What Is Permaculture?

What is Permaculture?

Permaculture is a cyclical design approach based on understandings of how nature works.

The word permaculture was originally from a blending of the words ‘permanent agriculture’ but as time has moved on and community, social and cultural projects have become as much a part of permaculture as land-based projects it is now seen as a blend of ‘permanent culture’.

Permaculture brings together the traditional wisdom and practises of indigenous cultures from around the world and combines them with the science of ecology, design and technology and the patterns found in natural systems to build environmentally conscious and productive environments and social systems.

“Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems.”

(Bill Mollison co-founder and father of the permaculture movement)

At its heart permaculture has three ethics

Earth Care         People Care       Fair Share

And 12 principles which when used together, allow us to creatively re-design our environment and our behaviour using less energy and resources.

Ultimately the main philosophy behind permaculture is to work with, rather than against nature.