In May’s article for Dalefoot, we explored Earth Care, the first of the three permaculture ethics. These are guidelines rather than a strict list of what you *must do*, ways of living lightly on the earth, helping to guide, educate and inspire.
In this article I’m focusing on the second ethic: People Care.
People Care
This ethic is about looking after yourself, and the needs of family, community and beyond. One of the incredible things about the interconnectedness of the world today is that we can support individuals and communities across the planet, as well as those within our locality.
People care is about providing for people’s basic needs. These include shelter, clean water, healthy food, fresh air, employment, clothing, warmth, education, access to healthcare, freedom from exploitation and oppression, fulfilment and happiness, companionship, community, religious freedom and tolerance, and being able to be your authentic self. Basic needs includes accessibility and inclusivity, so that people with all kinds of different needs are able to fully participate in all areas of life.
It starts with you!
Self care is important. Taking care of ourselves is a crucial part of being able to help and support others. People care is not about just focusing on what other people needs. I could say that you can’t help others if you’re worn out and frazzled yourself, but self care isn’t just about being well enough to be able to serve others. Self care isn’t selfish or self indulgent. You, me, everyone else: we are all important.
Focus on your health, eating as healthily as you can within your budget and keeping as active as possible. Emotional well being is vital too.
It can be difficult finding some time in busy lives for moments of self care, but even five minutes of doing something that brings you joy or relaxation makes a difference.
We all like different things, and what is blissful relaxation to one may be quite the opposite to another person. I love swimming in the sea, whereas a friend finds the idea of not knowing what it lurking beneath her feet far from relaxing. A massage therapist friend told me of one client who loved listening to loud rock music during a massage session, rather than the more usual meditation-style music played in spas: far from relaxing for me, the rock music nurtured them and lifted their spirits.
Quick self care tips
Have a few minutes of peace, sipping a favourite beverage in the garden, park or on a balcony, listening to the sounds around you and just being still for a few moments.
Fill a large bowl (a washing up bowl is fine, we’re not being posh!) with warm water, add a handful of epsom salts and a few springs of scented herbs such as rosemary, lavender or lemon verbena, and soak your bare feet. Lovely at the end of a busy day. If you don’t have any herbs to hand, pop in a couple of herbal tea bags. Peppermint teabags are super for aching feet.
For a lovely relaxing and fragrant soak, gather a bunch of scented herbs, tied into a bundle, and swish in the warm water of a bath. Be sure to check that there are no insects on the herbs before use. A bath filled with little swimming insects is far from relaxing! (If this does happen, a sieve is a great way of rescuing and relocating insects.)
Pot on a plant or two (in Dalefoot potting compost, naturally). Spending a while doing mindful gardening jobs such as potting on or pricking out can really lift the spirits. Handling living things requires care and attention, and it takes the focus away from all the noise and busy-ness of the world. This can be done at a kitchen table or in a greenhouse.
Listen to some music that gets you dancing. This always lifts my spirits (although it does rather alarm the cats!)
“You’ve got to accentuate the positive”
It can be difficult in this troubled world to focus on positive thoughts, but it is an important part of self care and also caring for family and the wider community. Trying to look on the bright side of life does not mean that you don’t care about all of the awful things that are happening, but it does help to create a mindset that enables creative solutions for the things that we can change.
Ways of doing this include:
At bedtime, think about or write down one positive thing that happened during the day.
Find some positive news stories, locally or internationally.
Treat yourself - and others - kindly. We all make mistakes and do daft stuff. Making mistakes is a way of learning.
Read or listen to inspirational stories about people or events.
Start a gratitude journal in whatever format appeals the most to you: handwritten, typed, doodles, drawings, collages made from magazine cuttings, or voice journalling, using a recording device (such as a phone mic) to record your thoughts, or just saying them out loud.
Supporting your community and beyond
People care focuses on supporting people’s needs, and trying to create an environment in which we can all thrive. Within permaculture, it is about developing environmentally friendly lifestyles as well as providing for basic needs, increasing self sufficiency and resilience. This also helps to protect nature and the environment.
Ways of doing this include:
Smiling at people in your neighbourhood as you pass by, and greeting them.
Starting a cooperative for sharing cooking, fermenting and preserving skills.
Creating an edible garden to feed the community or supply food banks.
Opening a Share Shed or Tool Library. This is a hub where useful equipment and tools, for maintaining homes and gardens, are available to hire, usually at low cost. It’s idea for tools which are only used occasionally. They may also include other occasionally used items such as camping equipment, suitcases, sewing machines and preserving pans. This saves money, reduces clutter in homes, and is kinder to the planet.
Establishing a repair centre, where tools, household items, clothes etc are fixed. Many also run workshops to share repair skills with the community.
Become part of online communities sharing knowledge, skills and advice. This is a great way of reaching out to people across the world, letting the ripples of support spread far and wide. There are some fantastic groups including those focusing on permaculture, simple self sufficiency skills, making clothes, frugal cookery and wildlife friendly gardening.
Grow some extra edible plants in your allotment or garden to share with neighbours or a local food bank.
There are so many ways that we can make a positive difference. What would you add to the lists of suggestions here?
About Stephanie:
Stephanie Hafferty is an award winning garden and food writer, expert no dig gardener, homesteader, edible garden designer and inspirational public speaker. Stephanie is currently creating a no dig homestead on half an acre in West Wales, where she runs gardening and homesteading courses, at the homestead and online.
Her garden was featured on BBC Gardeners’ World in 2022. Her books include: No Dig Organic Home and Garden and The Creative Kitchen: seasonal plant based recipes using ingredients you can grow on an allotment. Stephanie’s next book will be published in 2026.
Follow her journey on her blog, Instagram and You Tube
Website and blog : www.NoDigHome.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniehafferty/
You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/StephanieHaffertyNoDigHomesteading