Methods

An Exercise: Patterns

Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruinsfan/3842082440/">SullySilly
Spiral Pattern photo by Sully Silly

Why are patterns important?

  • They are easy to remember.
  • They are portable and so can be used anywhere.
  • They are universal so they fit changing circumstances.
  • They are strong because they bind their elements together ('geodesic strength', tesselation).

Patterns can be physical, behavioural or structural. Other ideas: A pattern I use well: A pattern I would like to change: Some Permaculture patterns worth remembering:

An Exercise: What is Energy

Stove from Graham Bell

Most of us have heard at some time in our lives, E=mc². Some of us know that it’s the basis of Einstein's theory of special relativity. A lot fewer of us know what that means!  But you don’t need to. From a permaculture perspective the key point behind the theory is that matter can neither be created, nor destroyed.  And the same is true of energy.  Designing efficient systems is all about how we manage energy. There are three main kinds of energy we need to be concerned about:

A Book Review Exercise: "A Selection of Wise Words"

by Joel Rosenberg 

Context:  I've used this method with master level art & design & architecture students when running an intensive one week workshop called "Foraging and Gardening in the City" in Helsinki, Finland 2011-2013. This method can be used on a PDC too.

Duration: Part I. 30min. + Part II. 5min./student (12 students = 60min.) 

Description: Before the session the teacher selects a number of books that she/he thinks could be helpful for the students.

Introducing How to Teach Patterns with Kirsty

(Note: This session would be best to give early in a PDC. The session plan for this session can be found at the bottom under "Resources") 

Time needed:  Best as a one-hour session, possibly longer. It can be flexible to fit the time available. Introduce the topic of patterns to the class and state why it is important in Permaculture. Invite the group to step up to the square paper sheets (different sizes) and ask how many times they can fold in half. Keep going until you can’t go further. Ask if there are any common experiences?  

Introducing How to Teach Inputs & Outputs with Joe Atkinson

P108 in the Permaculture Teachers Guide has a full class plan for this exercise.

Time needed: Best as a one-hour session, possibly longer. It can be flexible to fit the time available.

This activity can sit in different sessions. This is usually one of the first sessions on a PDC. Good to use to introduce principles and systems in a non-threatening way.

Preparation – A large sheet of paper folded in half with a list of elements listed on the left hand and right hand side of the sheet. It is good to have cartoon pictures of the elements as well as the text.