This document provides an overview of the first lecture in a permaculture design course. It discusses the history and philosophy of permaculture, defining it as a design tool based around natural systems and observing patterns in nature. Key aspects covered include permaculture ethics like care for the earth, care for people, and reinvesting surplus; principles such as obtaining a yield, catching and storing energy, and valuing diversity; and the state of the world as motivation for permaculture solutions. The document encourages reflection on these topics and on applying systems thinking from natural examples like the chicken coop ecosystem.

1. LECTURE: UNIT ONE
I thought I’d stand out in the falling
snow today and talk. I love
catching snow on my tongue!

2. If we were face
to face
This is when we’d have a check-in.
We’d go around the room and just
see how everyone is doing; make
sure everyone is ready
to learn; and there aren’t any
details we’ve forgotten.
Like coffee or tea!

3. How are you doing?
Take a quick inventory. How are
you feeling? Are you awake?
Alert? Open to new ideas? Jot it
down if you’d like.
If you aren’t well, please
continue at another time, when
you are feeling better. Or get a
cup of tea to drink. Gum,maybe?

4. Our Agenda today
I’m guessing it will take 2-21/2 hours. Please let me know
how long it took you.
Set the Container
The History of Permaculture
Permaculture Defined
Philosophy of Permaculture
Natural systems: (systems thinking)
Ethics and Principles
Alaskan Cultural Values
State of the World
Observation skills

5. Setting the Container
Before we start, I’m giving you a box.
In this box you will collect lots of
pieces of knowledge. I’m giving
the pieces, but it’s up to you to
collect them and arrange them.
It’s a gift for you to
use, not a box to
store in the garage.
Always be aware of
how you can use
each piece of
information that’s
presented.

6. Feel free to keep a tab open
on your browser so that you
can add tidbits to your notes
on your personal blog.

7. The History of Permaculture
The History of Permaculture:
a talk by Cindee Karns

8. What is Permaculture?
There are so many definitions.
I’m going to have YOU collect
a few.
In my definition, I always try to
always start with: “It’s a design
tool…..”

9. Please GOOGLE:
“Definition of permaculture”
Yes, right now.
In the comment box below,
(in our e-classroom) post at
least one definition of
permaculture that you liked.
------Site your source.
There’s an advantage of being first.
None of the definitions can be the same.
That means if you’re last…you might have
lots of searching to do. :->

10. So why do you think
there are so many
definitions?
Which one
do you like
the best
of the
ones we
posted?
You are free to choose any of the ones we, as a
group, tossed into the pot. Please save it & post it in the
Class Blog with your reflection post after this lecture.

11. Let’s continue refining our
definitions as we go,
so that the definition
can emerge
as we learn more.
At the end of this course,
I’ll ask you for your definition.
I’ll expect you to have yours memorized
so that you can share that definition
with whomever wants to know.

12. So you know the History.
You know some definitions.
Now it’s time to look at
Philosophy, Ethics and Principles.

13. THE PHILOSOPHY
of permaculture
The philosophy has to do with
Natural Systems.
Think about that:
what’s the difference between
a natural system and an unnatural system?
If we were in class, I’d have you tell your partner
the difference. Please say what you think out loud.
Even if someone is in the room with you, explain the
difference. It’s good to make your learning heard--
not just thought.

14. Now Read THIS.
Draw the natural chicken
system.
I don’t think the comment box allows
pictures, but I’d sure like to see your
drawings. If it’s easy, email me. If not,
don’t worry.

15. Did your system go
in a circle? ---a line? ---a square?
So now you know the
philosophy of permaculture.
IT’S NON-LINEAR
Linear systems are so much a part of
western culture, we aren’t sure how to
navigate in a non-linear manner.

16. This page is in case you
drew a line.
It’s okay. Watch as I talk it
through:
The chicken eats the bugs,
then poops, which fertilizes
the garden so that the garden
grows so there are more bugs
to eat.
OR
The gardener feeds the
chickens and the chicken
feeds the gardener.

17. Interesting side note…..
We certainly don’t have to
tell our Alaskan native elders
about non-linear systems.
They understand.
One of my very dear friends and elder who
lives in Anaktuvuk Pass explained to me that
the new generations of Alaska Natives are
loosing the non-linear way of thinking. “Why?”
I asked. “Because of Dick and Jane.” he said.
“They are translating Dick and Jane word for
word into Inupiat. So their thoughts are
becoming linear even though the language is
inupiat.”

18. Western linear systems:
do we even
have any non-linear systems?
Think of any system.
I’m thinking of 2, but there are many more.
1: our trash system: they pick it up and it leaves the
house and goes into a landfill. LINEAR
2: our educational system: K-12 and then
university and then you are “done” like the
Christmas goose. LINEAR
3. Post any non-linear systems you can think of in
the comment box. I realize the comments may
get all mixed up. Let’s see what happens.

19. Keep thinking about
Natural Systems
We DO have a song about
natural systems. It’s one I
used to sing as a kid. Any
body wanna sing it with me?
There’s a hole in the bucket,
dear Liza, dear Liza. There’s
a whole in the bucket, dear All you music
smart people out
Liza, a hole. there, I can hear
you singing!
Or, for fun, you
could watch THIS.
*Note: this isn’t just silly stuff, if your brain can remember this song as a
natural system, you, especially if you are music smart, will always
remember what a complex natural system is.

20. So let’s take it one step further….
Read the entry on System’s thinking at:
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Systems_thinking
Jot down in your notes what stands out
at you. What sentences build on the
idea of natural systems?
REFLECT: (this is for all the self-smart folks, but
it is good for everyone to use these diverse styles of
thinking)
Think back to your family when you were
a kid. How did your family system
work?

21. What role did you have in your family? Who tried to
balance it all out? Who tried to take the string and
pull on it all the time to get attention? Who dropped
the string and let the family dangle?
Since everyone had a family, everyone should
understand systems. When a system is healthy
it is very strong and resilient, it can hold
together in spite of the problems.

22. So how do you know if
a system is working?
Every element is happy. It’s
needs are met and it meets the
needs of others.
In a family system, if a member is
unhappy his/her needs are not
being met and the system is not
as strong.
So even families are all about permaculture!

23. So keep “SYSTEMS,” and
“NATURAL SYSTEMS,” and
“SYSTEM’S THINKING”
on your radar screen.
We’ll be talking
a lot about them
all semester.
Jot down what you’ve learned
about systems so you can include it
in your reflection on the lecture..

24. Moving right along…..
Up Next: Ethics and Principles
This is a good time to take a
break, refill your coffee cup,
get a snack, use the
bathroom. But
don’t take a nap!

25. What the Heck is
Permaculture?
Although this presentation is fun,
please take it very seriously. These
are the very underpinnings of the
permaculture movement.
Enjoy the Prezi Presentation.
CLICK HERE
Make sure you take some notes so you
don’t have to go back and review it
later.

26. Those principles were
David Holmgren’s
(Co-founder of Permaculture & Mollison’s student )
Click on the flower
and look over the
Holmgren principles
again. Reflect on
those.
Give yourself a test.
How are you
doing? Do you
follow these
principles?
Every time I throw something in the trash,
I think: Produce no waste.
And then I get mad about packaging.

27. Bill Mollison’s Principles
Bill wrote down his
principles as well.
There’s 34 or so.
Scroll down on the same
page to see them all.
http://permacultureprinciples.com/
If you want to see pictures to mat

28. ALASKA NATIVE CULTURES
They all hold certain values to be
paramount to their cultures.
CLICK HERE to see a list of some
important values which all Alaska
Native Cultures share. At the
bottom of the page are links to
individual culture pages.

29. Make a comparison
How similar---or not so similar--- are
the Permaculture Ethics and
Principles to the Alaska Native
Values?
Take some time to jot your thoughts
down, so you can include it in your
reflection.
Click on the culture of the place where
you live in Alaska (at the bottom of that
page) and see if there are any others
that are significant for your place. Add
those to your jots.

30. This is another good
stopping point.
Take a break---walk around.
For some reason our educational
system has insisted on seated learning.
We know now that if your body is not
moving, your brain doesn’t learn as
well.

31. The State
of the World
This is a serious
part of the beginning
of the curriculum.
Bill wants all participants in
these courses to truly
understand why the need for
Permaculture is so great.

32. The State of the World
LECTURE
Click here for Part I Click here for Part II

33. So we’ve
covered a lot.
I only have one
more thing to
explain:
OBSERVATION
But, I can see that you are tired.
Maybe what I’ll do is put together a
hand-out, before I give you your
assignment. How’s that sound?

34. Don’t forget---
You need a 1 page
reflection on the class blog
about this lecture.
Please wait for everyone to
post, before we begin the
dialog process.

35. Have a nice
day/evening!