Financial Permaculture Chautaqua?

Tonight, Liora Adler, Andy Langford and Albert Bates gave a presentation on Transition Towns. Andy reviewed his estimates of what happens to the local economy each year in Lewis County as all the young people leave to go to college or work elsewhere. He estimated an annual loss to the economy of $8.5MM a year and then extrapolated what was happening to areas all around the world as the financial centers, corporations and large universities that feed them  “harvest” the best and the brightest. He explained how this brain drain was part of the inspiration for Liora and he to start GAIA University.  

Indeed, it is GAIA’s students and graduates that are making this conference possible. First and foremost, graduate Jennifer English, who is applying permaculture design with her husband Mathew, at the home they have built here in Hohenwald where Jennifer has founded the Center for Holistic Ecology. Jennifer has been the lead organizer for this event and her trailblazing is an inspiration to us all. Another leader in the sponsorship group is Greg Landau, who is the program coordinator at the Ecovillage Training Center and has been instrumental in bringing together networks of young, gifted permaculturists, technologists and film makers to participate, blog and document the event. 

Ethan Roland is a GAIA University Masters Associate who joins as one of the permaculturists leading the process design and facilitation. The audience is full of GAIA University students blogging the sessions and bringing the fresh perspective and energy of a new generation emerging solutions for the issues that communities are addressing at this critical time.

I find it fascinating to sit in groups and watch some of the most exciting ideas come from these students of system design who are newcomers to the areas of expertise.

I left before Albert started to speak. I am hoping I can catch him and Liora on the DVD as this entire presenation was one I very much wanted to see. Stephen Dinan of the Institute of Noetic Sciences had offered me an opportunity to report by teleseminar on the Financial Permaculture event to their network through Shift in Action. As always, a great conversation and insightful questions from the lively IONS participants.  

Susan Johann has served as the Financial Permaculture official photographer. It is great she is interested in what we are doing for her community because at her normal shoot prices, it would cost more than 100% of our registration revenues to have her here. She has been photographing the events, so we hope to start loading some of her incredible pictures up on the blog soon.

One part of our discussion was the instrumental role The Farm has played in Lewis County, Tennessee and in inspiring, attracting and bringing all these various networks together. Indeed, on Wednesday there will be a tour of the the Farm as so many participants have requested the opportunity to see the Farm and all the activities happening there.

Another question that one participant asked was whether or not this financial permaculture team might go on the road, perhaps like the chautaqua almost a century ago.

It is an intriguing idea. However, don’t wait for us to turn up where you are. We have work to do in Hohenwald, not to mention being prepared for our presentations to our local leaders tomorrow.

Grab some permaculturists, some local small business, farm and other leaders, some financial people and some spiritual leaders and whoever else you think should be in the mix and start inventing with us in a way that helps your community take advantage of the opportunities at the crossroads.

And blog what happens!