The World Needs an Anti-Harassment Movement: So Does Permaculture.

EDIT 4/10/20: After you read this article, consider also reading “What’s a Regenerative Approach to Ending Sexual Harassment?” and accessing a draft compilation of topics and resources. Thoughtful contributions also welcome.

The past few weeks have been flooded with the news about Harvey Weinstein sexually harassing women he worked with. And millions of women have come forward to tell their stories of sexual harassment and sexual violence with the hashtag #metoo.

Clearly, the implementation and enforcement of anti-harassment policies is overdue in the world. This is also true in permaculture. Here’s why.

In a community that prides itself on decentralized governance, vital topics are not getting addressed.

I wrote “A Pattern Language for Women in Permaculture” which was published in the “Permaculture Activist” magazine in August of 2013.

I was interviewing women about their livelihoods, but in the process of publishing that article, and in hearing from others who reached out to me afterward, I heard stories of decades of sexual harassment — and yes, even other forms of sexual violence — in permaculture circles. I also heard from men and women who tried to address this issue, and either were at a loss about what to do, burned out, or were shut down.