Hello to all likeminded folk discovering the joys and wonders of working WITH nature towards a very real, permanent and meaningful future. My wife and I live on a secluded, fertile smallholding (4 acres) in a remote area of Northern Greece. We've been here for seven years having started from scratch, camping under the stars while building a small, natural stone home (we gathered the stone and did the building work ourselves). Our beginnings were rather vague; knowing that we essentially wished to become self-sufficient. After various setbacks and much trial and error we realized that we basically lacked a watertight plan of operation. A system of guidlines that would allow all facets of living to be combined in one coherent plan. That's when we were literally thunderstruck by the concept of PERMACULTURE! It just makes so much sense. Taking the teachings of Mother Nature and using that knowledge to work with, and not against the powers of nature. At 55 years of age, I feel reborn, as though seeing the world for the very first time. Free from the restraints of traditional misguided agricultural practices of yesterday, I'm now able to look towards a new and promising future, a future we can proudly share with our chldren, and their children. Best Regards, Nigel Richards (Greece)
Sounds like you are hooked Nigel - there is no going back now. You can not unlearn this stuff so buckle in for a beautiful ride. Welcome to the forum.
Thank You so kindly for your warm welcome, purplepear. Unlearn? Are you kidding? I'm too busy trying to catch up with all you good folk who already have a headstart!
G'day Nigel. Welcome to the PRI Forum. Do you have a connection with the local community? If so, how's that coming along? I ask because by reading your last sentence I'm reminded of the old adage: 'it takes a village to raise a child'.
G'day ecodharmamark.. Thank You Sir for your kind welcome. My connection with the nearest local community (approximately 7kms) is that of a warmly received outsider. I've lived and worked as a Graphic Designer in Greece for 33 years, my wife being Greek. We are however, new to the area and our choice of living a good distance from the village is regarded as strange. People rarely 'live in nature' in this country. Our unconventional beginnings; that of moving onto our land before building, not planting our fruit trees in neat straight rows and providing our own well water and solar power, were all good cause for much head-scratching and head-shaking by the local population. But I feel they have now patiently accepted their 'wayward eccentrics' in all good faith (even if we are now planting gracefully curves of odd looking ledges on our gentle hillside). This typically reflects the tolerant and warm nature of Greek country folk I have met everywhere here. Indeed, during the very dire times facing these people at present, the resilience of their warm hospitality and positive attitude has endured.
So the Golden Rain political party that we have seen on the TV in Australia recently is the exception rather than the rule to Greek hospitality then? They didn't look very tolerant!
Sadly, political extremism is a worldwide phenomenon. A sign of the times. Historically, it usually rears its ugly head during times of crisis. Is there a danger? Too right there is! But assessing an entire nation of people by highlighting isolated incidents reported on TV can dangerously lead us to misguided conclusions. Personally, I am always highly skeptical of the motives of both politicians and the media; infact more often than not, they're one and the same. As an example; media from certain international quarters, would have us believe that the majority of Australians are racists bent on the extermination of Aborigines. I KNOW this to be untrue; I grew up in rural Western Australia, where living in hardworking farming communities taught me the deep admiration and respect I hold for fairplay-loving country people everywhere. But the danger is still there! Getting back to Permaculture, we must adopt the sound thinking of Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton. By example, we must apply a positive attitude to our work and hopefully; have a positive influence on the community. We should seek out and highlight the good that surrounds us - there are already too many people prepared to sit back and point out what is wrong. Will my humble efforts avail any good? I honestly can't say. But as we used to say in W.A.; "I'll give her a go, mate!"
Thank You Sir. A fundamental belief in the good within people, an open heart and mind, are strong allies for building upwards.
I'm with you on all those points. Don't let the extremists worry you too much. Athenian democracy has a very long history, and the nationalist socialists a very short one. I'm sure by far the majority of Greek people do not share their views, as was proven at the recent 2012 legislative election. Please drop the reference to Sir, Nigel. Please feel free to call me Markos, Mark, Friend or even Mate.
Thank You, I would be honoured to call you Markos and doubly so to refer to you as friend. It's so refreshing to hear enlightened views such as yours. You clearly possess an in-depth knowledge of democracy, its history and origins.
Now that's one heck of a long story if ever there was one. The short of it is, I fell in love with a Greek girl, then her beautiful country. But I'll readily admit, an Australian early morning, a syrup dew-covered orchard with the mingling scents of eucalyptus and ripening fruit, the willie-wagtail's call...outside my window, the dawn chorus of magnificent magpies...there; a golden whistler!...all of them haunt me, all of them cherrished memories of a land 'down under'. Of childhood adventures in the bush. Of catching 'Jewlgies' in the creek, 'taddies' in a puddle, 'bundy' fights in the sandpits, pet 'bobtails' and 'cockies' in the bedroom! Ahhh!
