Driving home after two weeks at Zaytuna Farm attending the PDC course I had time to reflect, yet the world that I was seeing through the windows of my car was a very different world I had previously witnessed.

I passed through beautiful forests with depth and beauty, abundance and life and then the landscape began to change. Whereas previously I had seen expanses of rolling fields now I saw a landscape denuded of life and vitality, like a slow cancer spreading, barren and lifeless and then a glimmer of life … a deep valley where trees remained, fertile and alive harnessing water and brave strong weeds, standing tall trying to hold on in a barren landscape and protect that what they know.

Then I began to see in every valley, every slope, in every formation, patterns, and then where the swales would run along the defined contours of the land, where a dam could be formed to gather and hold the water. Where trees and plants would grow and flourish, a continuum of life, constantly changing and evolving. Where instead of the hilltop homes I saw sitting alone and separate from the earth, a home settled lower down the hill, nestled protected and becoming part of the eco cycle of the earth, collecting, utilising and then recycling to the earth below. I noticed the play of the mists that gathered over the trees, I felt the moist air yet where the ridgelines were bare there was only emptiness.

I pictured how the land could be teaming with life and abundance and I knew in that moment that the only time we have to act is now. The Tao te Ching speaks of "Tao becomes one, one becomes two, two becomes three and three becomes ten thousand. The action of one radiates outwards and touches many. Thank you Geoff for sharing your knowledge, wisdom and insight through your experiences, to allow us to see the world through permaculture eyes, a very beautiful world. 

It is now two weeks later, yes my life has changed (some interesting projects coming up despite some around me saying, halt...) One of the most wonderful things I am finding which is continuing to support me is the richness and diversity of all you permaculturists, where we have one precious purpose in common, this is the ultimate community, land care – people care.

 Thanks guys