Personal Adaptations to Permaculture

I jumped into a Permaculture lifestyle with both feet, all at once, without looking back.  I'm interested in hearing about the biggest personal adaptations others experienced.
My biggest adaptations were building up my muscle strength / energy to do all that is initially required; basic knowledge of tools; and, of course, the knowledge required for each new project/interest.  The knowledge gain was (and still is) interesting and fun.  The physical effort, while fun, was pretty challenging, at first.  My advice?  Tenacity.  Tenacity helped me before and helps me to this day.

Permaculture does not have a whole lot of instant gratification.

I struggle with the ideas of patience and trusting the process but a lot of Permie projects involve waiting. Sometimes it is disappointing. Sometimes its amazing!

It is definitely an exercise in trusting ourselves and learning to adapt as we notice patterns. That is my little love/hate relationship haha.

My biggest problem adapting to it is that I am not alone, I have a wife and two children, and though they are in favor of being more ecological, permaculture is a step too far for them. So I am taking veeeery small steps.

I have been here my whole life all by myself.

I first experience rejection from friends.  I would have great ideas shot down by remarks like `that is too much trouble` or `why`?

Dear hubby has never seen things the way I see them until we got a cat.  He does not want harm to the cat.

Now that she is grown our daughter uses environmentally sound products and organic vegetables though I don't think she is there yet.

I don`t use the word permaculture because folks don`t like things they don`t understand.

I feel everyone would be good to do what they can to make this world a better place even though it is just a tiny step.  

The biggest adaptation I noticed was very pronounced. And I'll start by saying that I'm massively ADHD. It is difficult for me to learn unless I feel invested in and attracted to the subject. Then the gloves are off.

I've noticed that I'm easily absorbing knowledge about permaculture and homesteading like a sponge. So as opposed to noticing physical strength, I'm noticing that I pick up concepts easily and can apply them.  

j

I went in gradually with many many compromises along the way.  

I have long been an enigma to the community I am in.  They see me as some hybrid of a Yuppie and a Woods Hippie. Years ago, I would put on a suit and tie, jump in my BMW, drive to work, and run a rapidly growing company.  My staff did notice that I made some odd decisions such as organic cleaners, rebuilding junk equipment bought at auction and used goods sales, etc. I also was known to dress in “ rags” on weekends and evenings and drive an old pickup truck.

Now that I am retired, the picture is clearer. I have an acquaintance/ ex-employee who watched Homestead Rescue and finally figure me out.  

Anyway, I avoid labels like organic and permaculture and try to use descriptive phrases such as “ as contaminate free as possible”.  I find buzz words can be off putting.   While buying organic may seem silly to some people, having contaminate free food makes sense.

I agree with the method of baby steps.   About a month ago I was visiting an acquaintance who owns a small bar.  A guy sits down beside me and asks me about permaculture. Odd, apparently I have a reputation.  I think for a few seconds about how much this person is ready to absorb.  So, I asked him, “ which makes more sense, planting an ornamental hedge, buying bird seed, and going to the grocery store to buy berries, or just planting berry bushes in the first place?”   He got my point. I didn’t use tree hugging buzz words. And, he didn’t reject what I said.

John F Dean wrote:...Anyway, I avoid labels like organic and permaculture and try to use descriptive phrases such as “ as contaminate free as possible”.  I find buzz words can be off putting.   While buying organic may seem silly to some people, having contaminate free food makes sense...

How very clever! I hope you don't mind if I adopt your method!  It is so refreshing to be surrounded by smart, and like-minded, people!