Unless you are completely off the grid, you are probably surrounded by gadgets, devices, appliances, motors and electronic machinery in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Technology has become a pervasive, often unquestioned, part of our daily existence and pressures to stay connected, share more data, and to publish our private lives for others to witness and comment upon will continually to have profound effects upon the ways we communicate, collaborate and interact with one another.

In my professional life, I manage a wide range of technologies including: computers, data centers, databases, programming languages, accounting and communication systems, wired and wireless networks, data replication, process automation, business intelligence, reporting, security systems, and compliance to federal regulations.  In my artistic pursuits, the technology focuses on photography, video, music and sequencing and digital manipulation of the ideas. On the farm, it's the tractor, pitch fork and simple mechanical devices like the lever, pulley and gear that get the chores done.

There are, obviously, different tools for different jobs, and understanding how technology fits into a sustainable environment is a area that is undervalued and unexplored.  As we understand the impact that high technology has on our lives (for example thorough the genetic modifications of plants, the extraction of earths resources, and the pervasiveness of agribusiness in our food system), one finds that sometimes the best solution is the one that generations before us had valued and shared.  In many cases, capitalism's quest for quick results, higher profits and continual innovation does not equate to a better environment, a higher standard of living, or a sustainable future for our children.

As I write this, some of the postings on this website (which is based upon an open source content management system called Joomla) have been receiving a lot of views on YouTube.  In a period of five days, one two hour span of photographs reached over 85,000 views - a remarkable feat that a few years ago would have required expensive computers, marketing and time.  This is one example of how free, open software can be used to reach audiences far beyond what was initially intended.

In future postings we will continue explore some of the various thoughts and ideas surrounding technology and its application to our specific projects.  Next up - in software circles there are concepts of "open" and "closed" systems, terms that are also used in permaculture texts to describe environments and the species that inhabit them.  Is there more to this than just the terms, or do the concepts themselves transpire these disciplines?