Permaculture is more
than pretty landscaping
noun
per·ma·cul·ture ˈpər-mə-ˌkəl-chər
:Permaculture; permanent agriculture + permanent culture
:an agricultural system or method that seeks to integrate human activity with natural surroundings so as to create highly efficient self-sustaining ecosystems
Permaculture is Design Science
It is ultimately how all living systems interact with each other, including us! It carries values, ethics, science, personal responsibility for Earth Care, and ethical responsibility for ourselves, our actions and our children’s future. We do not simply exist in this world, we are an integral part of each other and this earth. As a result of my continual need to explore this passion, I now get to work with clients all over North America both in person and remotely. It has been an honour to help them bring their dreams into reality and see them become active members of their own ecosystems.
Permaculture also utilizes mapping systems to take into consideration contour lines, water systems, elements and access routes, which continually provide detailed scopes for my clients. My previous certifications in herbalism, plant medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, provide a solid foundation for identifying plants and trees and further to that, specific needs for clients and their properties.
Its History
Permaculture was conceived and developed in the 1970s by co-workers Bill Mollinson and David Holmgren in Australia. Originally the term was a contraction of “Permanent Agriculture” for that is what it was, the design and implementation of permanent systems.
A brief history
1970 /
Permaculture was developed in the 1970s by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. The term "permaculture" is derived from "permanent agriculture" and "permanent culture."
Mollison and Holmgren were inspired by indigenous land use practices and sought to create a system of agriculture that mimicked natural ecosystems. They were critical of conventional agricultural practices, which they believed were damaging to the environment and relied on non-renewable resources.
1978 /
First Permaculture Book
Publish
Mollison and Holmgren's work led to the publication of their book "Permaculture One" in 1978, which presented the principles and practices of permaculture. The book became a foundational text for the permaculture movement and sparked interest in sustainable agriculture and community design.
Since then, permaculture has spread around the world and has been applied to a variety of contexts, including urban and rural agriculture, community design, and ecological restoration. Today, permaculture is recognized as a holistic design system that seeks to create regenerative processes that benefit both people and the environment.
“You can solve all the world's problems in a garden, and by garden I mean a food forest."
– Geoff Lawton
Permaculture Branches
Growth
This includes growing food, plant medicine and companion plants without the use of pesticides or herbicides.
Natural Building
This involves the use of natural materials, such as stone, clay, and wood, to construct buildings and other structures.
Landscape Design
This involves planning and designing spaces that are ecologically conscious and that benefit both humans and the environment.
Appropriate Technology
This involves utilizing technology that is both efficient and effective when appropriate for the design.
Permaculture Ethics
Care of the Earth
When you create a micro-ecosystem on your property, you allow the Earth to renew itself in every season. No-waste, self-containing, and low-maintenance means you create a place that’s almost completely undisturbed.
Care for People
Permaculture as a practice urges the care of self and others. Allowing your land to generate what you and others require renews the relationship between person and earth. Embracing a new level of health, independence, and freedom.
Reinvest Surplus
Return it back to Earth and others. Composting, regenerative growing, and the natural life cycle of plants and life will help continue the no-waste cycle and help your land thrive.
