ls G-l-Y the new D-l-Y?

words, doing more with less. Typical permaculture projects include intensive food gardens, rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, passive solar, natural building, and lots of creative re-use of salvaged resources.

There are a growing number of nonprofit permaculture-based groups making interesting changes in the fabric of life, especially in urban neighborhoods. Many of these groups are getting serious funding and are participating in local retrofit programs.

Becoming knowledgeable about the kinds of projects being undertaken in your area will likely inspire new thinking around merchandise and promotion. For example, in areas where greywater systems are now legal, stocking non-PVC pipes and fittings might be a good idea.

trlon ME. THE oNE PHRASE that best I-' sums up the ongoing shift in household economic behavior is this: less is more. For anyone who pays attention to the history of this industry, it's a familiar story that comes about with every recession. Folks are tackling more projects on their own, so the trades are suffering.

But this time around, the return to d-i-y may be different in some important ways that just might stick. There are many good reasons for dealers to pay attention.

Most people I know aren't simply doing without: They are discovering new ways to create the lifestyle they want, spending less money, and doing more themselves. More households are growing their own food, taking steps to "decarbonize" their homes, and generally looking for simpler, healthier "green it yourself' projects they can take on inexpensively.

The terms "green it yourself' or

"g-i-y" are catching on, describing everything from caulking windows with a solvent-free sealant to rigging your own greywater system. In some neighborhoods, if you want to keep up with the Joneses, it's not the size and expense of your solar panels, but how little you spent building your own wind generator from an alternator salvaged from old Buick, spare bicycle parts, and a plastic milk jug.

The permaculture movement is on the leading edge of this resurgence of self-reliance. In short, permaculture is a holistic approach to creating household and community-scale sustainability based on modeling and enhancing natural systems. It's deeply green and aimed at creating abundance with fewer inputs-in other

Building close relationships with local nonprofit permaculture groups and practitioners is a good idea, perhaps with some cross promotion that will bolster your company's green reputation. And if g-i-y and permaculture can really help your community become greener and more resilient, you might find that this new kind of di-y is good for you, too.

Jay Tompt Managing Partner, Wm. Verde & Associates (415) 32r-0848 info@williamverde.com