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

[Curramore1]

Just a wee bit different in the amount of Government taxation I suggest. Diesel was 151 c/litre here today for 10000 litres home delivered.

[Pakanohida]

dont forget that a us gallon is smaller than an imperial gallon

Eco was dead on. $4.23 / 3.785 = 1.117569352708058 per liter.

[sammyjopeters]

This has been proven to be quite a beneficial thread - I didn't realise there was such a variety of contexts to take from!

I get that moving completely in one direction will undoubtedly be hard work. Anything you want to take all the way is.

I've not been on earth long (you could say) and already I'm fed up with the city. Everywhere I live is being swallowed up by dense housing, there's so many people that it's hard to find somewhere quiet - and I'm feeling increasingly caged-up chasing a sliver of sun on my tiny balcony.

(Before you say it! I've visited the local community garden, it's relatively new - but the people that run it seem to have a highly political agenda of constantly fighting the local council which I think is a waste of effort. They're more interested in talking in each other's houses about politics rather than getting outside and working!)

So I don't know, I feel really fed up with it all - and I think I want to take the plunge and get away before it gets worse (and as oil becomes more scarce, it will ONLY get worse I think)

I'm in an interesting situation at the moment - I have a student debt but no mortgage. I have enough income at the moment that I can get rid of the student debt in 6 months if I put my mind to it.
The downside is that I haven't entered the property market yet.
Not sure where to head from there - purchase an investment property and wait until I receive returns on it before I move out of the city - or scale back a purchase on a property I want to live on straight away.

I'm facing lots of risks but if I can successfully set up a lifestyle now then I have lots and lots of time to work on developing a really stable setup which could provide good returns in the future.

P.S - Naturally my parents think I'm nuts.
"What?! You don't want work a high-paying job in an office for 40 years?!"

[annette]

I'm hearing you Sammyjo. Lots of people feel the same way, including me. High paying job in an office but I could see buildings being built around me and felt I had to get out. Mobile phone towers going up everywhere around the building but people thought I was nuts leaving.

Personally I think the property market is going to fall, so if I didn't have a home I would be saving money like crazy and just waiting. A friend of mine left work, went up the coast and parked his caravan on someones acreage, out of the way so no one can see, set up a garden and does odd jobs for work. He is pretty self sufficient and now has no debts. It's ok for some others want security of property.

You're not alone in your thoughts.

cheers
Annette

[Michaelangelica]

Sheesh! That works out at $1.12 US per litre. That's cheaper than here!

remember 38.5 c/L excise tax + 10% GST

[sammyjopeters]

Personally I think the property market is going to fall, so if I didn't have a home I would be saving money like crazy and just waiting.

You're not alone in your thoughts.

Phew, Annette! Glad I'm not the only one thinking that.

Now I know what to do, I think I've just gotta knuckle down and get rid of my student debt. Then I can work on gathering savings to take action.

Until then, I think I need to quell the impulses to get out, keep the bigger picture in mind and utilise the community I have here for now to gather valuable info. Really, the fact I can have something survive on my own balcony, and resources like the internet (and you guys!) are the few things keeping me from going nuts at the moment.

... would this count as "First World Problems"?

Also, why are PDCs so crazy expensive?!

[eco4560]

Also, why are PDCs so crazy expensive?!

Because they are life changing and worth every cent.

http://permaculturesunshinecoast.org...n-certificate/ Tom charges $1200 for his here on the Sunshine Coast. Given that it's a 72 hours course that is only $17 an hour..... And that doesn't include preparation time, teaching resources, loss of income earning potential of farm during the course etc etc.... I doubt he's making much out of it! At the end of the day though he (and any other PDC teacher) deserves to have the opportunity to be able to practice and teach permaculture full time, and that means being able to charge a fee that enables that.

[annette]

... would this count as "First World Problems"?

Yes probably. lol.

[mischief]

Eco, when you put it like that, it isnt very expensive at all.
Might have to do one as well as one on cheese to lower my frustration levels on both counts.

[purplepear]

if you want to swum the ditch mischief - we do them both at Purple Pear and they are even less expensive - no frills weekend PDC $800 starts soon