Hello

[RichardM]

I'm not a permaculturalist I'm afraid, although I do have a wormfarm that I used keep to dispose of doggie and ferret doos, but nowadays, it's a bit hit and miss and they get by on veggie scraps - does that count?

I dabble in design of onsite wastewater management systems, I also work in Local Government as an Environmental Health Officer.

EDIT Oh...and I once built a mudbrick house. :-)

[ecodharmamark]

G'day Richard

Welcome to the PRI Forum.

That's OK, neither am I. I'm a social ecologist. But were are all friends here or, at the very least, we all try and remain friendly-ish.

Great! Some of my friends and former colleagues work in enviro health. I reckon you people have pretty tough job, from what I have witnessed while sharing the front counter with said former colleagues.

I've now got a friend and fellow student doing her PhD on 'composting'. Our conversations invariably always end up on the topic of shit.

Your input will be most welcome here. People do need to realise that shitting into the water table is a big no no. Sure, everyone claims that their own shit is 'clean'. But what about that of your guests???

Of course, I'm all for the complete reuse of our shit, but it must be done in such a manner that we don't kill ourselves, others, or the wider environment in the process. Sure, a lot of people claim that their set-up (cobbled together with bits of old tin, a couple of plastic buckets, and chewy) is '100% A1 enviro-friendly Mate'. And that might be true while they are there to maintain it. But what happen when the next landholder comes through? Does that knowledge get passed on? Does the new landholder take on board the knowledge, and keep the unit in operable condition? Maybe yes, maybe no. Nothing worse than living a little lower in the water table than your neighbour, and wondering what they are dropping into at their end.

Anyway, there's a bit of a rant for you, in support of your work.

Cheerio, Marko.

[purplepear]

Be sure to know Richard - that Permaculturists are not necessarily gardeners and we need people from many disciplines to produce planning for a future that cares for the earth and people.
A Permaculture Design Course is certainly a lot about perspectives and not as much about gardening as you may think - do a PDC and contribute friend.

[Lumbuck Thornton]

Hi Richard,

Are you still working in Local Government. EHO's are the closest they have to permaculture and over time they are gradually coming around to permaculture thinking in onsite wastewater design. Is there some way EHO's with a permaculture understanding could use this website to network and make more progress at the local, state and national level?

[eco4560]

Welcome Richard. Which bit of the lovely Apple Isle is home? I'm not really sure what an EHO does, but I have a better idea about what it might mean than what a social ecologist could possibly be! Anyway, Marko's right, we like all sorts around here.

Where was the mudbrick house and do you have photos? (I hope you had council approval..... ;-) )