SISKIYOU PERMACULTURE

This last April was the release date of Social Forestry, Tending the Land as People of Place. This book project reaches back over twenty years and includes posters developed by Siskiyou Permaculture for teaching our courses. The book has sold maybe 1500 copies so far and the promotion blitz has receded. Now we are back to Social Forestry on the ground. Becoming People of Place.

Hazel has read several books since the book bibliography was finalized. Most of this reading confirms and backs up the ideas of Social Forestry. Last year we reported on some of this reading in “Craeft, Basin, and Range” as our story line. This year Hazel has another iteration of collapse scenarios with the latest reading woven through. 

The promise of Social Forestry is culture tending as well as tending the wild. The transition through Power Down and Relocalization is bound to be messy. As we learn from the Wild some messiness is useful: disturbance regimes.

If anyone survives, they will have headed to the hills. Transition stewardship contracts and restoration camps get us almost there. Doing and supporting the work of Beaver, Salmon, and Fire is our only best chance. Dance the Hoop.

Right now, actually breaking free is barely imaginable. In the meanwhile, we can brush up our skills. Build our tool bundles. Score solid duds. Practice at gatherings. Dial in camp comfort. Bring the kids. Pitch in and do it together. 

Tending the Land means discovering and finding the priorities, the patterns, the whole ensemble of participants, and the doable sequence. Mapping, walking the ways, floating in gliders and dirigibles, we learn as the drainages become our intimates: we know better how to tend them tenderly.

So gather at our screens in this science fiction moment and dream the winter dream of green meadows full of Flutterbys. A warm drink is recommended.