Permaculture

What is permaculture?

Permaculture is modeled on the relationships found in nature. The term was coined by Bill Mollison (permanent agriculture and permanent culture). More specifically it is the design of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have diversity and stability while considering the existing enviroment and natural ecosystems.

True permaculture, is not just organic farming - the ideology should in practise means harmonious integration of environment and people — providing their food, shelter, and energy in a sustainable way.

Suburban Permaculture Systems

A suburban permaculture garden can be a highly productive edible landscape including vegetables, fruit trees, poultry, small scale aquaculture, recycling and composting systems, worm farming, along with spaces for entertainment and relaxation.

A major aim of permaculture design is to integrate the landscape with the building to help with heating and cooling as well as fulfilling the needs of the household, and to recycle waste from the building.

Rural and Commercial Permaculture Systems

Rural permaculture typically involves the design of vegetable gardens and fruit tree orchards, windbreaks, commercial olive and involve farm plans which could include space for cattle production, bush land regeneration and land conservation.

The benefits of a whole farm plan or property design are that a holistic sustainable approach to land use can be developed and the various stages in implementing the plan can be outlined.

Permaculture Design Principles

There are 12 permaculture design principles, which are are offered as "thinking tools" - when they are used together, then can allow anyone to design their use of the use of the environment in a thoughtful and sustainable way. They are provided by the ethical found of

Each principle can be used to help brain storm, providing a different perspective that can on your own situation - this excellent short video explains how you can use the permaculture design principles in more detail:

Permaculture and organic farming resources

For more information take a look at the Research Institute for Permaculture website: http://permaculture.org.au/