"Transporting Crude Oil on California Rails?" Interview with Diane Bailey, Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council, SF by Willi Paul, Planetshifter.com Magazine

Introduction -

On March 28, 2014, Earthjustice filed a complaint and injunction request on behalf of Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, the Sierra Club, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in the San Francisco Superior Court against Kinder Morgan and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to halt the shipment of highly explosive and toxic crude oil into the City of Richmond, a community already burdened by intense pollution caused by the fossil fuel industry. Please see their press release.

Transportation of crude oil issues are complex, charged politically and pit rail road and petroleum interests against fears of oil spills, train fires and community destruction in cities and towns along the "right of way." In this case, an historic and never ending series of environmental justices in Richmond, CA.

Background -

“Richmond residents are already over-burdened when it comes to pollution in our community and toxins in our bodies,” said Sandy Saeteurn, an APEN Richmond Organizer. “The idea of trains carrying explosive Bakken crude oil in and out of our neighborhoods is outrageous. It's like BAAQMD just pulled the pin off of a bomb, allowing it to roll all around town, knowing it's only a matter of time before it stops ticking, and explodes on all of us.”

The Air District (BAAQMD) issued Kinder Morgan a permit to operate its crude-by-rail project in early February, without any notice to the public or environmental and health review. The case asks the court to halt operations immediately while the project undergoes a full and transparent review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Yes, there are those who will say that an accident is a 226 year event. That's nonsense. Recent train accidents across the country were caused by human failure; and there is no way to mitigate human failure; and the downside of such a cataclysmic event just a mile from a population area is to horrific to imagine.
Email: Laurance Shinderman, Santa Maria Refinery Rail Development Plan, 1/13/14

I don't know of any anti-oil train groups that suggest the Oregon highway expansion plan should be stopped, or are doing large scale practical food relocalization to reduce the use of oil in agriculture and food distribution. Email, Mark Robinowitz, oilempire.us, Eugene

(Phillips 66) said it has “one of the most modern crude rail fleets in the industry, consisting of railcars that exceed current regulatory safety requirements and it began modernizing its crude fleet in 2012 “as a proactive precautionary measure to safely capture the opportunities of the rapidly changing energy landscape.” “Berkeley City Council Votes to Oppose Crude By Rail Plan”

* * * * * * *

Interview with Diane by Willi

How did Kinder Morgan get passed the CEQA process in the first place? Status of the Kinder Morgan permit to operate its crude-by-rail project?

KM already was operating the rail terminal for ethanol tanker trains. The air district (illegally in our opinion) issued what they called a ministerial permit, claiming that the “change of use” didn’t cause enough of a significant emissions increase to trigger CEQA (we disagree with the air district). The air district issued a final permit to operate in February, 2014; the KM terminal has been accepting crude oil trains since last Fall.

Do Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, the Sierra Club, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) advocate for direct action? Will you block the trains if necessary?

Some of the groups may consider it.

Do City Councils have power to redirect or stop crude oil on rail lines on their land?

Yes, in some cases, especially where a rail terminal is within city boundaries, they can deny the land use permit, change the zoning of that property or otherwise take legal action to prevent a new rail terminal from being built.

In general, is a short train safer train vs a mile long train? What are the locomotive and track engineering factors in this equation?

A short train may be safer than a mile long train as there are fewer cars that could be involved in an accident. However, more effective measures to improve oil train safety include more robust tanker cars, lower speeds, improved track conditions, routing away from populated areas and several other operational factors. Majority of the tanker cars are of a design that is highly susceptible to rupturing during an accident and has raised serious concerns across North America. In fact, Canada is forcing their replacement due to dangerous design flaws and the U.S. is expected to take similar action, but this will take years to phase in. In the meantime, whether the crude oil trains are a mile long or shorter, they are hurtling through densely populated neighborhoods and communities putting hundreds of thousands of people in harm’s way.

Are you concerned about where the refined crude oil will be sold? The supply chain of the oil business?

Yes, we are concerned that already overburdened refinery communities could become pass through zones where dirty crude oil is directly exported, or refined and then exported saddling those communities with additional impacts. Our greatest concern, however, is that greater quantities of dirtier, more dangerous crude oil could come to refineries, increasing pollution and safety hazards in those areas, regardless of where the products are destined to.

Does the petroleum industry and first responders have provisions in place to address a worst-case scenario involving a train carrying crude oil?

Not that we know of.

Please define environmental justice and help us understand the Kinder Morgan PR spin?

Communities of color, which are often poor, are routinely targeted to host facilities that have negative environmental impacts. Environmental justice is an important part of the struggle to improve and maintain a clean and healthful environment, especially for those who have traditionally lived, worked and played closest to the sources of pollution. The KM facility is a total environmental injustice.

California’s railroad bridges as described as a significant rail safety risk. Why?

We have heard repeatedly from our community partners that many railroad bridges are old and in poor condition and that they fear for the safety of heavy rail use of those bridges. However, we are unable to verify this and wonder how the bridges could have fallen into such a state of reported disrepair.

Who does Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) work for officially; unofficially?

BAAQMD is a government agency with a mission to protect air quality and public health in the nine county area. They are governed by a board of elected officials from the region and staffed by employees who are public servants – they work for us. In practice we have found many BAAQMD actions and activities to appear more in service to the industries they regulate than the general public and in direct conflict with their mission (e.g. issuing the Kinder Morgan crude by rail permit without a CEQA or public process).

What groups, governments and/or companies want crude oil on rails to continue unabated? Are their lawyers, bloggers and consultants who we should know about who support this dangerous industry?

We know of no groups, elected officials, individuals or companies who want crude oil rail transport to continue unabated, except for the oil and rail industries.

* * * * * * *

Diane Bailey’s Bio -

Diane is a senior scientist in the health and environment program, has been working at NRDC for the last nine years promoting the reduction of diesel exhaust, air toxics, and global warming pollution. Her work has focused on hotspots of air pollution created by goods movement facilities and other major sources. She came from Citizens for a Better Environment, where she was assessing the hazards of air toxics for a children’s health project. She has worked on projects including emission control strategies for state implementation plans, air toxics analysis on the petrochemical industry, soil contamination mapping, sustainable business, brownfield rehabilitation, water treatment, and environmental auditing and inventories. Diane has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Washington University and an MS in Environmental Engineering from Rice University.

Connections –

Diane Bailey, Senior Scientist
Natural Resources Defense Council
San Francisco, CA
dbailey at nrdc.org

Image credit

Carbon Fighters “Cool the Earth” at Coleman Elementary. Interview with students Cayman Stein and Sam Testa by Willi Paul, Planetshifter.com Magazine

Coleman Elementary in San Rafael, CA recently launched its fifth year running Cool the Earth¹s Climate Action Program last month as part of its Earth Day program. For four years running Coleman students have taken over 4800 actions, saving approximately 3,500,000 lbs. of carbon. That is the equivalent of taking almost 300 cars off the road! This year a total of 15 Marin County schools are running the Cool the Earth program.

Visit the Cool the Earth web site or at Facebook, and Twitter: @CooltheEarth.

* * * * * * *

Planetshifter.com Magazine interview with Cayman Stein, 2nd grade and Sam Testa, 3rd Grade @Coleman Elementary

Tell us about a few of your favorite stories at the Story Time Library Corner? Are there common themes?

Cayman: I remember stories about kids working through conflict.

Sam: The Night I followed my Dog!

Is there a garden at Coleman or at home? Ask me or your teacher about Permaculture and how many of us are now working with Nature to grow local food and strengthen community.

Sam: Yes we have a few gardens at Coleman.

Has it been easy to get other activities and organizations involved in the Cool the Planet program? Any examples?

Cayman: We do Walk 'N Roll on Wednesdays to get to school. During lunchtime we put our stuff away in the bins. Plastic and paper go in the recycling bins. Food goes in the compost bin.

Sam: Yes it has been easy ... Everyone wants to help to be green. We have walk / bike to school every Wednesday and you get to stamp your green thumb on a poster.... Everyone brings recycling every Friday and our school gets $... Everyone loves the cool the earth coupons to turn in every week.

There are a lot activities and responsibilities competing for your time? How important is being green every day and sharing values with others?

Cayman: It's really important because the Earth is getting hot due to global warming. We need to stop it because it's important and I love the Earth.

Sam: Everyone can do their part no matter how busy you are... Simple things like running instead of driving... turning off lights instead of leaving them on and using glasses to water plants instead of just dumping water.

I just released an edu-video for kids called “Life in the Edge” about the boundaries between Nature and humans. I included questions and I would appreciate your feedback.

Cayman: My school is so close to Highway 101. We also live close to Highway 101 as well as the mountains (Nike Missile Site open space).

Examples of edges around my home and school:

• The freeway wall separates the freeway from the homes in my neighborhood.
• Our backyard fence separates the wild animals from coming onto our property.
• The fences and sidewalks separate my school from the street.
• The backyard fences separate my home from the open space.
• The freeway wall separates Highway 101 from my neighborhood.
• I built a fairy garden last summer! The plastic container it sat in separated this space from the "real" world.

Are the 5th graders helping the kindergartners learn to “Cool the Earth?” Any lessons to share as leaders?

Cayman: During lunchtime I help the younger grade kids sort their trash. I walk around picking up waste with the trash grabber. The younger kids ask, "Where do we put these?" I help them organize their stuff in the right bins.

Do you guys watch PBS Kids programs? What other media sources are good?

Cayman: Yes, my brother and I watch cartoons on PBS! My mom and dad rarely let us play video games. But when they do we like playing Leap Frog.

Sam: No, do not watch PBS.

What are some graphic symbols of climate change and “Cool the Earth?” Why is a polar bear in the logo?

Cayman: Because the polar bears live in the snow and the arctic is one place where it's getting warmer.

Sam: Not sure about the Polar Bear.

Who are your heroes?

Cayman:

(1). Martin Luther King because he stood up for African American people. Back then people were mean to black people and they didn't let them go to the same bathroom, drink from the same water fountain and go to the same schools.

(2). My mom because she teaches me what to do.

Sam: My mom!

What are your top three cool actions to share with kids?

Cayman:

(1) Bike to school.
(2) Carpool to softball practice.
(3) I save water when I shower - soaping I stop the water.

Are you promoting saving water? How?

Cayman: Yes! We stop the faucet when we're not using water.

Sam: Yes we are promoting saving water.... Shorter showers, water from glass to plants.... Water late at night.

Permaculture Propaganda Lab @ old seed bomb factory (2019). New Myth # 54 by Willi Paul, Planetshifter.com Magazine

"Last month we took up to much too message, an undoable scale."

"Ya right. The “Food Forests on Mars” campaign!"

Sponsored by North Bay City Lands Conversion Group was underwritten by Permaculture Principle #6.

"Not sure that "Make the least change for the greatest effect" was the result?"

"Maybe sometimes we should just make the case instead of propagating silly slogans?!"

"Down."

* * * * * * *

Two months ago, the crew did the “seed library on wheels” campaign. The truck was robbed twice.

Permaculture Propaganda Lab's ( PPL) strategy for their case strapped clients is often simple: pick one principle or ethic from permaculture and design a campaign for the client.

Weaving Nature lore, sustainability and human subjects in the NorCal biosphere, PPL works a new campaign per month for food, concert tickets or fresh fish - to name of few things bartered.

The seed bomb factory on the first floor was closed down by the feeds late last year after an all-night Psilocybin-drenched rave and an early morning product demonstration got out of hand.

In 2019, multiple NorCal tipping points are fracking the permie scene as the rich consolidate power, make higher fences and force the poor to fight for their injustice.

* * * * * * *

The Perma Store has brought their visions, wares and woes to PPL for an outreach transfusion after buying up the Dollar Store franchise in 2017 and seeing sales of permaculture tools go down by 24%.

"Let's lease the 14 NorCal bill boards from Zippy’s Sign Mafia and go with:"

"Grow It - Eat It - Compost it @ The Perma Store."

"Thankfully some sign locations are in urban settings. Few can afford the train or auto travel charges at this point.

"Sounds like Principle #7 fits ok here: "Start with the smallest systems and build on your successes, with variations."

"What comes after the billboard?"

”One dollar Perma Store Hella tattoos!”

* * * * * * *

Gathering of the Tribes Radio presents a conversation with Willi Paul
Writer / Publisher of Planetshifter.com Magazine and NewMythologist.com

Topic: “Mythmaking and Creating a Sustainable Culture with Permaculture”

Show Host: Doctor G

Time: Thursday, May 15th, at 5:15pm (PST)

Where: Tunein broadcast live & online and on 89.5 FM in the northeast San Pablo Bay Area, courtesy of OzCat Radio

Willi’s Bio

Selected Media by Willi Paul:

* Life in the Edge - an edu-video on Permaculture Principle 8

* JOURNEY TO CASCADIA - Building a New Global Mythology. For the 2012 Study of Myth Symposium

* Sacred Alchemy & Symbols for the Permaculture Transition

“Permaculture - Bring Back Gaia!” Commentary by Willi Paul, Planetshifter.com Magazine

I asked one of my recent interviewees if the Earth could be keystone specie? Consider the following “WIKI home office journey” that connects keystone specie with ecosystem, our solar system and the Milky Way Galaxy and finally to permaculture and Gaia.

Four images are provided –“Permaculture in Gaia.”

* * * * * * *

Is the Earth a specie?

A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms capable of inter-breeding and producing fertile offspring.

• Sounds like the Earth, right?

Is the Earth a keystone specie?

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

• Yes the Earth plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community.

• The Earth affects many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community.

• Yes, the Earth is the # 1 keystone species.

Is the Earth an ecosystem?

As ecosystems are defined by the network of interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment, they can be of any size but usually encompass specific, limited spaces (although some scientists say that the entire planet is an ecosystem)

• The Earth helps to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community.

• Yes, the Earth plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of a global ecosystem.

• Does the Earth affect many other organisms in a global ecosystem?

Is Gaia (Earth spirit) is a keystone specie of our solar system?

Gaia was revived in 1979 by James Lovelock, in Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth. The Gaia hypothesis proposes that living organisms and inorganic material are part of a dynamic system that shapes the Earth's biosphere, and maintains the Earth as a fit environment for life. In some Gaia theory approaches, the Earth itself is viewed as an organism with self-regulatory functions.

• The Earth is part of our solar system and the Milky Way Galaxy ecosystem.

• Gaia is helping to generate a new mythology as the keystone ecosystem for all life.

Can Permaculture integrate Nature-lore, alchemy, Transition, new ritual, the sacred and new mythology to foster greater healing?

• Humans are no longer a keystone species on Earth but a threatened species.

• To many, the Earth is a thing. To some, Gaia is our global Mother.

• Permaculture is a new Nature and community-based food technology connected to Gaia.

• Permaculture is capable of inclusivity and can assist in reversing global warming as a spiritual source for Gaia.

“The Permaculture Potluck Cafe” – “New Myth #53”

by Willi Paul, NewMythologist.com

A concerted grassroots effort with the potential for peaceful solutions is taking root through the spread of permaculture, an Earth-centered expression of the spiritual practice of yoga.

* * * * * * *

A few years ago, Dee Dee’s organic restaurant went under in downtown Richmond - an extravagance that too few could afford during the2021 infrastructure wars. But today she still has her house, a garden and a bountiful spirit to match.

She walks the neighborhood with a few invitations on long lost and found recycled printer paper, hawking a “transition” idea about sharing and love around her dinner table.

The Permaculture Potluck Cafe, as the flyer reads, is part barter, part cooking class, but mostly a great inducement to cook, eat and share stories with her neighbors.

It’s the end of the restaurant as we knew it and the start of the neighborhood cafe.

* * * * * * *

As soon as seven invitations turned into seven reservations, Dee Dee had her head count, setting the coming Saturday nite at 5:30 pm for the cafe. A menu is chalked down on her kitchen blackboard; some folks are assigned to mains and others (she knows her neighbors well) get to bring wine.

The weekly Permaculture Potluck Café schedule starts with a weekly food theme:

3:00 – Prep cooking: chopping, sautéing, blending, chit chat!

5:00 – Friends Mingle in

6:00 – Dinner starts

8:00 – Dessert with Story Hour

9:00 – Leftovers, recipe exchange and hugs good bye

9:15 – Clean-up and compost

Folks see the Cafe has a new neighborhood sharing ritual; a key local not-for-profit translation that brings the best of the old restaurant vibe back to families around the block.

Dee Dee’s weekly donation bowl is always full with offers to help in her garden and local currency.

"Life in the Edge (an edu-video)" on Permaculture Principle 8 by Willi Paul,
Planetshifter.com Media

Life in the Edge

Watch the Video!

Questions for Kids from the Project:

+ Where are the edges that you live work and play in?

+ When is an edge a barrier? A passage way?

+ Can an edge in Nature be a home? Protection for many?

+ How many examples of an edge are around your house or school?

+ An edge is where life blends and transforms. Have you ever built an edge?

video total time: 2:27 sec

"Permaculture Ad Council for the Transition Age" by Willi Paul, Planetshifter.com Magazine

Let's put our heads together and start a new country up
Up underneath the river bed we'll burn the river down
This is where they walked, swam
Hunted, danced and sang
Take a picture here Take a souvenir
Cuyahoga, REM

* * * * * * *

We all have a global and ongoing outreach challenge to bring the ethics and principles of permaculture and our Transition values to more schools, homes and businesses.

We can create and implement educational ad campaigns for permaculture using existing tools and models.

What symbols are powerful?

Key to this meta-work is translation or using what exists today and changing it for the better:

“Thinking in Transition; growing with Permaculture.”

Please see the four poster designs in this post that may help to kick-start a Permaculture Ad Council. If you are interested in discussing the permaculture ad council project, please contact me:

Willi Paul
New Mythologist & Transition Entrepreneur
newmythologist.com | PlanetShifter.com Magazine | openmythsource.com
@planetshifter @openmythsource @newmythologist
415-407-4688 | pscompub at gmail.com

“The Permaculture Convenience Store” – Vision Plan by Willi Paul, Planetshifter.com Magazine

Most are familiar with the neighborhood convenience store. Candy, cigarettes, caffeinated power drinks, chips, etc. Isn’t it ironic that these sellers of junk food and smokes are “filed under convenience?”

Convenience goods are widely distributed products that "require minimal time and physical and mental effort to purchase." Convenient procedures, products and services are those intended to increase ease in accessibility, save resources and decrease frustration.

But what would most folks say is a healthy alternative to consumer convenience? My vote is efficiency:

Efficiency … describes the extent to which time, effort or cost is well used for the intended task or purpose. It is often used with the specific purpose … to produce a specific outcome effectively with a minimum amount or quantity of waste, expense, or unnecessary effort.

Here’s the pitch: We need to start “ thinking in Transition” defined as foregoing convenience for programs and design that incorporate healthy neighborhood services that support healthy food and sustainable land use.

Some support: from Permaculture Principle 6: Make the least change for the greatest effect. Find the “leverage points” in the system and intervene there, where the least work accomplishes the most change.

Consider a 7-11 Store? Is this a valuable neighborhood service provider or something else? A 7-11 store was just closed by that corporation with the approval of the neighborhood in San Mateo.

Cold beer coolers aside, we need more urban permaculture / Transition-based Food Coops or start-up incubators or training accelerators.

The Permaculture Convenience Store -

Components:

Seed Exchange

Demonstration Plot & Plant Nursery

Local and Regional Organizations Directory

Permaculture Design Consultants Directory

In-house Education - Classroom Space

Free Book Exchange - Spirit, Technical and Nature Titles

Neighborhood Fair Wage Jobs Program

Design Plans - Tool Sheds, Compost Bins, Rocket Stoves, Gardens, etc.

Tools & Supplies:

+ Sickles
+ Machetes
+ Knives
+ Shovels
+ Weeding Hoes
+ A-frames (contour ID)
+ Twine
+ Boards for Raised Beds
+ Cutter / Snips
+ Swiss Army style grafting knife
+ Spades
+ Chicken Wire
+ Forks
+ Water Buckets
+ Greywater tanks & hardware
+ Compost starter & bins
+ Hay bales
+ Orange flagging
+ Recycled Lumber

Conclusions –

The Permaculture Convenience Store is a transformed “Old Fashioned” neighborhood hardware store with a Transition spirit twist. The rich interaction between new principles, garden tools and neighbors will foster a new global mythology !

“The New Farm Convergence, Year 1.0” - New Myth #52 / Myth Lab #11. Paintings by Wisconsinite Laverne Kammerude as Artifact. By Willi Paul, NewMythologist.com

* * * * * * *

“The New Farm Convergence, Year 1.0”

Myth Lab #11 follows

Venoco’s fracking well collapse and deep earth “volcanic erupt-release” in Fairfield, CA in 2033 left the planet with a dinosauric-killing carbon load unforeseen in human history, temperatures world-wide rose 12 degrees in six weeks and the coasts climbed 13”.

Cooked Earth.

Community as they knew it was gone: Main Streets became abandoned for better air and garden plots in nearby mountains. Security from hastily formed neighboring Tribes suddenly was the issue. How can folks see their seeds through to harvest when unprepared hoards are stealing the local greens?

* * * * * * *

“That woman with the dogs and kid came by again yesterday. I gave her some dried meat and roots.”

“She will be back with more folks - more than we can help at this point.”

“I told her about the upcoming Multi-Tribal Convergence in Susanville but her agenda is obviously tilted toward hunger pains.”

* * * * * * *

The plan for the Tribe Network is to occupy and share abandoned homesteads in the Northwest. They have a preliminary map of these farmsteads but no on the ground intelligence.

But is the well water drinkable? Is there a viable aquifer? Any roofs on the old barns out there still? Wild animals to tame or to shoot? With no gasoline, the pioneer agriculturists will toil on their hands and knees without something or someone to pull the plow.

Farm fences are not likely to have survived years of foreclosures, corporate risk tables and the GMO seed fights. While the infrastructure looms high on the ethics of the permaculture Tribes, fostering values that will create a better neighborhood than the ones smoldering in Sacramento and many other deserted towns are in the other vein.

* * * * * * *

“We need a planting and a harvest sharing ritual.”

“And a Permaculture Design Course.”

“And fix the roads and the windmills.”

“Should we create teams of experts that can visit each settlement and quickly fix one major thing?”

“How do we repair the dislocation and fallen love between brothers and sisters?”

* * * * * * *

How do these folk move forward without an empowering emotional ladder from their past? There are no web communities, no iPhones and few if any photos of grandma and grandpa on the porch. Perhaps the Convergence will bring an evolved DIY spirit with open arms from the farmers on their emo-map?

* * * * * * *

4573 people overwhelmed the organizers at the first annual New Farm Convergence in NorCal.

New Mythologists, Shadow Walkers, Moon-glow Pagans, Eco-Alchemists, Nerdy Permaculturists, and ever hopeful Transitionites were all there, including the loved but lost peeps from places like Carson, Davis and Seattle. Most danced with the hoops and tended buried pigs and waved wands at the festival.

The Convergence folks decided to take-on the following projects as a new regional community in Year 01:

1. Mobile Seed Sharing Library

2. Wind Mill Repair Squad to help get water and local power moving

3. Garden / Compost Design Workshop (quarterly)

* * * * * * *

Building the Story of Cascadia: New Tools for the Transition Workshop
Video & Hand-out from 2012 NWP Convergence by Willi Paul, newmythologist.com

* * * * * * *

Myth Lab #11

The Myth Lab #11 Process Model that follows includes discovering an Artifact and mythic imprinting. The goal is to integrate permaculture, transition, Nature and sustainability with the emerging values and struggles in the Chaos Age. Myth Lab is designed as an interactive, open source and iterative experience. One goal is clear: we need to build new values and myths to support new post-occupancy food and governance systems.

Here are some key ideas in the Myth Lab Process:

Mythos – The pattern of basic values and attitudes of a people characteristically transmitted through myths and the arts. What is the mythos of the Post-Chaos Era?

New Mythology – Is a call for new Nature-based, globally integrated stories without allegiance to any classic mythologies. New Mythology incorporates new symbols, alchemy and rituals with an eye on the future.

The Transition Movement includes new business exchange schemes where waste is used by another business; garden sharing that allows neighbors to re-use barren land. The movement encourages people to choose local food, including support for smart transit and sharing / barter.

Mythic Imprinting – Imprinting is defined as a two-way interaction with a selected Artifact that has generates synergistic meaning for both creators and the reader. This iterative and transmutative process is grounded in the initiation, journey and hero work from Joseph Campbell and is one way that neighborhood artifacts can help participants generate new songs, poems and myths.

8 Key Elements in the New Mythology include:

1. Localization – back to sustainability and community; self-sufficiency

2. Nature- Centric

3. Spiritual

4. Future-based

5. Universal themes(s) and message

6. Para-Normal in conflict or characters

7. Initiation, Journey and Hero

8. Permaculture & Transition: values and principles

Please enjoy all 52 New Myths.

* * * * * *

5 Step Process Model for Myth Lab # 11

1. Discover the Artifact
(Read the Paintings)

Barns
Hay
Horses and Buggies
Cats
Crops
Harvesting crops
Men working in fields
Harvesting Equipment
Wind Mill & Gear Shack
Farm House
Maple Sugar Shack and collection activities
Wood Fences
Trees + Forests
Blue Sky & Clouds
Seasons

2. Incorporate the Artifact

Rural Life
Pioneer Spirit
Seasons as Calendar ….
Old Ethics?
Land-based living
Neighbors in the Nuclear Family
Promises
Church
Nostalgia as Preparer
The Reservoir
Familiar
Rituals – chores, church, preparing for next season, picnics, school

New Sustainable Communities

Permaculture Ethics and Principles as New Re-Localizing Bonds & Codes

Seed Library – protecting Nature’s harvest

“Translation Back then Forward” - Can we “go back” and capture the lessons and technology and values from history?

3. Mythic Transmutation

Community as Hero

Initiation – back to the past for values and tools and into a changed future; the “convergence”
Community Transition

Nature as Land as Crops as Sacred?

Journey in the Post-Chaos Era

Disaster Planning - re-learning (Initiation), re-localizing

4. Create the New Myth

(see New Myth #52 - above)

5. Share New Myth and Journey

Storytelling, Social Media, Town Meetings, etc.

“The Coil Pattern and the Global Warming Meme” - Vision by Willi Paul, NewMythologist.com

* * * * * * *

I. Consider Two Definitions:

Global warming refers to an unequivocal and continuing rise in the average temperature of Earth's climate system. Since 1971, 90% of the warming has occurred in the oceans. It is extremely likely (95-100%) that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.

A meme is "an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture." A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices that can be transmitted from one mind to another. Memes spread through the behavior that they generate in their hosts. Memes that propagate less prolifically may become extinct, while others may survive, spread, and (for better or for worse) mutate.

II. Web of evolution of connected memes resulting in Global Warming Meme:

The Global Warming meme is a Global Meme – made of smaller events, protests and political shenanigans. Chaos in society has increased from 1950 to present as have the number of memes. While some Small Memes are more important than others, all are inter-connected – like the World Wide Web. As the graphic illustrates, memes can be film-based, political-based, government-based, business or grassroots-based memes.

Whether one small meme is more important in the development of the Global Warming Meme is debatable.

Please see the meme map attached (.pdf)

III. The Global Warming Meme Story:

Life Cycle of a Meme:

1. Inception - combination of science, commercial trends and spirit = community alchemy

2. Diffusion - memes are linked to habits and brands and are assimilated by communities

3. Morphing - a sort of social DNA mixing, changes occur and new memes are created from old ones

4. Integration – finally memes get “stuck” and become political cliques, song titles, or names for babies and Start-ups

IV. Discussion and Value of Memes

Memes are “disruptors “or early warnings of chaotic behavior. Of course, memes equally arise out of current chaos (war protests and the PEACE symbol). Memes are Small Data (re: Wilderness Act in 1964) that can combine to form Big Data (Global Warming Meme in 2014 and Peak Oil in 2018).

Memes are about specific events, but also about building overall awareness, challenging and integrating new values into the next Big Meme. Memes are evolutionary agents.

Memes are often the “trend” before the trends arise. Best and strongest memes embedded in cultural dialog. Memes could be experienced as archetypes. It is possible that memes contribute to our dreams and help to predict future memes, movements, more disruption and global chaos.

V. Future Memes:

1. Memes are the building blocks for new stories and myths.

2. The inception and diffusion patterns of memes should support the argument that they are predictors of future behaviors. Thoughts?

3. Are there any new memes “under the Sun?”

4. Will we survive the Chaos Era together?

Interview with New Mythologist Willi Paul by Jeremy Watts, foodforestdesignworks.com

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing a local hero, Willi Paul, a Permaculture/Sustainability enthusiast who is pioneering the new mythological landscape as we transition into a new era!

* * * * * * *

JW: The image of a forest that provides for us resonates deeply with me as an ancient (personal) symbol of health, abundance, and stability. Whether you look to the past and see Paleolithic hunter-gatherers or the Garden of Eden, it is an idea that spells sanctuary, home, comfort, in a familiar yet distant and alien way. I feel like we live with a barely-conscious feeling just beneath the surface, that everything our world is made of is so fragile and could very easily fall into disarray. In what ways are the Permaculture and Transition movements replacing that feeling with the hope of a future with more stable footing? Or do you see us as still being in the phase of raising consciousness of the problem itself?

WP: Permaculture needs to move on ALREADY! from its official ban on things spiritual in the PDC. We have too many permaculturists “practicing spirituality in the tool shed.” Integrating the arts and food sciences is already championed by other sectors. Planting crops along with a love for the forest must go hand in hand. With this synergy, respect for Nature can bolster hope. Please understand: permaculture and technology will never “save” us from ourselves.

In my view, raising our collective consciousness is a rich challenge that requires a new set of songs, stories and prayers – a new mythology on Earth. I am unclear what you mean by "… the Garden of Eden, it is an idea that spells sanctuary, home, comfort, in a familiar yet distant and alien way.”

Why can’t we be the new Garden?

JW: I was referring to our distant past with the Garden of Eden reference vs. Paleolithic proto-human images. In both stories, we see humans dwelling within the bosom of an all-nurturing food forest. But we CAN be the new garden! Let's bring this myth back! In fact we may have no choice but to return to it in the long run. And not just for our own sake. All forests are food forests; that is - food for someone! A single tree can provide a home and a meal for squirrels, vines, lichens, mosses, lizards, ferns, fungi, birds, insects, humans. Talking about food forestry has to include shifting from an anthropocentric perspective to a holistic, ecological one.

WP: Very well said. It is important to save virgin forests and to build new food forests now more than ever. Humans play a dominant role in both endeavors. Can permaculturists feed us and create homes for plants and animals? We will see.

JW: How do you see new stories emerging and becoming integrated into our cultural paradigm?

WP: From experiencing Nature primarily. With elders passing old songs down and participating in the collaborative construction of New Myths in schools, at dinner tables and travelling. New Myths will be written by humans for humans with the aid of Joseph Campbell.

Technology can only supply communication channels and protocols to bring the new stories to all in seconds. But social media and web sites cannot “listen and refine” the poems coming now. Will you data mine your heart?

JW: Word. The re-education of our species really has to begin with educating our children. Have you made any attempt to work with schools to bring nature-based narratives into the classroom?

WP: I have interviewed teachers and developed several formal study plans but my work is more focused on presenting subjects that teachers can incorporate into their process, like my work with new symbols sound alchemy in permaculture and transition.

JW: There are so many cartoons, games, et cetera that inundate children constantly. How can we compete with this and what efforts are have you seen or made to work with children's media producers to tell stories that point the way forward out of our mess, or at least tell a more complete and honest story? Or have you seen any good ones that are offering these things? I guess a few stories come to mind: Captain Planet, Avatar, Pacific Rim, Waterworld.

WP: Kids are my main focus and many of my eBooks are dedicated to them. Some mythologists think that the old super heroes are unique- that they are new mythological “heroes” but this only the supports the false value of many movie messages these days. This is a perfect example of how the classical myths are of diminished utility – as the planet crumbles and boils from radiation and killer weather. And Iron Man.

JW: I like your appropriation of urban iconography, aka graffiti. I can see how artifacts, such as the Tree of Life mural in San Diego could be powerful tools in recalibrating the common narrative. How did you come up with this story?

WP: Let’s get rid of the common narrative, eh? Where has it gotten us?

Using the Tree of Life Mural to produce a New Myth came flashed in an instant, like many of my ideas and visions. I suppose the image and the resulting process is rife with archetypes and supported by alchemy (a mixture of spirit and science?).

JW: Hopefully the nature-based narrative will soon replace the common one. Buckminster Fuller said "You cannot change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old one obsolete." I don't think we can get rid of it, but we can replace it by working within it. As the old Permaculture principle goes: "the problem is the solution."

WP: I find it interesting that the nature-based narrative was the one we had in ancient days, only to be replaced by the short-term resource depletion model by Nature destroying Capitalists! Certainty the “problem is the solution” is a clique in the permaculture world but many permies seem to want to start at the solutions now, assuming that we all understand the problems. Are we “fear or problem adverse?”

Ironically, I see solutions for the multitude of problems coming in from a globally (“top”) to locally (“bottom”). Meta models and data can be created and then customized for each community. Any “new model” will be need to be a local hybrid model to fix water shortages, climate change and species depletion, to name a few!

Is permaculture a ”new model for consciousness?” Not until a greater mass of humans signs on. The Transition Movement to far too undefined and under-represented as well to be an actionable model right now.

JW: Have you thought of (or accomplished) collecting these story/artifacts and publishing a book of them?

WP: I have 15 eBooks to date. The digital book is the best information delivery system I have for these condensations. I don’t see a coffee table version anytime soon!

JW: What are your new myths about and are they catching on?

WP: “Selling Like Hot Cakes, Man!” No really, I haven’t had time to check the read counts on them. I do refer to this work in new discussions and posts. Many could benefit from being turned into a video. That would help. Bottom-line: there is so much self-serving data on the web now that much of the good stuff gets marginalized. My New Myths and other content are tweeted each time with 3 accounts to over ~4000 followers. But, alas, I can never share my work to enough folks.

JW: What do you mean by sound alchemy?

WP: Sound Alchemy is an active mixing of media and messages that combines the voices of our spirits with digital channels. Sound Alchemy is an important “wax and crucible” for the New Mythology:

1. Localization – back to sustainability and community; self-sufficiency
2. Nature- Centric
3. Spiritual
4. Future-based
5. Universal themes(s) and message
6. Para-Normal in conflict or characters
7. Initiation, Journey and Hero
8. Permaculture & Transition: values and principles

* * * * * * *

Initiation Prayer for Permaculture – Sound Alchemy

Great Spirit

How can I practice permaculture each day?
How can I find work in the ethics and principles?

Great Spirit

How can we generate more discussion?
How we build community?

Great Spirit

How can permaculture play an active role in alt.politics?
How this force be more spiritual and ease the lies from Father’s alter?

Great Spirit

Where is permaculture?

* * * * * * *

Willi Paul's Bio -

Active in the sustainability, permaculture, transition, sacred Nature, new alchemy and mythology space since the launch of PlanetShifter.com Magazine on EarthDay 2009, Willi’s network now includes four web sites, a LinkedIn group, 3 tweeter accounts, a G+ site, multiple blog sites, and multiple list serves.

In 1996 Mr. Paul was instrumental in the design of the emerging online community space in his Master’s Thesis: “The Electronic Charrette..” He was active in many small town design visits with the Minnesota Design Team.

Mr. Paul has released 12 eBooks, 2140 + posts on PlanetShifter.com Magazine, and over 500 interviews with global leaders (site 1 & site 2). He has created 48 New Myths to date and has been interviewed over 25 times in blogs and journals.

Willi earned his permaculture design certification in August 2011 at the Urban Permaculture Institute, SF.

Please see his cutting-edge article at the Joseph Campbell Foundation and his pioneering videos on YouTube. His current focus is Myth Lab - a project that Willi presented at his third Northwest Permaculture Convergence in Portland, OR.

As a Senior Manager, Mr. Paul has worked for several Northern California sustainability, civil and software engineering firms. He now works part-time as a design / relocation consultant in the Bay Area.

Willi’s consulting work is at NewMythologist.com.

Contact -

PlanetShifter.com Magazine
openmythsource.com
communityalchemy.com

415-407-4688
newmythologist at gmail.com

@planetshifter @openmythsource
@newmythologist @Permaculturexch

“A Love for Creation” – Invite & Interview with Permaculturist Penny Livingston - Commonweal Garden, Bolinas, CA

by Willi Paul, Planetshifter.com Magazine

Penny Livingston presents: 
“Discover how permaculture design can play a central role in building strong communities.”
Register for her Evolver Talk 
Monday, March 31
5:00 p.m. PST

Program Description -

“Focusing on healthy solutions for people and the planet, permaculture is a method of design that builds both healthy ecosystems and supports human settlements. Permaculture has made a powerful global impact, finding deep resonance and acceptance in parts of the world in the direst condition. It is in alignment with the beliefs and practices of indigenous traditions, and a forward looking answer to the questions that consume the health of our planet and its inhabitants. There is a growing community committed to finding solutions to living and benefiting the earth, developing tools and skills to grow food, build homes, harvest water, and design human settlements. As a movement focused on positive solutions, permaculture practitioners are profoundly serving the world and providing solutions to world leaders.

Join us for an Evolver Talk with Penny Livingston, founder of the Regenerative Design Institute and one of the world's leading permaculture practitioners. In this live, interactive video session, you will be introduced to the design principles, methods and strategies of permaculture. Learn practical ways to bring the wisdom of permaculture into your own life, and into the life of your community -- the neighbors you engage with, the networks you are a part of, the organizations you participate in. This 90 minute session will give you the overview of what is commonly covered in a two-week permaculture course. You will be part of the discussion, able to ask your questions on camera, just like a Skype call. If you happen to miss it live, you can view a video recording at any time.”

* * * * * *

Interview with Penny by Willi -

Do you see a link between permaculture and transition movement? Can we integrate the two?

There is a direct link between the transition movement and permaculture. The transition concept was originally conceived as a design project for a PDC Rob Hopkins, a British permaculture teacher, was conducting in Kinsale Ireland. He replicated it with in Totnes England with Raven Grey, who now lives here in West Marin, and who also brought it to Cornwall. It’s important for us to remember our lineages. This is the “culture” part of permaculture.

Can you practice permaculture without access to land? Examples please?

Yes, There are many examples as permaculture is a design system, it’s not about gardening tips, as Bill Mollison would say. You can use permaculture design to design your business or livelihood. There are people doing business consulting using permaculture design. I used it to create stability for myself by having a number of different businesses, so when one was slow, I had others to fall back on. I did landscape design and construction, I had a bed and breakfast cottage, I was a weaver and sold woven items at craft fairs and stores; I did consulting and teaching. Also there have been some investment companies started by permaculturists to help people put their money where their mouth is, so to speak. Writers, telling the story about permaculture or film makers, artists and musicians all play a role in the permaculture world.

Stories, Songs, New Mythologies! Are you listening to folk / rock bands lauding the power and might of permaculture?

There are some folk musicians that are singing the story in a wonderful way. Diane Patterson comes to mind. Travis Knapp and Charlie McGee are great.

What are your organizational strategies when combating climate change?

My organizational strategy is to walk the talk, work in my community, manifest and be the example by creating a place people can come to experience a permacultural life directly. To have a place where people can experience eating healthy food in a non-toxic environment, utilizing permaculture practices and adaptive strategies for an unstable climate is very powerful. Even before it started raining our cisterns were full and we were good for the year here because we have been putting in water harvesting and storage systems at Commonweal Garden, using the methods we teach in our courses, for the last 10 years.

We have been working in our community for 25 years. We decided we wanted to start a group 20 years ago called “Friends of the Farmers”. The plan was to find about 2000 people in the community what would support local initiatives including businesses, farmers, and political issues relating to our sustainability in West Marin. When we had our first meeting it turned out everyone wanted to be a farmer so we started West Marin Growers Group which is now Marin Organic a fabulous advocacy and educational organization. Within West Marin Growers group we organized (inspired by one of our members, Janet Brown) the first community meal where everything (I mean everything) was produces in Marin. If the salt wasn’t produced in Marin, there was no salt in the meal. It was delicious and started the conversation around local food in our community.

West Marin Growers group started the first farmers market. When there was no media coverage we (my husband James Stark mainly) started the first radio station in West Marin. It’s now broadcasting on the web and has won some awards. This all has brought the community together to create our own Transition initiate even though our “official” Transition group isn’t very active at the moment. Perhaps it isn’t necessary here because we are all living it anyway. All of the emergency systems are on Solar.

We have a constructed wetland for the village sewage. We are surrounded by our food and have protected our water systems. Our village runs our own public utility. This has taken vision and community involvement for many years. Personally, I have been serving on an advisory board where we were giving away about $350,000 a year toward climate solutions. We have funded 350.org, Indigenous Environmental Network, Marin Permaculture, United Roots, Bay Localize, Black Mesa Water Coalition, Blue Climate Solutions, Marin Carbon Project to name just a few. It’s a very long list (see http://www.liafund.org).

We gave all the money away because we believe it’s more important to use it and make it available now rather than dole it out over time.

What is the status of teaching permaculture in public / private schools in NorCal?

It seems to be growing. We have school groups that come to our farm on a regular basis. High school kids especially are really lit up about it. There needs to be more.

In my experience, it is fair to say that a small cadre of teachers (“experts?”) have dominated the PDC scene. Do you see any danger in this?

All I know is that I’ve been doing my best to train a lot of teachers who are now teaching actively from Sonoma to Santa Cruz and beyond. I don’t believe there is such a thing as a permaculture “expert”. I’ve been called that and it makes me cringe. I teach 1 course a year in the US at our farm in Bolinas. It’s coming up May 30- June 14. Most of the courses I see offered in California are being taught by my students so I’m not sure what you mean by a “small cadre of teachers”. Anyone who wants to organize and teach a course can if they have a certificate and the skills.

Where is capitalism and permaculture headed at Commonweal Garden?

Wierd question. We’re a non-profit. Yes we need money because it costs us money to maintain this place and we want to keep it nice for people to come here to experience this living example. This is my home and I open it up to the public. I make a fraction of the money doing this compared to what I make when I consult or work on projects. I love this garden. It means more to me than money.

Do you agree that permaculture (and Transition!) could benefit from new, formalized celebrations, annual events and holidays?

Yes, everyone can... regardless if they are involved with permaculture or Transition.

Can you identify any “traditions” in the permaculture movement?

No, as permaculture is a design system and it shows up differently in every culture and community. Hopefully the traditions that are showing up are based within the local culture. I don’t see any specific traditions that cross cultural lines. Permaculture practices look very different everywhere I go.

Water; compost; in what ways does permaculture benefit from the labor of animals?

I’m not sure I understand. Animals are important for our compost if that’s what you mean. We have goats and chickens that contribute to that. They also help maintain the land by eating invasive plants. Goats LOVE poison hemlock and yes, we can drink the milk. Chickens eat bugs.

Permaculture training (PDC) is without a doubt a highly competitive marketplace. How do you market yourself and your organizations to get students?

Most of it is through word of mouth, and we use the internet.

Some see permaculture without a real chance to form a unified global movement, even calling it just ‘intellectual babble.’ Thoughts?

Don’t know about that. Haven’t heard that in my circles as we don’t talk about it we are too busy doing it.

Do we need more cob benches?

Are you being sarcastic? [Willi – No! ]

Are there issues in the permaculture listservs that do not belong in the mix?

I don’t belong to any of the list serves except the Bay Area ones so I can’t speak to that.

What are the current full-time (with benefits) jobs that are available in the permaculture sector now?

Most permaculture people I know are free lancers as they don’t want to be tied down to a “job”. There are some landscaping companies and design firm (permaculture IS about design) that are pretty successful and offer benefits.

Are online PDC course really valid experiences?

If done well, I think they can be. There needs to be a human presence, with opportunities to ask questions and get feedback. Just watching videos is not a PDC. Also a PDC requires a certificate and to do that the instructor needs to have some relationship with the student. Any online “PDC” that is not offering a certificate with feedback from the instructor is not a valid PDC.

Are you a spiritual being? If yes, how is this expressed in your class and consulting work?

Of course I am a spiritual being. There is a spiritual component in my life. It’s not something I speak about publicly. It dwells within my inner landscape. We lead people to connect deeply with nature and creation here at our garden. This leads to people having their own spiritual experiences. Permaculture design, if taught correctly, can lead to a profound growth in awareness to the natural world and love of creation. It is what makes permaculture so effective for restoration. One needs to understand and connect with what they are trying to restore. Some people may consider this spiritual.

Please critique the general idea of the “permaculture convergence.” Any recent positive or negative experiences to share?

I like the idea of people coming together for face time and meeting each other’s humanness. I like more networking and schmoozing rather than talking heads and structural presentations. That’s just me… Others may like it. I prefer to use the convergences to meet people. Much better than email ;)

Do permaculturists need to take seats in local City administrations to advance the movement?

I think that is a fantastic idea. I’m currently sitting on the Building Appeals Board for the County of Marin. Great way to get your voice heard and make policy changes.

How is permaculture addressing the hardest hit communities in this country? Any success stories?

It is helping to revitalize Oakland. The people who started Planting Justice, Ecoliteracy program for United Roots, Peoples Grocery and others have come through our programs and are doing great work in the East Bay. There is a great project Starhawk has been working on in Bayview Hunters Point in San Francisco. Detroit has some great things happening that is very hard to keep up with. The story is still unfolding. The success lies in the hearts of the people who are energized with hope and inspiration doing good work, whatever it is, in their communities and abroad.

Can you give us some recent examples of difficulties project teams had in satisfying the permaculture ethics and principles?

No.

* * * * * * *

Penny Livingston’s Bio –

Ms. Livingston is an internationally recognized as a prominent permaculture teacher, designer, and speaker. Penny has been teaching internationally and working professionally in the land management, regenerative design, and permaculture development field for 25 years and has extensive experience in all phases of ecologically sound design and construction as well as the use of natural non-toxic building materials. She specializes in site planning and the design of resource-rich landscapes integrating, rainwater collection, edible and medicinal planting, spring development, pond and water systems, habitat development and watershed restoration for homes, co-housing communities, businesses, and diverse yield perennial farms.

With her husband James Stark, and in collaboration with Commonweal — a cancer health research and retreat center — Penny co-manages Commonweal Garden, a 17-acre organic and certified salmon-safe farm in Bolinas, California. In addition, Penny and James are stewarding and working to restore 200 acres of land in Trinity County, California. Penny co-created the Ecological Design Program and its curriculum at the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, and she co-founded the West Marin Grower’s Group, the West Marin Farmer’s Market, and the Community Land Trust Association of Marin. Penny has also worked with the Marin County Community Development Agency and Planning Department to develop recommendations on sustainability for updating the Community Plan. Penny is a founding member of the Natural Building Colloquium, a national consortium of professional natural builders, creating innovations in straw bale, cob, timber frame, light clay, natural non-toxic interior finishes and other methods using natural and bio-regionally appropriate materials for construction.

Connections –
Penny Livingston
penny at regenerativedesign.org
Commonweal Garden
Regenerative Design Institute
PO Box 923
Bolinas, CA 94924

textsongs 
sound scapes for kids
eBook #15
willi paul
newmythologist.com

Download eBook #5

* * * * * * *

b o o k 
i n t r o

passports to the TV bored
text love-savvy

world fone generation
headphones blazing, encoded not

make it send it get one back
kid’s secret story screens

alchemic fingers
dice control

camouflaging memes as meaning
hail Mary initiation devices

killing old moons
spawning fresh ones

60 sec. dial ups
myth in clowns

digital pools
samples pictures tab text

signals vibes in the Transition
the 6th estate on fire

“Creating Local Holidays, Festivals, & New Traditions for the Transition Movement?” Video Interviews, Transition Tales 3 from Transition Palo Alto Sharing Expo, March 16, Common Ground, Palo Alto. By Willi Paul, NewMythologist.com

Transition is a world-wide movement to respond to resource depletion and climate change by building local resilience. Transitioners all over the world are working creatively to build a connected and vibrant future. The Spring Sharing Expo is a Transition Palo Alto quarterly event.

Many believe that the Transition Movement can benefit from a non-judgmental and open-ended discussion on how traditional and Transitional events and festivals support each other.

* * * * * * *

Interview Topics from the Sharing Expo –

1. What annual spring holidays do you celebrate?

2. How does Transition support that?

3. How can we improve the celebration of traditional holidays through Transition values and tools?

4. How does Transition create new holidays and celebrations?

Enjoy the transition tales 3 video interviews -

* * * * * * *

See Transition Tales 1 & 2 -

Transition Tales 1:
http://planetshifter.com/node/2043

Transition Tales 2:
http://www.planetshifter.com/node/2077

* * * * * * *

Willi Paul
New Mythologist & Transition Entrepreneur
newmythologist.com | PlanetShifter.com Magazine | openmythsource.com
@planetshifter @openmythsource @newmythologist
415-407-4688 | pscompub at gmail.com

 “Barn Dance Media Center” (BDMC). “Integrated Accelerator for the Permaculture & Transition Movement” - Vision by Willi Paul, NewMythologist.com

‘A barn dance is any kind of dance involving traditional or folk music with traditional dancing, occasionally held in a barn, but, these days, much more likely to be in any suitable building. The term “barn dance” is usually associated with family-oriented or community-oriented events, usually for people who do not normally dance. A barn dance can be a Ceilidh, with traditional Irish or Scottish dancing. However, a barn dance can also feature square dancing, Contra dancing, or any other kind of dancing, often with a live band and a Caller.’

Download the pdf version of Barn Dance!

* * * * * * *

Step One

[A] Review Site plan, second floor plan and elevation drawings

[B] Review Integrated Features List:

Second Floor Barn

• Three Main Stages: electronic sound; theatre / storytelling; graphic arts / video
• Audience participation (workshop / teaching / improve)
• Production engineering booth; IT / Broadband; Web production booth
• Arena Screens (4)
• Four bleacher sections

First Floor Barn

• Café
• Exhibit space
• Computer lab
• Indoor / Outdoor classroom
• Storage

On the Grounds

• Outdoor Concert Stage and seating
• Seed library
• Food Forest Research Lab
• Indoor / Outdoor classroom
• Aquaponics
• Tool Shed
• Composting

Step Two – Experience Three User Scenarios

Big Barn Scenario One -
A group of permie artists from Willits, CA have brought script ideas, stills and vision to make three video lesson plans for an online skills course. They camp-out in the audience pit and direct the production with the video, web techs and the house band. All is captured live on the four arena-sized screens. BDMC is integrated production house with organic produce from the food forest and outdoor concert space to play and teach live and raise funds for all.

Big Barn Scenario Two -
The Shady Transitionites, a small edgy theatre troupe from Palo Alto, come to the Barn to rehearse a short play about permaculture and steam the work live global audience. Post-show interviews requests abound and are shown and recorded on the screens. The play is then linked on the Barn Dance web site for additional views and discussion.

Big Barn Scenario Three –
The storytellers look around at the interior of the Barn and wonder if this is a NASA collaboration space. Sound dampening hangs from the rafters and huge screens on blinking ready. The work now involves shooting the readers live on video and transcribing their words for the web simultaneously. A “reading” becomes much more as web-based participation adds review and alt verbiage. A story becomes theatre and a live event from an old Barn in NorCal.

* * * * * * *

Step Three: Active Values @ Barn Dance Media Center

Permaculture Combined with Transition – a mandated synergy for change

Integrative – electronic sitars, soil, latte and satellites, we are the Mix

Localization – local energy, food, education and community NOW

New Alchemy – a constant playful interchange of structure and spontaneous; history and dreams

Open, Free and Entrepreneurial - building on everyone’s expertise and sharing it with reckless transparency

Multi-media – includes live local, web and streaming for global participation and instant feedback

Live Action Threatre – your spontaneousness bent is best

Nature - Barn Dance Media Center is the new “Human | Machine | Nature| Love Interface”

Journey – multiple people, multiple channels, new lessons

Initiation – change tools, staff support and creativity are available to everyone

New Myth Accelerator – consider the new symbols, songs and stories of permaculture; this is the stuff of the new mythology and the heroes to come

 “Spring Holidays & Transition Tales 3.” Transition Palo Alto’s Spring Sharing Expo, March 16, 1 – 3 pm at Common Ground, Palo Alto. Video Interviews Hosted by Willi Paul, NewMythologist.com

Mark your calendars for March 16. Transition Palo Alto’s Spring Sharing Expo is almost here. We'll have cookie decorating, bird language, mapmaking, Transition Tales 3 and more. This event is very kid-friendly, so bring your children!

What is Transition? It's a world-wide movement to respond to resource depletion and climate change by building local resilience. Transitioners all over the world are working creatively to build a connected and vibrant future.

Can we benefit from a non-judgmental and open-ended approach to the holidays? Transition Tales 3 will ask participants at the Expo several general questions to get rolling and then go from there!

Consider these questions for the Expo:

What annual spring holidays do you celebrate? How does Transition support these?

How can we improve the celebration of traditional holidays through Transition values and events?

What are some traditional and Transition stories and symbols in your favorite spring holidays?

Should Transition create new holidays and celebrations?

* * * * * * *

Catch the first two Transition Palo Alto Transition Tales videos yet?

Transition Tales 1 | Transition Tales 2

 

“A Hardy and Drought Tolerant People.” Interview with Taelor Monroe, Austin Permaculture Guild (TX) by Willi Paul, Planetshifter.com Magazine

“Permaculture is a set of design principles for anyone to use. These design principles are based on how nature operates. Nature has a highly efficient and flexible way of getting things done. By imitating nature’s approach and applying it to the design of human stuff (homes, buildings, products, organizations, landscapes, and so on), we can make things much better, AND quit wrecking the planet that we depend on for life. And we don’t have to sacrifice the economy to do it! Though this may sound like some utopian fantasy, too good to be true, it’s actually very realistic and practical. And you can participate!” - Austin Permaculture Guild Web Site

* * * * * * *

Interview with Taelor by Willi

What is localization in Austin? How do you teach this?

Austin is a very big city of 1 million+ people and I’m not sure what percentage of them are focused on true localization but it does feel to me like it is higher than in most cities. This mostly is centered around food. There is a pretty large local food movement centered around farmer’s markets and local farmers in general. This also includes CSAs and restaurants buying from local suppliers. The local movement here also focuses around locally owned businesses and room for the little guy. Because Austin is growing so quickly some of this seems to be falling away but is still mostly intact. In teaching I try to emphasize all of these points as well as being generally self-sufficient. This involves having a craft and doing as well as lots and lots of DIY.

Are your members combining commercial landscaping and permaculture principles? Examples?

Some overlap with commercial landscaping might be some design work with elements such as native plants and maybe drip irrigation. This work would relate to the permablitzes most likely. We use classic berm and swale systems with plants you would find when design a perennial food forest garden tailored for Central Texas.

What are the key lessons learned from your Austin EcoSchool Permablitz?

Key lessons learned are: always make a map of the garden you build. Make sure the place you are planting the garden wants to take care of it.

How many kids and teens are participating in the Guild’s work? Challenges?

Right now there are barely any kids and teens directly involved in the guild. I am currently working on projects with Eco Rise where I am helping teens to create a permaculture design for parts of their school property. I am going there for a meeting during their class tomorrow to meet the seniors in the class and talk about the design. This will be the first time I have directly been helping students outside of just building gardens for them.

At our Kealing Middle School Permablitz there were a few students there but we just directed them at tasks that needed to be done for helping to build the garden. It was not really anything of note particularly. Some were very interested in what we were doing and some weren’t.

How are you including the Latino community there? Any examples?

Most of our projects have involved lower income schools on the East Side. Our work is not race or gender specific. We like to include anyone who cares to learn and try to evenly distribute our efforts in all parts of the city. I think we have done an OK job at that but could try to involve specific classes of people better. If you have any suggestions for this I would be open to hearing them.

The school where I am helping tomorrow is on the East side (side of town with more minorities and lower income) and the class is the ESL class that I am coaching. I haven’t actually met or helped them yet so I can’t provide any feedback right now. :P

What does climate change look like in Central Texas? Do you folks have strategies to combat it?

This is kind of a hard question. As local permies we focus on every part of the ecosystem and just try to plant as many plants as possible while trying to inform as many people as possible how to make the least amount of impact as they can. Regenerative design, closed looped systems. So we do try to directly combat a lot of the causes of climate change but this is definitely not a focus. Most of the issues surrounding climate change are basically directly dissolved by everyone on the planet practicing permaculture, which is always our ultimate goal…

Some effects from climate change we’re seeing are varied seasons. We are already somewhat used to this in Texas though so this might be an easier place to adapt to it. We have very varied rain seasons-a lot of rain all at once for random times throughout the year and then no rain the rest of the time. We focus on hardy and drought tolerant plants to combat this.

One sticky point is the role of spirituality in permaculture? Any stories about this aspect?

I have many friends who are teachers, practitioners, and general promoters of permaculture who are very spiritual, myself included. I think that permaculture is whatever you make it. It is very adaptive in nature and its core values allow it to be whatever you want to use it for a lot of the time. I think it’s perfectly acceptable and important to incorporate certain spiritual aspects to permaculture without dogmatizing anyone or pushing anything on anyone. I don’t think it’s always necessary to do so though.

You should check out the Church of Awesome/Creation Flame. It is a local church and permaculture community. They hold meditation services once a week.

If you have no land, can you still do permaculture?

Of course! You can practice permaculture in every single part of your life constantly. You only need to follow the ethics and principles of course. Simple as that. I could write pages and pages about this but unfortunately I do not have the time! If you’re looking for something specific, alternative bed types such as wicking beds and container gardening are a good place to start. And of course leaving the least amount of impact possible concerning consumption as well as trying to rejuvenate the environment around you in any way you can. This leaves a lot of room to do a lot of things! (I have never owned my own land or property FYI)

From your web site: ”By imitating nature’s approach and applying it to the design of human stuff (homes, buildings, products, organizations, landscapes, and so on), we can make things much better….” Please share some examples from your classes?

The guild is a collection of multiple classes taught by multiple people. This particular quote is from Dani Slabaugh and that page is posted for her. This principle is inherent in permaculture design. One example is mimicking patterns in nature. For instance, when planting a garden, you can use the 7 layers of a food forest to plan what plants to put there. Or you can plant in diamonds or circles instead of rows. It is more efficient that way. There are no straight lines found in nature. Taking a Permaculture Design Course will help you answer a lot of these questions. I would also suggest reading Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway and Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual by Bill Mollison.

How much does fear drive your members and the vision there?

I honestly have no idea how much fear drives our members. I sure hope there is no fear involved with what anyone is doing. I understand the homesteading idea of bunkering down in case the government collapses. That is not our general driving force though. Permaculture tries not to focus on the problems but on the solutions. Therefore it is in no way fear driven, ever. If it is, one would be doing it wrong. We are all very informed and active people and understand the world around us, including its woes and terror. But, we make those things right by being so active in our community and building and bringing that community together through sustainable education and design.

* * * * * * *

Bio - Taelor Monroe handles publicity and admin for the Austin Permaculture Guild. Her home base is in San Marcos, TX where she started a Permaculture centered intentional community titled Sacred Roots. She organizes and does the promotion for Permaculture focused workshops, teach-ins, and workdays in the San Marcos and Austin area. She has studied Permaculture under Kirby Fry and Dick Pierce. Her top most goal is to inspire others through Permaculture to fully flower into the synergistic group energy of our Mother Earth.

Contact Info -

Taelor Monroe
Admin and Publicity Hub
Austin Permaculture Guild
214.448.6428
monroe.taelor at gmail.com