[Pil-pc-oceania] Jim's permaculture

[Virginia Solomon]

Hi Pam,
I think perhaps you are misunderstanding what has happened with this 
Jim's training. It is not a case of ignoring APT. It is a case of APT 
not being available at the time and place it was needed as much as 
anything. The Colemans are not working against APT and accredited 
training in any sense (after all, Naomi was the first registrar of the 
APT-ATR), but when an opportunity presents itself, the best available 
design is done. It is very possible that Jim's and other such groups 
might in future be steered towards an accredited program, but in the 
mean time, the PDC is still the standard by which all else is judged. I 
agree that there are varying levels and qualities of PDC, but in the 
case of the Jim's people, they are not in the market for a full-scale 
Diploma or a long apprenticeship. A Cert III might have met their needs 
had one been available, but they would certainly have claimed RPL for as 
much as possible as they are running businesses. So it is quite possible 
that they would have ended up learning LESS of what we might want them 
to learn rather than MORE. As all good trainers do, Rick and Naomi are 
tailoring their training (in this case a PDC) to meet the needs of their 
clients, so much of the design of the course is being put towards 
"re-educating" the Jim's people in their thinking: showing them the 
differences between a conventional design and a permaculture design, as 
well as giving them as much practical application as possible. Some of 
these people are very skilled in the craft of landscaping, and with a 
bit of guidance and good will, they will make very good permaculturists. 
Why wouldn't they? They can see the sense of it, as can many people in 
the wider community, and they are keen to learn.

I think we in the permaculture movement are now much richer for having a 
suite of accredited courses available to add to the tried and tested 
PDC. APT is a case of having more than one element to perform each 
important function. We do need to work towards having more APT programs 
running around the country, but we also have to recognise that the level 
of beaurocratic work is far greater, precisely BECAUSE these are 
accredited programs which imply a reliable standard. This is good, but 
this is also time-consuming, and the process has to be completed. As yet 
there is no available program in the time frame and location required to 
meet the needs of this particular group. Let's hope that it is not too 
long before every need in the country can be met with a choice of 
programs: both APT and PDC. So yes, not instead of, but as well as... as 
you so APTly said!
:-)
Cheers
Virginia