From a presentation offered at the 2012 NE Regional Permaculture Convergence... An exploration of the rationale & strategic development behind the creation of a replicable pilot -- now growing in Philadelphia --called a ‘Cultural Engine’. A call & an invitation.

1. Supplanting the
Modern World
Ecosystemic Succession through
CULTURAL ENGINES
Frances Rose Subbiondo -- NEPC 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 12

2. To Supplant:
to intentionally speed
ecosystemic succession --
by growing conditions that
undermine the current state’s
ability to thrive or survive.
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3. A claim:
The Success of any project is
dependent upon the cultural health
of the groups that the
project touches.
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4. What contributes to system failure
in human endeavors?
Mill Basin, Brooklyn
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5. And what contributes to
system success?
Rancho Mastatal,
Costa Rica
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6. Remembering Gandhi’s epic,
‘Be the change you want to see’...
&, the rule of inertia that says,
‘More work is needed to change, or
overcome a path, than to sustain it’...
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7. Remembering Gandhi’s epic,
‘Be the change you want to see’...
... I am left with these directives:
&, the rule of inertia that says,
‘More work is needed to change, or
overcome a path, than to sustain it’...
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8. Work at Home
Work for Home
Work with Home
I am left with these directives:
Share Work
Share Lives
Share Food
Share Expense
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9. & Build Regenerative Culture
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10. a
CULTURAL ENGINE
-- Philadelphia --
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11. CULTURAL ENGINE: CONTENTS
Vision
Summary
Themes
Future
Goals
Program
Yields Streams
Program Projects
Elements
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12. VISION
(one of abundance)
Cultural Engines empower communities
to serve themselves,
by cultivating visionary local leadership;
creating pathways to access the
unique & essential gifts in everyone;
& by driving a wider cultural paradigm-shift forward.
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13. THEMES
(practices) (larger baskets)
- Gardens that Heal -
- Work w/nature spirits -
- Living Systems -
- Transparency -
- Gift Culture -
- Co-Creation -
Share what you
have been given for
the benefit of all. (ancient)
(activities)
- Follow your Heart -
- Family Investment -
- Recognize & Gather existing
- Urban Reclamation -
Indigenous Wisdom -
- Regenerative Enterprise -
- Affluence & Abundance
- Growing Community & Food -
is a Natural State of Being -
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14. GOALS
PATH:
TEAM:
- We feel the love, joy & nourishment inherent in this work.
- We grow together a culture & practice of permaculture - We find happiness in sharing more of our lives & works
& regeneration. together.
- We affirm life in all its expressions & forms. - We help one another to fulfill individual & collective goals.
- We link & weave our efforts to other home spaces -- - We find vital engagement & collective collaboration.
& to our greater web of connected communities. - We push our growing edges & support all in that practice.
- We plant seeds & watch them grow. - We help one other create wealth & celebrate the success of all.
- We heal & collaborate. - We self-organize into nested, whole units of commitment &
- We build & grow connected, loving human community. responsibility
- We practice clear, open communication & honesty.
PRACTICES: - We question practices & directives -- & agitate for evolution.
- We feel our unity beneath our awesome diversity.
- We utilize our core gifts & discover new ones. - We create & offer safe spaces to explore our individual &
- We transcend binary fields. collective human experiences.
- We express our honest appreciation of the service of all
who serve. INCLUSION:
- We face our unknown fates with loving abandon.
- We co-create whatever unfolds. - We practice Radical Inclusivity & Radical Hospitality.
- We engage in myriad forms of union. - We honor, embrace & utilize each of our unique talents & skills.
- We create wealth & add value to all realms of capital.
- We model our family after commonalities of earth- WHAT ELSE? WHAT ARE YOURS?
centered cultures across the world & across time.
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15. STREAMS
Food Gardens
Permaculture
(Realms)
Living Systems Architecture Regenerative Economies
(Disciplines)
‘the work that reconnects’
Life Design
Nature Connection
Foraging
Local 8 Shields
(Practices)
Regenerative
D.I.O. (do it ourselves) Enterprise
(Contexts) Ecosystem Design
Radical Queer
Yoga
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16. PROJECTS
feeding loving sharing design
Community tending Radical Cultivation of planting
Supported Kitchen Urban Landscapes
mapping growing
cooking eating harvesting
sharing vision sharing selves sharing excitement
Two Public Events
in the Summer & Fall
celebrating sharing sharing skills
abundance
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17. PROGRAM COMPOSITION
REGENERATION CURRICULUM
EXPLORING REGENERATION GARDEN TEAMS
Contextualization. Goal Setting.
GAIA STORY
Flows. Strategies. Consciousness. Patterning.
KITCHEN TEAMS
Elements : EARTH & WATER
Sustenance & Support. Fluidity & Adaptation.
Food. Culture. Physicality. Gender. Sexuality.
Elements : WIND & FIRE
EVENT TEAMS
Expression, Breath, & Open Systems. Passion & Spirit Connection.
Language & Spirit.
LIFE DESIGN SUPPORT
Co-Created Exploration. Conscious Application of the Patterns
& Principles of Healthy Ecologies in Our Lives Together. STRUCTURES
COMMUNITY / NEW CULTURE
Explorations & Case Studies in Contemporary Indigenous Cultures.
(Participants remain
BIRTH, LIFE, DEATH, RENEWAL, TRANSITION
Patterns Distillation. Learnings Harvest.
at choice about focus areas)
Application of Pattern Languages.
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18. YIELDS OF PROGRAM
C.E.
- a shared, established, regenerative practice -
- our unique & essential qualities, amplified,
with the strength, harmony, & grace of the
natural world coursing through us -
- greater personal & communal health -
- delicious food -
- finding a unique &
contemporary indigenous - C.E.
- healthy soil -
- seeding an empire of
regenerative industry -
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19. FUTURE
This is a vocational training program.
Beautiful performance positions one to occupy a role in crews
doing this work around the world -- adding value to naturally abundant
sources of beauty & productivity -- in any of a growing number of
international landed communities (currently) in:
Peru, Sicily, Costa Rica, Italy, West Philadelphia, & Lesvos.
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20. SUMMARY
• A Cultural Engine weaves a container in which we may develop core
leadership skills, as we learn to bring the work of regeneration to
all of our Home communities.
• Participants will learn hard skills in building, nourishment, organic
gardening, community event production, & environmental education
-- & soft skills in regeneration & permaculture. All remain at choice
about their areas of focus.
• The installation of urban food systems & the creation of a
Community Supported Kitchen at the Starship Lollipop are the
program’s feature projects -- alongside the creation of two seasonal
celebration events.
• Graduates emerge inspired, broadly-skilled, de facto community
leaders, & comprise a troupe of social entrepreneurs.
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21. Engine Curriculum -- Across Scale
PERSONAL HEALTH
Zone 0
(INNER & OUTER BODY)
- MEDITATION -
- YOGA -
- LIFE DESIGN -
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22. Engine Curriculum
HOME LIFE &
BASIC COMMUNICATION
Zone 1
- RELATIONSHIP DESIGN -
- CO-COUNSELING -
- NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION -
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23. Engine Curriculum
BASIC NEEDS CARE
- GARDENING -
- COOKING -
Zone 2 - & SO MUCH MORE -
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24. Engine Curriculum
SKILLS SHARE
- VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Zone 3
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25. Engine Curriculum
REGENERATIVE
ENTERPRISE
- EXCHANGING
PLAINLY VALUABLE
GOODS & SERVICES -
- GROWING A
NETWORK OF PROVIDERS
& SUBSCRIBERS -
Zone 4
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26. Engine Curriculum
SPORULATION...
(contagious & filled with love)
Zone 5
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27. ... & NUCLEI MERGING
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28. ... & NUCLEI MERGING
Nesting Systems -- (Ecosystem Modeling)
Growing in Complexity
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29. So from one...
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30. Grows many...
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31. ... & we grow a mycelial network of living systems.
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32. But what drives the engine?!
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33. Tuesday, July 17, 12

34. With the sun
as our model...
We offer the gift of ourselves -- without thought of reward.
We invite all life those around us to do the same.
We set spirals, & vast linkages of life, in motion.
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35. And growing regenerative
economies...
We utilize, gift, & trade diverse forms of capital
Living Financial Experiential
Material Cultural Social
Emotional Spiritual Intellectual
.. And grow fabulously rich
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36. So, what kinds of work
can the Engine do?
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42. But what about the
challenges?
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43. challenges include:
- busy, ‘full’ lives
- shortage of permies
- affecting the inertia of the
modern world
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44. What kinds of work
can the Engine do, again?
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45. Wanna move to West Philly
& find out?
Or start another wherever you are?
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46. Thank You.
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47. Supplant the
Modern World
Frances Rose Subbiondo
wearenatureworking@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 17, 12