Permaculture is a concept originally created by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the mid-1970s. It is much more than a concept however, it is a word to describe a way of life. Permaculture has evolved since its original conception, there is much more to it than organic gardening.
Living Permaculture principles is the most direct way each of us can become involved on a personal level and community level in the healing of our lives and our world. This is because Permaculture is based in Natural Law, it is a way of designing human systems that is in harmony with nature.
An essential part of Permaculture is the food system. Ensuring we can independently sustain our lives by producing an abundance of food. Education and action in Permaculture will allow us to be able to create a regenerative design for our food systems.
Historically humans have attempted to have power OVER nature, but Permaculture is a way out of such a limited and evil worldview to develop human potential and access our power WITH nature. When human designs are instead rooted in nature and diversity, evolution and regeneration, abundance and stability emerge.
One of the key points in understanding how Permaculture works is that the solution can be found in the problems themselves. This is true whether or not we are trying to solve a problem in our garden or solve the problems we face as a whole on the planet. Without an accurate and complete understanding of the problem and its root causes we cannot move beyond it.
Permaculture is considered the practical application of sustainability. But we must be cautious of the definition of the world sustainability as it has been co-opted by global governance, the World Bank, IMF, the World Economic Forum, billionaires, big corporations and tech giants. Sustainability in Permaculture design is NOT the same as Sustainable Development projects privatizing resources in undeveloped nations. Nor does it mean the development of "Smart Cities", global governance, or a carbon tax on every individual. If any human developments cause harm to others or nature, or infringe upon human rights they are unsustainable and Wrong. We must measure our actions by these markers. Sustainability is by its actual definition the act of living in harmony with nature so that humanity is in a place of balance with our actions and they do not cause harm to each other and to the earth.
Permaculture is a comprehensive ecological design that can transform the way we understand our world. It takes into account natural systems and is a tool for land management, land repair, and human needs. The models are based in co-creative symbiotic relationships with nature, incorporating indigenous ways of knowing and ancestral wisdom.
The Ethics of Permaculture include:
-Care for the Self
-Care for the Earth, water, soil, minerals, air, plants, and animals
-Care for People, Reciprocity and Voluntaryism
Living and teaching Permaculture principles is the most powerful way that YOU can do the One Great Work.
