What is Permaculture?
The word 'permaculture' comes from the phrase "permanent agriculture" or "permanent culture". It is a system of design based on the observation of nature that aims to create long-term sustainable human societies. It seeks to work with nature instead of against it to create abundant, resilient, and regenerative systems. Successful designs are ones that require the least amount of work or input, and are able to meet all of their needs alone. Rather than a set of fixed techniques or methods, permaculture design is a constantly evolving process guided by 3 ethics and 12 principles.
3 Permaculture Ethics
1. Earth Care
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2. People Care
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3. Fair Share
Humans are capable of having a measurable positive impact on the Earth by recognizing ourselves as part of the system and not extracting more than we are giving back.
Fostering community, interdependence, and collaboration is required for change. By looking after ourselves and each other we become part of a stronger, more resilient system.
The three permaculture ethics: Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share
Managing surplus and overflow is essential for a system to keep working. Continuous growth is impossible and there are limits to how much we can take and use- redistributing surplus allows us to benefit not only ourselves, but the whole community.
12 Permaculture Principles
1. Observe and Interact
2. Catch and Store Energy
3. Obtain a Yield
4. Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback
5. Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services
6. Produce No Waste
7. Design from Patterns to Details
8. Integrate Rather Than Segregate
9. Use Small and Slow Solutions
10. Use and Value Diversity
11. Use Edges and Value the Marginal
12. Creatively Use and Respond to Change
