Jesse Chastain

Considering our PDC with Toby Hemenway, which is going on right now, I would say that Tom Ward has been the best guest instructor so far. I didn't see him on your list. He was definitely inspiring and seems to be really good at earth works and surveying.

Hello,
I really appreciate all that you do. Only change if YOU want to. It should never be up to someone else. Thank you

Hello,
I am gathering materials for my first rocket mass heater and I am wondering about any recent advances or breakthroughs in design. I have the book and have watched all the videos I can find. I am going to make an 8 inch system with a bench and a 55 gallon drum. Has anyone found improved methods or materials over the book? Any updated information would be great. If not, I am excited to build a system straight from the book. Thanks, Jesse

Hello,
I am with you Paul. I spend a lot of time trying to figure out ways to get the permaculture message out to "normal" people and it can be frustrating. I have a hard enough time impacting my close friends and family let alone everybody else. You have made a difference in my life. I guess there has to be some grand shift before the masses will be ready to really listen. I feel like our numbers are increasing, so maybe there will be a "hundredth monkey" moment. Thank you for all that you do, Jesse

Thank you for the comments. Preference isn't really what I am trying to get at with this particular question. I know that we all have a choice between city or rural and that great permaculture projects can be done in any and all settings. I am more looking for opinions about the fundamental paradigm shift that needs to take place in our society and whether cities, because of their population densities let's say 10,000 people plus, are too dependent on the current system to be truly sustainable. If we collectively put our energy into transforming cities into highly functioning permaculture systems, does that make it possible for them to be self-sufficient? Should we be working toward transitioning to smaller communities of people? Thanks again for all the input, Jesse

Hello,
I know this topic has been thrown around a million times, but since Geoff Lawton is on the forums, I thought I would try to get his (and anyone else's) opinion about it. I live in one of my favorite cities in the whole world (Eugene, Oregon) and I know that if I am going to be in a city, this is where I want to be, but lately I have been considering moving back to the countryside so I can have more space to work on permaculture projects. My question is this. When considering the possibility that our society could and may need to go through extreme change, do you believe that, in order to help transition humanity to a more sustainable way of life, it is more productive to start/join a rural homestead/ecovillage to set an example of a better way or stay in the city and try to improve the current system? Thank you for all that you do, Jesse

Thank you

I am new to this site, but I have been going to the OCF my whole life (35 years). I am also pretty new to permaculture, so I am hoping to learn some more about it at the fair. If you know anyone who knows permaculture and is approachable that will be at the fair, I would love to talk to them. I am so excited, I will be there in nine days. Take care and have a great fair, Jesse