What is Permaculture

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Permaculture is a sustainable design philosophy that emphasizes the relationship and interconnectedness of all natural things.  Through permaculture design we seek to maximize the transfer of natural energy through water, living soil, trees, & seed to establish a productive environment for growing food, building and maintaining shelter, wisely using resources, and holistically living in a sustainable way.

In permaculture design, natural patterns and characteristics of nature specific to a site and location are identified, observed, and used to develop sustainable closed loop systems, which are labor and energy efficient, productive, diverse, and resilient. Incorporating permaculture principles and design into an environment is an ongoing process. As the environment grows and develops, so do the opportunities for increased synergy among functional elements and energy flows.

Principles of permaculture design are actively being applied to home and farm environments in urban, suburban and rural locations.

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Characteristics of Permaculture Design

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• Uses observation and replication of the interconnectedness of nature and ecosystems as a model for designing small scale systems

• Emphasizes replication of natural productive phenomena such as flow of water and wind, slope and edge

• Uses perennial plant species as efficient stores of energy and food production

• Utilizes the transfer of energy through ecosystems

• Seeks to maximize the power of useful work

• Values renewable resources

• Values the knowledge of indigenous peoples and traditional cultures

• Is about taking personal responsibility for our own existence and that of our children

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