of fossil fuels means that within a few generations there The depletion of fossil fuels means that within a few generations there will be a gradual return of system design principles found in Nature will be a gradual return of system design principles found in Nature and pre-industrial societies, and a return to dependence on renewable and pre-industrial societies, and a return to dependence on renewable energy and resources (reflecting unique local circumstances).energy and resources (reflecting unique local circumstances).

The permaculture The permaculture journey begins with journey begins with the Ethics and Design the Ethics and Design Principles and moves Principles and moves through the key through the key domains required to domains required to create a sustainable create a sustainable culture.culture.

Ethics are culturally Ethics are culturally evolved mechanisms evolved mechanisms that regulate self-that regulate self-interest, giving us a interest, giving us a better understanding better understanding of good and bad of good and bad outcomes. outcomes.

The greater the power The greater the power of humans, the more of humans, the more critical ethics become critical ethics become for long-term cultural for long-term cultural and biological survival. and biological survival.

Care of the EarthCare of the Earth——rebuild natural capitalrebuild natural capital

Care of PeopleCare of People—look —look after self, kin and after self, kin and communitycommunity

Fair ShareFair Share—set limits —set limits to consumption and to consumption and reproduction, and reproduction, and redistribute surplusredistribute surplus

Find out what is Find out what is already happening already happening before starting any before starting any project.project.

At every level we At every level we must rely more and must rely more and more on skills in more on skills in observation and observation and sensitive interaction sensitive interaction to find the best path to find the best path forward.forward.

““Beauty is in the Beauty is in the eye of the eye of the beholder.”beholder.”(The process of observing (The process of observing influences reality. We must influences reality. We must always be circumspect about always be circumspect about absolute truths and values.)absolute truths and values.)

Use the energy that is Use the energy that is inspired by the inspired by the Transition model.Transition model.

Create lots of ways for Create lots of ways for people to join and people to join and give support.give support.

““Make hay while Make hay while the sun shines.”the sun shines.”(We have limited time to (We have limited time to catch and store energy catch and store energy before seasonal or episodic before seasonal or episodic abundance dissipates.)abundance dissipates.)

Harvest ideas at Harvest ideas at events with post-its, events with post-its, flip charts, flip charts, summaries, etc.summaries, etc.

Record everything Record everything (video, audio, photos).(video, audio, photos).

““You can’t work You can’t work on an empty on an empty stomach.”stomach.”(If we are serious about (If we are serious about sustainable design solutions, sustainable design solutions, we must be aiming for we must be aiming for rewards that encourage rewards that encourage success, growth and success, growth and replication of those replication of those solutions.)solutions.)

Create spaces where Create spaces where your community can your community can let you know what let you know what they think.they think.

Include evaluation and Include evaluation and evolution in your evolution in your plans.plans.

““The sins of the The sins of the fathers are visited fathers are visited on the children on the children unto the seventh unto the seventh generation.”generation.”(The effects of external (The effects of external negative feedback controls negative feedback controls are often slow to emerge.)are often slow to emerge.)

Work with existing Work with existing currents, trends, currents, trends, organizations, organizations, structures, and structures, and projects wherever projects wherever possible.possible.

““Let nature take Let nature take its course.”its course.”(The pursuit of control is not (The pursuit of control is not only expensive, but it can only expensive, but it can lead to a spiral of lead to a spiral of intervention and degradation intervention and degradation in systems and processes in systems and processes which already represent the which already represent the best balance between best balance between productivity and diversity.)productivity and diversity.)

Use psychological Use psychological awareness to avoid awareness to avoid conflict where conflict where possible.possible.

Cultivate Cultivate relationships.relationships.

““A stitch in time A stitch in time saves nine.” saves nine.” ““Waste not, want Waste not, want not.”not.”(Maintenance of what we (Maintenance of what we already have will be a major already have will be a major ongoing issue in an energy ongoing issue in an energy descent world.)descent world.)

Energy descent Energy descent planning—strategic as planning—strategic as well as micro.well as micro.

Learn to “read the Learn to “read the field.”field.”

““Can’t see the Can’t see the wood for the wood for the trees.”trees.”(The details tend to distract (The details tend to distract our awareness; the closer we our awareness; the closer we get, the less we are able to get, the less we are able to comprehend the larger comprehend the larger picture.)picture.)

Partnership!Partnership! Partnership!Partnership! Partnership!Partnership!

““Many hands Many hands make light work.”make light work.”(Cooperative and symbiotic (Cooperative and symbiotic relationships will be more relationships will be more adaptive in a future of adaptive in a future of declining energy. Each declining energy. Each element performs many element performs many functions; each important functions; each important function is supported by function is supported by many elements.)many elements.)

Allow groups time to Allow groups time to form and grow before form and grow before expecting action.expecting action.

Evolve and grow Evolve and grow organically, from the organically, from the bottom up.bottom up.

““The bigger they The bigger they are the harder are the harder they fall.” they fall.” ““Slow and steady Slow and steady wins the race.”wins the race.”(Excessive size and (Excessive size and excessive growth can be an excessive growth can be an unexpected disadvantage unexpected disadvantage and produce unintended and produce unintended consequences. Cultivate consequences. Cultivate patience and restraint.)patience and restraint.)

““Both/and” rather Both/and” rather than “either/or.” than “either/or.”

Let’s do it your way Let’s do it your way and my way.and my way.

““Don’t put all Don’t put all your eggs in one your eggs in one basket.”basket.”(Diversity is a result of the (Diversity is a result of the balance and tension in balance and tension in nature between variety and nature between variety and possibility on the one hand, possibility on the one hand, and productivity and power and productivity and power on the other.)on the other.)

The boundaries The boundaries between systems are between systems are interesting places—interesting places—between existing and between existing and new movements, new movements, government and government and business, young and business, young and old.old.

Create lots of Create lots of meetings in your meetings in your projects.projects.

““Don’t think you Don’t think you are on the right are on the right track just because track just because it is a well-beaten it is a well-beaten path.”path.”(The most common, obvious (The most common, obvious and popular is not and popular is not necessarily the most necessarily the most significant or influential.)significant or influential.)

Keep the vision open, Keep the vision open, active and creative. active and creative. Don’t tie it down or Don’t tie it down or stop it from evolving.stop it from evolving.

““Vision is not Vision is not seeing things as seeing things as they are but as they are but as they will be.”they will be.”(Adaptive change is uplifting (Adaptive change is uplifting rather than threatening.)rather than threatening.)