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WHAT IS PERMACULTURE?
Permaculture is working with nature to make a
better world for all. By observing the natural world we can see that
there are a set of principles at work. Permaculture design uses these
principles to develop integrated systems to provide for our needs of
food, water, shelter, energy and community in ways that are healthy and
efficient. Through permaculture design we can improve the quality and
productivity of our individual lives, our society and our environment.
Permaculture has an ethical basis:
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Earthcare - enabling all life systems to
continue and increase
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Peoplecare - enabling access to the
resources people need for a good quality of life
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Limits to population and consumption - to
share resources for Earthcare and Peoplecare
Permaculture is a global initiative reflecting
and enhancing the diversity of cultures across the world. Permaculture
encourages people to think and act both globally and locally,
recognizing that we are all citizens of Earth with responsibility for
the creation of value within our locality. There are permaculture
projects and networks in over 100 countries, fostering a positive
transition to sustainability, through practical design. With the
application of ecological principles people are able to integrate
themselves, their buildings and their landscape through 'beneficial
associations', These living systems are capable of supporting and
regenerating themselves.
Permaculture design is applicable to any
scale, from window box to bioregion, and to any system, from household
through industry to economy. Because permaculture principles are
generic, they can be used in any climatic or cultural context.
"Permaculture is the conscious design and
maintenance of agriculturally
productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability and resilience
of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and
people providing their food, energy, shelter and other material needs in
a sustainable way. Permaculture design is a system of
assembling conceptual, material and strategic components in a
pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms." Bill
Mollison*
"The philosophy behind permaculture is one
of working with, rather than
against nature, of looking at systems in all their functions,
rather than just asking one yield of them, and of allowing
systems to demonstrate their own evolutions. " David Holmgren*
*Bill Mollison and David Holmgren are the
co-creators of permaculture.
From The Permaculture Association. For
more see
Permaculture Explained on their web site (www.permaculture.org.uk/mm.asp?mmfile=whatispermaculture) |