a. Permaculture Pioneers

During 2003, when we realized there was a need for a collaborative node of the PC Academy in Spain, and also that there is (generally) a dire need to re-form the curriculum so that people don't just 'learn' to copy designs, but to actually think like designers ...

.. what I immediately set out to do was to interview more Permaculture Pioneers, and more formally. I had already got to know some personally by then and could see that they had a markedly different way of thinking and being, than the average permaculture designer.. and I wanted to understand what that was exactly.

These weren't just the 'oldies' in permaculture (who knew the history of the movement better than anyone and so could throw light on learned lessons so we won't repeat mistakes made) but also exceptionally good (original) designers ... because I wanted to know how they got that way.

These people had a special way of thinking & being, which made them pioneers & exceptional designers.

What I didn't know (& very much wanted to find out) is whether their permaculture course triggered something, taught them something or just confirmed for them what they were doing anyway.

These were the 10 questions I settled on:

1. Please tell us something about your background, PRE-Permaculture.
2. what inspired you towards PC; how you felt when you did your training; how did it fit in with existing models/training/knowledge etc.
3. how did the PC course/ training help you, as a pioneer?
4. what do YOU consider your main achievements to date, as a permaculture pioneer? Would you say these differ from what others think they are?
5. what was hard in working towards these achievements? what resources / ideas / people supported you, moved you on when you got stuck?
6. What does it take to be a “pioneer species” in permaculture?
7. what are your plans now & for the future?
8. As PermaCulture designers, what do you think we are doing well, what we could do better?
9. what is your vision is for the future of PC and the growth of our community? How would you like it to be, for you?
10. what do you see as the next steps towards that vision? Where are the critical issues, crucial leverage points, that you see? (only a couple! The most important ones)