I realize I left out some essential context for my suggestion.
I'm assuming that in 50 years a whole lot of people (millions) will be at about the level of the world's leading experts today in terms of permaculture knowledge. As in
Geoff Lawton's analogy of the forest, the pioneer plants will have been overshadowed by overstory perennials, and so many of us will be "dukes and dutchesses of permaculture" by today's standards.
In 200 years we'll all have a basic knowledge of plants, systems, and self-sustainanance, community, health, and
shelter, and about the knowledge that an indigenous person had in the past plus access to all of what we humans have amassed (via the internet).
Then the question becomes, starting with the people who've become "awesome" in 50 years, how did they get there? or, better still, starting with the world you want to see in 200 years, how did the next 7 generations get there? Then work backward.
Or maybe the goal is different, and then the question changes. In the amazing PDC experience you had, Paul, you weren't with the people who aleady know everything, but with people who were passionate and starting their journey. So the function of "creating the situation of having extremely passionate people to connect with" could be served by a host of different elements. What elements will best serve that function?
You're doing good thinking about this, and learning from things that didn't work, but I don't think this is your _best_ thinking. When you're really at your best, it's at a higher level, and you have the "being on fire" feeling.
I think it's worth brainstorming a host of different elements that could serve the function you want, and getting more clear about the several functions you're looking at.
--a template for [materially self-sufficient,
sustainable] community that can be rubber-stamped around the world
--to incubate the future "best permaculturists"
--to create a space where the best permaculturists can come together and inspire one another
--to eat three meals a day with like-minded people who are passionate about this, and not feel alone in it
--to make back some of your expenses
--to attract people who are making an investment, and protect yourself from people who are only looking to take or to destroy
--...?
These aren't all the same goal. They may be all servable by one element, but not necessarily.
Diana Leafe Christian makes it clear that it's often a boondoggle to have the land first and try to "build it and they will come." But it can be done. However, it's best to be clear why you're doing each step you're doing. Having the land serves a number of functions, not just creating the rubber-stampable community.
re-thinking this doesn't mean you have to can any of your current elements, but it might open up new possibilities that are more doable, less problem-ridden, more fun, more energizing...who knows. As you said, the only sure way to get nothing is not to try it. So, that's my two cents, take at least a half hour to do some deliberate thinking about and reexamining these aspects of your design that seem, to me anyway, to have been left unexamined. There's probably thinking processes you use as an engineer that work for you, or permaculture thinking tools, whatever tools you use
should help. But this is a leverage point I'm seeing.
Maybe it's all clear in your mind, but I see a number of inconsistencies in your thinking in the podcast, and passions pointing in slightly different directions, and it seems that clarity on that front would open up a lot more flow of
energy.
Again, it's just my two cents, take what you like and leave the rest.
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