Tip of the Week – Focus on Permaculture
You may have heard of Permaculture and wonder what it is. Permaculture is a system for gardening, horticulture or agriculture that keeps the system in balance by using ways that do not deplete the earths natural resources. There are guidelines for permaculture. We will give you a few.
1.Is Permaculture for You?
Some treat permaculture more as a religion…and you know what can happen with religion we can get all tied up in useless dogma. But the idea behind permaculture is a goodie and if we think about the principles we might be able to start using those that are relevant to our situation and even one day be a keen Permaculturalist.
2. Here are Some Definitions
There are lots of definitions.
According to www.permaculture.net: Permaculture, or permanent (agri)culture, means working with natural forces – wind, sun, & water – to provide food, shelter, water & other needs with minimum labor & without depleting the land. Permaculture is a holistic approach based on traditional agricultural practices.
Here are some more:
(a) Permaculture is perrennial agriculture but can occur in a window sill, in a garden, on a rooftop right thru to an expansive or hitech farm.
(b) Permaculture derives practical techniques & principles from the study of natural systems & applies them to earth repair & care. Anon
(c) The principles are derived from three basic ethics: Care for the Earth; Care for people; Limit needs & reinvest in the future . Ben Haggard
(d) Permaculture seeks to develop the natural resources of a place & integrates the human community into Nature’s design. A permaculture design provides us with shelter, energy, food, water, income, & aesthetic & spiritual fulfillment within a balanced & healthy biological community. Anon
3. The Principles
Revolve around Sustainability of:
(a) The earth and its ecosystems. This means you become a conservationist not a ‘radical greenie’. Your aim is to conserve in a practical way not preserve like some stagnant ornament.
(b) People Care. If the people in your family, workforce or community are not living happy fulfilled lives than this is non sustainable and not part of the permaculture process.
(c) Consumption of Resources. Our world has limited resouces…so set limits and redistribute surpluses. Reduce waste and recycle everything possible.
4. Practical Solutions
Working with these principles it is easy to design a permaculture plan for your situation.
You will have many ideas & practises already.
If you study Permaculture through a course you will find there are absolutely thousands of ideas to achieve at least part of these principles.
…. If you like the principles Go For It.