Earth-Based Education
Heading back to the land? Try going back to school first
November / December 2004
Andi McDaniel Utne magazine
The back-to-the-landers of the 1960s tended to be heavy on
idealism and light on practical know-how. Armed with little more
than coveralls and a few dog-eared guidebooks of the age, they
headed to the country with mixed results. Today's practical
pioneers may be just as committed to good land stewardship, but
they're not likely to be quite so naive. Lucky for them, they don't
have to start from scratch.
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An earlier era's hard-won knowledge didn't just fade away with
flower power and bell-bottom jeans. It's waiting in schools and
programs across the country where you can study up on the ABCs of
rural life before you make the leap. Whether you're planning a
complete off-the-grid farmstead or just hoping to make yourself a
little more self-sufficient, there are now seminars,
apprenticeships, and even four-year degree programs to help you
make your earthy dream a reality. Here's just a taste of what's out
there.
Growing (and Finding) Food
Going back to the land doesn't have to mean going hungry. For
the pioneer born without a green thumb, there are programs designed
to teach you about gardening, farming, and finding food that's
waiting to be dug or plucked out of the wild.
Permaculture: Permaculture is a farming method
that emulates the diversity and resilience of natural ecosystems.
By raising crops and animals that provide the likes of shade and
nutrients for each other, growers can reduce the need for the
costly artificial inputs that sustain the mainstream farm. Offered
across the country, permaculture programs run 10 to 14 days and
involve equal parts classroom time and dirty work. Students learn
how to balance factors like weather, waste, and water in designing
gardens that will eventually maintain themselves. For a look at
programs worldwide, look up the International Institute for
Ecological Agriculture,
(www.permaculture.com)
or check out Permaculture Activist magazine: $23/yr. (4
issues) from Box 1209, Black Mountain, NC 28711.
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