Dr. Vandana Shiva: Occupy our food supply!
In one of her articles she mentions that “the biggest corporate takeover on the planet is the hijacking of the food system, the cost of which has had huge and irreversible consequences for the Earth and people everywhere.”
Especially with Covid and seeing it aftermath, we want to shift from an outdated broken society model to a conscious, harmonious co-existing with Nature, where we can all be involved, from growing a pepper on your urban balcony to regenerating soils, forest, and rivers.
It’s a change of mindset where you realize that ANYONE can make a change. Anyone can grow food! — in any condition. Each of us plays an important role, wherever we are, and whoever we are- a farmer, You and I, senior citizens- we are all connected in this web of transformation and we are the influence in our community or family, and nowadays, influence is power. On this very special journey Permaculture has become about Empowerment.
Empowerment and understanding the Essence- whatever the question is, the answer can be found in Nature, by observing, interacting and experimenting. We humans, as Observers, can change the world around us, thus we are creators of our own worlds. When we slow down and observe Nature, we see problems as solutions, we understand the natural succession of things, where each part plays a role in the cycle of life, where there are no invasive species, just pioneer soldiers doing their job to balance something out or to regenerate damaged soils or ecosystems. By understanding the Patterns in Nature, we understand ourselves, and by understanding ourselves we move upward in the spiral of Life.
One of the problems of our times, especially now with lockdowns increasing around the world, we seem to be pushed away from nature in the most unnatural way possible. This needs to change!
I’ve learned that Permaculture is about compassion, for all life forms- it’s empathising with the Earth, with Nature, with the plants, with the animals, the insects, the rivers, the soils, but also with ourselves and other humans across the globe. It’s a holistic approach on Life.
I’ve learned that techniques and recipes are useful but once you understand “The Essence of a process”, you don’t need the recipe anymore. You can make your own fertiliser, you can make your own vinegar!
I’ve learned that when working with Nature, as with people, being gentle is more important than having a lot of knowledge and experience. Mindset and attitude are more important than any material resources.
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what cares of.” — Margaret J Wheatley
