Putting “open source” and “permaculture” together is a savvy combination, and in this case, it’s also really useful. Sophia Novack, a self-described permaculture geek, is currently leading a crowd-funding campaign to support the creation of Open Source Permaculture, an online resource and tool, which consists of a Q&A website and wiki, as well as a free Urban Permaculture Guide eBook.
Her vision is to create a comprehensive online public resource for anyone seeking information on sustainability for their home or community. The web site would have all the resources and support they need, just a click away.
As Novack wrote in an e-mail, she “believes that local, community-oriented solutions are crucial to creating a more sustainable, resilient culture.”
She has already been working on this project for two years by maintaining the Permaculture Media Blog and Permaculture Directory, which she describes as one of the web’s most comprehensive and free resources for Permaculture educational materials and course listings around the globe. The Permaculture Directory has a number of international events listed, which helps connect people to find courses, workshops and festivals.
What is Permaculture?
At its core permaculture has to do with sustainability, whether it be in agriculture or the urban environment. The Open Source Permaculture web site defines it as:
“Permaculture is a promising path to creating sustainable communities, founded on a system of ethics emphasizing the importance of shared values among people. The ethics embrace care for the Earth, care for the people, and sharing the excess. The gardening techniques draw from several other disciplines including natural and organic farming, agro-forestry, sustainable development, and applied ecology.”
Sustainability is for the Masses
The open-source part means that it is produced through a collaborative effort by peers, and the end product is available to the public at no cost:
“We believe that sustainability is for everyone. That’s why we’re creating Open Source Permaculture, a free online resource for anyone who wants to create a more sustainable world. Imagine having all the resources you need at your fingertips to enhance the sustainability of your home or land.”
Join the Crowd-Funding
If you would like to help fund the creation of Open Source Permaculture, go here.
Photo: Patricia Larenas, Urban Artichoke
