Permaculture

Permaculture is a way to create healthy communities of people, plants and animals, described as a holistic design methodology.

“Permaculture is based on the observation of natural systems, the wisdom contained in traditional farming systems, and modern scientific and technological knowledge. Although based on good ecological models, permaculture creates a cultivated ecology, which is designed to produce more human and animal food than is generally found in nature.” [Bill Mollison, Introduction to Permaculture]

At the heart of these are a set of core values that might be summarized as codes of behavior that include:

Care for the Earth
Care for the People
Share the Surplus

David Holmgren, a well respected permaculture practitioner and teacher based in Australia outlined 12 design principles in Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

These comprise a set of guidelines for designing sustainable habitat:

1. Observe and interact – By taking the time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation.

2. Catch and store energy – By developing systems that collect resources when they are abundant, we can use them in times of need.

3. Obtain a yield – Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the work that you are doing.

4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback – We need to discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems can continue to function well.

5. Use and value renewable resources and services – Make the best use of nature’s abundance to reduce our consumptive behaviour and dependence on non-renewable resources.

6. Produce no waste – By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste.

7. Design from patterns to details – By stepping back, we can observe patterns in nature and society. These can form the backbone of our designs, with the details filled in as we go.

8. Integrate rather than segregate – By putting the right things in the right place, relationships develop between those things and they work together to support each other.

9. Use small and slow solutions – Small and slow systems are easier to maintain than big ones, making better use of local resources and producing more sustainable outcomes.

10. Use and value diversity – Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides.

11. Use edges and value the marginal – The interface between things is where the most interesting events take place. These are often the most valuable, diverse and productive elements in the system.

12. Creatively use and respond to change – We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing, and then intervening at the right time.

We urge you to download and refer to holmgren-design-principles and the Holmgren’s updated comprehensive ebook Essence of Permaculture for more detailed discussion of permaculture design principals.

The domains permaculture pertains to include:

1. Land & Nature Stewardship

2. Built Environment

3. Tools & technology

4. Culture & education

5. Health & Spiritual well- being

6. Finance & economics

7. Land tenure & community governance