Special Contributor to Real Mama, Inc.
Quick Facts: “Consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fiber and energy for provision of local needs.” People, their buildings and the ways they organize themselves are central to permaculture. Thus the permaculture vision of permanent (sustainable) agriculture has evolved to one of permanent (sustainable) culture. (* David Holmgren, Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability)
In 1995 a friend invited me to dinner at her home to meet the co-founder of Permaculture, Bill Mollison. Bill is a fascinating man who had not only the vision but already years of practice and experience in bringing his form of holistic design in gardening/farming and natural building to many countries in Asia and Africa. In the mid 1990s Permaculture was just coming to our shores. There were a few workshops but nowhere near the offerings we find today, nor the hundreds of groups and practicing Permaculturists (“Permies”) that are all over the country and world, especially in Asia. Back then I took a few weekend workshops, and the only thing I kept with me was how to sheet mulch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0NrRCNHI-U). I just was not committed at the time to pursue it totally.
The future holds many ecological and economical challenges. The way I see it, we can no longer ignore these challenges and each of us has to take responsibility for the decline of resources, our environment and our lifestyle. I often think about how I can make a difference. What can I do for others, what can I do to set an example? And most importantly, where does one go for ideas and tangible solutions…solutions that are positive?
My interests in sustainability and growing a lot of food had me searching for ideas; how were others doing it? In my searches Permaculture concepts and designs kept coming-up. What I was seeing were: creative ways to irrigate by catching water; ethical ways of keeping animals that can yield more than just food; cooling homes without electricity; the value of trees – food forests, fuel, carbon capture, water circulation; interaction with my community; cottage industries and how to live in an era of energy descent. So many positive solutions to the crises we face now! Permaculture, I was beginning to understand, was far more than growing food. I saw a community of people around the globe practicing ways to live that were enhancing to their environment, included social justice, and put people before profits.
This past spring I took the 72-hour Permaculture Design Course in New York City from Andrew Faust (see www.homebiome.com). In a classroom setting we learned the principles of Permaculture. The course is standardized in that anywhere you take the class it will cover the same principles and concepts, but the individuals who teach the class bring to it their own dynamic presentations from their experiences designing, implementing and living with Permaculture’s principles. Guest teachers who are practicing designers/growers/foresters share their passion and expertise to the class. Field trips were included. Since this class was offered in New York City, emphasis was placed on urban design, but the basic concepts are transferable anywhere.
I have found that Permaculture has many solutions that are creative, tangible and positive! The following are the Permaculture Design Principles:
- Observe and Interact in our environment (with awareness comes creative solutions)
- Catch and Store Energy (hold and store water, wind, sun)
- Obtain Yields (food, energy, products)
- Apply Self Regulation (design in mind to limit or discourage inappropriate growth or behavior)
- Use and Value Renewable Resources and Service (make good use of all resources)
- Produce No Waste (frugality, look for ways to minimize waste and find appropriate uses for them)
- Design from Patterns to Details (designing from patterns observable in nature and society)
- Integrate Rather than Segregate (design so there is a relationship between elements/systems, so they work off each other)
- Use Small and Slow Solutions (low tech, human scale systems)
- Use and Value Diversity (diversity of structures; living and built, plants and animals)
- Use Edges (productive areas in the environment; man-made or otherwise)
- Creatively Use and Respond to Changes (designing creatively in a way that adapts to changes beyond our control or influence)
These days I see my home and environment differently. Although I do suffer from bouts of doom and gloom I know there are positive solutions. At my own home for instance I have installed a pretty sophisticated water catchment system in which I can rig my drip irrigation for my vegetable garden. It is one small step but it serves as an example of what can be done starting in your own home.
To inquire about upcoming Permaculture workshops, go to Andrew Faust’s website, The Center for Bioregional Living at www.homebiome.com. Also, see www.yestermorrow.org/, www.growingpower.org, www.tristatefoodnotlawns.org
and www.permacultureactivist.org.
For more information, consult the following books:
Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability, David Holmgren
The Transition Handbook, Rob Tompkin
Permaculture, A Designers’ Manuel, Bill Mollison
Food Not Lawns, H.C. Flores
The Urban Homesteader, Kelly Coyne & Eric Knutsen
Wendy has been gardening for more than 25 years. She has grown herbs for the herbal medicine industry, maintained perennial gardens, been a gardener for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and has most recently started a service in which she installs, maintains and teaches vegetable gardening to homeowners, apartment dwellers and businesses. Currently she is a student of Permaculture and plans on integrating the principles into her gardening practices. You can contact Wendy at wendy@thefrontyardfarmer.net
Tags: no waste, permaculture, sustainable agriculture, sustainable culture
