Ready, Set, Grow! Kick-start your urban gardening journey while learning valuable Systems-Thinking & Design skills
As anyone who has ever tried to fix a problem knows, it’s not always as simple as it seems. Systems thinking is a way of looking at problems that takes into account the relationships between different elements. It helps changemakers see the big picture and identify potential unintended consequences of their actions. In other words, it helps them avoid making things worse instead of better. That’s why learning about systems thinking is so important for anyone who wants to make a difference in the world.
In order to equip our community of changemakers to learn about systems-thinking, we launched our handbook Opening the Black Box, and a bonus three-part training to introduce systems-thinking to changemakers.
At HCN, we’re passionate about not only equipping changemakers with the tools and skills they need to understand and create change, but also building strong networks of people who share passions and interests to catalyse change, which is why it was important for us to not only teach changemakers about systems thinking for social change, but to create an enabling environment for action. Emerging from our partnership with Thought for Food, we have launched our Impact Initiative, Fixing Food.
In order to apply systems-thinking knowledge to a real-world situation, the Fixing Food platform focuses on teaching changemakers how to apply systems-thinking while creating a more sustainable lifestyle: through permaculture!
Why Permaculture
Permaculture is an innovative method of growing food and managing systems that emphasises sustainability. At its core, permaculture seeks to emulate natural systems while utilising human knowledge and systems-thinking to create ecosystems in which humans and nature can live in harmony. By studying nature, permaculture practitioners gain insight into how we can replicate naturally occurring systems – like rainwater collection systems, organic farming methods, agroforestry systems – that mimic the self-sustaining benefits found in ecosystems both large and small. Permaculture also encompasses important philosophies about living peacefully alongside other living beings and systems in the world, making it an invaluable tool for many things including gardening, land management, water systems and more!
Not only does permaculture offer a way to live more sustainably, become less reliant on our global food system, and connect with your local community and ecosystem, it’s also an exciting way to engage in hands-on project based learning.Through this process of designing and managing natural systems, you not only become less reliant on the global food system but also gain valuable skills in observation, problem solving, and systems analysis – all incredibly useful skills when taking on any social justice challenge.
Lead by HCN founder and systems thinking practitioner Tiyana J, she will be using some of the systems thinking concepts outlined in Opening the Black Box, and sharing her own journey to apply permaculture design principles to her home.
