Permaculture is a word derived from combining the two words in the phrase ‘permanent agriculture’. Yet the concept offers far more benefit to humanity than this name implies. It is about more than simply growing crops and producing from the land.
Although not the solution to every problem we face, permaculture offers practical guidance in the form of principles for truly effective living, as well as managing land. Permaculture fosters a ‘can do’ mindset that runs counter to the mainstream conditioned helplessness. It is a rational approach that scrupulously takes account of context and builds beneficial inter-relationships into the various systems that support human lives.
So how do we define Permaculture?
The term was coined by Bill Mollinson and David Holmgren in the 1970’s and this is the definition on the back Mollinson’s book,”Permaculture: A designers Manual”.
“Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive systems which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people, providing their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way.”
Permaculture offers us techniques and principles to design a way of life integrated with the land that brings together conceptual, material and strategic components so as to benefit all of the life forms and thus rationally provide for the needs of human beings while taking into account the environment as the ultimate context of our existence. Growing food and land management are the foundations of civilisation because all of the values we need to live ultimately come from nature and our ability to manipulate matter to our benefit. Permaculture is a set of principles to guide the way we do this in the most efficient way and also in a way that doesnt compromise our ability to do so in future.
Permaculture is rational planning
It is obvious that man must not spoil the garden he lives in, that he must not burn the floor boards or rafters of the house to keep warm in winter, and he should not kill the goose that lays the golden egg. In other words we need to sensibly plan for effective living. We need to take a long term view. Thriving takes thought, it does not happen by accident. Developing systems that work better and better takes rational thinking, the conscious pursuit of well defined goals and taking into account the feedback in the evidence of the results. In otherwords it requires strict use of the uniquely human faculty of reason.
The Philosophy behind Permaculture
The ideas behind the original coining of the term back in the 1970’s were largely to do with preserving the resources of planet Earth in the context of an energy crisis. This thinking has continued to dominate the movement and it is very much considered an ‘Earth care’ management system.
I do not share this perspective of putting the Earth first. I put the rational needs of People first. I know that when I look after my own small holding and make rational plans into the future to sensibly plan the provision of resources for myself and my family, I am necessarily taking care of the earth. When I consider how to dispose of ‘waste products’ of any kind, I am keen to avoid spoiling the clean and healthy environment I have created. There are many issues inter-woven here, but ownership and a personal vested interest in the future of my own land and living space is paramount in providing incentive to rational management.
Without getting too deep into the philosophy, freedom from interference by others (including the state) and the universal respect for property rights are essential foundations for lasting earth care. You cannot coerce people (legislate) into caring for anything. You can only give them incentive in the form of personal vested rational self-interest.
The Environmental Movement
Permaculture is also often seen as a doctrine of austerity. There are many environmentalists who would advocate making do with less and consuming fewer material goods as some kind of spiritual and moral badge of honour. The catch phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” sums up their ethics. But while t is obviously sensible to reduce waste and to re-use things that can be re-used, as well as to recycle things that can be recyled. However, when this advice is merged with encouragement to be less materialistic and to aspire to using and consuming less, then we must ask the question, why?
It is important to appreciate that wealth is generated by the exchange of goods and services on a free market. And it is here that we must guard against throwing out the baby with the bath water – the production of material values. We all value modern transport, the use of mobile phones and computers. It would be silly to reject these obvious high value modern tools in the name of going back to nature. We must remember that industrial estates are therefore an essential component of the modern landscape. At the same time it serves us to recognise the health and well-being benefits of living a more land-based lifestyle.
I reject any call to be less materialistic, since it is the availability of better material goods that has lifted us out of the poverty of centuries past. There is nothing wrong with enjoying material values, they make life more enjoyable and easier in so many ways. In many circumstances they make life possible!
I know its contraversial but a reasoned approach to serving our rational self-interest is the only moral imperative for living a successful and thriving life while necessarily taking care of the environment. Meaningful environmental awareness necessarily focuses on the need for an optimal environment right down at the personal level. It begins with our self-interested care of our own internal environment – the blood – by consciously tending to our nutritional needs. It extends out from there into the micro environments in which we live, and then further into broader living environment and the global environment.
The Principles of Permaculture
David Holmgren wrote of his 12 priciples of Permaculture and I think they are worth noting here. Other permaculturalists may have added to this list or subtracted from it, but still, it encapsulates the essence of a sensible framework of principles to guide not only land management but many other aspects of living and thinking as well.
1. Observe and interact
This means begin with what is. Philosophically this is the only place to start. And with land management or planning a site to build a dwelling, it is the most rational place to start. Taking account of the lay of the land, the soil, the aspect of any slopes, proximity of water etc, are all a part of this logical first steop
2. Catch and store Energy
Energy is essential and it must be managed intelligently. A waste of energy is in no one’s interest. Energy can be stored in growing trees and plants, or in the form of water held at height, in batteries for electrical energy storage and even objects of thermal mass for storing heat energy. Reusable sources have advantages and in remote sites solar and wind may be the only options. However, I reject the need to avoid emitting CO2 as a means of safeguarding the environment. In fact trees and plants need CO2 to grow. The evidence suggests that increased levels of atmospheric CO2 would be beneficial to plants and the planet as a whole and therefore to us humans. This is one of those issues where we must be prepared to think outside the box and question the mainstream view.
3. Obtain a yield
Production is the begining of wealth and the basis of any successful economy. This is something that seems to have been forgotten. Before we can go to market we must produce something of value to exchange. Permaculture not only advocates producing a yield but multiple yields! By intergating systems thoughtfully yields can be maximised by feeding the waste of one system as the raw material for another.
4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback
This principle is interpreted and championed by some as the goal of reducing our impact on the earth and living more simply. I consider that it is sensibly living within our means and self-management in general. In other words taking rational account of what we have, and making use of it appropriately and constantly being aware of feedback in the form of seeing what works and what does not. This amounts to being constantly aware of context and adapting to it appropriately.
5. Use and value renewable sources and services (those that replenish with modest use)
A fuel source that is renewable is more desirable than one that is not. If I can keep on growing my fuel to keep warm that is preferable over having to keep buying it in at the expense of other resources. Renewables make sense, and their use is self-evidently a good idea – in certain circumstances. However, there is no merit in forcing people to use any one particular resource over another if they do not benefit from it, or worse if it costs them.
6. Produce no waste
Any system of production that produces copious waste is inefficient. Conversely, the less waste we can produce the greater our efficiency. Efficient production is a core principle for wealth creation and is a sensible principle to follow in all our productive endeavours. Permaculture offer many ways to avoid wasteful production that are useful in all walks of life. Such as; carefully chosing more appropriate materials, considering multiple uses, and plugging systems together so that the waste of one system is the resource for another. This is where “Reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, etc ” are sound guidance.
7. Design from patterns to details
With this principle advocates designing in broad strokes and filling in the details later. It is an approach that at first zooms out to take into account the bigger picture, before zooming in to fill in the details. This is another form of paying attention to context. Knowledge can only exists in a specific context, and this is why it is so important to hold context in every aspect of our lives and thinking.
8. Integrate rather than segregate
Integrating is bringing or joining things together. It is making sure that all parts interact together as part of a coherent sum. Not only is this priciple useful for designing successful systems of productio, it is also an essential quality of effective human thinking. It is only by bringing in all the parts and deliberately hooking them together that full context can be noted and used appropriately. Integration of various productive systems on a small holding or homestead also increases stability and resilience to external disturbance. It therefore enhances security.
9. Use slow solutions that are appropriate to scale
Permaculture takes into account the long game. This is essential when planning lives and human living systems. It looks to nature as the pattern or model. The example is often given where by the squirrel hides away many more nuts than he needs, but each of the forgotten nuts has the potential to grow into another whole fruiting adult tree and thereby the squirrel sows his future abundance. This principle calls for planned solutions to be integrated with the system as a whole and to grow productivity over time.
10. Value and Use diversity
In the natural environment diversity of species equates to stability of the ecosystem. It is the same for a rain forest or a coral reef or for the human gut. Diversity of species of crops clearly protects against economic loss when one variety fails. It can also benefit us to not rely on any one particular food source or raw material or income stream. There are many circumstances where nature shows us the value of diversity. This is a good example of how natural systems that have stood the test of time reveal the secrets of their success if we are paying attention.
11. Use edges and value the marginal
Another example of nature showing solutions is in the use of marginals or edges. Boundary layers between different (micro) environments are very often bountiful in their natural abundance. The boundary between the earth and the air is one such example – the soil. The Edges of a body of water are another. This principle speaks to the intelligent use of all space and inevitably ties in others of these principles as well.
12. Creatively use and respond to change.
In the practice of permaculture we are encouraged to see change as a friend. Things do not stay the same, this is a part of the context of what is. Adjusting to work with this fact of the natural world rather than push against it is yet another beautifully rational piece of wisdom that can serve us as we manage our lives in general as well as in designing productive and nurturing human living spaces.
Available Courses in Permaculture Design
Completing his Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design in 2003, Aranya started teaching the following year. He discovered this made his heart sing, so he made it his main focus. Since 2004 he has taught over 80 two-week design courses, something he has no intention of stopping. He feels that it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to teach “something that can make a real difference in all our lives”.
In the spring of 2012 Permanent Publications published his first book ‘Permaculture Design – a Step-by-Step Guide’, which evolved from a set of design course worksheets. He also writes occasionally for magazines and from time to time shares interesting items on his blog. Aranya is currently writing a second book, about a subject he’s especially fascinated by, the application of systems thinking and patterns in permaculture design.
Suggested Permaculture Resources
- “The Permaculture Way” by Graham Bell is a great book for newcomers to Peraculture
- “Permaculture: A Designers Manual“ by Bill Mollison is considered by many to be a comprehensive text book
- “Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability” by David Holmgren
- “Permaculture in a nutshell” by Patrick Whitefield
Planning for a future
It has been said that “failing to plan is planning to fail”. Permaculture provides a wonderfully practical guide for planning spaces for human beings to use for productive and renegerative activities. It is a means of design that lends itself to many circumstances with an evidence-based approach to gaining relevant knowledge.
I have long advocated land ownership as a means to self-reliance, improved health, a sense of purpose, a source of joy, means of production, canvass for creativity, and a road to freedom. Permaculture is an amazing tool to design, maintain and manage your land. It can be used to boost productivity on any scale, from back garden to large scale farms.
Be free, be healthy and thrive
Treehouse farm, May 2018