Eco Design + Living focuses on the built and natural environments as they relate to the two most important things we need to sustain ourselves, shelter and food. Written by Chandra F. Hartman, this blog provides vingettes of information about living sustainably on the Gulf Coast. Visit the Eco Design + Living website for more information. Most importantly, live well.
Permaculture - The Basics
Tags design, permaculture, sustainability
What is this...Permaculture?
When discussing eco-design and living, no conversation would be complete without permaculture. The word itself is a or a frankenword from the words 'permanent culture' or 'permanent agriculture.' Two Australian dudes, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, coined the term in the early 1970's when they were developing solutions in response to the oil and environmental crisis at that time. It finds its origins in the simple concept that we all need food to eat and without sustainable agriculture, sustainable culture is an impossibility. Imagine that?
Fast forward to 2009, Permaculture is being revisited and re-evaluated as a solution for creating beyond sustainable communities. Permaculture is an ethics based design system that adheres to a set of principles and includes renewable energy systems, green building, sustainable agriculture, and water harvesting, among other elements. These elements are designed to work together to create closed loop or cradle-to-cradle solutions. The ethics for Permaculture are simple: care for humans, care for the Earth, share the surplus, and every being has intrinsic value. Between Holmgren and Mollison, there are 24 principles total. One example of a principle is "produce no waste."
Permaculture is a versatile design tool that can be applied to large parcels of land, a small urban structure, or even one's personal life. A permaculture design can be divided into phases for manageability and overall maturity. Permaculture often focuses on agriculture production, though this can be applied in a community-sufficient capacity, as opposed to a strictly self-sufficient capacity. In other words, the idea that every single person grows their own food may or may not be the most efficient use of skill and labor. Permaculture encourages sustainable community development by seeking to understand and incorporate built and human resources into a localized system that values each individual’s input.
Permaculture is not a green gadget, futuristic kind of thing. It uses common sense, ancient wisdom, and existing technology to create abundance and regenerative environments with minimal human maintenance. To view an example of a permaculture based design, visit this link CFH Design Studio - coastal plains permaculture for the Seaside Neighborhood School Edible Garden. Until next time...produce no waste.
Look for more information about Permaculture in future posts.
When discussing eco-design and living, no conversation would be complete without permaculture. The word itself is a or a frankenword from the words 'permanent culture' or 'permanent agriculture.' Two Australian dudes, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, coined the term in the early 1970's when they were developing solutions in response to the oil and environmental crisis at that time. It finds its origins in the simple concept that we all need food to eat and without sustainable agriculture, sustainable culture is an impossibility. Imagine that?
PortmanteauFast forward to 2009, Permaculture is being revisited and re-evaluated as a solution for creating beyond sustainable communities. Permaculture is an ethics based design system that adheres to a set of principles and includes renewable energy systems, green building, sustainable agriculture, and water harvesting, among other elements. These elements are designed to work together to create closed loop or cradle-to-cradle solutions. The ethics for Permaculture are simple: care for humans, care for the Earth, share the surplus, and every being has intrinsic value. Between Holmgren and Mollison, there are 24 principles total. One example of a principle is "produce no waste."
Permaculture is a versatile design tool that can be applied to large parcels of land, a small urban structure, or even one's personal life. A permaculture design can be divided into phases for manageability and overall maturity. Permaculture often focuses on agriculture production, though this can be applied in a community-sufficient capacity, as opposed to a strictly self-sufficient capacity. In other words, the idea that every single person grows their own food may or may not be the most efficient use of skill and labor. Permaculture encourages sustainable community development by seeking to understand and incorporate built and human resources into a localized system that values each individual’s input.
Permaculture is not a green gadget, futuristic kind of thing. It uses common sense, ancient wisdom, and existing technology to create abundance and regenerative environments with minimal human maintenance. To view an example of a permaculture based design, visit this link CFH Design Studio - coastal plains permaculture for the Seaside Neighborhood School Edible Garden. Until next time...produce no waste.
Look for more information about Permaculture in future posts.
Total Comments 2
Comments
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Thanks Chandra - promoted to front page.Posted 03-18-2009 at 11:10 AM by kurt
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...and thank you, Kurt.Posted 03-21-2009 at 10:28 AM by Chandra
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