Welcome to the “Secrets of Sustainability” article series.
In today’s article, I want to share with you the elusive “Secret of Zone 0”.
Before we dive in, 2 important housekeeping items:
- The last article was on The 5 Zones Of Permaculture. I recommend you read it first. (CLICK HERE)
. - These articles are free! “Give away your best stuff for free” ~Gary Vaynerchuk
Why? Because it builds trust and lets you know I have your best interests in mind. I want to pique your interest, make you hungry to put this wisdom to use, and join others so we can attain sustainability together. So if you enjoy this article, I invite you to register for a free guest pass into our online community of learning and doing. (See the end of the article to join the waitlist).
.
The Secret of Zone 0
From the last article, you now understand the importance of human ergonomics.
Sustainability is about being efficient. And you are a moving part of your home and property.
Exiting your front door, you place things for the level of engagement to be efficient with your energy.
“Oftenest = Nearest”. Like this you can save time, money, and energy.
The 5 zones give you a guide to making and reclaiming harmony for your home, garden, and beyond.
However, there is another Zone on which the other 5 depend.
Zone 0.
If Zone 1 is the area just outside the door of our house, Zone 0 is even closer to home than that…
Your relationship with the world outside your front door begins with your relationship with yourself.
Sustainability is efficiency. Efficiency is about harmony.
How can we expect to create sustainability and harmony in our physical world, if we are not in harmony ourselves?
Welcome to Zone 0. You.
I need to explain this is a dangerous topic in the field of Permaculture for 2 reasons:
- Religion & Spiritually.
We stay away from religion in Permaculture for good reasons – we are a non-sectarian movement without belief and acceptable by all. By teaching others how to live on earth, they connect with the larger world, and a sense of spirituality is often a by-product. This is very valuable Zone Zero work, but as a scientific-based movement, teachers and students alike must exercise caution in how they express their personal experiences.
. - Philosophy < Action.
While Zone Zero is a rich philosophical topic, it must also be practical; spend less time wasting energy inside your head so you have more time and energy to spend on Zone 1-5.
So don’t just muse over this and nod, take it as a call to action to prioritize yourself, so you can best put your time and energy further afield.
.
How Do I Work On Zone 0?
There are many ways to work on Zone 0 so you waste less time and energy in your own head.
However, this is a soft science, and I make no claims to be a guru or a trained facilitator in that industry.
The #1 recommendation I have for you is to take a 10-day course called “Vipassana”.
The course is free, they have centers all around the world, and it’s a donation-run movement.
Quite simply, it’s the art of meditating. You eat, sleep, and meditate. That’s all.
You learn to observe your mind and not react. All so you can better live in the present.
The #2 tip is to take a Permaculture training.
I have a FREE Permaculture training inside our online Attainable Sustainable community.
Plus inside there are others like you to join in comradery, sharing, and support.
If you like the free experience, you can register for a full membership to dive deeper into Permaculture, home and property design, and even making a career in this industry.
.
Join the waitlist for a free guest pass or to become a full member.
(CLICK HERE)
Be fruitful and multiply,
Kenton Zerbin
(Kenton is a passionate educator for sustainable living who lives in an off-grid tiny house in northern Alberta. Kenton runs a wide array of workshops on tiny homes, sustainable living, and edible landscaping. He also does consulting and design for homeowners, communities, and businesses)