The Concept

This article is the first of a four-part introduction. Permaculture design is a vast subject. There is no one repeatable design scheme. One size does not, cannot and should not fit all. From the desert to the arctic,
and everything in between, the design for every location, and every particular property is, of necessity, going to be quite different. There are multiple topics, techniques and practices, each with multiple layers
and multiple meanings, from the most mundane and obvious to the most metaphysical. This is just the start. In this first article, we will deal more with the conceptual, philosophical aspects of permaculture design. The second article will be more about the brass tacks.

First of all…

What Does “Permaculture” Mean?

The word is a contraction of “permanent culture” and “permanent agriculture.”

But what does that mean, exactly?

It’s quite distinct from both horticulture and agriculture. What sets it apart is the ecological set of ethics it is based upon. These are to care for the earth, the people, and to return one’s surplus. These principles, in turn, are expressed through design.

In permaculture design, every element, every plant, animal, building, what-have-you, performs multiple functions. Like cross pollination, or cross referencing, every element is connected to many other elements,  in different ways. These ways change over time. It’s only natural. But in both horticulture and agriculture, these changes are never allowed. More often than not, they mean war. Toxic chemicals, back
breaking labor, and expensive solutions to situations that, really, never had to become problems in the first place.

The understanding and use of natural plant succession, for example, makes permaculture much easier than either horticulture or agriculture.  Given enough time, and assuming nobody prevents it, a barren or
disturbed piece of land will eventually revert back to a forest.  

First, pioneer plants will move in, remediating the degraded soil, which, after a while, enables woody shrubs. This, in turn, starts enabling trees and their many under-story layers. This is called Forest Succession.  By understanding this unfolding process, and doing things to support and enable it, we can dramatically accelerate this. Normally a 50 to150 year process, wise permaculturists can create Food Forests in about 10 years.

Unlike the domination mentality of mono-culture, it works in congruence with Nature rather than foolishly trying to conquer Her. There is no one right combination of plants to bring about a quick succession. Different elements work together in different ways, depending on the particular location. That is 100% ecologically sound. It mimics Nature. Like Nature, permaculture creates interdependent systems
that use various techniques, strategies and disciplines that result in regenerative and resilient human settlements.

Permaculture Science

As a basic definition, permaculture science can be described as a sustainable, creative design approach, based on the observation of natural patterns. It uses whole-systems thinking, employing integration not segregation, like horticulture and agriculture. It takes into account all the materials and energies in a given design idea. Designs are considered in terms of both short and long term effects, the successions they will follow.

For example–if we make a dam here, what will happen there? And would that be a good thing or end up creating a new problem? How will it affect the wildlife? What new growth will it encourage?

But this is barely scratching the surface.

Permaculture science has many branches–

• ecological design
• ecological engineering
• regenerative design
• environmental design and construction
• integrated water resources management
• sustainable architecture
• regenerative and self-maintained habitat
• agricultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems

As you can see, this is a very large and diverse body of understanding, well beyond the scope of this article to deal with comprehensively. But just reading the names of these different branches gives a sense
of the scope of it all. Don’t let that scare you off though. It is, for all it’s enormity, quite approachable.

 

Permaculture Design – 12 Principles

As different and varied as permaculture designs are from one place to another, they all follow the same basic principles. When you understand these, you can grow fabulous food forests anywhere. Not surprisingly, the basic principles of permaculture design are also the basis for a happy healthy life. Because it really is, all connected.

1.  Observe and Interact

Empiricism is where it’s at! Paying attention to the behaviors of plants…where they do well, where they don’t… is an important part of an ethical, sustainable way of life. Our planet is 4.6 billion years old (as best we can figure). That’s a long time to get it right. What better teacher could we ever hope to find? When you learn how to listen, Nature has all the answers.

 

2. Catch and Store Energy

Our planet is full of energy we can capture and store in various ways, without causing damage. Swales store water. Plants and passive solar infrastructures store energy from the sun. Southern exposed walls
absorb and hold heat…and the trellises built on them produce food. Always look for the myriad ways to catch and store energy.

3. Obtain a Yield

When we work with nature, we get everything we need. Obtaining a tangible yield of organic produce to feed our families is simple enough. But the bigger picture is in the intangible yield. The health, happiness,
mental and spiritual well-being that comes from living in congruence with Nature surpasses everything. It’s priceless.

4.  Apply Self-Regulation and Feedback

Book learning is great. It’s a great place to start. But the real learning comes from actually doing and living it. Getting our hands dirty. Paying attention to results. Knowing what we got right helps us figure out what we got wrong and humility allows us to keep moving forward in a positive direction.

5. Use and Value Renewables

The sun, wind and water grows our food, and regenerates our environments. It can and should power our homes. The more we’re able to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, the better. We can switch to a green energy supplier. Or, better yet, generate our own power with solar panels and/or wind turbines. And it doesn’t have to be all at once. That’s probably not realistic for most. But every single
improvement we can make on this front is a step in the right direction.

6.  Produce No Waste

Buy from thrift stores. Compost kitchen scraps. Fix things that are broken. Know that there is no such thing as throwing stuff away—there IS no away. Buy less, live more. And when you really have to buy something, only patronize ethical companies

7. Design from Patterns to Details

First, look at the Big Picture, in holistic terms. Then, the right details will be able to fill in quite naturally. This is not only true for our gardening endeavors, but for every aspect of our lives. This is how to create positive change.

8.  Integrate Don’t Segregate

There is incredible strength, balance, harmony and sustainability in diversity. Which is why Nature is so unbelievably diverse. Constant expansion, experimentation and expression. It has no end. Nature
plants in polycultures. We should too. The polyculture guilds of permaculture are the perfect reflection of the brilliance of Nature.  When we apply this excellent gardening advice to our human communities, we can, literally, save the world.

9. Use Small, Slow Solutions

Like compounded interest, little things have the power to grow into something that’s potentially enormous. By constantly making seemingly small, incremental changes, we can, fairly effortlessly
move into a whole new life. One thing at a time. You don’t have to go out and buy an organic farm. Odds are you’re not in a position to and can’t right now. But you can do a little container garden in front of a sunny window. Likewise, you can’t change your shopping and buying habits in one day. But you can start implementing changes. Do it! It adds up.

10.  Use and Value Diversity

Our gardens are reflections of our lives and belief systems. Do we tear up the ground and plant a whole acre with nothing but carrots? Then spray gallons of poison to keep away the inevitable swarms that would attract? No! A large swathe of just one plant is like a beacon to the insects that love it the most. We plant all sorts of things together, like Nature does, and no pesticides are required.  Predatory insects, attracted to the flowers we provide them, will eat all those pests. The permaculture belief system applies to our lives, too. It’s like diversifying your portfolio. Stability and strength are ours when we diversify our gardens and our lives.

11. Use Edges and Value the Marginal

The borders in a permaculture garden can be worlds unto themselves. With the thoughtful placement of rocks and logs, multiple tiny micro-climates are created, which ups the overall fertility. Don’t ignore the small or weirdly shaped spaces. Sustainability makes use of every nook and cranny. In land use, home and work life, or civilization in general, we need the fringe elements. Heretics and thinking outside the box are important. It’s fascism prevention.

12. Creatively Use and Respond to Change

Don’t be afraid of change…it’s life’s only constant! Permaculture is about the future. Permanent Culture. The triad of death, decay and regeneration is the core of everything. Everything dies, and in its death creates the possibility for new fecundity and life. When we design our gardens around this core understanding, we can produce a beautifully extravagant, delicious abundance of food. And the
intangible benefit is that it changes us for the better.

 

In Conclusion

Not really.  It’s just the Beginning!

Permaculture is a whole new start for humanity. The chance to do it right, this time. But, like “New Age Spirituality,” permaculture only seems new. Compared to the long tradition of getting it all completely wrong, it does seem new, super creative and highly innovative. In reality, it is a newly dawning
understanding of something so much more ancient than even humanity, itself.

Permaculture is both broad and deep, with endless possible permutations. It provides scope for the imagination, health, wealth and an endless source of beauty and learning. It doesn’t ever end.

 

 

 

Educate Yourself!