He and I talked about this a lot not long before he died. I so wish I could still consult him as I continue my journey in gardening. His ethos and values need wide amplification. He's my first cousin and I couldn't be prouder!!! I wish I had shown this to my mom, Liz Hemenway and his aunt and the last of her generation and also an avid gardener, before she passed away last week. We are but dust in the wind. Dust that becomes fertile soil, though!
Thanks for all the positive feedback. I have a little more video at my website, but have been focusing more on writing (articles there too). I will have a new video out this summer, plus I'm working on a bunch of short ones. You've inspired me to do more of them.
Excellent and thought provoking. Wether you agree or disagree with his analysis is of no matter. It gives us a place to come together and discuss the issues we have today. What happens in your community when disaster strikes do you come together or do you fight for what is yours. What i have seen in times of stress is when people pull together they have a better chance of success in getting through the hard times. We look at the drought in Califorina and say well that is what happens when you live in a desert. What we should be doing is looking at a way to make the state more drought resistant on a local level. The Farmers need a design to use less water and more diversity in their crops. People in the cities need to be able supplement what they buy at the store in their local communities. These ideas should not be mandated by the government but handled by the individuals and the local community.
One of the best lecture presentations I have ever watched. The speaker keeps the same tone and pitch throughout, in a very controlled and sedate way. Information is beautifully graded and sequenced. Issues raised are extremely important, covering management, soil recovery, co-operation, village communities out of cities, the concept of food forests rather than "soil-destroying" mono cultural crops, giving back to the earth what we take from it, and the whole concept of self-sufficiency in our own small ways. He starts with Custer and his concluding thoughts are for the indigenous peoples destroyed by Europeans settlers, the original inhabitants of this land who knew how to live with nature. What a wonderful nice American is this speaker, of whom all can and should be proud. There is a growing army of such people beginning to speak out right across the world. And there are individuals and small groups involved in the new concept of permaculture and earth restoration, food forests, and local living, reducing our carbon footprint and foregoing some of the mindless ways in which consume and live. Great video for which many thanks.
Beautiful, Anzay Warid ~ Toby died yesterday. Your comments are true & perfect. Thank you! I am a Permaculturist, working in Europe now, on Maui the past ten years, & Globally, wherever I can bring clarity to what Permaculture can do for us all, to bring love through as food grows, energy is made, and fun is created in co-creating...& meeting our needs while leaving the world better than we found it, even if we had not trashed it. This is fun, permaculture videos on TH-cam, like "Greening The Desert" by Geoff Lawton can really bring people into being inspired to action. Aloha!
Claire Anderson Graham Greatly sorry to hear of Toby's passing, especially if he was the man who did the presentation which moved me so much. What was your connection with him? I dream of working somewhere like the Middle East to create awareness of the importance of reforestation and permaculture, but need someone like-minded to work with. I am 75, but still have some energy for things I believe in. I know about Geoff Lawton's work. We also have examples of untutored poor peasant farmers and individuals across the world who have spent their lives creating forests and woods in countries like China and India to help restore ecosystems and replenish water cycles.Maybe there is still hope. Thank you for connecting with your response here. Anzay Warid.
Claire, yes, I thought so. He was a good man and I wish I had met him. I have not worked in the fields of permaculture, but read on related issues and challenges, and watch all the documentaries on the subject and share them with my family and friends. I have written a great deal of poetry though in Urdu, on the subjects of environment, Darwinian evolution, deforestation and reforestation, eco-systems, over-population, religious extremism, to name a few, in order to raise awareness among those who speak Urdu as a mother tongue or second language. Best wishes.
Toby it was the writings of Daniel Quinn and others about hunter gatherer cultures that eventually brought me to permaculture as the only solution we have bar suicide. I love how you've brought the ideas of many of these thinkers. It really puts humanity and the problems into a cultural / civilisation perspective. Ive found many permaculture teachers have fragmented the problems such as peak oil, climate change and overpopulation. this includes the BIG picture - how we got here. Thanks so much.
As someone that already believes permaculture is the way forward perhaps my opinion is less interesting but I think the deprogramming and then reprogramming in this video is brilliant. I didn't find the critique of past/current methods overly agressive or patronising (as can be) and the amount of information packed into the presentation really made a strong case for it's place in society. Thanks for the video.
I like how Mr. Hemenway emphasizes the ecological importance of the transition from a forager to an agricultural society. For those who want to understand more about the historical dynamics behind those dynamics, and how the transition to an agricultural society has shaped the ecological and societal patterns on our planet up to the present day, I really recommend reading the book "Sapiens: a brief history of humankind" by historian Yuval Noah Harari. It's a fantastic read, and it should provide ample amounts of food for thought.
+Darius Stein Hi Darius, thank you so much for recommending the book you mention here, by Yuval Noah Harari, i will check into getting it. Greetings from Mexico! :)
Another fascinating talk Toby. Inspiring! Sometimes I have to fight the urge to flee our civilisation because of how disconnected our systems have become, so your talk rang true on many levels. Permaculture is my salvation - it's an approach that gives me the tools to enact positive change rather than focusing on the misdeeds of the bad guys.
Great talk! Nice to think that the role of humans is not necessarily to destroy ecological systems, that we have a chance to restore them and to become a part of them once again.
My favorite take away from this talk (that I've not seen in other presentations) is the extrapolations of "zones" from one's own parcel of land to the greater picture... Where zone 1 is your garden and zone 2 is your neighbourhood, etc. I myself am not legally permitted to own livestock in the city. Not even hens. But there are farmer's markets in my community who sell organic, free-range eggs. I can absolutely apply that to my modern, suburban way of life, and I believe my neighbors and friends can, too, without any cost to me or additional effort. I'm driving to the supermarket to supplement my meager garden's production, anyway - why not turn left instead of right, and go to the farmer's market instead of the Superstore? Excellent talk.
+raemckay Hi, your zoning laws may not permit farm livestock, not even chickens, maybe you could try rabbits or quail, either one of these are quiet and nobody would know you have 'em. just my two cents, take care and be love! :)
Great idea, Joe Serrano -- Permaculture is all about relationships, and this idea brings in the reality of human community pulsing with trust, honesty, good will and fun by sharing & supporting healthy needs being met, together! This is my fun, work and all my hobbies in one!
Claire Anderson Graham Now there's another COOL idea, bagging the rabbit manure and sell/trade it for something you don't have, and yeah once you've tried farm fresh organic eggs with the orange yolks its hard to go back to factory farm chicken eggs!
Claire Anderson Graham Yeah, doing just like Aaron in Tennessee, check out athatcher's youtube channel out, don't remember all his channel name, but he's a dark blonde with sky blue eyes!
Amazing video. The distinction between Horticulture and Agriculture was a revelation. Even after taking my PDC, I had never seen it the way Toby put it. Thank you so much. I have been looking at getting 'Gaia's Garden', now I must have it. I look forward to seeing more videos from you as well. Thank you so much. Do you ever give talks abroad? Toronto perhaps?
VERY illuminating! I firmly believe the time is long past for "civilized" mankind to change its thinking (and behavior) towards nature. From the appearance of things, we are dancing on the edge of the planet's ability to sustain us. That's a VERY dangerous place to be. THANK YOU!
Great video, thank you. I'm a great fan of the "save the world, but not civilization" one. Still in the middle of this one, but seems great thus far. On theories on the beginning of agriculture, James C. Scott's "The Art of Not Being Governed" is somewhat of an eye-opener. It posits that in the old days, concentration of manpower was power. Concentrating manpower needs lots of food, which leads to agriculture, because it is compact and legible - thus taxable...
Quite simply the best lecture doc I have seen in a long, long time, Thank you Toby, this is inspirational and will be shared widely. As for the negative end of times apocalyptic stuff some seem to have fervour for, grow up, wake up and stop being victims. get your forks and spades out, meet your neighbours and be the change, take some responsibility for your lives!
We love your talks, and we reference "Gaia's Garden" all the time. We have started the process of documentation now via the web and video and hope everyone can see the pop effect LIVE and in progress.
Thank you Toby, I thought I had a good understanding of Permaculture. However, this presentation covers the heritage aspect of “How-Did-We-Get-Here.” A great message for Sovereign people to learn the concept of “Temple Building” and its relationship with Earth Kinship. I really appreciate the Loaf Ward lesson, again thank you, awesome.
Had some really great" AHA MOMENTS" as Oprah calls them, thank you. I now get the difference between horticulture and farming. A food forest garden can feed your descendants or others for generations with little input. AWESOME.
Great information - thanks for sharing. Plan: eliminate debt, join CSA, grow as much as I can in my very small duplex side yard garden, work toward having multiple acres of land to develop a permaculture estate and spread the word.
The disconnect between thinking of ourselves as part of nature as opposed to 'man vs nature is spot on. Much of the rest of the 1st half of this talk is based on conjecture & speculation, albeit widely accepted by the 'experts'. Some may want to read 'The Agricultural Indian'. Not everyone has approached agriculture with the conquering mentality. (BTW, Obama is not 'boss'; he's a public servant, elected to office by the people to serve the people under the rule of law.)
THANK YOU, SIR. With this video you have planted the seeds of a new nation. You deserve a medal of honor for this exceptional contribution to society. Are there any GRANTS out there for this kind of building and farming? I can't wait to start my own sewage gardens! WOW!
I believe that the purpose of this video is to give some information and try to expand our knowledge. Well you was able to do that at least to me I never had chance to ask that question which system is better work long hours and try to protect multimillionaire companies or try to protect nature and healing Mother Earth and healing society and personal health and wealth. I get to learn such from this video than so many years on college and university. Thanks a lot for making this video.
What an Inspiring presentation. I wonder if I might ask, where can I find more information on building a septic system like the one you created on Eleuthera?
Very interesting talk and video.I seldom will watch anything beyond a TED talk time-span, but you had me riveted with your information and inspiration. I'm adding this video to my favorites in the category of permaculture solutions. Thank you for making this information freely available on the YT!
Thanks for the really great talk, will have to take a look at your site too! Definitely think it would be great to have some more information or a bit of a talk from Michael about his teaching philosophies and methods, how to teach in that kind of environment.
This was so awesome. 8 years later. As timely as ever. I believe more and more people are waking up and seeing the light. We have to go the new way. The old ones are getting more obsolete by the day.
Sir, you are amazing. I had no idea I was in for a philosophical lecture, maybe not what you intended either, you have changed my view of life especially farming.
Loved this video, I do not care about the scientific proof for this guy's propositions, even if events did not happen quite the way he describes them there is enough truth element in what he is saying for me to go along with his reasoning. I do hope that the solutions highlighted here are going to come round within a short period of time. Just the thought that there could be some food forests for human being to walk around -maybe not in my lifetime - is absolutely beautiful.
Lynda Jones If you want an example of a polycultural field system, look to India. The land is not very productive, harsh, rocky, although rivers give good silt (although the reasons why would be surprising), yet has extremely high yields. So much so that most people mistake India's land for very fertile soil. Or even the Amazonian rainforest, thin layer of soil can barely sustain simple plants, but supports a dense, many layered forest with a huge amount of diversity in a given square meter. When the trees get cut down, the poor soil can support maybe a year (lucky if you get 2 years) worth of crops, then nothing. It becomes a dust bowl because there is literally next to no soil in the first place.
Thank you Mr Hemenway ! This was a brillant speech, much informative, great glimpse of what it could be if only we took a little bit of action starting from around our houses. I'm writing from Italy, where there is not yes a diffused knowledge about Permaculture. And that's a shame, unfortunately, because it really really make sense, and a good one. I hope to see you in Italy one day. Just an idea...why not translating it, maybe just subtitles, in various languages ? Thank you. Thank you.
Like minds... I'm busy writing a book on this. I think there are a number of people globally waking up- they just need to know what to do to make their lives better.
thank you Toby. I think i am a minority in that it was this realization that brought me to permaculture, rather than the other way around. Daniel Quinns ishmael was the end of my quest to find a cause for the massive problems plaguing our culture and so i started with permaculture and designing a way out for myself, my family and the world.
It make total sense to me. It is actually very exciting - co-operating with and becoming one with ecology. But the people around me are so set in their ways, changing centuries of agriculture is taboo. I am in South Africa.
Thank you for the video, I had never even heard about permaculture before. But is horticulture possible to implement in high density places like in Asia?
Tracy, he said that happened 25,000 years ago. Unfortunately, due to electronic devices, we are losing focus and attention span. We can't even focus long enough to hear and process a full lecture.
All good stuff, but a bit long winded! For what its worth here's my take on Permaculture : " Use what nature provides and use it as nature would use it". If you have a garden like me and you want to grow vegetables make your soil better by using the sustainable organic mater that's delivered year on year by nature. I am composting grass, leaves and seaweed to improve the soil in my raised beds. I know its 'small potatoes' but hey, its a start. Just do your bit.
***** Wow! When permaculture goes massive and done large scale, like the vertical farms that will likely become common in major cities within 10 to 15 years. That's a long way off. In the mean time lets concentrate on the horizontal soil in our own gardens and give it some TLC. Hope I'm around to see if your vision comes true.
Home Grown Veg~ Thank you for your take on Permaculture. Here is the brief definition: Permaculture is design system for any size human home or community with the resilience & stability of an ecosystem. My take on your comment, if I may, is that you may have a limited perspective, and so your "take on it" may be incomplete, as Permaculture is not solely about soil or food, it is actually an all-encompassing beautiful guidance system aligned with Nature's strengths and turning any challenges and constraints into opportunities, creating a yield and maximizing mutually beneficial relationships between every element in the system, and that is 3 or 4 benefits that are mutually beneficial, so I hope that brings you deeper into the conversation and understanding, and I pray we are all here for the manifestation of Toby's hopeful vision and work. He died yesterday.
if you watched the entire video, you will overstand we are going to have to do alot more than that (or alot less). We need to begin how we can slowly merge from traditional agricultural practices into a more holistic approach that eliminates many other modalities that constitute the chaos within our ecosystem. And it appears agriculture is the major culprit. im vegan, but i would recommend meat if it was hunted and gathered by one's own means.
AWESOME talk, Mr. Hemenway's not just talkin', he's walkin' the TALK! lol,....another pagan, this one who worships Tonantzin(Honorable Earth Mother)! :)
Me too, me too, though I had an ear to the ground on this stuff since a child in a way. Grandpa, and his daughter, my mother. Add to that growing a couple acres of corn a couple times with my dad. :)
It is my opinion that you can merge technology with nature, to a degree, and create a system which can benefit both the human spirit for innovation while satisfying the ecological and environmental needs of the planet. Solar/Wind farms, compost management, Fukuoka agricultural techniques, rainwater collection and unique architecture styles, for example.
thank you for sharing. this really helped me see how a sustainable lifestyle can be realised.
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1) Fundamental Global change is about to Activate. With Freedom comes Personal Responsibility (Do no harm). Certain events are vital and necessary in order for Humanity to evolve. 2) ADVICE: The Earth has become a Construction Site with Humanity as the Architects/Builders with the Task of co-creating a new World that works for Everyone - be using new Technology. Use your Buying Power locally. Use this new wealth to aid this world, each other, & yourselves. Environment: Clean up the vast amount of Pollution in the Water, Land, & Atmosphere - what we eat & how we live must be redesigned by using different methods to be in Harmony with Nature. The key is to move toward abundance & joy. The new Governance of the People, by the People, for the People is to supply a grand plan for all of these. This plan requires your input and suggestions. Humanity is its own Savior. 3) PRICE CHANGE: After 1-2 months after NESARA's activation, the prices of goods & services will be reduced by 90% ($1.00 Price reduced to 10 cents) to erase Inflation; Salaries stay the same giving you extra spending power for 1 month. 1 Month after Goods & Services reduced prices, Salaries will be reduced by 90% matching the prices of Goods & Services. This will happen in multiple Countries. FUTURE COMMERCE: New Technology released by NESARA will create Natural Abundance rendering Money Obsoelete. (No Currency) Basic Needs are met for Free, and Luxuries (Art, Massage, etc.) are Bartered through an advanced Sophisticated, Computerized Barter System. 4) GUIDANCE: Take Full Personal Responsibility in the way we Think, Feel, Act, & Live with a Sustainable Lifestyle -> Permaculture (Natural Abundance of Nature). Ethic # 1) EARTH CARE: Nature Stewardship. All life forms are equal in intrinsic value, and need to be respected for the functions that they perform (Natural Fertilizer, repel Pests, etc.). Earth is one Eco-System, living in Harmony with Nature is the best way to care for all living things. Like having a Living Organic Diet: Eat only fresh Foods with Life Force such as Vegetables, Grains, Fruits, & Nuts - long healthy life. Ethic # 2) PEOPLE CARE: Community responsibility, cooperation, mutual respect. Begins with ourselves expanding to include our families, neighbors and wider communities. Self-reliance is focusing on non-material well-being, taking care of ourselves and others only producing & consuming necessary material resources. We empower ourselves by accepting personal responsibility for our lives & our world. "Many hands make light work." Fun to do a Task with Others. Ethic # 3) FAIR SHARE: Based on Natural Abundance of Food & Resources. Balance - take what you need (a natural limit to what one person can eat/take) & share the surplus with others. 5) (U.S. Constitution) PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS: Happiness is the experience of joy, contentment, and positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, successful, and worthwhile. The feeling of happiness is achieved by following one’s heart and doing what they love. A) Build a JOY BASED LIFE: (100% Voluntary) You Follow your Heart -> You use your unique, original natural Talent by You choosing & doing a Job you Love to do for the Joy of it. (Inner) JOY is our True State of Existence. Live in the NOW (the Present) in every moment. There are already People who Love being Teachers, Doctors, Engineers, Scientists, Gardeners, etc. B) NO FORCE INCENTIVE: (Service of Others, Cooperation) Each Person possesses unique, original natural Talents they are born with. Your natural Talents are to be used to find the joy you need to truly be in ecstasy. When you constantly use your natural talents to aid your society and sustain your world, you discover an inner joy. This maintains and enlivens you. You gladly join with others to form relationships that sustain each other. In service to each other we will remain free. This creates a strong, close Community. 6) SAYINGS: "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." - Steve Jobs. “Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose.” - Leonardo da Vinci. "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." - Confucius. “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” - Buckminster Fuller.
Permaculture is great for small communities. However, How would you apply the concepts of permaculture to a big city, such as New York City for example with that size and population? That is the most practical question to ask for long term environmental health.
Nice overall. The first 24 mins of social theory & anthropological commentary (conjecture) seemed thinly substantiated. Would like to see process specifics explained more fully w/ more & larger-scale case studies. If he really wants to displace agriculture, he needs to demonstrate scalability. (How much farming could be displaced given the # of people who WANT to do this?) Would've also been interested to hear the post-talk Q&A (though maybe the audience was all SAG members there in CA).
Towards 44:00 "Permaculture it begins with a set of ethics" - no thank You - and thank You for helping me realize what a disaster my involvement in this would be. I will pray the key people find harmlessly how they are pushing everything over the edge with their best intentions. HISTORY BEFORE FUTURE!
Agree, Excellent content info and presentation. But what does our heritage tell us about Sovereign people being TOLD that they are REQUIRED to do something?
![Primary Nutrients for Plants [PDC Preview]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JJNBsFxPEJ8/mqdefault.jpg)
Well... that was amazing. It's too bad that we have to go on without Toby. But he left us amazing teachings. Thanks to him and his family.
The best lecture on the history and philosophical aspects of agriculture I've ever heard! Great job! Wonderful!
He and I talked about this a lot not long before he died. I so wish I could still consult him as I continue my journey in gardening. His ethos and values need wide amplification. He's my first cousin and I couldn't be prouder!!! I wish I had shown this to my mom, Liz Hemenway and his aunt and the last of her generation and also an avid gardener, before she passed away last week. We are but dust in the wind. Dust that becomes fertile soil, though!
Thanks for all the positive feedback. I have a little more video at my website, but have been focusing more on writing (articles there too). I will have a new video out this summer, plus I'm working on a bunch of short ones. You've inspired me to do more of them.
Toby Hemenway Where can I find the curriculum you mentioned?
Excellent and thought provoking. Wether you agree or disagree with his analysis is of no matter. It gives us a place to come together and discuss the issues we have today. What happens in your community when disaster strikes do you come together or do you fight for what is yours. What i have seen in times of stress is when people pull together they have a better chance of success in getting through the hard times.
We look at the drought in Califorina and say well that is what happens when you live in a desert. What we should be doing is looking at a way to make the state more drought resistant on a local level. The Farmers need a design to use less water and more diversity in their crops. People in the cities need to be able supplement what they buy at the store in their local communities. These ideas should not be mandated by the government but handled by the individuals and the local community.
One of the best lecture presentations I have ever watched. The speaker keeps the same tone and pitch throughout, in a very controlled and sedate way. Information is beautifully graded and sequenced. Issues raised are extremely important, covering management, soil recovery, co-operation, village communities out of cities, the concept of food forests rather than "soil-destroying" mono cultural crops, giving back to the earth what we take from it, and the whole concept of self-sufficiency in our own small ways. He starts with Custer and his concluding thoughts are for the indigenous peoples destroyed by Europeans settlers, the original inhabitants of this land who knew how to live with nature. What a wonderful nice American is this speaker, of whom all can and should be proud. There is a growing army of such people beginning to speak out right across the world. And there are individuals and small groups involved in the new concept of permaculture and earth restoration, food forests, and local living, reducing our carbon footprint and foregoing some of the mindless ways in which consume and live. Great video for which many thanks.
Beautiful, Anzay Warid ~ Toby died yesterday. Your comments are true & perfect. Thank you! I am a Permaculturist, working in Europe now, on Maui the past ten years, & Globally, wherever I can bring clarity to what Permaculture can do for us all, to bring love through as food grows, energy is made, and fun is created in co-creating...& meeting our needs while leaving the world better than we found it, even if we had not trashed it. This is fun, permaculture videos on TH-cam, like "Greening The Desert" by Geoff Lawton can really bring people into being inspired to action. Aloha!
Claire Anderson Graham Greatly sorry to hear of Toby's passing, especially if he was the man who did the presentation which moved me so much. What was your connection with him? I dream of working somewhere like the Middle East to create awareness of the importance of reforestation and permaculture, but need someone like-minded to work with. I am 75, but still have some energy for things I believe in. I know about Geoff Lawton's work. We also have examples of untutored poor peasant farmers and individuals across the world who have spent their lives creating forests and woods in countries like China and India to help restore ecosystems and replenish water cycles.Maybe there is still hope. Thank you for connecting with your response here. Anzay Warid.
Anzay Warid Yes, that's him. A great loss, and a torch now in our hands, Anzay!
Claire, yes, I thought so. He was a good man and I wish I had met him. I have not worked in the fields of permaculture, but read on related issues and challenges, and watch all the documentaries on the subject and share them with my family and friends. I have written a great deal of poetry though in Urdu, on the subjects of environment, Darwinian evolution, deforestation and reforestation,
eco-systems, over-population, religious extremism, to name a few, in order to raise awareness among those who speak Urdu as a mother tongue or second language. Best wishes.
this video is pure power, it brings knowledge and hope for people
I've been watching all the permaculture videos I can find on TH-cam, and this is definitely one of the best lectures I've seen.
Godspeed Toby! You will be greatly missed! But your work will live on!
RIP Toby, a great communicator
Toby it was the writings of Daniel Quinn and others about hunter gatherer cultures that eventually brought me to permaculture as the only solution we have bar suicide. I love how you've brought the ideas of many of these thinkers. It really puts humanity and the problems into a cultural / civilisation perspective. Ive found many permaculture teachers have fragmented the problems such as peak oil, climate change and overpopulation. this includes the BIG picture - how we got here. Thanks so much.
Toby speaks so much sense and draws the entire loop of understanding as to why Permaculture is the way forward...a brilliant talk!
What an exquisite presenter you are Toby. I appreciate you and I am so sorry that we lost you so soon. 🙏🏽
As someone that already believes permaculture is the way forward perhaps my opinion is less interesting but I think the deprogramming and then reprogramming in this video is brilliant. I didn't find the critique of past/current methods overly agressive or patronising (as can be) and the amount of information packed into the presentation really made a strong case for it's place in society. Thanks for the video.
I like how Mr. Hemenway emphasizes the ecological importance of the transition from a forager to an agricultural society. For those who want to understand more about the historical dynamics behind those dynamics, and how the transition to an agricultural society has shaped the ecological and societal patterns on our planet up to the present day, I really recommend reading the book "Sapiens: a brief history of humankind" by historian Yuval Noah Harari. It's a fantastic read, and it should provide ample amounts of food for thought.
+Darius Stein Hi Darius, thank you so much for recommending the book you mention here, by Yuval Noah Harari, i will check into getting it. Greetings from Mexico! :)
Cheers Joe,
Hope you enjoy it ;)
Another fascinating talk Toby. Inspiring! Sometimes I have to fight the urge to flee our civilisation because of how disconnected our systems have become, so your talk rang true on many levels. Permaculture is my salvation - it's an approach that gives me the tools to enact positive change rather than focusing on the misdeeds of the bad guys.
Great talk! Nice to think that the role of humans is not necessarily to destroy ecological systems, that we have a chance to restore them and to become a part of them once again.
wow, I was expecting a permaculture manual and got so much more - understanding of power, religion, status through history and knowledge. Thank you
My favorite take away from this talk (that I've not seen in other presentations) is the extrapolations of "zones" from one's own parcel of land to the greater picture... Where zone 1 is your garden and zone 2 is your neighbourhood, etc. I myself am not legally permitted to own livestock in the city. Not even hens. But there are farmer's markets in my community who sell organic, free-range eggs. I can absolutely apply that to my modern, suburban way of life, and I believe my neighbors and friends can, too, without any cost to me or additional effort. I'm driving to the supermarket to supplement my meager garden's production, anyway - why not turn left instead of right, and go to the farmer's market instead of the Superstore? Excellent talk.
+raemckay Hi, your zoning laws may not permit farm livestock, not even chickens, maybe you could try rabbits or quail, either one of these are quiet and nobody would know you have 'em. just my two cents, take care and be love! :)
Rabbit manure is amazing. You can bag it and sell it or trade it with farmers for delicious eggs and greens, etc...just a thought!
Great idea, Joe Serrano -- Permaculture is all about relationships, and this idea brings in the reality of human community pulsing with trust, honesty, good will and fun by sharing & supporting healthy needs being met, together! This is my fun, work and all my hobbies in one!
Claire Anderson Graham Now there's another COOL idea, bagging the rabbit manure and sell/trade it for something you don't have, and yeah once you've tried farm fresh organic eggs with the orange yolks its hard to go back to factory farm chicken eggs!
Claire Anderson Graham Yeah, doing just like Aaron in Tennessee, check out athatcher's youtube channel out, don't remember all his channel name, but he's a dark blonde with sky blue eyes!
"From earth you came, and to earth you shall return" not just the body, but perhaps, civilization itself is now ready to return to the earth.
But d/ fs see plosing
i grew up in a food forest in the 1960's. it was mowed down to build suburbia. you are speaking of a subject close to my heart ! ~
Incredible video! I just started a permaculture design course and I feel deeply inspired by this.
Amazing video. The distinction between Horticulture and Agriculture was a revelation. Even after taking my PDC, I had never seen it the way Toby put it. Thank you so much. I have been looking at getting 'Gaia's Garden', now I must have it. I look forward to seeing more videos from you as well. Thank you so much. Do you ever give talks abroad? Toronto perhaps?
VERY illuminating! I firmly believe the time is long past for "civilized" mankind to change its thinking (and behavior) towards nature. From the appearance of things, we are dancing on the edge of the planet's ability to sustain us. That's a VERY dangerous place to be. THANK YOU!
Such gratitude for the gift Toby so beautifully shared with this world. He offered brilliant perspective & brilliant solutions.
"Bewildered"
Great video, thank you. I'm a great fan of the "save the world, but not civilization" one. Still in the middle of this one, but seems great thus far.
On theories on the beginning of agriculture, James C. Scott's "The Art of Not Being Governed" is somewhat of an eye-opener. It posits that in the old days, concentration of manpower was power. Concentrating manpower needs lots of food, which leads to agriculture, because it is compact and legible - thus taxable...
Quite simply the best lecture doc I have seen in a long, long time, Thank you Toby, this is inspirational and will be shared widely. As for the negative end of times apocalyptic stuff some seem to have fervour for, grow up, wake up and stop being victims. get your forks and spades out, meet your neighbours and be the change, take some responsibility for your lives!
Great content, very enlightening, and so well delivered. Thanks Toby.
We love your talks, and we reference "Gaia's Garden" all the time. We have started the process of documentation now via the web and video and hope everyone can see the pop effect LIVE and in progress.
This really helped me understand where all projects that people are undertaking fit. Wonderful to see the permaculture overview at the end ...
You must have been observing the world with the same eyes and ears that I use. You my wise man have spoken the truth.
Thank you Toby, I thought I had a good understanding of Permaculture. However, this presentation covers the heritage aspect of “How-Did-We-Get-Here.” A great message for Sovereign people to learn the concept of “Temple Building” and its relationship with Earth Kinship. I really appreciate the Loaf Ward lesson, again thank you, awesome.
Great presentation Toby. Congratulations and thank you. I hope many people around the world will watch it.
I'm very happy to see that some people still are willing to understand instead of jus being biased and venting their opinion! good job!
Had some really great" AHA MOMENTS" as Oprah calls them, thank you. I now get the difference between horticulture and farming. A food forest garden can feed your descendants or others for generations with little input. AWESOME.
Great information - thanks for sharing. Plan: eliminate debt, join CSA, grow as much as I can in my very small duplex side yard garden, work toward having multiple acres of land to develop a permaculture estate and spread the word.
The Applied Education in the garden is Brilliant ! The whole concept IS !
The disconnect between thinking of ourselves as part of nature as opposed to 'man vs nature is spot on. Much of the rest of the 1st half of this talk is based on conjecture & speculation, albeit widely accepted by the 'experts'. Some may want to read 'The Agricultural Indian'. Not everyone has approached agriculture with the conquering mentality. (BTW, Obama is not 'boss'; he's a public servant, elected to office by the people to serve the people under the rule of law.)
Toby, you've designed this talk very well. :-) I really enjoyed the different examples, both in the positive and the negative.
I'm really glad that I watched all of this. Thanks, Mr. Hemenway!
What an amazing talk. Sad to learn you've passed. I will be citing this in my grad school policy paper today. Thank you.
I've watched this twice now in the last few days... just amazing! Thank you for sharing!
THANK YOU, SIR.
With this video you have planted the seeds of a new nation. You deserve a medal of honor for this exceptional contribution to society. Are there any GRANTS out there for this kind of building and farming?
I can't wait to start my own sewage gardens! WOW!
I believe that the purpose of this video is to give some information and try to expand our knowledge.
Well you was able to do that at least to me I never had chance to ask that question which system is better work long hours and try to protect multimillionaire companies or try to protect nature and healing Mother Earth and healing society and personal health and wealth.
I get to learn such from this video than so many years on college and university. Thanks a lot for making this video.
What an Inspiring presentation. I wonder if I might ask, where can I find more information on building a septic system like the one you created on Eleuthera?
Very interesting talk and video.I seldom will watch anything beyond a TED talk time-span, but you had me riveted with your information and inspiration. I'm adding this video to my favorites in the category of permaculture solutions. Thank you for making this information freely available on the YT!
Thanks for the really great talk, will have to take a look at your site too! Definitely think it would be great to have some more information or a bit of a talk from Michael about his teaching philosophies and methods, how to teach in that kind of environment.
Toby Hemenway -Thank you for this video but why only 1 video- I want to hear more about what you want to say.
This was so awesome.
8 years later. As timely as ever.
I believe more and more people are waking up and seeing the light. We have to go the new way.
The old ones are getting more obsolete by the day.
Thank you for this awesome video. I was wondering do you have any how to videos about urban black water treatment systems?
Sir, you are amazing. I had no idea I was in for a philosophical lecture, maybe not what you intended either, you have changed my view of life especially farming.
Loved this video, I do not care about the scientific proof for this guy's propositions, even if events did not happen quite the way he describes them there is enough truth element in what he is saying for me to go along with his reasoning. I do hope that the solutions highlighted here are going to come round within a short period of time. Just the thought that there could be some food forests for human being to walk around -maybe not in my lifetime - is absolutely beautiful.
There are 2 - 1 in the UK, 1 in the US. Google them : ) And they bear up to 7 times as much food yield per square inch than a monoculture field.
Lynda Jones If you want an example of a polycultural field system, look to India. The land is not very productive, harsh, rocky, although rivers give good silt (although the reasons why would be surprising), yet has extremely high yields. So much so that most people mistake India's land for very fertile soil. Or even the Amazonian rainforest, thin layer of soil can barely sustain simple plants, but supports a dense, many layered forest with a huge amount of diversity in a given square meter. When the trees get cut down, the poor soil can support maybe a year (lucky if you get 2 years) worth of crops, then nothing. It becomes a dust bowl because there is literally next to no soil in the first place.
Thank you Mr Hemenway ! This was a brillant speech, much informative, great glimpse of what it could be if only we took a little bit of action starting from around our houses.
I'm writing from Italy, where there is not yes a diffused knowledge about Permaculture.
And that's a shame, unfortunately, because it really really make sense, and a good one.
I hope to see you in Italy one day.
Just an idea...why not translating it, maybe just subtitles, in various languages ?
Thank you. Thank you.
Like minds... I'm busy writing a book on this. I think there are a number of people globally waking up- they just need to know what to do to make their lives better.
+Lynda Jones yes, Lynda, you nailed it! Thanks for doing your part!
+Lynda Jones Message me when the book is finished. I'd love to buy a copy.
I awoke earlier last year! Feels good to finally be alive. Thanks for writing more on this topic. How's the book coming along?
Amazing lecture….lots of indigenous people worked with both earth beings and also galactic or Star beings.
This should be required viewing for everyone.. Excellent, thanks!
A more important aspect of this video is it's power to raise awareness and help build an informed citizenry - in my opinion.
This lecture was amazing. Thank You.
thank you Toby.
I think i am a minority in that it was this realization that brought me to permaculture, rather than the other way around. Daniel Quinns ishmael was the end of my quest to find a cause for the massive problems plaguing our culture and so i started with permaculture and designing a way out for myself, my family and the world.
I launched Mottainai Organic Farm and Japanese Bee Apiary... this video clearly states my vision for it.
Awesome & honest reflection of the realities of our relationship to nature. We're a part of it, and not on the outside lookin' in. Thanks for sharing.
It make total sense to me. It is actually very exciting - co-operating with and becoming one with ecology. But the people around me are so set in their ways, changing centuries of agriculture is taboo. I am in South Africa.
I am looking forward to more of your videos!
Yes, it works! Living it for 9 years now and all is total transformation!
What an interesting lecture! Thank you!❤❤❤
Thank you for the video, I had never even heard about permaculture before. But is horticulture possible to implement in high density places like in Asia?
This is a very hand in hand approach to the Resource Based Economy talked at length by Peter Joseph and Jacques Fresco... :)
This was fascinating to listen to. Permaculture is the way forward...thanks Toby!
Outstanding Lecture. Thank you so much
Tracy, he said that happened 25,000 years ago. Unfortunately, due to electronic devices, we are losing focus and attention span. We can't even focus long enough to hear and process a full lecture.
LOL-- "I drink raw milk, arrest me."
That's Toby. Inspiring. Beautifully presented.
All good stuff, but a bit long winded! For what its worth here's my take on Permaculture :
" Use what nature provides and use it as nature would use it".
If you have a garden like me and you want to grow vegetables make your soil better by using the sustainable organic mater that's delivered year on year by nature. I am composting grass, leaves and seaweed to improve the soil in my raised beds. I know its 'small potatoes' but hey, its a start. Just do your bit.
***** Wow! When permaculture goes massive and done large scale, like the vertical farms that will likely become common in major cities within 10 to 15 years. That's a long way off. In the mean time lets concentrate on the horizontal soil in our own gardens and give it some TLC. Hope I'm around to see if your vision comes true.
Home Grown Veg~ Thank you for your take on Permaculture. Here is the brief definition: Permaculture is design system for any size human home or community with the resilience & stability of an ecosystem. My take on your comment, if I may, is that you may have a limited perspective, and so your "take on it" may be incomplete, as Permaculture is not solely about soil or food, it is actually an all-encompassing beautiful guidance system aligned with Nature's strengths and turning any challenges and constraints into opportunities, creating a yield and maximizing mutually beneficial relationships between every element in the system, and that is 3 or 4 benefits that are mutually beneficial, so I hope that brings you deeper into the conversation and understanding, and I pray we are all here for the manifestation of Toby's hopeful vision and work. He died yesterday.
Hello Claire. So sorry to hear Tony has died. Though I only met him through this video he struck me as a good guy trying to do good in this world. HGV
Man I love when people who live in the year 2015 talk facts and date stuff 40k 30k years ago. Boy faith is wonderful!
if you watched the entire video, you will overstand we are going to have to do alot more than that (or alot less). We need to begin how we can slowly merge from traditional agricultural practices into a more holistic approach that eliminates many other modalities that constitute the chaos within our ecosystem. And it appears agriculture is the major culprit. im vegan, but i would recommend meat if it was hunted and gathered by one's own means.
how do you define industrial culture and what about it makes it diverse?
Brilliant stuff. Need to find myself a course on permaculture.
Excellent work. Thank you kindly for doing.
Love & Light
AWESOME talk, Mr. Hemenway's not just talkin', he's walkin' the TALK! lol,....another pagan, this one who worships Tonantzin(Honorable Earth Mother)! :)
Me too, me too, though I had an ear to the ground on this stuff since a child in a way. Grandpa, and his daughter, my mother. Add to that growing a couple acres of corn a couple times with my dad. :)
thank, now all my former thoughts, aspirations and disagreeings make sense and this is I was looking for.
Brilliant lecture Toby!
Preaching to the choir. We're high-speed learners nowadays. Give us pics of before-and=after as does Dr. Liu.
Where can I find the curriculum he mentioned????
It is my opinion that you can merge technology with nature, to a degree, and create a system which can benefit both the human spirit for innovation while satisfying the ecological and environmental needs of the planet.
Solar/Wind farms, compost management, Fukuoka agricultural techniques, rainwater collection and unique architecture styles, for example.
Excellent! Insightful!
thank you for sharing. this really helped me see how a sustainable lifestyle can be realised.
1) Fundamental Global change is about to Activate. With Freedom comes Personal Responsibility (Do no harm). Certain events are vital and necessary in order for Humanity to evolve.
2) ADVICE: The Earth has become a Construction Site with Humanity as the Architects/Builders with the Task of co-creating a new World that works for Everyone - be using new Technology. Use your Buying Power locally. Use this new wealth to aid this world, each other, & yourselves. Environment: Clean up the vast amount of Pollution in the Water, Land, & Atmosphere - what we eat & how we live must be redesigned by using different methods to be in Harmony with Nature. The key is to move toward abundance & joy. The new Governance of the People, by the People, for the People is to supply a grand plan for all of these. This plan requires your input and suggestions. Humanity is its own Savior.
3) PRICE CHANGE: After 1-2 months after NESARA's activation, the prices of goods & services will be reduced by 90% ($1.00 Price reduced to 10 cents) to erase Inflation; Salaries stay the same giving you extra spending power for 1 month. 1 Month after Goods & Services reduced prices, Salaries will be reduced by 90% matching the prices of Goods & Services. This will happen in multiple Countries.
FUTURE COMMERCE: New Technology released by NESARA will create Natural Abundance rendering Money Obsoelete. (No Currency) Basic Needs are met for Free, and Luxuries (Art, Massage, etc.) are Bartered through an advanced Sophisticated, Computerized Barter System.
4) GUIDANCE: Take Full Personal Responsibility in the way we Think, Feel, Act, & Live with a Sustainable Lifestyle -> Permaculture (Natural Abundance of Nature). Ethic # 1) EARTH CARE: Nature Stewardship. All life forms are equal in intrinsic value, and need to be respected for the functions that they perform (Natural Fertilizer, repel Pests, etc.). Earth is one Eco-System, living in Harmony with Nature is the best way to care for all living things. Like having a Living Organic Diet: Eat only fresh Foods with Life Force such as Vegetables, Grains, Fruits, & Nuts - long healthy life. Ethic # 2) PEOPLE CARE: Community responsibility, cooperation, mutual respect. Begins with ourselves expanding to include our families, neighbors and wider communities. Self-reliance is focusing on non-material well-being, taking care of ourselves and others only producing & consuming necessary material resources. We empower ourselves by accepting personal responsibility for our lives & our world. "Many hands make light work." Fun to do a Task with Others. Ethic # 3) FAIR SHARE: Based on Natural Abundance of Food & Resources. Balance - take what you need (a natural limit to what one person can eat/take) & share the surplus with others.
5) (U.S. Constitution) PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS: Happiness is the experience of joy, contentment, and positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, successful, and worthwhile. The feeling of happiness is achieved by following one’s heart and doing what they love.
A) Build a JOY BASED LIFE: (100% Voluntary) You Follow your Heart -> You use your unique, original natural Talent by You choosing & doing a Job you Love to do for the Joy of it. (Inner) JOY is our True State of Existence. Live in the NOW (the Present) in every moment. There are already People who Love being Teachers, Doctors, Engineers, Scientists, Gardeners, etc.
B) NO FORCE INCENTIVE: (Service of Others, Cooperation) Each Person possesses unique, original natural Talents they are born with. Your natural Talents are to be used to find the joy you need to truly be in ecstasy. When you constantly use your natural talents to aid your society and sustain your world, you discover an inner joy. This maintains and enlivens you. You gladly join with others to form relationships that sustain each other. In service to each other we will remain free. This creates a strong, close Community.
6) SAYINGS: "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." - Steve Jobs. “Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose.” - Leonardo da Vinci. "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." - Confucius. “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” - Buckminster Fuller.
fantastic lecture!! thanks for the upload!
Permaculture is great for small communities. However, How would you apply the concepts of permaculture to a big city, such as New York City for example with that size and population? That is the most practical question to ask for long term environmental health.
Great video, keep up the nomadic lifestyle! Im sure you are making a difference at every stop... = )
cheers
you only have one video, but its a damn good one!!!!
Nice overall.
The first 24 mins of social theory & anthropological commentary (conjecture) seemed thinly substantiated.
Would like to see process specifics explained more fully w/ more & larger-scale case studies. If he really wants to displace agriculture, he needs to demonstrate scalability. (How much farming could be displaced given the # of people who WANT to do this?)
Would've also been interested to hear the post-talk Q&A (though maybe the audience was all SAG members there in CA).
Outstanding video I learned a lot who knows maybe the rest of humanity will change too.
Towards 44:00 "Permaculture it begins with a set of ethics" - no thank You - and thank You for helping me realize what a disaster my involvement in this would be. I will pray the key people find harmlessly how they are pushing everything over the edge with their best intentions. HISTORY BEFORE FUTURE!
Agree, Excellent content info and presentation. But what does our heritage tell us about Sovereign people being TOLD that they are REQUIRED to do something?
Where are the other parts?
This really opens my eyes, will learn more about pc.
simply mindblowing. Thank you.
Very eye opening.
Thank you, this has given me the extra info. I have been looking for!