Permaculture Principle 11: Use Edges and Value the Marginal
In science as with gardening, the principle that there's always greater, more vigorous growth at the edges of the zone than the centre seems to hold true. What also seems to hold true for both is that what grows there isn't always expected, and can cause great confusion and discomfort.
The Permaculture Association says:
" "Dont' think you are on the right track just because it is a well beaten path"
The place where two eco-systems or habitats meet (e.g. woodland and meadow) is generally more productive and richer in the variety of species present than either habitat on its own. In ecology this is called 'ecotone'. This is central to the idea of using edges as a design method. The logic is simple. If the most productive bit of woodland is the edge, then design it to have a bigger edge.
These ideas are used in alley cropping, shelterbelts and pond design.
Marginal could be ideas, views, unusual plants, wild animals or people at the 'edge' of society. Permaculture itself has been seen as marginal for many years...."
Dr. Konstantin Korotkov, Professor of Computer Science and Biophysics at St. Petersburg State Technical University, says research on the human energy field (most scientists don't like the word "aura") indicates subtle effects on individuals, groups and the environment:
Princeton's PEAR Lab shows small, significant effects when subjects are asked to will random event generators to give a particular result. The researchers say they've made the conditions ever more stringent as critics have kept raising the bar for evidence they'll accept, noting that discomfort caused by the results of rigorous study is not a scientifically valid reason for dismissing them:
I'll take small, significant effects to add to all the mainstream science, thankyouverymuch. Back to my regular, well-scheduled meditation.
The Permaculture Association says:
" "Dont' think you are on the right track just because it is a well beaten path"
The place where two eco-systems or habitats meet (e.g. woodland and meadow) is generally more productive and richer in the variety of species present than either habitat on its own. In ecology this is called 'ecotone'. This is central to the idea of using edges as a design method. The logic is simple. If the most productive bit of woodland is the edge, then design it to have a bigger edge.
These ideas are used in alley cropping, shelterbelts and pond design.
Marginal could be ideas, views, unusual plants, wild animals or people at the 'edge' of society. Permaculture itself has been seen as marginal for many years...."
Dr. Konstantin Korotkov, Professor of Computer Science and Biophysics at St. Petersburg State Technical University, says research on the human energy field (most scientists don't like the word "aura") indicates subtle effects on individuals, groups and the environment:
Click to viewPrinceton's PEAR Lab shows small, significant effects when subjects are asked to will random event generators to give a particular result. The researchers say they've made the conditions ever more stringent as critics have kept raising the bar for evidence they'll accept, noting that discomfort caused by the results of rigorous study is not a scientifically valid reason for dismissing them:
I'll take small, significant effects to add to all the mainstream science, thankyouverymuch. Back to my regular, well-scheduled meditation.