12/3/2013. An Introduction to Permaculture Design. Permaculture = Permanent + Agriculture. What are Permaculture s Applications? How can we use it?

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1 An Introduction to Permaculture Design What is Permaculture? Your ideas Symbol of Permaculture, from Bill Mollison s book. Based on stories from the Australian Aboriginal culture Permaculture = Permanent + Agriculture Bill Mollison (Australian ecologist) and David Holmgren (his student) coined name in Began with sustainable agriculture, but soon realized it was MUCH more Now also considered Permanent + Culture From Bill Mollison (founder): Several Definitions: Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms. It seeks to provide a sustainable and secure place for living things on this earth. Bill Mollison David Holmgren Several Definitions: Permaculture is What are Permaculture s Applications? How can we use it? From the Permaculture Drylands Institute: the use of ecology as the basis for designing integrated systems of food production, housing, appropriate technology, and community development. Permaculture is built upon an ethic of caring for the earth and interacting with the environment in mutually beneficial ways. Not limited to Agriculture! Non-fossil fuel based Energy Appropriate Technology Water Collection/Distribution/Management Architecture Economics and Business Social Systems Urban/Suburban/Landscape Food-Growing 1

2 (David Holmgren s version of) Permaculture s 12 Principles Permaculture s 3 Ethics * observe and interact * catch and store energy * obtain a yield * apply self-regulation and accept feedback * use and value renewable/local resources and services * produce no waste * design from patterns to details * integrate rather than segregate * use small and slow solutions * use and value diversity * use edges and value the marginal * creatively use and respond to change One Year in the Hammock Learning to build a terrace from urbanite 2

3 Wind Power Micro Hydropower Alternative Energy Store Energy in Preserved Foods 3. 3

4 Using Guilds plants that compliment each other Interplanting Peaches with Squash, Vetch, and Buckwheat = Higher Yield for All Crops Guilds Help Plants and People! Swales and Berms Common Theme: diverse experience/inputs helps all involved to thrive (i.e. high yield) Adapted From: Gaia s Garden, Hemmenway Theater Guilds Student Guilds Business Networking Guilds Yield = Passive Water Storage & Low- Investment Plant Growth 4. People Working and Learning Together = Community Yield 4

5 Community Visioning & Adaptive Management Keep a Garden Log! Business Ethics The triple bottom line is people, planet and profit environmental quality and social equity are just as important as black ink at the bottom of the ledger. B Corporations = a new type of company that uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. (Delaware just signed into law ) Self-Regulation of Human Population and Impacts Community Skill-Sharing The Ultimate Renewable Resource Solar Ovens 5

6 The A-Frame Level Easy Tool for Finding the Contour of the Land 6. A excellent example of Appropriate Technology Garden Compost Bins Worms compost humanure Free Woodchips Dried leaves + weeds + grass clippings + kitchen scraps + = Fertile Soil! One company s waste = one gardener s resource! Turning wastes into solutions 7. Chicken Tractor 6

7 Design with the Earth s cycles in mind Garden Design: Begin with Big-Picture Ideas work toward Individual Plant Locations From: The Hand-Sculpted House A typical farm Redesigned with Permaculture 8. From: Mollison s Permaculture: A Designer s Manual Consensus Decision-Making Avoids Alienating the Minority Portland s CityRepair revitalizes communities by reclaiming street intersections 7

8 Don t have the resources for a huge garden? 9. Plant a small one! Doing things by hand = get to know site and people 10. Local Currencies Recognize Diverse Values Guild: Diversity of Plants that Work Well Together Ithaca Hours Just like federal money but local, and equalizing 8

9 11. Human Diversity = New Experiences! Pond Edge Habitat Herb Spirals: Use the Edges! Same Water Volume, 2x Edge Habitat for Fish and Plants Cob = clay, sand, straw, water Edges are the most interesting! Other peoples garbage = windows for a new cob cottage! From: The Hand-Sculpted House 9

10 Planning for Seasonal Change 12. Wheelchair-bound permaculture gardener creates accessible and beautiful gardens We can use Permaculture in our daily lives if we Value traditional knowledge and experience Remember that all things are connected Become aware of large patterns, but don t ignore the beautiful details Use an Earth-based and people-centered approach Practice positivity and cooperation 10