We all want a better world, and if you’re reading this, you are probably looking for ways to make that happen.
Permaculture is the best solution we have right now. It’s more than just a system of gardening, it’s a way of thinking about how humans interact with each other and with nature.
As permaculture practitioners say: “Think globally, act locally”. In this article I want to cover what permaculture is and why it can help us achieve our goals for sustainability.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Permaculture is a sustainable design system |
| Permaculture principles aim to create regenerative ecosystems |
| Permaculture is based on caring for the earth, people, and fair share |
| Permaculture can have numerous benefits to individuals and communities |
| Permaculture can be applied in urban areas through various techniques |
Principle 1: Observe and Interact
The first principle of permaculture is to observe and interact with the environment. By observing your surroundings, you can learn what’s happening in the world right now. You can also see patterns in nature that can help you make better decisions for the future.
Permaculture teaches us not only how to grow food but also how to live in balance with nature by creating systems that care for themselves.
This means using natural processes like recycling waste, using composting and mulching techniques so that our waste doesn’t needlessly fill up landfills or end up polluting our waterways (like what happens when we flush dirty diapers down toilets).
Whether you’re a beginner or have experience with permaculture, our step-by-step guide on permaculture for beginners is a valuable resource to help you create a sustainable and regenerative ecosystem that works with nature.
Principle 2: Catch and Store Energy
In order to have a sustainable system, you need to make sure that you are catching and storing the sun’s energy so that it can be accessed in the future.
The best way to do this is through passive solar design. This just means designing your house so that it captures as much sunlight as possible during the day, using materials like glass and thermal mass (like stone or bricks).
This allows you to use minimal electricity for heating during winter months when less light is available. In addition, these materials will absorb heat during warm summer months and release it slowly into your home throughout the night,meaning less cooling costs!
Table: Brands and Techniques for Catching and Storing Energy in Permaculture
| Brands | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Tesla | Solar panels and Powerwalls |
| RainHarvest | Rainwater harvesting tanks and systems |
| SunPower | Solar panels and monitoring systems |
| Sonnen | Smart home battery storage |
| Enphase | Microinverter systems for solar panels |
| Pika Energy | Home energy storage and management systems |
Principle 2 in permaculture emphasizes the importance of catching and storing energy, and there are numerous brands and techniques available to achieve this in a sustainable way. From solar panels and energy storage to rainwater harvesting and smart home systems, these brands can help transform the way we live and interact with our environment.
Principle 3: Obtain a yield
There is a difference between a benefit and yield. A benefit refers to any kind of positive change that occurs in your life.
A yield, on the other hand, refers to an increase in productivity or output from your system. This can be anything from food and water to money or happiness.
In order for anyone to maintain their way of life on this planet for generations upon generations, we must obtain yields which will sustain us through all the challenges that come our way.
The best way of obtaining yields is by looking for them where you normally wouldn’t think about looking for them!
For example, if you have some spare space around your house then why not use it as an urban garden? All you need are some seeds and soil (which is easily available) and voila! You now have an urban garden which will provide you with fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year!
Another great place where you could start getting yields is in your backyard or front yard (or anywhere else outside). By planting trees there instead of grasses it provides shade during hot days while also providing oxygen during the day which leads us into Principle 4: Produce no waste
Permaculture is as much about the benefits to the environment as it is the benefits to humans. In our article on the incredible benefits of permaculture gardening, we explore the many ways in which permaculture can make the world a better place.
Principle 4: Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback
This principle is all about balance, especially when it comes to the use of natural resources. Self-regulation and acceptance of feedback are critical elements in maintaining this balance.
When you’re working with plants or animals in your permaculture design, it can be easy to get carried away by their beauty and uniqueness, especially if they’re new species that you’ve never seen before.
Sometimes this leads us down a path where we plant more than we need—or even worse plants that aren’t native at all!
And while these beautiful non-native plants might look nice for a few years, eventually they’ll outgrow their space and produce too much shade or competition for other plants (and soil nutrients). This can lead to an unhealthy environment where nothing thrives except weeds!
It’s important not only that we maintain balance within ourselves but also within our systems as well: both on a large scale (the forest) as well as smaller scales such as our home gardens or even our bodies (the cells).
If there’s any one thing I learned from studying permaculture design principles over the last decade or so it’s this: when it comes right down to it there really isn’t anything more important than being mindful about how we interact with nature around us every single day.”
Table: Brands and Techniques for Applying Self-Regulation and Accepting Feedback in Permaculture
| Brands | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Sensing Clues | Observation and analysis tools for soil, water, and climate |
| Arable | Smart farming systems for monitoring and analyzing crops |
| Teralytic | Soil sensors and analytics |
| OpenTEAM | Collaborative platform for measuring and sharing farming data |
| Farmer’s Business Network | Platform for collecting and analyzing farming data |
| Till Mobile | Farm management app for tracking and analyzing farming information |
Principle 4 in permaculture emphasizes the importance of self-regulation and accepting feedback in order to constantly improve and refine our systems. These brands and techniques can help achieve this through tools and platforms that provide data analysis, collaboration, and improved decision-making for farmers and growers.
Principle 5: Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services
Renewable resources and services are those that can be replenished, or regenerated, within a reasonably short time. They include the sun, wind, water, earth and biomass of plants.
Using renewable resources and services in permaculture design is essential for sustainability because it allows us to use these freely available natural elements to produce food, water and energy without harming future generations of people or animals.
Nurturing these free-of-charge resources also makes them more sustainable than if they were harvested by humans in a way that depletes the reserves of that particular resource – as happens when we use up fossil fuels obtained through drilling or mining deposits underground (for example).
Interested in delving deeper into permaculture? Look no further than our comprehensive guide on permaculture 101, which covers everything from the basics to advanced techniques for creating a sustainable future.
Principle 6: Produce No Waste
In the linear system of production, waste is a by-product. When you buy a new product, it comes packaged in plastic or cardboard packaging.
If you use the product and then throw it away, then that’s your responsibility as consumer. You bought it; you own it; therefore, you can dispose of it however you want.
But what happens if we accept that all products should be designed to last? That would mean that there wouldn’t be any waste at all! No more disposing of old electronics or appliances because they broke down after only a few years they would simply be repaired instead of thrown away!
The circular economy is an opportunity for us to do better than what our current system allows us to do now: produce no waste whatsoever!
Principle 7: Design from Patterns to Details
This principle tells us to design from patterns to details. It is a way of thinking about the big picture and the small picture at the same time, which allows us to see how they relate to each other.
To use this principle, we need to be able to recognize patterns in our environment and make connections between them. We can apply these patterns in different ways depending on what purpose they serve and where we are trying to bring them into play.
For example, in permaculture design we might choose a particular species of tree because it performs multiple functions within its ecosystem – such as providing shade or berries for food – and then spread these types of trees throughout your landscape so that you don’t have one centralized location where all those benefits come together (which could lead you having too much competition with other plants because there’d be nothing else growing nearby). By spreading out the types
Feeling inspired to take action and create change through permaculture? Our article on 10 amazing permaculture projects will show you how others have successfully integrated permaculture principles into their communities.
Principle 8: Integrate Rather Than Segregate
Integration is the process of bringing together different elements into a unified whole. This is the opposite of segregation, which is when you put things in separate boxes.
It’s also the opposite of compartmentalization and specialization; both are ways that we isolate ourselves from others and from reality.
Integration means integrating plants, animals and humans into a sustainable system that works for all involved.
For example: if you have a garden full of edible plants, you can integrate chickens into your garden so they eat bugs and help fertilize your soil with their manure (and then you can eat them too).
Principle 9: Use Small and Slow Solutions
Small and slow solutions are more sustainable than big and fast ones. For example, you can use your phone or tablet to record the temperature in your room every half hour over a period of ten minutes. You will then be able to see how it changes over time (and whether it stays within acceptable limits).
Smaller systems are also easier to maintain, so they’re less likely to break down or cause problems when they do.
Finally, small systems encourage people to get involved with their community as well as their own homes – which creates a more resilient society overall!
Permaculture isn’t just about gardening or farming it’s a way of living sustainably. Read about how permaculture transformed one person’s life in our article on how permaculture transformed my life and see how it can benefit you too.
Principle 10 : Use and Value Diversity
The tenth principle of permaculture is to “use and value diversity.” In other words, it’s important to have a variety of plants and animals in your garden or farm.
This doesn’t just mean using different kinds of vegetables and fruits (though that’s part of it). It also means having different types of flowers, herbs, and trees around the property.
Diversity can be a source of strength because it helps you avoid monocultures those crops that require lots of water or fertilizer to grow well and allows plants with different needs to grow together without competing for resources like soil or light.
Diversity is good for both humans as well as the environment!
Conclusion
This is just the beginning of your journey. We’ve only covered 10 principles, but there are many more to explore in permaculture.
One thing is certain: if you want to live a sustainable lifestyle, it starts with these basic principles.
With each principle you learn, you will become more aware of how much waste goes into our modern lives and how much we could benefit from rethinking our approach to living on this planet.
Further Reading
For more resources on permaculture and sustainable living, check out the following links:
Permaculture: The Solution for a Sustainable Future – An informative article on the benefits of permaculture and how it can help create a sustainable future.
Permaculture: Definition, Principles, and Examples – A comprehensive overview of permaculture, including its definition, principles, and examples of how they can be applied.
Permaculture Principles – A detailed look at the 12 principles of permaculture, presented in an easy-to-understand format.
FAQs
What is permaculture?
Permaculture is a sustainable design system that aims to create regenerative ecosystems that work with nature rather than against it. It is based on the principles of care for the earth, care for people, and fair share.
What are the benefits of permaculture?
Permaculture can have numerous benefits, including producing sustainable food systems, creating healthier ecosystems, reducing waste and pollution, and promoting social and economic justice.
How can permaculture be applied in urban areas?
Permaculture can be adapted for use in urban areas, with techniques like vertical gardening, aquaponics, and community gardening projects. These approaches can help create more sustainable and livable urban environments.
How can I get started with permaculture?
Getting started with permaculture involves understanding its principles and finding ways to apply them in your own life. It may involve taking courses, reading books on the subject, and attending workshops or events in your community.
Can permaculture be financially viable?
Yes, permaculture can be financially viable, as it can reduce costs associated with traditional agriculture, such as labor and resource-intensive practices, while producing sustainable yields. It can also create new economic opportunities in areas like urban farming and sustainable homesteading.
I’m Hellen James, and I’m an urban farmer and blogger. I’ve been growing food in my backyard for years, and I love sharing what I’ve learned with other people who want to start farming in their own yards.