Wed. March 28, 6:30 pm, Greenfield Public Library Community Room (Back Door) - Free film - Free refreshments - Donations requested

What would the world look like and what would change if we ran our large systems—political and economic—according to permaculture ethics and principles?  How might permaculture principles and ethics apply in our own work?  In our own community?  These questions will be addressed by the film.

“This film by Donna Read and Starhawk shows

the many ways permaculture principles can be incorporated in our communities with concrete ideas that are exciting and attainable,” said Dorothy McIver, a Greenfield resident and member of Greening Greenfield.

“The goal of permaculture is more than sustainability,” adds Elise Schlaijker, another member of GGEC and the Greenfield Garden Club.  “ We work for abundance, regeneration and healing.  It shifts our thinking---from separation to connection, from isolation to interdependence.

Starhawk and Read believe that no one solution or technology can save us:  in fact, applying multiple approaches that serve to create beneficial relationships, whether in a garden, a building design, a community or organization mimicking the way nature works is the answer.  For example, Vietnam adopted permaculture as its core agricultural system and increased production over 15%.  Cuba turned to permaculture after the Soviet Union collapsed, taking with it their major oil supplies and markets, and now feeds its people with organic crops, many of which are grown in and around cities.

Permaculture is based on three basic ethics:  Care for the earth, Care for people, and Care for the future---sometimes framed as “return the surplus” or “limit consumption.”  Permaculture favors low-tech solutions that empower ordinary people to take responsibility for their own needs and impacts. It includes a worldwide network of skilled ecological designers, teachers, food growers, natural builders, environmental activists and visionaries.

The film will be followed by a discussion. GGEC uses ‘greening’ as the economic and inspirational engine to build a sustainable Greenfield so currant, and future generations can live in this beautiful valley. GGEC’s co-sponsor, Transition Town Greenfield (TTG) is a member of the vibrant international grassroots movement that seeks to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis.

This is the fourth film of a 5-film series that GGEC and TTG are offering between November and April that aims to address the question: How can we as a community prepare for and even celebrate the changes we need to make as we come to the end of cheap energy?

For more information call 773-7004.