Helen and Scott Nearing were pioneers in creating a sustainable and balanced "permaculture" lifestyle in the United States. The principles of permaculture as defined by Australian permaculture pioneers, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, are care of the earth, care of the people and sharing the excess with others. These men defined the principles of permaculture in the 1970s. The Nearings' began their permaculture journey in 1932 during the Great Depression. They moved to a farm in Vermont at that time and began growing their own food.
Because they also believed in finding the balance between work and play, they attempted to schedule their days into blocks of time that promoted care of the land and food production followed by blocks of time that fostered personal development. Many followed not only the example of the Nearing's, but some followed them literally. When the 'counter-culture' movement was in full swing in the United States in the late 1960s, many younger people began a 'back to the earth' movement in an attempt to draw a closer connection the land that they instinctively knew sustained them.
One who literally followed Helen and Scott Nearing was Eliot Coleman and his wife Sue. Inspired by the Nearing's 1954 book Living the Good Life, they purchased 60 acres of land from the Nearing's in 1968 and taught themselves how to garden/farm organically. Their goal was to live a sustainable life completely removed from the conveniences of the modern world. In the 1980s and 90s, Coleman became a leader in the United States of the movement for healthier foods,organic fertilizers, and a generally healthier lifestyle. He is the author of The New Organic Grower [1989].
Some people find it interesting that the lifestyle the Nearing's chose in the 1930s and taken up by many following their lead promoted the principles of permaculture long before it was defined. But if you think about it, this is one of if not the most conservative movements existing. It represents nothing more than a return to a lifestyle of an earlier age. Today, though, this does not mean necessarily giving up many if not most of the conveniences of modern life, simply a striving to use nature without harming nature to live a good life. To recycle/reuse as much as possible oneself; to create as much of the power one uses oneself; to eat whole foods, prepared oneself; and to help others to attain similar goals.
The Nearing's were certainly not the first to live such a life-the first settlers to this 'new world' had to create/grow/build everything they needed, but they were certainly among the first to attempt to live such a life in the modern, post-industrial world.
Valorie Prahl is an experienced gardener, and mom. If you want to learn more about permaculture, raised bed gardening, composting, cold frames, rain barrels and greenhouses visit her website at http://www.createpermaculture.com. Her site offers information to live more sustainably and products that will help you create a healthy productive permaculture garden.
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