Permaculture is a design framework that offers an ecological lens for solving issues relating to how we design our gardens and farms, our homes, our energy systems, our economies, and ultimately, our culture.
Three ethics guide and inform the development of a design.
Care of the Earth – Recognising that Earth is the source of all life, that Earth is our one and only home, and that we are a part of Earth, not apart from it.
Care of the People – Supporting and helping each other to change to ways of living that do not harm ourselves or the planet, and to develop healthy societies.
Fairshare – Ensuring that Earth’s limited resources are used in ways that are equitable and wise.
Permaculture does this by designing human habitats in a holistic way. It draws heavily on the practical application of ecological theory to analyse the characteristics and relationships between design elements. It is a way of looking at a whole system or problem, observing how the parts relate, and finally, seeing connections between the key parts. This thinking applies to the design of a farm, to the re-design of a suburban home, to landscaping of a new garden, to building a community.
It’s all about re-weaving the web of complex interconnections, which help build a system that is resilient.
Permaculture is about building a sustainable future, and having a lighter footprint on the earth.