An Ethic of Planning

A few weeks ago, I completed a Permaculture design class at Inwood Hill Park in New York City. With the exception of one other course taking place in the city this summer, it was the first full PDC class held in New York in some 30 years, since Permaculture originator Bill Mollison taught one himself in the early days of the movement. The fact that the city had two courses in one summer is a sure sign that Permaculture is gaining traction even in unlikely places.

However, in spite of Permaculture’s claims to be applicable at any scale, there are obvious constraints on teaching such a course in the city, where open land is at a premium. As intellectually stimulating as it was, several of my classmates and I left the class feeling a need to find places to apply our new knowledge. With that in mind, a few of us went upstate this past weekend to volunteer on a Permaculture farm.