Who's changed the course of their life for permaculture?

[sammyjopeters]

So I've come to the conclusion that permaculture's really exciting and I'd like love to begin bringing it into my life.

I... I just don't know where to begin, there's so much.

So a bit of context:

I'm sort of early in my career (and in my life) so I think I've got a unique opportunity to go really *gung-ho* on the idea.

I've got a normal 9-5 job with a relatively small amount of free time.
I also have a balcony packed with plants, getting a very trivial amount of sunlight a day. I've had successes and failures over the last year I've been really passionately gardening so I'd say I haven't failed considering my conditions!

I want to join the local community garden and get a little plot, but at the moment I'm so busy with my job I can barely even visit to see what it's like!

My shelves are overflowing with books I'm slowly emassing about growing fruit, veg and herbs - and got a couple of self-sufficiency books I'm reading through right now.

I'm facing a big lifestyle overhaul (if I'm brave enough to go through with it) - but I've no idea what steps to take first.

Has anyone here taken the plunge and made being a permie a part of their lifestyle?
Anyone changed careers, sold up their old life?

I'm curious, tell me!

[gardenlen]

g'day sammy,

we changed our lifestyle sort of not for permaculture which is merely a tool like many other tools around to use what fits out of it and is needed on a personal spectrum. we changed a good long time ago before we knew of permaculture we used natural organic methods which is the main stay of permaculture. we changed because we saw that everyone should try and live within the resources of the planet not to rape the. we will soon be on our new block and start our gardens and fruit trees going ASAP.

len

[Pakanohida]

My wife and I straight up have after leaving a very profitable job in Redwood Shores, CA.; the very heart of Silicon Valley. I now have a life instead of a living for a life style.

We are also both MUCH healthier.

[purplepear]

It was a bit scary when Kate and I went full time on Purple Pear Farm. We have had to make some adjustments - we think hard before "going for coffee" sometimes. It has been the best thing as we now live our life well and content. Good luck.

[Grahame]

We packed up our ridiculously well-paid public service jobs in the big city, sold everything and moved our little family to the country. I 'work' a lot now and get paid very little, but the satisfaction sometimes very high and we need so little that sometimes it hardly seems to matter. We are still flush every now and then so we can buy a bottle of wine to enjoy. In many ways we are still 'in conversion' but there is a lot of joy to be had in the process.

[hardworkinghippy]

It's now over twenty years ago that I sold the wonderfully successful Management Consultancy firm I'd built up from scratch and became just me again. :-)

[Ludi]

I wish people would say what they do for a living if they have changed the course of their life for permaculture. That is, how do they pay the bills....

[annette]

Hey Ludi

Am thinking along the same lines. I just threw my job in and need to get off my bum. I've done some research and will start another thread about making money from permaculture.

[gardenlen]

ludi?

what importance what their exploits were, our only concerns are the paying due consideration to the planet using simple tool sensibly and with common sense. at the end of the day we all need some income maybe unless one is superbly fit and resourceful.

we get meager money and we make the most of it as health has a big demand on our budget. we feel our won reward will come from some other place.

len

[Ludi]

I don't ever expect to make a living or income to speak of, from permaculture, though I do hope to save money via permaculture. But I'm interested to see how other people make a living while practicing permaculture. Most people making money from permaculture seem to do it by giving courses or consulting. I think it may help permaculture spread more if we're willing to talk about how we make our living in or not in, the context of permaculture. I don't mind talking about this though if other people don't want to talk about it, obviously they are not obligated to. Maybe they are independently comfortable, retired, or otherwise have a way of paying the bills. I have a home business which is by no means permacultural; I make things for the entertainment industry. It annoys me that my way of making a living is wasteful and destructive. I'm hoping practicing permaculture will enable me to reduce my expenses so I can work less and therefore contribute less waste. Maybe other people don't want to talk about their way of making a living because it is also not permacultural but is still part of the industrial world most of us still live in. If this is offensive to people they need not respond.