Yes, I talked with Bill Mollison at some length about "permaculture" around
1970. His approach certainly had a lot of interesting apparent benefits over
conventional agriculture, but it was stronger on promotion than on science
at the time. It's not that specific techniques don't have value--they
undoubtedly do, but when minds get closed in favor of popularity and
publicity, scientific advancement stops in favor of competing methods.
I don't personally favor one method over another; I favor a continuing
examination of the relationships between culture and Nature. I do not have a
"method" to promote; I am curious about promoting greater understanding and
investigation of how ecosystems and cultural systems work and don't work,
and how cultural practices can be modified to minimize their adverse effects
on ecosystems. That was the purpose of my enquiry.
WT
----- Original Message -----
From: "frah...@yahoo.com" <frah...@yahoo.com>
To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 1:56 AM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology and Sustainability Re: [ECOLOG-L]
Sustainable Landscapes Seminar 10/27 at Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL)
I personally like permaculture approach to the issue:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture
Greetings
Francesca
________________________________
From: Wayne Tyson <landr...@cox.net>
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 4:47 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology and Sustainability Re: [ECOLOG-L]
Sustainable Landscapes Seminar 10/27 at Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL)
MM and Ecolog:
Yeah, I think I failed to make the distinction between external inputs by
humans in order to keep their preferred assemblages going and the inputs
from the sun, the site, and physical and biological changes--which I do not
consider external to the system.
I share your assumption that ". . . they were interested in creating
assemblages of plants that landowners would find attractive but that don't
require much human intervention," but the key concept is in the word "much."
How much is much, and where does a self-sufficient system end and a
subsidized system begin? Also, the idea that it is a requirement that the
plant assemblages be ones that "landowners would find attractive" also is
key--the key to understanding the distinction between a system that cycles
nutrients and one that is dependent upon action upon cultural preferences to
maintain the assemblage under luxury consumption conditions.
WT
----- Original Message -----
From: Martin Meiss
To: Wayne Tyson
Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 10:31 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology and Sustainability Re: [ECOLOG-L]
Sustainable Landscapes Seminar 10/27 at Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL)
Wayne,
I'm not sure what you're getting at. Are we to assume that you mean
ecosystems don't require inputs from humans? All ecosystems require inputs
(sun, air, water, etc.), but the original post did not use the term
"ecosystem." It spoke in terms of landscaping, and I expect from the topics
of the discussions that they were interested in creating assemblages of
plants that landowners would find attractive but that don't require much
human intervention.
Martin M. Meiss
2011/10/20 Wayne Tyson <landr...@cox.net>
Ecolog:
While I make no judgment concerning the original message which stimulated my
question, I will appreciate any comments regarding the meaning of
sustainability with respect to ecosystems and "ornamentals" and
"landscaping" (which often translates into replacing ecosystems with
assemblages of non-indigenous species).
It seems to me that ecosystems are inherently sustainable--that is, they
require zero external inputs (e.g. irrigation, nutrients, "maintenance"). In
fact, I consider assemblages (or individuals) of organisms which do require
external inputs unsustainable by definition--it is self-evident or goes (or
should go) without saying.
WT
----- Original Message ----- From: "Megan Dunning" <mdunn...@mortonarb.org>
To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 2:09 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Sustainable Landscapes Seminar 10/27 at Morton Arboretum
(Lisle, IL)
The Ornamental Growers Association and The Morton Arboretum are convening a
seminar on sustainable landscape practices for the green industry
professional. Please join us on Oct 27 to discuss recommendations on what to
plant to turn sustainability into landscape reality with local peers and
experts.
Sustainable Landscapes for a Greener Future
Thursday, Oct 27, 1 - 5:30 pm.
The Morton Arboretum
Thornhill Education Center
4100 Illinois Route 53
Lisle, IL 60532
Registration: $49 (discounts available for students and members)
For more information or to register, visit
www.mortonarb.org/education/adults or call 630-719-2468 between 8 am - 4 pm,
Mon - Fri.
Program
Plant Selection and Design to Achieve a Desired SITES Rating, Jacob Blue,
Applied Ecological Services
A Native Plant for Every Situation, Grace Koehler, Pizzo Native Plant
Nursery
Woody Plants for Sustainable Landscapes, Jeff Swano, Dig Right In
Landscaping
Panel discussion - Sustainable Landscapes in Practice
Kathleen Bruch, Atrium Landscaping; Jim Semelka, Village of Oak Park; Ken
Doty, Hinsdale Nurseries; Jill Enz, Applied Ecological Services; and Kris
Bachtell, The Morton Arboretum
A networking reception will follow the panel. Please feel free to circulate
this message to others who might be interested.
Sincerely,
Megan Dunning
Manager of Community Education & Outreach
The Morton Arboretum
mdunn...@mortonarb.org
-----
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