Permaculture for Sustainable Lifestyle
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Our society has benefited from global industrialization and modernization, which has resulted in economic expansion and urban development. Men today have enjoyed comfort and convenience modern products and technology have given us. However, it also brought about environmental pollution and significant deterioration to the basic life systems that supported our very existence. Men now realize that something needs to be changed in the way we live our life and manage our resources if we are to survive for a long time. As our population continues to grow, we consume massive amounts of resources and energy. We must address the major environmental challenges that have risen as a result of the present global conditions.
Permaculture, by definition, refers to the development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient. Permaculture is a philosophy of working hand in hand with nature. Supporting its ability to regenerate while providing us with the resources that we need for survival. It allows nature and man to coexist in a symbiotic relationship. Permaculture is a system designed to address how each individual may live a more ethical lifestyle through simple strategies. It teaches us how to decrease environmental impact while changing the way we interact with nature. Strategies that we can apply to accomplish anything with greater efficiency while maintaining sustainability.
Permaculture was conceived and created in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in Australia. The term came from “permanent agriculture” or “permanent culture”. It was created at a time when man began to realize the environmental impact of the modern industrialized practices and methods. It focuses on designing and creating agricultural systems based on the natural sustainable patterns observed from nature. Permaculture was built on 3 foundational ethics:
Earth Care
Our health and survival largely depends on the state of our planet which generously provides most of the resources we need. The planet’s living and nonliving elements are all linked and interdependent. If we use all these resources without a thought to how they will be replenished it will come to a point where they will be depleted. We owe it to ourselves and to Earth to seek alternatives in our agricultural practices that nurture our environment and encourage biodiversity.
Though not all of us take care of our own land or grow our own food, the choices we make about what and how we consume or conserve encompasses our understanding of caring for our planet. From the clothes we wear, the materials we use, the goods we buy, all contribute to the impact on our environment. We should learn to act and live with care to preserve our resources. To reduce our impact and respect the functions of all living and nonliving elements in our planet even if we don’t see a need for them. Permaculture is all about making a difference, no matter how small it may seem.
People Care
People care begins with oneself and expands to family and community and throughout all of humanity. It is empowering oneself to be self-reliant and live an ethical, ecological-friendly lifestyle. Accepting personal responsibility to take care of oneself and others without producing or consuming unnecessary resources. It is knowing how your consumption of food, energy, and other materials impacts other people. Permaculture promotes ethical consumerism. The moral implications of how we satisfy our needs is taken into consideration. It is also understanding the power of community and collective well-being.
Permaculture places an emphasis on the “sharing and caring” approach. Where human relationships are built on respect and reciprocity as opposed to a competitive approach. To take care of one’s own needs and help the community by sharing knowledge and experience. Caring for people fosters self-reliance and a sense of communal responsibility. If we make incremental differences as individuals, the collaborative effort of a whole community would significantly reduce the ecological footprint. Resources will be conserved, and nurtured and environmental surroundings will prosper. And at the same time, when people unite to support each other, it promotes a stable, productive, and emotionally healthy community.
Fair Share
The world’s resources are finite. Knowing this fact means that we recognize that there are limits to the share of resources available and how much we can take. We only have one planet, and the resources it provides freely should be shared with all living creatures and future generations. Permaculture aims to provide guidelines to create just and equitable systems. Sustainable techniques and processes take into consideration the planet’s resource constraints as well as the needs of all living things. We must set consumption limits, manage our own needs, and reallocate the excess for the benefit of both man and the environment.
When there is an abundance of resources we must not take advantage of it and put it to waste. We can redirect and reinvest excess in a way to aid create self-sustaining ecosystems. The core principle of fair share is getting rid of the exploitation mentality and taking responsibility for how much resources we consume. Finding the right balance and getting only our fair share of the resources so we can live sustainably without destroying Earth’s living systems.
The 12 Principles of Permaculture
The permaculture movement has grown globally inspiring people to create positive changes all around the world. It provided people a guideline with a sense of right and wrong in their methods of doing things. Most permaculture solutions conserve resources and energy, and save time and money. Permaculture has 12 basic design principles that can be applied in every aspect of our lives.
Observe and Interact
Careful observation and a well-thought-out plan of action before diving into any undertaking has always been an advantage in any situation. Observation allows you to gain a deeper understanding and to plan a better approach that is more ethical and sustainable. Taking the time to observe helps you make well-informed decisions on how to proceed. It will also help us save time and resources by avoiding trials and errors. This approach can be applied to various aspects in our lives. On agricultural living systems, in our careers, relationships, and more. We can learn from nature and from other people by seeing how they have progressed towards a more environmentally friendly and ethical approach. And by collaborating with the world around us to achieve our goals. One important thing to note though is that we shouldn’t have to take too long to proceed into action. Don’t get stuck in the planning and analysis stage. At a certain point, you must stop planning, take action and start doing.
Catch and Store Energy
All living things need energy in various forms to survive. Our planet is abundant with energy. Being able to catch and store that energy is essential to living a sustainable way of life. In a broad context, energy is not only manifested in the sun, water, and wind, but in the soil, plants, animals, and personal or human energy as well. This principle deals with developing systems that capture, collect and store resources when they are abundant within our environment, buildings, and society and use them in times of need.
The sun is one of the major sources of energy. We can catch the solar energy from the sun through plants and trees. Plants which use sunlight to turn into chemical energy to feed animals and humans. Trees which convert the sun’s energy to provide oxygen and resources such as food, nutrients, and shelter. The sun’s energy can also be captured through solar panels and can be used to operate solar-powered devices and appliances. Water which is another significant source of energy can be captured in dams, reservoirs, or in our soil. Water can be captured in many ways and can be used for plants, soil, animals, household use, manufacture products, and generate electricity among others. We can store energy inside our households too. By preserving and fermenting food, reusing containers, and storing wood piles for winter fuel.
Human effort can also be seen as energy. The collective effort of many can greatly save time and resources in accomplishing tasks. This also emphasizes the significance of a community where we can harness and share human energy to support each other and to thrive. Capturing and storing energy is an important element in any system’s design. All types of energy that pass through our environment may be thought of as inputs that can be saved for later use. This will enable us to maximize our surplus and give us the best chance of regeneration and establishing a sustainable lifestyle.
Obtain a Yield
This principle stresses that a system design should ensure that it produces yields and benefits. Permaculture's concept is to foster optimum production at all times. We need to secure a stable supply for future generations and make sure that we don’t run out of resources. A system design that does not generate any immediate and useful output should be let go or replaced. Obtaining a yield is an approach to how we farm, cultivate our crops, and operate our homes and communities. It is an ongoing process which encourages thinking of new ways to enhance or make an improvement on the current system.
A yield can be edible, tangible or intangible. It can be food, minerals, metals, or other resources, and it can also be happiness, health or mental well-being. It is crucial to recognize potential yields when designing a system. A yield is theoretically unlimited. The amount of conceivable uses of a resource inside a system will only be limited by the designer’s knowledge and creativity. For example, a chicken does not just provide eggs and chicken meat. They help you clean your yard of bugs and weeds, their manure can make great fertilizer, they can be a natural garbage disposal eating your food scraps and peelings. They can even make great pets and companions. If we plant fruit trees, they can yield fruits. Trees can also provide shelter, oxygen, organic matter, habitat for insects and animals, wood, and can beautify your surroundings. If we observe and plan wisely, we can make productive systems and obtain yields and benefits where otherwise it may be wasted.
Permaculture stresses self-reliance and the capacity to fulfill our own needs using our own resources. While obtaining a yield is the fundamental goal of any productive activity, permaculture’s point is also to consider the methods and means in trying to achieve it. Permaculture principles guide us on how to efficiently and responsibly achieve that goal. It’s doing useful and meaningful work.
Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback
“Perfect” does not exist in this world. It is imperative that we are able to understand and accept both positive and negative feedback. It is essential to creating successful self-regulative productive system designs. An ideal permaculture system design is one that is self-maintaining, regulating and is flexible to changes and challenges. In order to reach that goal, we must be willing to make modifications and adjustments if we see the limitations or unfavorable impacts of our initial designs or decisions. This will help to reduce the amount of physical effort and resources to fix anomalies and restrictions.
This principle of permaculture stresses that we need to be open minded. Be willing to receive feedback from people who have your best interests in mind. Be willing to evaluate and reassess your own beliefs, habits and methods. Be willing to change them if they are not working well. This goes for all the things in our lives, our plans, habits, ideas, and decisions. When something is not working, it creates new opportunities for better things. By analyzing and evaluating all things in our lives, we can make better decisions moving forward.
Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services
The principles of permaculture design seeks to make the best use of renewable resources to create, manage, and sustain high-yielding systems even if some non-renewable resources may be required. Renewable resources refers to natural resources that are replenished through natural reproduction or other recurring processes in the natural environment. Such things like the sun, wind, water, trees, and plants among others. Renewable services are ecosystem services that we obtain from the natural world without them being consumed. Like the trees providing us shade or shelter, the bees providing pollination, or some farm animals managing pests and clearing weeds.
Renewable resources and services are all around us. We might not take notice or recognize or even be aware of how we consume them. We need to understand and value these resources to ensure appropriate and responsible use. Making most of nature’s abundance will allow us to reduce our use and reliance on non-renewable and finite resources. We need to be mindful to consume what we only need and think about how our actions will influence the ability of these resources to regenerate. By using the renewable power of the sun, wind, water, and nature around us we are able to grow our food, power our homes and appliances, and regenerate our environment. All our mindful actions, conservation efforts, conscious and responsible use of our renewable resources will help us in moving toward a more sustainable lifestyle.
Produce No Waste
A zero-waste lifestyle is a sustainable lifestyle. Reducing waste not only applies to material waste but to all other aspects in our lives as well. We can conserve and slowly implement a zero-waste lifestyle by modifying our ways little by little. By choosing to reduce the things that we buy, be conscious and wise in selecting which things to buy. By reusing those things that are still usable and recycling and composting when possible. Careful maintenance and the purchase of high-quality, long-lasting items can also help in reducing waste and consumption.
Permaculture’s guiding principle emphasizes making the best use of available resources in a system that eliminates waste. Permaculture designs also promote frugality for material goods. And the revolutionary perspective of seeing waste as an input to produce another useful resource through recycling and other processes.
Reducing waste is not only limited to material consumption but can also be applied to other areas in our lives. Such things as walking or riding your bike to work to save fuel and reduce air pollution. Reduce wasting money on unnecessary things. Reduce wasting time on television movies and spend those bonding with family or out in nature. Making changes to our lifestyle slowly enables us to be more responsible and to eliminate waste streams leading to a more sustainable lifestyle.
Design From Patterns to Details
Our world is made up of patterns, it exists all around us. Our bodies are made up of DNA patterns and gene sequences. All life forms follow the same pattern of birth, growth, and death. The pattern of natural events such as day and night, seasonal changes, and more. Observing and understanding patterns will enable us to comprehend how life naturally works. It helps us to recognize how elements interact and work with each other as a whole. Modern permaculture principles and ethics were built around the patterns of natural systems in nature and adapting them to our way of life. The pattern that nature employs optimizes space, efficiency, and productivity and has zero waste. The more we know about patterns, the better we can design and build systems that are sustainable. Patterns serve as a foundation for system designs upon which we build and assemble the components of a whole. Understanding a pattern before designing makes our approach and solution more efficient and successful.
In all aspects of our lives, we have to consider the bigger picture before pondering on the small details. Taking into consideration the totality and perspective as a whole can help us progress in a positive direction. The perspective of pattern thinking can be used in a variety of situations in our daily lives. Like zoning in designing houses, buildings, or a certain site. With the basic idea that activities or operations embarked on a daily basis or those with similar nature should be placed together. When planning garden plots, we take into consideration patterns of sun movement, water flow, and weather conditions. Patterns can also be applied in our businesses, like understanding workflow and business patterns to make sound business decisions. Patterns help us create designs that work with nature rather than against it. Helping us achieve the goal of making the most effective use of time, energy, and space. Patterns are also used to solve problems since they have previously been tried and proven. By taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, we can build better systems, identify trends, and discover how multiple areas can interact and support each other.
Integrate Rather Than Segregate
One significant insight that we learn from nature is that all elements are interconnected. Both each individual element as well as the relationship between them are equally important. A healthy and thriving ecosystem is made up of mutually beneficial interconnections and relationships of multiple elements. Such as in the case of companion planting in a vegetable garden. Each plant has a unique function and contribution that benefits all of the other plants as well as the entire garden. Permaculture designs seek to accomplish the same principle. Through integration, one's demands are met by another.
This permaculture principle emphasizes that each important function is supported by many elements and that each element provides many functions. Like in the case of food sources for your family. Food can be provided by vegetable producers, small or large-scale livestock farmers, fruits, poultry, and others. Or when producing compost, it can be done through a worm farm or compost heap. In case any of these sources fail, the others can sustain or provide. This increases the system’s resilience, lowering the chances of failure. Each element provides many functions in the sense that we should not only focus on one particular yield. A permaculture system aims to use all of an element’s varied functions. Like a chicken for example. It does not only yield eggs and chicken meat. It can also offer pest control, tillage, and manure.
As with life, integration also greatly benefits human society. Learning to coexist with each other and forming symbiotic relationships where each one supports one another helps communities thrive. Integrating our lives with other people does not entail losing one’s individuality. Strong communities can be built by finding common interests and discovering how each one’s differences and unique skills can work together for the greater good. People thrive in a supportive environment where they can achieve not just their personal goals but also contribute to a bigger whole while maintaining meaningful relationships. Sustainability is something that communities and organizations can achieve together through cooperation and collaboration. By putting things in the right place, supportive relationships are developed to help each other. Segregation weakens a system while integration strengthens it.
Use Small and Slow Solutions
“Slow and steady wins the race.” Rushing into anything whether it is a project, an activity, or any plan of action can often lead to problems. A slower, more consistent approach can be more suitable and yield better results. Breaking your goal into smaller tasks will help reduce the possibility of errors. Smaller systems are easier to handle. It is easier to measure progress and easier to detect and correct mistakes. Using small and slow solutions allows us to research and trial on a smaller scale. It allows us to understand the impact and long-term effects of what we are doing and make course adjustments if there is a need along the way. Small and slow solutions guarantee that you are not overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task at hand but instead handle it one step at a time in a reasonable manner. Though big actions and changes can bring bigger benefits, it also brings bigger risks. Small, incremental changes are the best approach to achieving long-term change.
In real-life applications, small and slow solutions are also used in various situations for a greater benefit. It can be seen in those using animals instead of mowing to maintain grasses and lawns. You are not only saving money on fuel but also nourishing the grass with animal manure. In making compost and making good use of your food scraps and other wastes, instead of buying ready-made fertilizers. Instead of utilizing chemical sprays, beneficial insects and other animals are used to control pests. How about when working out? The ideal strategy is to go to the gym on a regular basis and gradually get your body acclimated to toning and working out. Rather than a few days of exhaustive and intense whole-body exercise, which will simply leave you with aching muscles. Even in investing, buying expensive things, or in business. Taking time to do research, going slow, and doing small steady steps at a time can save you time, money, and effort in the long run.
Use and Value Diversity
Diversity refers to the existence of variation, or the condition of having different elements. In nature, we see diversity all around us. In plant life, where the plant’s growth and survival are supported by pollinating insects, earthworms, microbes, and other organisms. In the existence of different ecosystems, marine, tropical rainforests, deserts, tundra, or those in the Arctic. Diversity is what sustains life in these ecosystems. Different life forms exist and interact in various ways creating a balance to ensure survival for all. Each plant, creature, and organism has a specific role to play in the web of life. The absence of one weakens the entire system. Diversity builds resilience ensuring that all species have an abundance of what they need for survival and to continue the cycle of life. It reduces vulnerability to various threats and dangers while taking advantage of the environment’s unique characteristics.
“Do not put all your eggs in one basket,” as the adage goes. This permaculture principle also applies to many areas in our lives. Like in our investments or income sources. It is wise to invest or have multiple income streams. This way in case one of them fails, you will have other means as a backup. To the different people in our lives or community, different people with different skills and abilities. From doctors to engineers, to bank workers, farmers, teachers, and more. Human society that is composed of people with diverse skills is more resilient and productive. The wisdom of diversity can be applied everywhere. Whether in your garden, in your home, or life in general, promoting diversity in all its forms offers insurance of stability against possible risks.
Use Edges and Value the Marginal
Sustainability entails making the best use of all of the resources available to us. Using what we have involves appreciating fringes and all aspects of it. Referring to those at the edge, outskirts, or the unconventionals in any given system or design. This can be applied in various circumstances like land usage, work environments, homes, and society in general. An edge is a point where two or more objects come together and interact. It is said that the interface between things is generally more productive, diverse, dynamic, and valuable. Marginals are those that are minor, insignificant, or negligible. They can be unexplored ideas, new views, unusual plants, or wild animals. Using edges and valuing the marginal might mean planting extra vegetables in a neglected area of your yard. Or designing your herb garden in unusual shapes to utilize all of the possible space. It could also mean harvesting bounty from the ignored trees along the busy streets in your city or recognizing weeds that can be edible or medicinal growing on your driveway.
This principle of permaculture puts emphasis on the overlooked, underestimated, or undervalued. Which can be abundant with great potential when put to good use. In permaculture, those that are often thrown away, rejected, or discarded are considered significant and valuable when used resourcefully. Utilizing edges and valuing the marginal balances with bigger concepts that are centered on production and yields. They represent both challenges and opportunities. And most of the time, these difficult situations call for optimal creativity and productivity which often brings out the best in you.
As with human society, a lot of people who possess wisdom and great knowledge have been marginalized throughout history. This principle teaches us not to disregard the importance of edges and to learn how to recognize and use the marginal. Give value to those often overlooked, not to easily dismiss what is usually neglected and dejected. Doing this allows us to regain access to the rejected wealth of resources, knowledge, and space and build a stronger and more inclusive system in the process.
Creatively Use and Respond to Change
The only thing constant in this world is change. It is an inevitable part of life. Seasons change, climate shifts, rain pattern changes, population growth, technology advances, economic booms or declines, and attitude changes. Moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle involves keeping in mind that living isn’t just about the present but also about the future. Knowing that things will change over time and how we respond to this change will shape the progress in the years to come. Accepting that change is inevitable shifts our perspective about how we live our life. We may not be able to control change but how we think and do about it is something that we are in control of. Change will take you on a journey of problem-solving and discovering solutions. Change is an opportunity for growth, a learning experience, and an avenue for new and better things to take place.
This principle is also about anticipating, planning, designing, and working with change. Changes that are predictable can be anticipated and included in our designs, management, and action plans. Just like how seasons and ecosystems vary with time, we can plan, predict and design systems to accommodate these foreseen changes. And you can explore innovative solutions for the unexpected ones. View change as an opportunity to create a positive impact and to improve your skills and resourcefulness rather than as an inconvenience.
Human life and society is also full of change. We change careers, move to different cities, lose or gain new friends, and extend our friends and family by getting married or having children. New leaders will be elected, new games will be released, new technology, and new gadgets. As man is wired for growth, we are capable of working together and creating systems that benefit us all. Tapping into our inner resources and asking for help and support from our communities enables us to respond to change. Applying this mindset allows us to see that there is a place for each one of us to do our work and co-exist productively. Change becomes an instrument for us to develop and progress. Change becomes a driving force to continually push ourselves to perform better, extend our talents, and think of new ways to accomplish things.
Most of the principles of permaculture help us to use and respond to change creatively. These will serve as our tools and guiding principles in our journey. We can adapt and utilize them in various ways providing us with a wide range of options for dealing with change and working with reality. Permaculture’s flexibility and its ability to adapt and respond to environmental changes are what make it sustainable.
The Importance of Positive Interaction Between Natural Components is Emphasized in Permaculture
Permaculture was created to focus on how a man can satisfy their basic needs like food and shelter in a way that is environmentally sustainable and beneficial. The original focus of permaculture was centered on sustainable food production. But over time, its philosophy extended to include economic and social systems. It has become a dynamic and ever-evolving movement that now includes spiritual and personal growth work.
Permaculture puts emphasis on the beneficial relationship between natural components. Its design prioritizes long-term viability and significance for all living life forms. It may be a learning tool or a training medium for developing long-term sustainability systems and patterns. It is a way of thinking that we can use in every area of our lives toward a more eco-friendly, ethical, and sustainable future. Permaculture principles enable us to build strong economies, symbiotic relationships between man and nature, good social systems, and well-designed human societies and communities. A positive culture that is healthy, thriving, and will last for future generations.
