Sustainable Vocations

"... I love that Permaculture approaches environmentalism in a way that values and promotes a holistic and mutually interdependent relationship with nature and with other people.  During these first few days at Sustainable Vocations, we have learned simple high impact ways to turn problems of environmental degradation into solutions ... which has inspired me to apply many of the Permaculture principles to my current passion for ameliorating urban environmental racism and injustice.

          The principles that stood out the most to me as someone who was born and raised in the intensely segregated city of Los Angeles were “Integrate Rather Than Segregate,” “Use and Value Diversity,” “Use Edges and Value the Marginal” and “Creatively use and Respond to Change” because they will be particularly useful guides for transforming cities and their suburbs into centers that are healthy both for the earth and for all of its inhabitants.

For me, environmentalism should increase a sense of community responsibility and strengthen a sense of place and connection to the natural environment as well as to one’s neighbors, which explains why I was ecstatic to see that all of the Permaculture principles are equally applicable to nature and to people.

Living at Quail Springs has opened my eyes to way of living that the city as a whole lacks – communal participation, respect for our surroundings, care of ourselves, of our friends and of our earth, awareness and interaction, and working with nature instead of expending an exorbitant amount of energy to work against it. It is a living example of the Permaculture I had imagined before arriving at Quail Springs, and I’m excited to take it back to my neighborhood in LA where I can start applying small and slow solutions that will prepare me for some awesome collaborations later in my career!" 

-  Christine, Sustainable Vocations, August 2009 class

"By the end of the first night, the contrast from home in suburban Goleta to Quail Springs really opened my eyes to a whole new way to think.  Things and events I had appreciated before now became a whole new experience.  Food is no longer just another meal—it is a process that begins from the land and ends on the table.  Rest time isn’t a nap—it is a time to reflect and observe.  I’ve begun to see that by becoming a functional part of nature, we can become one with the sustainable cycle nature works around.  Things as simple as a composting toilet that doesn’t use water, puts going to the bathroom in a whole new perspective.  Instead of an activity looked at as a “gross necessity” that we need to flush away, going to the bathroom provides nutrients to the land and may later be the foundation of a tree...

         Experiencing the benefits of a holistic lifestyle and comparing it to the waste culture in modern society really brings to question how I’ve lived my life up to this point.  It is a little discouraging sometimes to look back at life in the average American town and see how far away from the sustainable circle of nature society has drifted.  Can we ever change our thinking, our culture, and our way of life as a whole society?  I know I’d be willing to embrace the change, but how can we change everyone else’s perspective?  Sara Layman came to talk about the Green Ambassador’s program in Los Angeles and provided us with important tools to be a better leader and to show others the benefits of embracing a more holistic lifestyle.  I’m hoping to take back some of these ideas to “normal” life and being making changes around me.

          Quail Springs has been an inspiration for me.  Seeing how simple actions can create entirely new climates, landscapes, and life is truly humbling.  Life here is so deeply rewarding mentally, physically, and spiritually.  Between good food, beautiful souls, and embracing surroundings, this journey has really been one of the best and most eye-opening experiences in my life.  I’m really grateful for being in such a blessed place."

- Alex, Sustainable Vocations student, August 2009 class

"It all begins with something as simple as the ABCs—the Fundamentals of our language.  Using the first letter of our names, Alex, Billy, Christine, Christian, and Chris, we realized that like the ABCs, permaculture and our time in Quail Springs will provide us with the fundamentals of life and living closer to nature.

During the last five days our design group has experienced a number of different events that improved our Permacultural understanding.  We started out with many team building, leadership, and self-awareness activities, which helped us get acquainted with our peers and our new home at Quail Springs.  As we got to know each other and our new environment, we began to learn the integrated design science of Permaculture, with topics including ethics, principals, topography, animal husbandry, soil, water, cheese and bread making, and woodworking.  We have enjoyed:

Indigenous learning methods (cultural ecology, ancient anthropology)Sarah Laimon (Green Ambassadors)
Permaculture Intro (ethics/principals/topo/animals husbandry/crafts)Impressions (food, pond, hikes)"

- Alex, Billy, Christine, Sustainable Vocations students, August 2009 class