Permaculture: A life choice

If there were one new principle (well new for me) that I wanted to share for the new year, it would be permaculture.  It is not a simply defined initiative, but the idea can be summed up in a few basic principles.  It is a green way of living where instead of “living off the land,” a choice is made to be a part of that natural environment and develop a system to sustainably interact with nature for the betterment of the land, plants, animals and humans.  The idea is to develop mutually beneficial systems in harmony with nature.  By doing so, and learning to live with the land, people are able to be more productive, healthier, and so is the natural environment.

In outdoor education circles, there is a similar initiative that is encouraged when visiting pristine environments.  It is called Leave no Trace and the basic philosophy can be summed up in the common saying “Take only pictures and leave only footprints.”

The goal of permaculture is to take those same principles and incorporate them into every day life in such a way that both humans and the environment in which we live benefit.  These are the 12 defining characteristics that permaculture strives to promote:

thanks to Instructables.com

Observe and interact – We can learn a lot from observing our surroundings and it is important to do so.  Without this principle, we can never truly fit into the natural ecosystem.

Catch and store energy –While there are complicated new technologies that are able to do this, the heart of energy storage promotes more natural ways such as growing a garden, harnessing passive solar and using natural vegetation.

Obtain a yield –One of the basic necessities of life requires a food source.  By applying this principle –produce more than you consume– to our entire lives, we can become more productive without destroying our habitat.

thanks to TreeHugger.com

Apply self-regulation and accept feedback – Even the best designs need a guiding hand, and by paying attention to our surroundings, we can be that guide and improve on our habitat.  By accepting feedback, we can promote diversity, while at the same time realize when to let nature take its course.

Use and value renewable resources and services – There are limited resources available to us, but by making the most of what we have and taking only what we need, there will be enough to go around.  By trying to restore the resources that we use, that balance can even yield a production side as opposed to consumption.

Produce no waste –  By producing less waste, we can stretch our resources and leave more land for productive uses.  Even when we do produce waste, we can put it to use through methods like composting and thus redefine waste as a usable resource.

thanks to HappyFarming.com

Design from patterns to details – Nature regularly forms patterns and designs that should be recognized and emulated.  By doing so, we can both assimilate with nature and promote stronger and sustainable design.

Integrate rather than segregate – One of the reasons that modern farming requires the amount of fertilizers and pesticides that it does is that crops are segregated.  By integrating the right animals and plant together, we can promote a balance that no longer needs unnatural additions.

thanks to Wikipedia

Use small and slow solutions – While it is often tempting to change everything at once, it is important to remember that the earth operates on a much larger and longer timescale, and slow changes will often be readily accepted.  While we can’t work on a geological timescale, we need to remember that nature is used to moving much slower than we do.

Use and value diversity – You’ve heard the adage: “never put all your eggs in the same basket”? Well, what your grandmother always told you still holds true today.  Diversity, if utilized properly, can not only add variety, but also make each individual component stronger.

Use edges and value the marginal – New ideas often come from the margins of society, and it is important to help this liminal creativity flourish.  These “cusp” zones are often where integration of cultures, ideas, materials, etc. occur and where revolutionary ideas are born.  Encourage that to continue happening (foster those baby Einsteins!).

Creatively use and respond to change – Things don’t often work out the way that we plan them, so it is important to be willing to make alterations in creative ways.  These solutions are often ones that we wouldn’t normally think of and are nature’s way of guiding us on new paths. Don’t be too rigid to continue learning! Keep an open mind!