up:: [[Sustainability and Sustainable Design]] tags:: #map/atlas #on/permaculture # Permaculture Permaculture is a holistic and sustainable design system that seeks to mimic natural ecosystems to create harmonious and regenerative human environments. It was developed in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren as a response to the environmental and agricultural challenges of the time. Permaculture principles and practices can be applied to various aspects of human life, including agriculture, architecture, urban planning, and community development. See [[Permaculture Principles]]. Here's an overview of permaculture: 1. **Ethics and Principles**: Permaculture is guided by three core ethics: Earth Care (care for the planet), People Care (care for people), and Fair Share (equitable distribution of resources). These ethics inform a set of principles that guide permaculture design. 2. **Observation and Design**: Permaculture emphasizes careful observation of natural patterns and processes. Designers seek to understand the relationships between elements in a system before creating sustainable designs that work with, rather than against, nature. 3. **Regenerative Agriculture**: One of the most well-known applications of permaculture is in agriculture. Permaculture farming focuses on regenerating soil health, increasing biodiversity, and minimizing the use of external inputs like pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Techniques include crop rotation, polyculture, and no-till farming. 4. **Ecosystem Mimicry**: Permaculture designs aim to mimic the structure and function of natural ecosystems. For example, a food forest is designed to resemble a natural forest ecosystem, with layers of trees, shrubs, herbs, and ground cover plants. 5. **Closed-Loop Systems**: Permaculture strives to create closed-loop systems where outputs from one element become inputs for another, reducing waste and the need for external resources. For example, composting kitchen scraps to enrich garden soil. 6. **Resilience and Sustainability**: Permaculture designs prioritize resilience and long-term sustainability. This involves considering the needs of future generations and designing systems that can adapt to changing conditions. 7. **Urban Permaculture**: Permaculture principles can be applied to urban environments to create sustainable and resilient cities. This includes rooftop gardens, community gardens, and sustainable architecture. 8. **Community and Education**: Permaculture emphasizes community collaboration and education. Workshops, courses, and community projects help spread permaculture practices and principles. 9. **Global Movement**: Permaculture has evolved into a global movement with practitioners and projects in many countries. It offers practical solutions to address environmental issues, food security, and community well-being. Overall, permaculture is a holistic and ethical approach to design and living that seeks to create regenerative and sustainable systems that benefit both people and the planet. It encourages a deep connection with nature and a commitment to responsible stewardship of the Earth's resources.