Permaculture is a design process that aims to create sustainable and regenerative systems that mimic the natural world. It is a holistic approach that combines ethics, principles, and strategies that promote ecological and social well-being. The word “permaculture” is a combination of “permanent” and “agriculture” coined by Bill Mollison (Tasmanian born) in the 1970s. It was initially developed as a response to the environmental degradation and social injustices caused by modern day industrial agriculture.

Permaculture is not only about farming; it is about creating resilient systems that integrate food production, shelter, energy, water management, waste reduction, and community building. It is a way of thinking and living that values diversity, cooperation, and mutual support.

Permaculture is essentially a way of living that deeply respects the land and fosters a two-way nurturing relationship between us humans and the planet.

Permaculture is based on three basic ethics:

1. Care for the Earth: This means taking care of the soil, water, air, and all living things. We need to work with nature instead of against it.
2. Care for People: This means creating systems that meet people’s basic needs such as food, shelter, health, and education. We need to prioritise human well-being and social equity.
3. Fair Share: This means sharing resources fairly and taking only what we need. We need to avoid overconsumption and waste.

The last of the ethics, Fair Share, is undoubtedly the hardest for us to grasp in the contexts of our modern way of life. In a world where we have been taught to ”consume” more, this last ethic requires us to make a fundamental change to our outlook and behaviour at the grass roots level (pun intended). It’s not going to be easy, but it is possible!

For those of you interested in learning more about how to create a permaculture garden there are a number of principles that guide its development;

1. Observe and interact: This means observing nature and understanding its patterns and processes before making any changes to the landscape.
2. Catch and store energy: This means capturing and storing energy from the sun, wind, and water to power our homes and farms.
3. Obtain a yield: This means designing systems that produce a useful yield, whether it is food, fibre, fuel, or medicine.
4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback: This means monitoring and adjusting our systems to maintain balance and resilience.
5. Use and value renewable resources and services: This means using resources that are renewable and regenerative, such as solar energy, compost, and biodiversity.
6. Produce no waste: This means designing systems that produce no waste, where waste becomes a resource.
7. Design from patterns to details: This means understanding the patterns of nature and designing systems that fit into those patterns.
8. Integrate rather than segregate: This means integrating different elements of the system, such as plants, animals, and buildings, to create a mutually beneficial relationship.
9. Use small and slow solutions: This means starting small and gradually expanding, rather than trying to solve everything at once.
10. Use and value diversity: This means recognizing and valuing diversity in all forms, from genetic diversity to cultural diversity.

Having just completed the 2 week intensive permaculture course in January this year I feel incredibly inspired to take charge of the land in my care, and nurture it back to health.  According to Bill Mollison, it takes only 15% of the population to embrace the principles of permaculture to halt the current trajectory of chronic disease and global warming.  Every little patch counts; even (and especially) those living in apartments – start your own balcony veggie patch, nurture the soil with home grown compost and TLC, or connect with your local community garden. There are so many ways to nurture the soil, and ultimately nurture ourselves!

I hope you feel as inspired as I do by the Permie movement! By applying permaculture principles to our lives and communities, we can create not only create healthier soil microbiomes and healthier food, we can create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.