Did you know that the term Permaculture was officially coined by two Australians, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren?
Holmgren outlined the 12 design principles in his book Permaculture: Principles and Pathways beyond Sustainability.
- Observe and interact: By taking time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation.
- Catch and store energy: By developing systems that collect resources at peak abundance, we can use them in times of need.
- Obtain a yield: Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the work that you are doing.
- Apply self-regulation and accept feedback: We need to discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems can continue to function well.
- Use and value renewable resources and services: Make the best use of nature's abundance to reduce our consumptive behavior and dependence on non-renewable resources.
- Produce no waste: By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste.
- Design from patterns to details: By stepping back, we can observe patterns in nature and society. These can form the backbone of our designs, with the details filled in as we go.
- Integrate rather than segregate: By putting the right things in the right place, relationships develop between those things and they work together to support each other.
- Use small and slow solutions: Small and slow systems are easier to maintain than big ones, making better use of local resources and producing more sustainable outcomes.
- Use and value diversity: Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides.
- Use edges and value the marginal: The interface between things is where the most interesting events take place. These are often the most valuable, diverse and productive elements in the system.
- Creatively use and respond to change: We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing, and then intervening at the right time
Permaculture originally referred to "permanent agriculture" but has since expanded to stand for "permanent culture" as it began to incorporate social aspects into its philosophies.
It's Australian link may well explain the permaculture villages and communities that have been popping up all over the country. It has become a movement of individuals and groups working in both rich and poor countries on all continents.
Largely unsupported by government or business, these people are contributing to a sustainable future by reorganising their life and work around the permaculture design principles listed above. In this way they are creating small local changes but ones which are directly and indirectly influencing action in the wider environment, organic agriculture, appropriate technology, communities and other movements for a sustainable world.
After 30 years Permaculture may rank as one of Australia’s most significant “intellectual exports”. So, what are you waiting for? Jump on the bandwagon and save money while saving the planet!
Learning Cloud offers everything from short courses, right through to Permaculture Certificates. Find out more by calling 1300 650 569 or visiting our website!
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