Comments on: David Holmgren on Permaculture, Business, Resilience and Transition

By: Darren (Green Change)

Darren (Green Change) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:31:11 +0000

Nice article, Rob. It’s got me thinking about the principles in a different way, which is always worthwhile.

My family is beginning our journey towards sustainability, and applying permaculture principles in that context is fairly straightforward.

I also work for a large US company, and am a member of the environment committee at our site. I had never thought of applying the 12 principles in that context, but now you’ve got my thoughts racing!

Thanks again!

By: Jean-Marc

Jean-Marc — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:18:41 +0000

Thank you for this Rob, i came across your article from the permacultureprinciples site and find what you laid out to be a great start.
I’m a filmmaker and we are currently scripting an educational video introducing the permaculture principles. We want to create something that will be universally accessible and applicable. Business, communities, government, education, individuals. To present permaculture outside its traditional context.
This article is a good example of doing this for a business. THank you.
If i can ask, if you come anything that might be similar, please let me know.
all the best in the new year
jm
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By: Andrew Lucas

Andrew Lucas — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:45:34 +0000

Rob this is fascinating to me – thanks for reviewing the principles with Dave in this context.

I think one of the major challenges for many businesses will be the unwinding reality of how unnecessary they’re going to be in an energy descent future.

I studied marketing and my professional challenge was creating wants and needs for stuff that isn’t really wanted or needed…but sadly many livelihoods in the global formal economies are caught in this madness.

If my entire existence was reliant on the production and sales of digital photo frames and high fashion furniture – I’d be feeling a little nervous…

AL – Transition Bell

By: ken Webster

ken Webster — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:51:00 +0000

“This is well explored elsewhere, i.e. in William McDonagh’s Cradle to Grave approaches, and their concept of Waste=Food. It emphasises the concept of closing loops wherever possible.”

Some muddle here. Its William McDonough (and Michael Braungart) and it’s ‘cradle to cradle’ not ‘cradle to grave’, but yes their emphasis is that waste = food.

Apart from that, a nice piece.

By: Ian Graham

Ian Graham — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:20:27 +0000

Having spent 25 years as a business entrepreneur, through the years when continuous improvement, quality circles, just-in-time, etc. were in vogue, I enjoyed reading this application of Pc Principles. I think more could be said about #6, Produce no Waste. That has been a driver in business, at least manufacturing, where I was engaged, for a long time.
My town of Dundas ON has recently started up a TTI, intending to follow the guidelines in your Handbook. I think I’ll suggest we arrange to do a presentation at the local Chamber of Commerce or BIA, on the business side of permaculture/transition. This could get a few of the payroll generators to think of their contribution to transition rather than be defensive about it.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:55:03 +0000

Rob, This a great start on guidelines for Business in Transition based on the 12 prinicples of permaculture and is a very useful first step to
creating something meaningful for the business community, I feel.

My background is in teaching and gardening – I’m
not much of business man myself but I’m interested in working with business people and company workers(salary-men) in Tokyo on ‘How to run a successful business in the Age of Energy Descent’.

On January 22nd, we are going to do a Transition presentation at Koganei City Rotary Club where we
will meet 20 to 30 local business owners with a view to forming a ‘Business in Transition’ working
group in Koganei City. I propose to try to prepare a short presentation or text based on how the 12 principles of permaculture might apply to business in Japanese by January 22nd.

Luckly my Japanese friend (Iketake san) in Transition Town Koganei has studied and practiced permaculture for more than 10 years and has a good understanding of these principles.

Many thanks, Paul

By: stef

stef — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:45:00 +0000

Hey Rob, is it me or the Permaculture Activist that is ‘wonderful as ever’? You’re quite a dish yourself.
Enjoy the Yuletide.

By: Sonya

Sonya — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:49:16 +0000

Thanks for putting that together Rob. Here on the Sunshine Coast we’re lucky enough to have the owner of Australia’s only fully sustainable industrial building – based on permaculture principles – and his take on business is amazing. We had him speak to participants at our TT workshop last weekend and he brought such a great perspective to the Transition Movement and working with businesses on these changes.

I’ll have a good read of these – as you know we use David’s principles as the basis of our work, this will add further to what we’re doing.

Cheers, and Merry Christmas,

Sonya