Eyes Wide Open

Reflecting on the last two and a half years since I started this blog I came to the realization that it was time to follow what I have been writing about this whole time. Change. As you have seen, the blog previously known as Eyes Wide Open is now Canadian Liberty and Permaculture. The black background and white lettering has blossomed into a colourful backdrop with new fonts and a simple layout. This change is due to a new level in purpose and creativity. When I started the blog in october of 2011 I was going into it with an open mind, my eyes were open but I was still in the dark. Hense the appearance of the page. Through a natural process of succession I slowly began to climb up out of the darkness, a seed sprouting out of the soil, ready to soak in the suns life giving rays. The tree that would begin its life as that small seed has now grown, and is ready to blossom. My path now seems to have some definition, something that was lacking for a while. I will keep this post short, I just wanted to give you all an update or explanation for the changes. I will be pursuing a few interesting opportunities in the next year so keep in touch, you never know where this path may lead us!

The Three Ethics

To live a life of liberty and respect requires not only some principles, but also a firm set of ethics. Rules to live by, as they say. In permaculture our common goal is to build resilient systems that will provide for generations to come. We accomplish this by following three core ethics.
Care of the Earth
We really don't have anywhere else to go. If we continue on exploiting the earth without reparation we are doomed to the fate of Easter Island, the Anasazi or in more recent times, the American dust bowl. In our haste to grow onward and upward we have forgotten that our dear mother needs care and attention, as she provides all that we truly need. Act locally, think globally is a good phrase to explain this ethic. We apply our trade at home as individuals, but as a common worldly entity we accomplish outstanding feats. We care for the earth by consuming less, recycling more and conserving energy and resources through multifunctional designs. I would extend this ethic to the working animals of a permaculture system, from pollinators to pigs.
Care of People
We are all in this together. Every man, woman and child can make a difference if they put in the effort. It doesn't have to be much, a simple smile whilst opening a door for someone, a basket of fresh veggies from your garden to someone in need. Care comes in the form of compassion, respect, empathy and acceptance. When we take our own ego out of the equation we open ourselves up to a beautiful world. Each individual has that spark deep down inside, just waiting to ignite their true passion. Find your spark.
Return the Surplus
Also known as "Fair Share." When we obtain a yield, we often have more than we need. We need to give it back. This could mean sharing your extra food, volunteering with a local agency, setting up an unused part of your property for a community space or sharing your knowledge with those who want to learn. Sometimes this will be at your discretion, other times pure necessity (like an over abundance of zucchini). This can also mean planting extra food for your pollinators and pest control species. If we are going to plan a system of abundance, we also need to plan to give some of it away.
In closing...
Thank you all for joining me on this journey through the principles and ethics of permaculture. I am viewing this from the perspective of the student, my first PDC is starting soon. It is being filmed at Elisha's Spring Farm in West Virginia, the inaugural PermaEthos farm. I am excited to see what Josiah Wallingford, Jack Spirko and friends have in the works for this awesome project. I will be sharing some of my experiences with you on the blog as things progress.
Growing liberty and love,
Russ

Creatively Use and Respond to Change

Twelve principles, three ethics, one common goal. We all desire a way of living that improves our world environmentally, socially and economically, and leaves a lasting benefit for those who will follow in our footsteps. There is only one thing we must overcome as a society to realize this goal, and that is the fear of change. In order for the human race to endure we must embrace and use change to our advantage. There is no true constant in life, but we can improve our world in the short time we have.
Creatively Use and Respond to Change
Small changes happen in our lives daily, often going unnoticed until something spurs our attention towards it. Even in our routine based, institutionalized lives little things pop up, we usually call these things "curveballs". They seem to catch us offgaurd at the most akward times. These learning opportunities come and go, and we carry on.
I am not going to focus on these small things today, there's just to many variables to try to explain. Plus, I can only speak for myself and I do that alot on the blog as it is.
There is but one change we need to worry about as a species. Climate change.
Climate change is a threat to many and a possible benefit to some. There's a ton of variables here as well, but I believe there will be one common denominator in all of them and this denominator could vary well be the most crippling of them all. We have already seen the effects of this in some of the underdeveloped countries in Africa and the Middle East and there is no reason that once climate change starts to take its toll on the G8 that it won't make its mark closer to home.
War.
War will be the end all when resources are depleted to critical levels. Famine, disease, rape and murder. These atrocities are not far away. If we look through the history books we can only imagine how the game will unfold and if we continue to ignore the signs our future is bleak at best. Hold on though, we aren't at that stage yet, there is still hope for us. The writing is on the wall and it's time to get to work. Climate change is a call to action. So before we draw our weapons we shall gather in harmony and good will. Pick up the scythe, the hoe and the mattick. Harness the power of nature, become one with our world. Indeed we can use this threat to become stronger, we just need to get a little creative. Using these twelve principles and the three ethics we can create a world that is inclusive to all of mankind, upholding our responsibility as stewards of the land and repairing the damage of our wastefull past.

Molly

Today I am writing with a heavy heart as we grieve the loss of our dear family pet.
Molly was a beautiful black lab. She came to us about five years ago as a rescue. She was vivacious and a little haywire. She would run if let off leash, chase cars and even jump up on the drivers door if not caught in time. She loved deer and rabbits and would bound off through the woods in pursuit. Oddly though she was not much of a retriever, would rarely fetch a ball or stick. She was also not a great water dog, two traits that her breed is known for, she was none to keen. As the months went by Molly began to settle in to her new home, she became better behaved off leash, and would come when beckoned. She became a great companion to our other dog Milo, and the family was complete.
One summer day we were in the midst of demolishing the old kitchen in our home. Molly was not a fan of loud noises and decided she would exit through the open living room window, an eleven foot drop. I am certain she was also provoked by the deer grazing across the street. Amazingly she landed on her feet, but in doing so shattered many of the bones in her right front paw when it buckled under her weight. Molly had to be locked up in her kennel for four months as the bones healed, she would favour that paw for the rest of her life, but her spirit would stay strong until her last breath.
She was a running partner for my wife and daughter, a horse for my son and for me she was a true friend. She loved to play fight and was always gentle with kids. She was always up for a good snuggle, and made a great pillow on a cold winter night. She gave us her all and asked for nothing in return but two meals a day, clean water and a comfortable bed. When she layed at your feet you best rub her belly and scratch behind her ears, that was good enough to keep her content.
As far as we know Molly would have been turning eleven this summer. She started having mobility issues in the last couple of months, would tire quickly and struggled to make it up the stairs. She  could no longer make it through the night without peeing in the house. We just chalked it up to old age and thought nothing of it. Then she had a serious seizure on Saturday afternoon, followed by more in the evening and Sunday morning. I took her to the animal hospital on Monday. There she received some tests and she spent the day with the staff, who fell in love with her happy demeanor and caring eyes. The test came back positive for type 1 diabetes, a disease not uncommon among senior dogs, but when paired with seizures and crippling mobility issues treatment would cause no great improvement in quality of life. The heartbreaking decision to euthanize her was made by the family.
Though Molly was with us for a relatively short time her impact was profound. She was there when my son took his first steps and has followed him with a watchful eye ever since. She has stayed with my daughter through thick and thin, every evening at her bedside the two of them dreaming away in peace and harmony. She has been a constant in our lives that are filled with so many variables. It is hard to imagine our home without her. She will be missed.
If there is any lesson we can learn as a family from our friend Molly it is to cherish life and all of life's wonders. Take the time every day to smell the air, just breathe and be happy that you are alive. Love each other with all of your heart and never forget who your true friends are. I know we will never forget her.
Rest in peace pup. We love you.

Use Edges and Value the Marginal

When you study society today it seems that much focus is on trying to fit in and comply with certain rules and veiwpoints of how we should all live. You could say that it is centrally focused. Indeed the push is to get people living in more dense groups, reliant on centralized government and support systems to maintain the system. If you step outside the boundaries of this idea of civilization you will see a whole new way of doing things. A place where diversity is the rule, change is expected and keeping up with the newest wizz-bang gadgetry is not so important. When you learn to use edges and value the marginal you gain freedom and become more self sufficient.
Use Edges and Value the Marginal
An edge is a change in geographical features in the environment. It can also be a man made, such as a walking path or a structure. Whatever the case you will find the edge to be the most productive location to procure a yield. This yield may not present itself constantly, but it will show itself over time.
Just because an idea doesn't pan out the way we want it to does not mean we can't gain anything from it. We need to take lessons from our mistakes. Sometimes a tool or material belonging may hold more value than we think.
Spring is a great time to observe and interact with the edges around your home. When I walk around my property I notice many valuable features that we can benefit from. We have cleared about an acre for the location of the house and infrastructure needs such as driveway, septic field and utilities. Now that the land has renewed much of the foliage we stripped back we are beginning to reap the rewards of natures' regenerative properties. All along the forest edge we have a diverse berry selection. Wild strawberry, huckleberry, trailing blackberry, Himalaya blackberry, salmon berry, thimble berry, wild rose and wild cherry all flourish along this edge. Many of them are thorny vines that create a great natural security system, more or less a barbed wire fence that gives us great yields of luscious fruit, a home for wildlife and an attractant for pollinators that will also visit our cultivated fruit trees and other plants along their way. We also have some man made water ways on the property where fast growing red alders have staked their claim. A nitrogen fixer, red alder is also a good source of firewood and building material. It is also a great wood for mushroom cultivation and hugelculture.
The shoreline is another edge that proves abundant year round. On the east coast of Vancouver Island we are blessed with many different types of shore structure. Jagged rock cliffs, washed cobblestone beaches, gradually sloped beaches of mixed size stone, and the odd stretch of sand. Each one of these offer opportunities for forage and leisure. Divers often explore the rock cliffs for the diverse sea life that live in the cracks and hollows of the granite walls. Many delicacies can be harvested as well. Rock scallop, box crab, abalone, many species of cod and other fish use these edges for shelter. The cobblestone beaches often have beds of kelp nearby. Casting an artificial bait in between the beach and the kelp beds may just produce a silvery coho salmon. These beaches are also great for viewing aquatic mammals such as seals, otters and whales. When it comes to ocean aquaculture you will not find a much more productive shoreline than that of the southern Comox Valley. The gradually sloped mixed rock beaches are home to the world famous Fanny Bay Oyster. Mussels, scallop, geoduck and clams are all grown in this area. These are the beaches I grew up wandering and have proved to be a year round provider for food and recreation for my whole family. We also have a few beautiful sand beaches that offer up good swimming and skim boarding in the summer and storm watching in the winter. Nothing beats sitting around a campfire, feasting on a fresh assortment of seafood while the children splash and frolic in the summer sun. For me the shoreline is the greatest edge of all.

Sometimes things are not how we would like. How do you turn something of mediocrity to something of value? Using trade and barter could be a start. One mans' trash is another mans' treasure! Often an old tool just needs a little tlc to make it a valued addition to your collection. You may just be able to turn your ability to fix up old tools to a small business. In today's throw away world the art of tool sharpening and maintence is becoming a rare skill.
If you are experiencing low to moderate yields in an area of your garden it is a good indicator of your soil condition. In this case you can turn the marginal yields into a good learning experience as you improve the soil and gradually see a return of abundance. You may want to try incorperating some type of edge into that space and planting more diverse crops to see what grows best in that area. I have tried many different methods over the years and the least productive one of all is when you give up. A marginal yield is still better than no yield at all.

Use and Value Diversity

Variety is the spice of life. Imagine living in a monocultural society. A society were everyone wore the same uniform, drove the same car, worked the same hours and were taught the same lessons. Sounds boring eh? How long do you think it would take for a system like that to fail? Until somebody decided to wear a different shirt or paint their car a different colour? Now the people in charge would obviously want to suppress this individual in fear of him or her infecting others with this idea of diverting from the status quo. The problem for them is the change has already begun and the natural right to freedom is a force more powerful than they can defend. So they make a law against diversity.
Use and Value Diversity
That proposal doesn't sound fun at all! The things is this is exactly how modern agriculture works. The status quo will plant one strain of plant x. No other plants are allowed. Any plants that are shaped weird or slightly blemished are destroyed. When a few "weeds" show up they spray toxins to kill off the intruders. 
Then they pass a law that says everyone has to do it the same way.
Simply put I think their way sucks. When you put all your eggs in one basket you are asking for trouble. All it takes is one aggressive intruder and your whole system comes crashing to the ground. So we do things like companion planting, high intensity rotational grazing, agro forestry and unconventional building schemes. We push the boundaries of innovation. We stack functions. We fail better. If we get a 10% success rate that's ok. We would rather get a 10% yield on 12 different crops than a 10% yield on one. When we use diversity we automatically increase value. We create more robust varieties and more resilient design systems. When you walk around my yard you will notice something different. My lawn is mostly not grass. And the grasses that are there are different shades of green. Some are short and dark, others long and light. Weeds everywhere. If you watch me work in the yard you will often see me stop, crouch down and pick a few leaves then proceed to carry on, munching happily away on a quick snack. I have a great assortment of edible plants growing wild all over the property. Lance leaf plantain, dandelion, lambs quarters, pepper grass, dock, sorrel, chickweed and clover. Quite the salad bar indeed. Many of these plants are medicinal as well, extending their value far beyond a nutritional source, indeed the pharmacy is but a few steps out my front door. Possibly the best part is they are all either perenials or self seeding, so I have zero time invested in the propagation of theses plants, they are pest and disease tolerant and require no fertilizers. It's a huge bonus!
You can take this principle to the bank. Literally. When you invest or save money for your future you want it to grow. You also want it to be secure, but as with most systems, growth will not come without some risk attached to it. So you diversify. Instead of investing all of your money in stocks for instance, you invest small amounts of money in multiple areas. You split it up into stocks, bonds, mutual funds, precious metals (pysical not paper, if you don't hold it you don't own it) and a TFSA. This way if one or two of your investments take a hit you will not completely lose your shirt. The likelihood of a total collapse of the system is low. Even if fiat currency stopped tomorrow, you would still have that silver and gold stash to use as trade if needed. Precious metals have always held some value. It is the ultimate hedge against inflation or the devaluation of paper money.
As you can see diversity is a crucial tool in our kit. Use it and value it.

Use Small and Slow Solutions

Thank you for staying with me on this journey through the twelve principles of permaculture. I am not an expert on the subject, these musings and correlations are from a students' point of view. I believe in doing good things and spreading a message of peace and harmony is something I will never apologize for or regret. Even if only one of you adopts this lifestyle and begins to study permaculture this discussion is a success. Small change and slow solutions are the minor victories that add up to a greater goal.
Use Small Change and Slow Solutions
So you have discovered that the world is crumbling all around you. The economy is in shambles, the climate is rapidly changing, genetic modification and chemical agriculture have killed the soil and depleted the aquifers. The government continues to ignore the problems for fear of revolt. The status quo must forge ahead they say. Jobs are at stake. We can't, we can't, we can't.
If you have made it this far in our discussion of the principles you can probably see right through the problem, but you might be so overwhelmed by all the negativity that you just don't know where to start. Do not be discouraged.  Stop. Go for a walk in the woods, or take a trip to the shoreline of your closest waterway. Pause and reflect. Breathe deep. Deep down in your soul you will find your power. You are now connected.
This is your first small solution. Your attitude will change from one of fear and anger to one of love and action.
When we are faced with a problem we must turn the energy inward. The problem is the solution.
Let's say you hate your job. I think many of us can relate. We are in a situation where the job is necessary because we may have saddled ourselves with debt. We have tried to get out but it just isn't the right time. Maybe the problem isn't the job. Maybe the problem is us. If we have our heart set on a job in permaculture or sustainable living then we need to look first at our current job and see what small changes we can make in that position. If you are in an office maybe you can get together with some coworkers and approach the company on supporting a community garden project. You can teach a few coworkers about the work you are doing, share some of your produce among your coworkers, you may have a secondary income stream just waiting in the shadows. Permablitz your job.
The truth is this is going to take time. In a world of instant gratification it will be a hard sell. Our elevator speech is still a work in progress. Little by little, one seed at a time this movement will grow. Soon the fruits of our labour will be ready for harvest. Never give up. The revolution is you.

Integrate Rather than Segregate

Function stacking and polycultures are two examples of the eighth principle.  There are social implications as well. In todays consumerist economy it may seem difficult to implement integrated systems, however once put into practice these multi functional, inclusive designs can increase resilience and productivity even in times of low yield.
Integrate Rather Than Segregate
The smart phone is the epitome of a function stacking device. It is a library, a communication device, it can be used to document and share historical moments. You can use it to view landscapes and design systems with its gps capability. As a navigation tool it is extremely useful. Indeed the smart phone has become a valued permaculture tool.
We can use this principle in our home construction methods as well, creating closed loop systems that serve more than just the human occupants. In residential heating some fabulous innovation has taken place. We can easily integrate cooking with water and space heating, all the while reducing fuel consumption dramatically. Many cities all over the world are now realizing the need for better management of our water supply and distribution. We can function stack wastewater management with aquaculture through the use of aquaponics and biofiltration. Many of the most innovative systems are being developed by the permaculture community.
Integrating diversity in food crops can reduce or often eliminate problems associated with pests and diseases. A monocrop is incredibly fragile. If it suffers an infestation or blight it is doomed. The farmer is at a loss, his livelihood possibly at stake. By integrating diversity into the farm and allowing animals to work the landscape you increase the resiliency of the farm. If you lose one crop you still have multiple others to chose from, and you also have a protein source available if you are really stuck.
A community works in the same way. A diverse blend of individuals that each bring a different value to the whole. If one member suffers the others group around them to help them through their hardship. The whole community comes out of it stronger. If they were to segregate the individual during his time of weakness they are at risk of losing his value to the community.
By sharing these ideas with you I hope to the same. Grow a resilient community that cares for each other and the earth, so we can pass on a better world to our children.

Design From Patterns to Details

Biomimicry is nothing more than pattern recognition and emulation. We observe the vegetative layering of a forest and design a food generating perenial producer based on this pattern. The seventh principle, design from patterns to details teaches us how to implement all of the previous principles. If we have an idea or problem there is likely a natural pattern that we can copy when we act upon our idea.
Design from Patterns to Details
Natural patterns are everywhere. Some are visual, others are behavioral. Most are scalable to work in multiple design systems.
It is important first to recognize the patterns. Patterns come as shapes like the spiral of a weather system, snail shell, whirlpool or a snake coiled up in the sun. Anyone that has ever flown over British Columbia will recognize the wave patterns of the ocean soon transform into the wave patterns of the Coast, Selkirk and Rocky mountain ranges. These types of patterns are often the result of some type of energy being applied to matter.
Animals and people can also show recognizable patterns, typically shown in behavioral traits. The systematic crowing of a rooster, the daily routine of a worker, the way animals move through a landscape. So many patterns and we have not even gotten into deep conversation about plants. In the plant kindom patterns often show up as symbiotic relationships between species. We also see visual patterns such as the veining of a leaf, or the lung like capillaries of a root system and branches.
Once we have found a pattern we would like to emulate we can start to add our specific details to it. You can get really caught up in specifics, but you will soon realize that it is easier to go with the flow. No design in permaculture is concrete, change is a constant. As the localized patterns of climate change begin to take shape we will have to detail our systems to adapt.

Produce No Waste

Is it possible to throw something away?
Where is away?
Chances are if you live in a modern home you have some sort of curb side garbage service. You have become accustomed to throwing things away. Have you ever taken the time to consider where away is?
The truth is there is no away. The plague of consumerist items has transformed our landscape. Perhaps it is time we took a serious look at the sixth principle of permaculture.
Produce No Waste
Every natural system on earth is connected, and since we live on earth we to are part of the natural system. Our actions have a direct effect on our local environment, and in many cases on a much broader spectrum than we could ever imagine. In human society today we have really lost touch with the natural world and in fact take our own lives for granted.
Like many addictions consumerism is a tough habit to kick. A normalcy bias keeps people locked in a perpetual cycle of use and disposal. Some people have realized the insanity of it all and have begun to explore the long road of recovery. Chosing to recycle everything you can, composting your food scraps and as a last resort transporting your own waste to landfill and paying an on site tipping fee. When you take responsibility for your own waste you are on the right path. You may begin to explore ideas such as composting toilets and grey water recycling. If this sounds like you then congratulations, you are a member of the enlightenment. May you live a long and prosperous life as a steward to the land, sea and air that supports us all.
When we follow the principles a zero waste lifestyle becomes an attainable goal. Our energy sources are maximized and stored, renewable resources are cherished and used wisely, design flaws are valued as learning tools and rectified upon discovery. Indeed the only mistake in permaculture is not practicing the principles and ethics. Waste becomes a yield. All organics are composted and returned into the system (they never actually left the system, there is no away) and put to work building soil depth and fertility. Left over building materials are repurposed or bartered. Consumer items that are acquired are quality items, often purchased second hand and then passed on to future generations. You must trade convenience for resilience. This is in fact a small shift, we will discuss small change soon.
Our home is not a disposal site. We can never get back the lost habitat due to large scale waste systems. My local landfill site was once a pristine lake. Now it is a mountain, leaching toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the aquifer. My hope is that as more people learn the true cost of our actions this kind of damage can be avoided in the future.

Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services

A forest is a complete system. All of it's needs are met by organisms that live within the biological envelope. When we put this observation to work for us we realize that a harmonious existence is possible with the use of naturally occuring, regenerative inputs. When we understand how to properly use and value natural resources and services we reduce our footprint dramatically.
Use and Value Natural Resources and Services
The market is flooded with products and services with the 'eco' tag. Now I would love to call all this stuff a load of horse sh♡t but I can't because that horse manure has actual real value, unlike the plastic wrapped, over hyped garbage that they are shamelessly trying to push upon the unknowing masses. I can't even say the wool has been pulled over the eyes of the people, if it had they would realize how warm and comforting it was and they would stop buying cheap polyester textiles made by exploited children. Enough with the rant though, that's not why we are all here.
Segue to the fifth principle.
Horse manure, when composted makes the most beautiful soil amendment. Dark black and chocked full of massive earth worms anxious to get to work in your garden. We need not resort to chemicals. Ever. The best way to enrich your soil is simply add organic matter. Easy, regenerative and free.
I cannot mention renewables without speaking of trees. The most versatile plant in a permaculture system is a tree.
Food, shelter and water can all be obtained from trees. What else does a human need for survival? Oxygen you say? They got that one nailed too! If you can go plant a tree today.
A resilient community requires skilled craftspeople and artists to provide goods and services to it's inhabitants. You simply can not provide all of your needs yourself, nor should you. Humans are social animals and we require eachothers love and support for a long and bountiful life. Making use of local, sustainable services and valuing the people behind them is a key part of this principle. Make it a habit to visit your local farmers market. Try to source your lumber from a local, low impact sawmill.  Your local coffee house would love to have you. Read your hometown newspaper.
The bounty of renewables awaits you.

Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback

The earth has a balance point. Natural systems that at first glance seem healthy and vibrant are often suddenly stricken with an infestation of pests or diseases that have a changing effect on the plants and animals in the area. Typically the initial damage seems shocking and unfair, but after time the benefits of this check start to show. This is natures' way of self regulation. Often the feedback is not realized for sometime before and after the event, then a flurry of regeneration explodes to life.
Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback
The fourth principle is a deep one. Sometimes it can be very traumatic to the system or the people it involves, but everything will work out for the better after time.
Everybody has heard the phrase "too much of a good thing." This principle is the counter measure to that phrase. We want to place limits on our inputs and outputs. I will give you a couple of examples.
Chickens on pasture are fantastic. They aerate and boost soil fertility, control pests, make fine companions and produce a tremendous yield. Indeed one of the best additions to a permaculture design is chickens. However...
Chickens will destroy a landscape if improperly managed. They will bare the soil, over fertilize, attract unwanted pests and predators and cause conflict between you and your neighbors, or worse the department of making you sad.
We must apply limits, or set boundaries where the birds can be day to day and we need to accept the feedback of how the system responds to this management.
Another case of too much of a good thing can be money. I know, I know, I am not arguing the value of money as a barter item or whatever.  There is a place for currency, and there is indeed an implied necessity for most people on the planet to possess some kind of monetary yield.
Money, in the wrong hands can be terribly destructive.  The power of money can cause decent folk to do wrong and undecent folk to be martyrs. Even on a smaller scale it can be dangerous. What if you bought every plant in your design, never planting a single seed or grafting a single limb. What if you hired out for every project in your design? I would say you would be selling yourself short. You may have a beautiful, productive landscape but you would competely lack any spiritual connection to it. You have to remember energy always flows back to its original source. A little financial pinch can make you a much more productive human being.
Properly checked a permaculture system can be a robust ecosystem and you will avoid many problems that can and will arise out of the abundance.

Obtain a Yield

The third principle of permaculture is Obtain a Yield. We have discussed the importance of taking time to observe and interact with our surroundings. We realize the value of energy, spreading it out across our landscape and conserving for future needs. If you have already put these two principles into action then you are likely starting to see some positive change. The third principle can be applied in many ways. We can see yields in food crops, electricity, finances, habitat improvement etc.
Obtain a Yield
Often enough when we start building our dreams we can forget to stop and refuel. We push onward until we are exhausted, then resent ourselves when things are not moving along quick enough. This is why it is so important early on in your design to establish a means of obtaining a yield. Take something you are very good at and use that skill to create something of value that you can utilize early on in your system. This way you will be able to watch it grow as you are working on some of the tougher bits of your design. Watching something you created flourish will help keep you motivated and boost your confidence. I have a small garden bed that produces fresh greens almost year round, I can take some pride in it knowing that through observation and interaction I was able to realize a microclimate region. It helps show me that the practice works.
As your design begins to mature your yields will increase, both in diversity and value. The landscape will begin to care for itself in many ways and your work can be put to use elsewhere. This is perhaps a good time to reflect and share your experiences with budding permaculturists. I have found that sharing knowledge with people gives me a spiritual uplift. This is a type of yield you will experience in social permaculture. Even if you are just starting your journey, like myself, you can use these tools to help yourself and others obtain a yield of knowledge and community.
For many the yield is the end result, the main goal.  For us the yield is just a spoke in the wheel. I takes many more functions to create a sustainable model of living, one that is restorative and wholesome.

Catch and Store Energy

Energy comes in a myriad of forms. It can be suttle or explosive, calming or deadly. However much of society views energy as a one dimensional entity, believing that it only can be used for mechanical means. The truth is energy is in everything.
The second principle of permaculture is Catch and Store Energy. We use this principle in many ways in day to day life, often without even thinking about it. Our goal is to maximize this in all of our systems, creating redundancies to ensure a broad spectrum of energy storage for times of low production or crisis.
Catch and Store Energy
Water, wind, earth and fire. The four elements that sustain life. Each one can come in different forms and can have a multitude of effects, singular or combined, beneficial or destructive. Our main focus in this principle is how we can focus these energies and extend their benefit over a longer duration.
Water is life. It is the elixer of all existence on earth. We prefer if possible to catch water high on our landscape and slow it down, maximizing it's edge, allowing it to sink into the soil, storing it in the soil, ponds, swales, cisterns and rain barrels so we can share it back into the system. The goal is to create a surplus of water,  therefore recharging the aquifer and creating abundance downstream while controlling erosion of the soil.
Wind is often caught in turbines and stored in batteries. A sailboat catches wind for propulsion. We often overlook winds' effect on our landscape as it can help us in micro-climate location and creation. We can use wind to help naturally cool our homes in the summer by opening windows at appropriate times. Each site will have different ways to use wind to help build a resilient energy source.
Earth offers us many forms of energy as well and is naturally slow release. We are only begining to scratch the surface with thermal mass technology, soil building and geo thermal power. Fixing the soil should be top of the priority list here as it is critical in a successful ecosystem. A healthy soil environment will give you an abundant yeild, with little outside input.
Fire can be the sun, or a cozy woodstove. Either way we want to catch and store that energy. Solar passive homes, annualized solar inertia,  solar pv panels and battery banks. Solar power is all the rage and for good reason, it's free. Fire used to heat our homes can also be stored through efficient designs that stack functions. Rocket Mass Heaters are a burgeoning technology in the field of permaculture, incorporating thermal mass, efficient burning and beauty into the home.
There is no way I can cover all of the ways to catch and store energy in one short blog post, but I will let you in on a little secret. The best way to catch and store energy in your system is to simply plant trees. Trees turn all of the above elements into life. They store solar energy, hold back water on the landscape, use wind to create a strong fibrous backbone, a habitat for insects and animals and strengthen soil by dynamic accumulation of minerals and nitrogen fixation. Fruit trees take all of these elements and convert them into another energy source that we can catch and store.
Thanks for joining me on this look into the principles of permaculture, tomorrow we will discuss ways to Create a Yeild.