Permaculture is a philosophy and set of practices focused on creating sustainable, resilient ecosystems that meet human needs while promoting biodiversity and healthy soil. Permaculture draws on a wide range of disciplines, including ecology, agriculture, architecture, and community development, to create systems that are designed to function like natural ecosystems.
Origins & History #
Permaculture was developed in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, two Australian ecologists who were concerned about the negative impacts of industrial agriculture and the depletion of natural resources. They observed that natural ecosystems are highly efficient and self-sustaining, and they sought to create systems that mimicked these natural patterns and functions.
Ethics & Principles #
Three Core Ethics
The three key ethics of permaculture ethics are care for the earth, care for people, and fair share. Care for the earth recognizes that the natural world is the foundation of all life and that we must work to protect and regenerate it. This principle involves using sustainable practices to minimize our impact on the environment, conserving resources, and promoting biodiversity. Care for people emphasizes the importance of meeting human needs, providing for basic necessities such as food, shelter, and water while promoting social justice and equality. This principle involves creating resilient and supportive communities that work together to address social and environmental challenges. Fair share recognizes that resources are limited and must be shared equitably among all living beings. This principle involves promoting responsible consumption, reducing waste, and sharing resources and surplus with others. Together, these three principles provide a framework for creating sustainable and regenerative systems that promote the health and well-being of both people and the planet.
12 Principles of Permaculture
Permaculture is guided by a set of principles that help practitioners design systems that are productive, sustainable, and resilient. These principles include:
- Observe and interact – taking the time to observe and understand the natural systems in a particular environment is key to designing effective permaculture systems.
- Catch and store energy – capturing and storing energy from the sun, wind, and water is essential for powering permaculture systems.
- Obtain a yield – permaculture systems should be designed to produce useful yields, whether that be food, fuel, or other resources.
- Apply self-regulation and accept feedback – permaculture systems should be able to regulate themselves and respond to feedback from the environment and other stakeholders.
- Use and value renewable resources and services – permaculture systems should rely on renewable resources, such as solar energy and rainwater, and should value the services provided by natural systems, such as pollination and nutrient cycling.
- Produce no waste – permaculture systems should be designed to minimize waste and use resources efficiently.
- Design from patterns to details – permaculture practitioners should begin by observing and understanding the patterns and functions of natural systems, and then design the details of their systems accordingly.
- Integrate rather than segregate – permaculture systems should be designed to integrate different elements, such as plants and animals, in a way that promotes mutual benefit and synergy.
- Use small and slow solutions – permaculture practitioners should focus on small-scale, locally appropriate solutions that can be implemented gradually over time.
- Use and value diversity – permaculture systems should be designed to promote biodiversity and resilience, incorporating a wide range of plant and animal species and genetic diversity.
Permaculture Zones #
One of the key concepts in permaculture design is the division of the landscape into zones. These zones are numbered from 0 to 5 and represent different levels of intensity of human use and intervention. In this article, we will explore the permaculture zones in more detail and how they can be applied to your own permaculture design.
Zone 0 – The Core: the heart of the permaculture design, representing the home or center of human activity. This is where we spend most of our time, and where we have the greatest opportunity to reduce our impact on the environment. Zone 0 includes the home, as well as any structures or systems that support our daily needs, such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and composting toilets. The goal of zone 0 is to create a self-sufficient and sustainable living space that meets our needs while minimizing our impact on the environment. This includes reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste, and using renewable resources wherever possible.
Zone 1 – Intensive Gardening: the area closest to zone 0 and represents the most intensive area of human use. This is where we grow our most frequently used plants, such as herbs, vegetables, and fruits, using intensive gardening techniques like raised beds, vertical gardening, and companion planting. The goal of zone 1 is to create a highly productive and efficient garden that provides us with fresh produce throughout the year. This area requires the most attention and maintenance, as it is where we spend most of our time tending to our plants.
Zone 2 – Semi-Intensive Gardening: the area beyond zone 1 and represents a less intensive area of human use. This is where we grow larger crops such as grains, orchards, and nut trees, using less intensive techniques like swales, contour planting, and rotational grazing. The goal of zone 2 is to create a productive and sustainable system that requires less input than zone 1. This area requires less attention and maintenance than zone 1, but still provides us with a significant amount of food and resources.
Zone 3 – Managed Forestry and Agriculture: the area beyond zone 2 and represents a more extensive area of human use. This is where we grow crops and raise livestock on a larger scale, using techniques like silvopasture, agroforestry, and managed grazing. The goal of zone 3 is to create a sustainable and diversified system that provides us with a range of resources, including food, fiber, and fuel. This area requires less attention and maintenance than zones 1 and 2, but still requires regular management and maintenance.
Zone 4 – Wild Nature: the area beyond zone 3 and represents a more wild and natural area of the landscape. This is where we allow natural ecosystems to thrive, using techniques like conservation, reforestation, and wildlife corridors. The goal of zone 4 is to create a thriving and biodiverse ecosystem that supports a range of wildlife and natural processes. This area requires minimal management and intervention, allowing natural systems to function and evolve.
Zone 5 – Wilderness: the area beyond zone 4 and represents a completely wild and untouched area of the landscape. This is where we allow natural processes to unfold without any human intervention.
The goal of zone 5 is to create a space for wilderness to thrive, providing habitat for a range of wildlife and allowing natural systems to function without any human interference.
