a safe place for gentle souls to talk about homesteading and permaculture

This is the kindest and most informative forum I've ever participated in.  I'm very thankful for it because I learn a lot and feel good about where I'm headed with goals.  I love that if I stay out of the cider press nothing gets very political and I can just focus on the subject matter at hand and not get in fights with anyone!

Deane Adams wrote:Paul, once again I want to say thanks for sharing your vision.  This is indeed a place for gentle souls.

I am not a very gentle person and like J**lynn, I often wonder what you people were thinking to allow me here??

A gun toting conservative pagan, that has not always been the nicest person, yet I have been made welcome.

My thanks to all of you, I will try to keep to this steep and rocky path to becoming a more gentle person.

One thing I can share; permaculture=patience.

I hope that each of you can find your -

Peace

This is the task before us all!  Deep respect for ourselves and others, a commitment to recognize and abide by a set of standards.  When we have to set a limit or draw a line, we’re able to do it without violating our principles.  

I had a chance to speak 1:1 with a candidate for a state office.  I wanted to find out how he thinks, I wanted to ask him about something other than a local issue.

I asked him “How do you think we can resolve this mess we are in?”

He said after a pause to reflect:  “It’s going to take some time, and a lot of listening”

I think that’s a perfect answer.

Lots of good things about permies have been enumerated here on this thread.  I want to add one more, which reflects the general consensus, just reframed perhaps.  What we have here is a community that shares a common goal, that models a way of being together, a way of communicating constructively.  It’s a place to see civility, respect and cooperation modeled, and a place to try it out, and, a place to perfect our own skills if that’s what we, as individuals, want to do.

Paul’s vision, our mutual creation.  Imperfect but committed to growing together.

Thank you Paul, and thank you all

Jennifer Wadsworth wrote:Paul - I'll retell a story

In life we should hold the hands of two people.  In one hand, we should hold the hand of someone who knows more than us so that they may guide and teach us.  In the other hand, we should hold the hand of someone who knows less than us so that they have support and guidance.  In this way, we grow as a community.

 

To me, this forum is like that.  I can learn from others who have skills that I have minimal knowledge in and I can share knowledge in areas where I might have expertise.  I am simultaneously holding the hands of 100s of other people all moving towards the same goal.

👍🏿😊❤️

Holding the two different hands is a perfect metaphor for me.  It places me somewhere in the broad spectrum of all humanity, which, just like everyone else, is my rightful place.

Rachel Naomi Remens shared her rabbi grandfather's saying
“It isn’t easy being human”

And I add
“It’s easier if we help each other “

Permies is a place where we do that.

I have mixed feelings about the "gentle" notion, because there are times, such as warning of a risky practice or option, where firmness is appropriate. But I'll take it to represent patience and communicating constructively. Those are valuable, and typical, aspects of posts to Permies forums.

I've found a few other forums (and YouTube channels), all related to doing/learning/making things, that have a similar orientation to constructive communication, but none are as wide-ranging as Permies. I'm glad that Paul created it and that it has thrived.

If I dislike a product or practice I can say, “ I prefer a different approach (or product)”.  I suspect a reasonable person might find this enough of a prompt to dig a little deeper.  The  payoff for the softer approach is a site that is pleasant to visit and engage with.

I love that here, when someone is new to something and perhaps a bit anxious, there is very little of the whole wolf-smells-blood dynamic that can happen in other places, online or off. People usually reply with helpful or sensible advice rather than bashing people over the head for wanting to try.

Different people will have different ideas of what "gentle souls" ...

You've created a site that is wonderful, kind, necessary and true. Good job. Usually I find social media intolerable. One morning over coffee, my best friend casually showed me something a neighbor wrote on "Next Door", (all neighbors I assume) in my old hometown. The lady was asking, "what kind of animal tracks are these in the snow?" (pretty innocuous question). I glanced  down at the replies, and burst into tears. Some person was lashing out at the author of the question, telling her that she was stupid, that she was looking for attention, that she was the worst person in the town, ...My friend gently took the laptop away and said, "Perhaps Facebook isn't for you." hahaha! So, my point is, (if there is one) is that no matter what you say, someone may use it as an excuse to express their misplaced rage and general unhappiness and fear. I swore I'd never join any social media, but you have made it possible to not lose out on the benefits of having a wide community of knowledgeable individuals without the ICK. Love it. Thank you.  

About 6 years ago I decided that Facebook was taking up to much of my time with 90% worthless drivel.  ( Member here since 2014).
I did not totally quit FB as my wife is on it a lot using it as a way to stay in contact with friends and she "tags" me with stuff once in awhile.
So what did I do with that hour or so a day I free'd up???

PERMIES !!!

I made the best choice ever.  I have learned so much.  When I have a question about something I probably should do here on my homestead, I search the forums.  The thing is with the forums here is the comments from people that have tried different ways of doing things and many people admitting the failures from attempts and what they did to change it.  (I may spend more time on the computer with Permies that I did with FB).

You search the internet and get a variety of ways to do something, but don't see the successes and failures of those actions unless you really dig deep.

I wanted to say thanks to Paul for getting Permies going!!

Hi, everyone here. I am on the Permies forums for well over ten years now. It's the best place I know to discuss permaculture-related subjects without problems. So I just want to say 'thank you Paul'.

The Nobel Peace Prize has been under discussion.  ‘Tis the season, after all.

I was reading a thread that took me all around the world.

Then I was thinking that building a worldwide community of gentle souls discussing shared interests and common goals is a powerful step towards the global peace we all desire.

I doubt that Paul will be nominated for founding and maintaining this community of gentle souls (with a tremendous amount of help from a lot of talented and committed people) but it’s definitely within the criteria.

Here’s what Nobel specified for the peace prize:   advance fellowship among nations, abolishment  or reduction of standing armies, establishment and promotion of peace congresses.

Then I was wondering “Now where was that discussion of shared appreciation?…

Then J bumped the thread, so I could share my musings.

It’s been more than 20 years since Paul founded Permies.

Thank you Paul Wheaton and everybody else…

    I'm new here, and constantly nervous I'm going to accidentally say something to get me banned (I tend to say well meaning things that come off wrong, has gotten me in trouble more than once). That said I would rather be afraid of being banned for an accidental rudeness than be afraid of saying anything at all for all the hate and shut down I would get. I like this cite, and am making it my home BECAUSE of the "editing". I want to be able to read and learn and have conversations without constant naysayers and conformists destroying and distracting with emotional and personal attacks. We don't have to all agree, but what we should be is civil, and I love it that you are bringing manners back to conversations!