Evelyn Bryndas

paul wheaton wrote:

In the broad spectrum of all the things that can happen, there is:

1)  fast death

10)  medium speed death

100) slow death

1000)  death that is really, really slow

1416)  sustainable - barely avoiding death, but no more

2000)  _________

10,000)  _______

100,000)  ________

1,000,000) ________

I would like to find the words for the blanks. 

Growth?  Prosperity?

Any ideas?  Surely there are some excellent words and they just aren't popping into my head right now.

Ok.. well I saw your post this morning (haven't read any other responses yet, not gonna lie) but I was just now taking a shower and it popped into my head again. So are you saying that someone on the "1,000,000" is basically so wealthy that they could pay anyone off (or buy anything that they needed) to make them a live longer, easier life?

Well, I'm a bit of a nerd and for some reason I thought "undead" would fit the bill, haha. I guess this goes along well with those "vampire capitalism" analogies about zombies and vampires being "undead" and living off the living. HA anyone else think that?

Do you guys take WWOOFers in the winter? I have a commitment until Febuary 2013, but am looking to WWOOF after that.

In reference to the first comment there... I honestly don't see a problem with banning intoxicants... but I don't see where you read that on the website.

Thank you craig and brenda for your comments! I am so glad I found this forum.

Brenda Groth wrote:..if you are a designer, you'll have to campaign for permaculture, convince people it is right and to hire you to do it, or to teach about it..

People work as permaculturists (?) and have people hire them? To do what? Make their house self-sufficient? So to do that you would get a degree in permaculture design? I didn't know that! I thought people just learned this stuff to do it at their own homesteads. I wouldn't mind that (working with people in that manner) so much as general "public outreach."

As far as buying my own land... I imagine it will be SEVERAL years before I can afford something like that. Also.. I feel like it might get lonely? What about a more communal living situation? Are there perma-communes out there? I think I would really like something like that.. but I am not going to lie, it seems like it would be really scary to jump into something like that.

Brenda Groth wrote: Most women your age have other things on their mind than getting some land and working with it, so you'll be heading toward a sustanable future where the others might not be..you are heading in the right direciton.

Thank you for saying that. It makes me feel a little more sane since I'm kind of the black sheep in my family/ immediate social circle... no one else seems to care about this stuff! haha.

Wow, thank you guys so much for responding... this forum is awesome! I never expected such quick and helpful responses!

I am in Western NY, Monroe County. Yes, I am very familiar with sour internships. I am really not looking to go through that again. That's why I thought WWOOF seemed like a good option. If I don't like it, I'm not really expected to stay for very long, so I can just leave. I also just do not have the ability to afford an unpaid internship. WWOOF would be better for me because you are provided with housing/food. I am under the impression that internships don't provide these things, is that right?

Thanks for suggesting those videos, I will definitely look for those.

Hi Peter,

Thanks for responding, and thanks for the advice! That is why I was considering WWOOFing at first. It would be a short, temporary first "taste" of this kind of work. Do you think that would be a good idea?

So you don't think pursuing a college-level degree in horticulture or sustainable agriculture, or something along those lines in necessary?

Hi Everyone. I wasn't really sure what board to post this in. All of you older (or younger) permies who somehow figured out what to do with your life... please help!

A little background on myself: I'm 23, female, graduated from college a year ago with a degree in Sociology with a minor in Environmental Studies (and Film Studies, but that is kind of irrelevant). This year I am doing Americorps (nothing related to permaculture). By the end of this year I should only have 2,000 in student loan debt left to pay off, and I have no other debt. Other than that, I have $0 savings. I moved back in with my mom after college.

I am totally convinced that we, as a society, need to scale down, power-down and become more sustainable and less dependent on fossil fuels. I really support movements like Transition Towns, and other eco-communities. I am currently reading "The End of Growth" and find it really fascinating. Etc...

However, I am not one to want to do outreach, education, or campaigning. I did enough of it in college and found out that I just don't have the patience for it. Not that I don't think it is important, but I, personally, am sick of trying to convince the 'masses' that we need to change. It just isn't my thing.

I enjoy more hands-on work. Things where you SEE the results. Specific jobs that have a start, a middle, and and end. I get along with people best if we share a common goal and work together to achieve it. Hands-on projects that require ingenuity and creative thinking.

I got the chance to study our agricultural system to a certain extent in college. Basically, I know that it is totally a mess and unsustainable. I want to be a part of the solution... but not 'changing' the old (industrialized) way. I want to be a part of the 'new way.' But, I have no skills or in-depth knowledge. I have a small garden in my backyard and a compost pit. I have worked many times with my dad, who owns a construction business, and did a habitat for humanity trio

So finally... to the question!! How can I get involved in permaculture/organic growing with no skills, no money, and no land?

Would you suggest that I go back to college for horticulture or another sustainable-ag related field? Or, should I just get a random job doing something farmey/hands on from goodfoodjobs.com? Or, WWOOF, and then get a job?

I saw a 2 year 'degree' in permaculture at Kinsale Further Education college in Ireland, which I think sounds really cool, but I hesitate to do that for 2 years without any idea of what I could do with a degree like that.

I'm sure there are others out there like me with similar questions.... If you have any suggestions, don't hesitate to reply!


..Sorry for the long post!