![]() “You can’t work on an empty stomach” is this principle’s accompanying proverb. Permaculture realizes that while all of this ecological theory is well and good, is doesn’t help much if you starve. I love that pragmatism. It forces the person to get out of the library and put it into practice. Permaculture is not the field of the sitter. It is the field of the walker and the digger and the harvester. You have to do it. However, some people have taken “obtaining a yield” possibly too far. Many people have criticized large enterprise people like Joel Salatin for making too much money, sacrificing permaculture for profit, and the like, or permaculture designers for charging too much money for their services. I personally think most of these people have misunderstood this principle. There is nothing wrong with making money. There is nothing wrong with keeping yourself to the standard of other professionals when it comes to how much you charge. If you asked Joel Salatin and any designer worth the name, they would say they charge what they do to make enough money to continue to do what they do. You can’t expect a designer to offer his services for free or next to nothing. He wouldn’t be able to eat enough to give his services in the first place. You obtain a yield in whatever form because we live in a world where you need food, housing, clothing, and transportation. You also need some extra money in case your car dies or you get tuberculosis. Permaculture is not idealistic enough to demand its adherents forget about reality. A person has needs and those needs much be bought or bartered for. Now, some people are rightly concerned about a person abusing permaculture to obtain an abnormally high yield so they can become wealthy and live the good life in Aruba. Personally, I would go to Germany, but that’s just me. There is truth to this concern. We see it everywhere in business and in families. I honestly don’t think many permaculture people are at risk for this, but we must always remember why we obtain a yield. It isn’t just for us, and it shouldn’t be. The three permaculture ethics are earth care, people care, and fair share. When we have surplus, we should give of what we have. We are not islands in an endless sea. We are part of families, communities, counties, states, and countries. A permaculturist should never hoard. We should desire to give what we have been blessed with in order to be a blessing. That can come in the form of food, knowledge, physical aid, and items we need to live. I am a sucker for a good homemade soap. Obtain a yield so you can live and so can your community. That is this principle. Comments are closed.
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Rebecca Burrow
I am a Christian permie designer trying to spread the word about Christian land stewardship through permaculture. I like goats a lot. Maaaaaaaah. Archives
September 2016
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Burrow Permaculture Consulting | Permie Blog |