“On the Edge”

Removing the sheen from the Mainstream


First published in the Permaculture International Journal Issue No. 60 Sept ~ Nov 1996

LEVEL HEADED WORLD

“Modern technological agriculture is basd on a scientific logic that we are expected to unquestioningly accept. Yet ‘new’ and ‘scientific’ don't necessarily mean better. A few years ago, I was attending a conference in central India. A group of American scientists were proudly showing us the latest in land leveling technolog, based upon the use of laser beam. At one point, an old farmer raised his hand: "Would you like to know what we do in my area"" The Scientists were interested. "Well we wait for the rains. Then we all go out and see which land is above water and which below ... "

Korah Mathen, activist, speaking at ARISE 95 organic agriculture conference, Auroville, India. — Source: Auroville Today.

THE FOOD GROWING AND PARENTING UNIVERSITY?

Permaculture teacher and mum Patricia DuBose Michael says: “Parenting isn’t even taught in the universities; that's the most important skill we've got going. That's survival."

"Food and growing food is not taught. Most university campuses are wastelands. I only know of two universities that grow food or that address the idea of edible landscaping in some departments. I don't know of any universities that teach life skills .. , There might be hope if universities taught these things, but very few of them do."

From an interview by Pamela Colloff in the US-based ‘GreenBeat’, Jan 1996.