Welcome to Permaculture Living, Treading Lightly, a weekly class where we will look at and explore the principles and ethics behind permaculture and link this to weekly investigations on current environmental issues.  Using permaculture techniques, we will discuss different possibilities for positive changes.

Permaculture is an integrated system of using people, buildings and plants and gardens to create a sustainable and positive change in our culture.  It is a conscious way of living with the environment and sustaining a relationship of give and take.  It was coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970's.  It is based on the ethics of Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share and has 12 founding principles we will study weekly.

Some topics we will cover include:
Water scarcity and diminishing fresh water, the need to save, store and reuse fresh water.
Biodiversity conservation (the importance of biodiversity and why we need to conserve it).
Fast clothing industry and the pollution and waste associated with it.
Reducing food miles when grocery shopping.
Deforestation and forest degradation.
Overfishing.
Alternative energy use.
Sustainable and non-sustainable energy.
Regeneration and sustainability.

Students will be asked to investigate and think about ideas such as:
"What are food miles?"  "Where does your food come from?"  "How far did it come to get to your home?"  "What fuel was needed to transport the food to your home?"  "Can you buy more local produce to reduce the food miles and support local?"  "What can you grow for yourself?"  

Through this questioning and open-discussion, students will co-create a range of ideas to improve their impact on the planet.  The students will learn what it means to be eco conscious (showing concern for the environment) and take steps to act consciously about the decisions they make, being aware that their decisions have an impact around them.

(Topics might change to discuss current events and learner interest.)

The weekly classes will begin with a study of a permaculture principle.  We will investigate facts on  particular current environmental issues.  I encourage active participation from the students, but respect that not all students will want to be an active participant.  Students are encouraged to ask questions and share in open-ended conversations.  Students will have discussions around what they could do to support the weekly topic, whether it be to eat more local food, join a local conservation group, plant trees, grow a garden, and whatever other ideas come to mind as they brainstorm together...linking in with permaculture ideas and living.

The goal of these classes is to get the students thinking about the connections in the world around them, what issues are of concern, and what can the students do to activate or engage with positive changes and outcomes.  Permaculture is one way to create solutions to many current world problems.