June 1, 2022

Lately, we’ve been reflecting on culture. It’s a thing, a word, embedded in so many facets of life and activities. Company culture, agriculture, social culture, aquaculture, mother culture, cancel culture, permaculture. As a Permaculture Design Company, it is a word that exits our mouths and enters our minds often. Let’s take a side step for a moment to explore that.

Culture. Derived from the Latin Colere or Culturare-to tend, to cultivate. And in some ways from the German word Kultur-The ideals of civilization.  Today that word has quite a broad reach and application. We use it so often. So where does culture come from? 

First of all, the universe is too complex for that question to truly have an answer. But let us explore it as a reflection on how we define and approach it. As a company, we consistently discuss the culture we are striving for. Culture doesn’t simply arise in a company, though. In many ways, it is defined and guided by the leaders. One thing may be certain in the business world. Culture begins at the top. It trickles down, no matter what you do. It may not always be immediately evident, but the trail to track it is there. And to touch back on the Latin use of the word, culture in any group, is something to be cultivated. You can either nourish it with care, or poison it with toxicity. Although it begins at the top, it is rooted in the Earth.

I once heard another permaculturist discussing this very thing. He talked about culture arising not from the people, but from the soil. At the end of the day, we have no culture without food, water, and shelter. All these things arise readily from the ground. If only they are allowed or managed to. The key there is manage. As humans, we have an amazing opportunity to be managers of land. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the homes we live in, the music we make.  At a micro and macro level, these are the foundations of our culture. When we look at places with a strong sense of it, we see a community with close connections to the sources of these things. The unique climate that produces their grain, the wood they use to build their instruments and homes, or the fiber that grows to clothe their bodies. I’ve heard many people talk about the lack of culture in their hometown in America. In many ways, especially in the United States, we have built a culture that is largely derived from a far away place. We have monopolized, sanitized, and standardized much of it. Yet, it is not lost. It will never be gone entirely. There will always be seeds stored in the soil waiting for their moment. Culture can be cultivated, established, or rather re-wilded, quickly. If only we welcome it to grow.

We are moving forward this year focusing on managing our culture for abundance. An abundance of support, diversity, growth, and love. Let us all reflect deeply on the culture of our hearts, our gardens, communities, and companies. May we re-wild and rediscover what our culture is and where it comes from. 

Urban Oasis is looking to gather with fellow community members to reflect on such things and explore how to connect more deeply with the soil that our culture arises from

 ~conversation, collaboration, connection~ 

If this is of interest to you, please check out our Events tab or email us and provide us feedback on your interests in exploring the roots of culture, permaculture, or any culture. Tell us what that means to you and how you want to delve deeper into that. Whether it is getting out in the garden or reflecting with your family and community members, we want to connect with you. Tell us how.