Permaculture is a system for the sustainable design of human culture,
focusing around ecological restoration and the providing of basic human needs.
It aims to:
- observe current systems of both human and non-human invention
- learn from their success and failures
- design systems that put humans and the natural world in harmony
-apply designs to current and new human infrastructure
In the 1970s Bill Mollison and David Holmgren created the foundations of Permaculture in Australia. They recognized the inefficient and destructive properties of modern human civilization and based a design of sustainable systems off the diverse and successful systems nature has created. The result was a new methodology of design based on a network of Ethics and Principles and rooted firmly in the commitment of individuals to start taking responsibility for their existence and thus it’s impact on the earth.
Permaculture is not a gardening technique or a list of proper building materials for a house. Rather, it is a collection of ethics and principles that influence the designing of human ecosystems that work synergistically with the ecosystems in nature.
Under this umbrella rests more specific elements towards a sustainable society; natural building, small-scale agriculture, non-violent communication, right livelihood, and the use of appropriate technology are a few examples of methods that could fall under the name Permaculture. These elements could be seen as “pieces” while Permaculture attempts to examine and mindfully create the “whole picture.”
Why Permaculture?
Here are two sketches that demonstrate how permaculture can be a useful tool to explain and design human systems:
(borrowed from 'Permaculture: A Beginners Guide' by Graham Burnett)
Above is a diagram depicting the current human process for creating a cup of tea. The result for even a simple beverage under the current system is waste, pollution, energy loss, and destruction of nature. It is clear that this system is grossly inefficient.
Next is a diagram showing the Permaculture design for creating one cup of tea. Much less energy is used and outputs can be recycled directly back into the earth.
Through understanding and proper design humans can mitigate the effects of current infrastructure and create healthy systems to fill their needs.