Erika, I really enjoyed listening to this week's podcast and love the way you provided different examples of the principle, both as originally conceived as well as how it might be applied in other contexts. I think it is really important that people understand that permaculture is a design paradigm, is not limited to farming and gardening, and is quite flexible and adaptable.

Yesterday I "observed" the spirit of the Observe & Interact principle in action, while reading the "Letters to the Editor" section of my local paper, Here is a brief excerpt of the letter that caught my attention "...So many, many people look forward to reading your paper. It makes them not only informed, but happy as well to be 'in the loop' on what is happening in the Bronx. They are also inspired to ***act** on what they **read**".

He was writing in reference to a special fundraising initiative being sponsored by a local grocery store who would be donating a % of their proceeds to two local churches in honor of Lent. However, I was very happy and encouraged to see that another member of my community felt as I did about the local paper and acknowledged it publicly.

"I think it is really important that people understand that permaculture is a design paradigm, is not limited to farming and gardening, and is quite flexible and adaptable." <--- Yes to this! Bless you, Jill, for so clearly stating the reason I started the podcast.

And wonderful example of the Observe + Interact principle. Long live great local papers, which help build community and citizen activism.

Another way that I try to regularly "Observe & Interact", is through photography. I have a little project in which I try to be mindful of the way in which nature unexpectedly survives/thrives in urban settings (in spite of us!) and in turn provides beauty, delight and ecological service (as often embodied in the Permaculture Principles) that we may take for granted as we rush to and fro in our daily lives.

Quite a few of the pictures I've taken are within one or two blocks of my home, on my way to the train to go to work. This has taught me how dynamic nature is and that it is always changing. There is something new to see, enjoy and appreciate, if we just stop and take a moment to look.

Ah, the keen noticing of a photographer's eye... I *love* the sound of your project! Please feel free to share a link to some of your photos, if you like. I'm often encouraged by the flowers or grasses I see pushing through the cracks of sidewalks... insisting on their right to be, in the midst of all the concrete...

My project is Permie Peeks and it is my attempt to create beauty and to be appreciative of what's around me.

I invite you all to visit and enjoy the scenery: (http://permiepeeks.blogspot.com/) sometime. :-)

"Where tenacity, hope and delight meet. . ." <--- Awesome tagline, and love seeing those meetings through your eyes. Thanks for adding so much richness here, Jill!

I AM IN AWE of your ability to aptly weave threads of human experience onto the permaculture loom; The human spirit and Mother Earth are both present in this beautiful tapestry of caring.

THE HEALING OF A PERSON'S SPIRIT FOLLOWING DISAPPOINTMENT HAS BEEN EXPOUNDED, and I appreciate that this has been wonderfully verbalized! Thank you, Erika, for your incredible work! May you continue in strong recovery!

You are so kind! Thank you, Wisdom Seeker, for your encouragement, and for that great image of a permaculture loom. I like it a lot. Here's to weaving solutions that nourish people and planet.

In my observation and interaction, I finally did something about the emails received from the local community. I observed that Evanston has several "health" programs they are offering to the community. I had seen this before, but never joined. So, I observed emails and websites and thought "why not". I'm now the leader of a walk group on Tuesday mornings!

That sounds great Trisha! Walking is great exercise as well as allowing you to see your surroundings. Good luck!

Bravo, Trisha! What a wonderful way to leap from observing... to leading! And those weekly walks will open the way to even *more* observations to act on... Beautiful rabbit-hole, lol.