What is Permaculture?
June 26, 2009 by Mark
Filed under Green Living, Green News, Hummingbird Community
Permaculture is a design approach to create regenerative,
sustainable systems. Envisioned over 25 years ago by Bill
Mollison and David Holmgren, from Australia, it has now
spread to over 120 countries. Though its conception was as
a land based system, its effectiveness has moved it into
urban settings and to being applied in various social,
political, and economic environments.
Permaculture was created through the synthesis of many
design systems, with the emphasis on nature as the
penultimate one. Similarly, the insights and value of
traditional and indigenous practices and knowledge are
acknowledged along with the necessity of adapting these with our current understandings and the
appropriate technologies of today’s world. What Permaculture seeks to do is to create three-
dimensional designs that are site specific and sustainable. By bringing together elements (orchard,
water system, farmer, cow, etc.), techniques (organic framing, natural building, etc.) and strategies
(microclimate, relative placement, etc.) a system is designed or altered based on regenerative
relationships. It is these regenerative, beneficial relationships that give a system complexity, three
dimensionality, and thus, resiliency.
The world can be looked at as the convergence of many different
flows. From ‘natural’ (wind, water, soil, etc.) to human (social,
resources, transportation, etc.) to invisible (economic,
information, etc.) which interact and create patterns. These flows
form our world. Recognizing this, Permaculture teaches Pattern
Literacy and Pattern Application. This, along with Sector
Analysis (site specific flow mapping), Zonation (a tool for
structuring time) and other techniques and tools, Permaculture
focuses on creating regenerative relationships that are the key to
resilient, sustainable systems.
From its inception Permaculture has quickly spread to over One hundred and twenty countries where
farms and other sites are successfully applying its’ ideas, techniques and strategies. As further
testament to its applicability, Permaculture is now being applied in many urban and suburban areas.
In many developed countries these applications hold much promise for dealing with the many issues
associated with mass populations.
Permaculture in the last few years has been moving into the invisible
structures. In the United States a Permaculture credit union has been
formed and ‘green’ investment firms are using Permaculture principles and
ideas to create resilient, sustainable investment systems. Environmentalists
and social activists are using Permaculture to give depth and complexity to
their approaches to many issues we are dealing with today. These
applications are possible because Permaculture is a design system that
focuses on relationship and not so much on object.
Permaculture is a multi-faceted, in depth design system that will help us
create appropriate, site-specific designs that are both sustainable and
regenerative.
Permaculture principles are a list of attitudes, approaches, and actions that are practical and not
system specific. These along with certain tools and techniques allow for a holistic approach and
interaction with any type of system. As a tool of analysis it is an excellent way to look at existing
programs, strategies, and interventions to assess their interactions, linkages, and success’. It is a way
to reach an understanding of the various influences and flows involved in a system, be it self help
groups, village, or organization. Second, it provides insights and principles by which to intervene or
interact with a system. As there is neither a truly independent system, nor sterile ‘environment’ this
aspect is of significant importance. Thirdly, as we have already stated, Permaculture is an excellent
approach for designing resilient, site-specific systems, be it disaster preparedness, HIV/AIDS, or
women’s empowerment.
It is important to understand that Permaculture is not so much about giving you new and improved
ideas, techniques, and strategies, though there is some of that. What Permaculture does is allow for a
deeper understanding of the situation at hand and, with its principles and strategies, a more holistic,
effective way to interact with or design a system. What Permaculture offers are skills and principles
by which we build our awareness of why or why not something was successful. Through this insight we
can build on what is successful and modify others to become more successful.
Stepping up another level, Permaculture is an excellent way to weave together the different parts of an
organization so that a unity and synergy can be created. In this way unforeseen benefits and ease will
raise within the system.
