The chapter discusses the concept of scaling up permaculture practices and its connection to relocalization. It explores the idea that adoption into existing systems often involves scaling up due to reliance on fossil fuel-powered energy. The chapter also delves into the debate on scaling, highlighting the differences between scaling through growth of systems and viral replication. It suggests that viral replication, through copying and modifying small-scale systems, can lead to significant scale effects in supporting non-monetary economies like household and community farming.
On this episode, Nate is joined by ‘permaculture’ author and educator David Holmgren to discuss his experience within the movement and what it might look like for more systems to be designed using permaculture in the future. While often thought to be an agricultural tool, permaculture thinking is meant for designing human systems to be embedded in nature - an important principle for a future where societies will need to re-synchronize with natural flows. What does it mean for permaculture design to ‘scale up’, and how is it different from how we usually think about growing a system? How will permaculture design change as we move through different phases of resource availability? More importantly, how can the ‘small and slow’ foundation of permaculture help human societies adapt to a lower throughput future as we navigate The Great Simplification?
About David Holmgren
David Holmgren is best known as the co-originator of permaculture. In 1978, he and Bill Mollison published Permaculture One, starting the global permaculture movement. Since then, David has developed three properties, consulted and supervised on urban and rural projects, written eight more books, and presented lectures, workshops and courses in Australia and around the world. His writings over those three decades span a diversity of subjects and issues, whilst always illuminating aspects of permaculture thinking and living.
Holmgren Design would like to offer a discount on RetroSuburbia to The Great Simplification listeners. Get a 20% discount on RetroSuburbia plus a free copy of Our Street for the month of November by using code: Nate at this link: http://retrosuburbia.com/nate
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A9hW4Jh9hF0
Show Notes & Links to Learn More: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/96-david-holmgren