Taking the Privilege Out of Permaculture!

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I live in Oregon, USA, and here permaculture is frequently seen as a gardening style for the wealthy, crunchy, eco-conscious but entirely privileged. Folks here hire permaculture designers who charge hundreds of dollars/hr and they install aesthetic gardens that are designed with a permaculture-style, but lacking any of the ethics and principles of permaculture. It's very frustrating for me, because permaculture was designed for subsistence communities and absolutely SHOULD be accessible to all people and utilized to raise the standard of living for all people. Unfortunately, here many folks don't understand who permaculture is for (ALL PEOPLE) and don't realize that it isn't an "elitist style of gardening" at all. We are a low-income family in a very expensive place to live, but we are still wealthy compared to the majority of the world's population. We intentionally use free, scrounged, thrifty materials and keep our budget extremely low to model how permaculture should be accessible to all people. We also "share the surplus" by running a gardening program teaching free classes and growing produce here for a food bank and giving away hundreds and hundreds of garden plants every year. I think those who criticize permaculture as elitist are those who have had negative encounters with that element of the permaculture community that IS privileged and insular. I think it's important to share the the philosophy, ethics, and principles of permaculture and demonstrate that it is a design system that is mean for all people and can regenerate the earth AND raise the standard of living for humanity. Love your videos, keep up the good work!

[@shuvanidev]

Thank you for not retracting your statements - you are a true inspiration.

[@marianazinsou8955]

Totally agreed! It's a choice. Nobody needs a lot of land to plant a seed. Hugs from faraway.

[@lornascoon8366]

Jack reminds me of my Max who passed away at 14 nearly 2 years ago. He was a dog from the SPCA and the happiest soul. I miss him every day. Bless you and Jack x

[@robynsandri7924]

I have discovered no matter how many good works you do, there are always the naysayers who are ready to attack. I do not understand that mentality. You are living your dream without worrying anyone, in fact offering healing to the three acres, Jack and the world. You are so right when you say life, nature is beautiful it is only people who can be ugly. Blessings and love, robyn

[@amyfentress4257]

The philosophy that you share on this channel is what we should all take to heart & try to incorporate into our lives. Thank you

[@bealtainecottage]

Thanks Amy.

[@markj7612]

A gaze into Jack's eyes, revealing his love and trust, tells one what our core value should be: Reverence for life. Love life and all living things. Love is all.

[@lyndawilliams8434]

I have noticed that many of the people who complain about so called priviledge do so on their top of the line computers... or iPhones... or 50 in smart Tvs. They drive huge ego cars and have the latest trainers, fashions, and drink designer alcohol. Myself, I have a 1.3 litre car thats 12 yrs old and type on my cheapest you can get pc. I dont bother with tv, save every penny, and hope to end up with a bit of land and a tiny house I can live in. I think people class priviledge as having something they want, but are not prepared to put the effort in for. Unless you are disabled, you should be able to work towards having a small dream such as yours. You studied, got a qualification and worked for years. Ive worked my whole life, brought up four wonderful kids, and hope to sell my small home and buy some land. But to do so means some cut backs in all the luxuries. I have to save, and go without some stuff. (but since most of it is stuff I dont care about its no great loss) Permaculture means prioritising. Making choices. Living simple. And living simple is not expensive. I know that in Britain and Ireland, and in many countries on the continent, owning land is becoming harder and harder. But there are communities that you can join, groups you can link up with, that make buying joint land easier for younger people. The thing is, if you want it enough, you can have it. Maybe the priviledge they are looking for is to get the result with out the effort. And result without effort isnt valued. Life is a priviledge. What you do with it after that is just your choices.

[@sandrasenergy]

Thank you so much for all you do 💜❤💜 You are an inspiration in so many ways. Beautiful 🌺🌷🌸🌹👏👏👏👏

[@triciabergland5067]

❤❤❤ thank you so very much for this beautiful sharing 🙏🐾🙏 Blessings . . .

[@shundahaifarm3321]

Thank you for sharing parts of your life with the rest of us so openly and honestly. It is healing and inspiring for me to hear your story and your outlook. You give me hope.

[@Rhonda_B]

Defiant rebel pluviophiles unite! I'm not wealthy either, i work hard, i scrimp and save, and i plant. Just keep planting!

[@summerrain7466]

I agree 100%. What a perfect way to put it - Life itself is beautiful, it's only people whp make it ugly. Who CHOOSE to make it ugly.

[@ThePoliceMineCart]

You are awesome! All your hard work has paid off and continues to pay off! We obviously don't see all the blood,sweat and tears that go into creating your paradise but thank you for your resilience and hard work and for sharing to give me a visual hope and goals to work towards. #oneday#nzdreamer

[@ThePoliceMineCart]

Just realised all my devices KZbin accounts are signed in under my sons account lol

[@SHaas-vj6nu]

Great video Colette! Jack is so special. Our border collie Bella was a most loyal loving and intelligent girl. One day we shall get another pooch, a rescue old girl. I remember reading a book by the great, late Bill Mollison in my twenties. I have always loved plants and planting. We live on a densely planted by me, urban sized rented block with herbs, veges, natives and whatever else I can put in for its beauty and especially for our bees. Lots of my plants are in pots no doubt dreaming to be released of their captivity. I dream of a patch like yours to call my own. It does take effort and hard work and a whole lot of love and passion to create a food forrest/garden/habitat. My little patch is my therapy and peace garden. I always find a surprise in my garden. You inspire me! I would go even more plant crazy in my own patch of land. I buy plants every week. Today I bought some more basil and beans :-)

[@patblack2291]

Amen sister! If you have any privilege at all, it is that you were born with a strong will and a creative spirit. Permaculture gave you a framework to shift your land and yourself so that mother nature could compound her regenerative forces to create a riot of abundance with you as the capable caretaker. Unless one understands how permaculture can set the foundation for natural ecological forces to thrive, it is easy to jump to the wrong conclusions. Thank you for being a shining example of what can be achieved working with nature and her ways.

[@valeriesedgley4337]

Good morning loving your videos xx

[@sharonsherwood8411]

You tell them! We love you just the way you are.

[@Robert-sy1wf]

whoever says permaculture is for the privileged has not understood permaculture.

[@AcornHillHomestead]

Robert some people would rather make and spend money than use their heads, common sense and read! I am in the USA and also considered below poverty level. I don't feel in the least impoverished. I feel blessed and happy about the wisdom God has given me. My very frugal but not cheap parents and my grandmother taught me a lot and I love them for it🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🤗

[@consciousearthlife9856]

Keep up the good work I love your videos

[@MartinDoyle]

I've not read all the comments, so I may be repeating what some have said. Part of the view that permaculture is a privilege is because some people (some permaculture teachers...) perpetuate the myth that to 'do' permaculture, you need to go on a 2 week residential course costing many hundreds if not thousands of pounds/euros/dollars etc. And then do a diploma etc. In other words, both time and financial barriers are put in people's way. But, as Collette has demonstrated, permaculture is, in reality, an earth-centred, common-sense way of designing systems (whether they are food oriented or cover some other aspect of living/surviving). A whole industry has grown around 'permaculture' - selling the study of it and so on. I did a 1 day introductory course, run by Graham Burnett and it was £25 - if I couldn't have afforded that, I'm sure they would have let me pay what I could. The problem is not permaculture, it's some of the people who want to profit from it!

[@victorialadybug1]

Sometimes people judge this lifestyle because of envy. They don't understand it and they can't live this way either because of unwillingness to "unplug from the Matrix" and its brain-washing, or fear of stepping outside of the bounds of society and living their own dreams and it enrages them when they see others doing so. So they judge. Personally, I think they are pitiful folk with no dreams of their own.

[@vallip4254]

Yes you hit the nail - choice that's it - key

[@somethingbeautiful2212]

We cause our gardens to grow and evolve, and in turn, our garden cause us to grow and evolve. Cheers :)

[@s.maisonave4789]

Thanks!

[@bealtainecottage]

Thank you for your kind support...it is most welcome at this time ! Blessings XXX Colette and Patsy

[@carolhenderson2466]

I'm really surprised that some people see this as something for the privileged. Growing without chemicals and such is cheaper. Certainly space can be costly, but as Colette has mentioned before, you can grow something in a pot as a start. One more thought. She didn't have this beautiful garden in a day. It took many years of work. Something this beautiful doesn't happen overnight. It's a process. I see that in my own garden.

[@triciabergland5067]

❤ Colette 🙏 are you ever going to the shelter 🐾

[@bealtainecottage]

Yes

[@oceanluv88]

mum, you said cracker, please hurry! lol

[@lindaj4753]

oceanluv88 i

[@americanpatriot013]

You really have inspired me and was wondering if there is a way I could get ahold of you by message or mail?

[@Sorlendingen82]

don't worry about such comments, some marxists cannot stand other people owning land, and also they cannot stand seeing other people having it nice and must destroy their joy. I congratulate you, you have done very well with your land, and mother earth knows this aswell:) don't let the nasty "privilege" talk comments get to you.