Thursday, October 1, 2009
Arroyo Grande, CA

I'd like to start this blog by apologizing for all the times I've been a fear-monger. I think there's a lot to be afraid of in this world but all my writing about the end of the world, peak everything, or my 'Wake the F#^% Up People Rants' hasn't really been serving me or anyone else for that matter.

This apology is the result of shooting an on-camera dialog yesterday with Larry Santoyo of EarthFlow Design Works. Larry did some nice work breaking open my head, and although I'll probably revert to ranting next week, it's important to recognize that getting down to work and reinventing a new wheel through optimism, is far more progressive and fruitful.

"Let us act now not out of fear for the future, but out of love for the things we love about the present..." - Larry Santoyo, Permaculture for Humanity.

Larry is a well known permaculturalist who spends most of his time breaking down people's preconceived notions about permaculture, the future of design, environmental activism, and most importantly, their preconceived notions and judgments about each other.

As I introduce myself and give him a bit of my background he bluntly says, 'too much information' which throws me a bit off balance, but then we're off again talking about the reality of where I am and what we're set to talk about. I open the dialog saying that one of the main reasons I'm there is to talk about true food security through permaculture design. He dives into the issue explaining that it's not really an issue. He describes how we live in a world of abundance and how growing food isn't really that hard, people have been doing it for thousands of years, and if people aren't doing it, nature is doing it on it's own anyways. Food is the easy part, it's getting over ourselves and our judgments of each other where new and improved approaches are most necessary.

He speaks to the fact that everything is rooted in the beautiful, brilliant, complex, yet simple designs of nature. All around the world people are compartmentalizing themselves into eco-activism, environmentalism, capitalism... or whatever other 'Ism' makes them feel secure enough to pass judgement on others and what simply IS. Larry talks about how we all need to move beyond these 'Isms' and actually start to dialog with each other and communicate and cross-pollinate. He sites examples of Eco-Activists going to cooperate board meetings with a bone through their nose and fighting for their cause. He outlines how one of the first laws of nature is mimicry and adaptation, and if the eco-activists truly want to be heard they should apply these lessons found within the nature they're trying to protect. If you want to get your point across, adapt and move away from opposition towards compassion, and simply take that bone out of your nose and maybe put on a suit. Instead what so often happens is people walk out of meetings having not been heard, but not caring because they feel they are right in their righteous stance of judgment.

A lot of people don't want to budge since they are so instilled in their 'Isms' that they themselves, like perhaps all of us, have lost the ability to adapt, listen, communicate, and exchange information to the benefit of all. What then happens is we find ourselves with our heels dug in fighting in opposition to the people with whom we share the world. We may we wearing Burkinstocks with dreadlocks.. but we're still pointing our finger downwards, and in that, how are we any better than those cruising around in their Mercedez Benz?

And that's one main theme for Larry throughout our dialog, "We have to dispel this myth that there are "Good Guys" and "Bad Guys"... there are only just guys!"

The same ideas apply to the natural world and human impacts on nature. Beef is the perfect example, there is a lot of harping on beef these days when in reality it's not all that bad. Sure it's negative to raise beef on an industrial scale in a desert landscape, but if you have an abundance of grass and graze sustainably beef is acutally good for both land and people. But again in our world of ISMs Beef = BAD... talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water for the sake of being right and righteous! And why is it so important to be right? Maybe because we all want to belong to an ISM for the sake of our egos and identities.. and because we're all just a little too afraid to find common ground, be vulnerable, communicate and grow towards a beautiful future.

Like many other times in throughout this journey Larry has served as a reminder that nothing is ever black and white, and fear, in whatever form it may take, is never the answer.

I'm grateful to Larry and his partner Kathryn for welcoming me into their home, feeding me wonderful food, and sharing in beautiful dialogs both on and off camera!

peace,
d