Treating the permaculture design process itself as a practice of self-examination that reveals both system and personal assumptions.
Socrates spoke of the examined life; Hodja lived it through comedy and paradox. A regenerative farm or garden becomes a mirror: what we plant, how we manage, what we accept or reject—all reveal our assumptions about nature, control, worth, and belonging. A gardener obsessed with uniform rows reveals assumptions about order. A farmer fighting every pest reveals assumptions about dominion. One who welcomes insects, accepts asymmetry, and works with natural patterns reveals different assumptions about partnership and belonging. This concept invites permaculture practitioners into reflective practice: as you design, notice what assumptions you're making. As you garden, observe what your choices reveal about your worldview. The examined garden becomes a laboratory of self-knowledge. By bringing this reflective awareness to regenerative practice, we deepen both personal growth and ecological outcomes. The garden becomes a teacher of wisdom not merely about soil and plants but about ourselves—our fears, our desires for control, our capacity for wonder. This is permaculture as spiritual discipline, aligned with Hodja's commitment to the examined, joyful life.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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