I Sometimes Forget

I had someone mention the word permaculture, and my mind was blown.
I have had about 8 years of fermenting in it.
I had conscientious professors and others show me the world and ways of healing it, about 13 years ago.

I forget that some people never had these experiences.

I forget that most people don't know what goes on behind the curtain of consumerism.

I forget that cooking, growing things, and DYI is something considered a chore to most people.

So then I forget that making bread is not normal.

And fermenting food is not normal.

And making your own cleaning supplies.


But I have to remember so I can teach. So others can learn.

As permaculturalists, we are all "givers".
The Giver

Other people won't let me forget,  that almost everything I do and think, is unconventional.

Then, I do these things in permies, and I won't stop talking about them.

Growing up my Grandparents were as close to 100% self-sufficient as possible, so I grew up with a deep knowledge base. We did not do soil testing every 3 years then like I have to now to placate the USDA, we saw the weeds we had and spread nutrients based on what we had. We cut 25 cord of firewood every year to heat our house, cellar, homes and greenhouses, and yes had a greenhouse where we sold plants and veggies.

My parents built their own house out of things off the farm here, and I knew I would, and thus have. It is not exactly my dream home, but I did not exactly envision being married 3 times either. In some ways it is good because while the house has remained with me, it is so radically different that Katie (my current wife) feels as if it is 100% her own. And she should, her ideas have shaped and molded it.

Overall I think Permiculture and Homesteading is kind of a mindset. We did not call it living a debt-free lifestyle, nor homesteading or even permaculture; we called it growing up poor because that was what we were. We didn't know it, not until we went to school and we were told we were.

What I often forget is that while many of the things that are regarded as "new" are actually old farming techniques like swales, cover cropping, nitrogen fixing crops, key line farming, alley cropping, etc...other people think are radically new concepts. Over the years I learned to accept this and try to be more understanding rather then bristle at the thought. It is really good that these things are getting attention because my farm can serve as an example that they really do work...and yes via the soil reports that I have to do every 3 years to placate the USDA!