[Pil-pc-oceania] National Permaculture Day

[Graeme George]

Janet, Penny

We need more discussion on this yet. It didn't get a fair hearing at  
APC9 because it was the last item on a very full program.

I thought the equinox had most support so far.

Attaching the event to anyone's birthday would project an image of a  
guru-led cult, which wouldn't help our credibility. I think that would  
be a big mistake.

Re the 1st of September option. This is a date on a calendar, not a  
change of season, relevant only to the four seasons of temperate  
northern hemisphere. It has no relevance here. In the Yarra Valley we  
recognise six seasons, with Early Spring starting with a warm spell in  
late July or early August. Late Spring starts here early to mid  
October, when it's time to start planting your corn and beans.   
Recognition of local seasonal changes will vary from region to region.  
White Australians recognise 2 seasons in the Top End -  the Wet and  
the Dry. I believe the aboriginal population traditionally recognises  
14 seasons.

The most planetary-constant events are the solstices and equinoxes.  
Aligning our celebratory day to the planetary rhythms would fit in  
with patterning concepts in Permaculture. Summer Solstice is not a  
good time as it's too close to Christmas. Winter Solstice is not a  
good time as it'd too cold in the temperate areas where most of the  
population lives.

That leaves the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes. In the Yarra Valley we  
already celebrate the Autumn Equinox with an Autumnfest and birthday  
celebration for our Organic Farmers Market, but this is a Saturday. It  
could however link-in with a weekend of celebration if the  
Permaculture Day were to be on the Sunday prior to the Equinox. We  
would certainly consider having some open properties on the Sunday if  
that were to be the agreed day.

The Spring Equinox is an appealing alternative. Our Autumnfests have  
become successful enough that some of our members have considered  
holding a Springfest as well. The format of this could be tailored to  
support a Pc Day on the Sunday closest to the Spring Equinox. So we  
could fit in with that date.

The problem with an equinox date is that they tend to be busy periods  
with lots of events happening, but that shouldn't rule them out as  
serious contenders for a Pc Day.

If we can determine when Permaculture One was published, and it  
happened to be a convenient date, that would be a milestone worth  
commemorating, as an alternative.


Regards

Graeme


On 01/04/2008, at 9:38 AM, Janet Millington wrote:
>
>   1. Re: National P-Day (kerry dawborn)
>   Looks like another good option.
> How do we all feel about 1st September?  The beginning of Spring in
> Australia.
>
> Also apologies to Lawrence and Steve when I got my wires crossed  
> between our
> selection of a day and their discussion of positivism and Chaordic
> Organisation which was a very interesting thread that I got involved  
> in at
> the same time.
>
> Lawrence is all for a National day and hoping we can come up with a  
> date
> that suits us all.
>
> So Equinox is gone.  Bill's birthday has some resistance.  How about  
> the
> first day of spring in Australia?  I like it a lot.  It is that good  
> time of
> year that many were looking to for garden showings and it is early  
> in the
> festival season.  What do you all think about this new runner?
> Janet
>