Permaculture – a tool for changemakers
Permaculture is a design tool that is based on 3 ethics:
- Caring for the Earth,
- Caring for People,
- Fair Share (reinvestment of surplus), sometimes referred to as Future Care.
It is a tool used to design regenerative, abundant environments that respect climate, nature’s patterns and flows, while providing for human and non-human needs. It is always based on observation and following nature as the greatest teacher.
As well as these 3 foundational ethics, permaculture design is based on many principles of sustainability such as:
Produce no waste!
Catch and store energy
Use and value renewable resources
Respond creatively and positively to change
Use and value diversity
Use and value the margins and the marginal
Learn about Permaculture as a tool for Sustainable Food Production here by doing the MOOC Everything Gardens available on www.ccivs.org/ilearn
You can also read and learn more about permaculture here from one of the founders, David Holmgren.
https://permacultureprinciples.com/
Here is a link to a great video showing the 12 principles in action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mwRAf3z9ag&vl=en
And here is an example of how one man is using Permaculture to change the urban environment where he lives to become a healthier, inclusive and greener neighbourhood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t-NbF77ceM&t=32s
Permaculture for Regenerative Culture
Permaculture has expanded from an agricultural and food growing tool, to being used in many different areas of regenerative culture:
Economic http://www.appleseedpermaculture.com/8-forms-of-capital/
Natural Building insert link
Appropriate technology
Land stewardship and advocacy
Education and more! http://childreninpermaculture.com/
There is an enormous amount of information from permaculture practitioners all around the world. If you would like to get involved, try to find your local Permaculture projects or people and connect to the network where you are!