Working towards living sustainably has lead me to discover permaculture.
Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments based on close observation of natural systems.
As well as including design principles permaculture also includes ethics, the care of the earth, the care of the people on this earth and the concept of `Fair Share'.
Remember when your Mum told you to take no more than you need and share the rest well this is what permaculture is postulating for each of us to do in the world.This permaculture ethic is about working together, networking, contributing and distributing resources and wealth.
It is a wonderful ethic but when our own finances are chaotic this can be hard to do.
One way to begin is to get your own financial house in order. At http://www.mint.com you can get a free tool to work on your budget, set personal goals and achieve more with what you have. They can even assist with your stock account.
We all need to begin somewhere to reduce unnecessary spending and rethink our ideas about what we really need in our lives.
Looking at our own consumer spending with a new awareness of where things come from and how they can be produced in a way they will still be available tomorrow is a great starting point.I can hear my Mum's voice in my ear right now saying those words, ` no more than you need, leave some to share.'
