12 Principles of Permaculture

I spent nearly a year living in a sustainable ecovillage, which was built primarily upon the design principles of permaculture. Permaculture, a form of radically sustainable "permanent" agriculture, is increasingly popular as a method of gardening, construction and animal agriculture.

David Holmgren, an Australian ecologist, was largely responsible for advancing the principles of permaculture as we know them today. He identified twelve basic principles of permaculture, to be used in agriculture, economy, construction and personal philosophy.

1. Observe and Interact.

The principles of permaculture are based in human interaction with nature. To design solutions for agriculture and construction, a permaculture activist should spend time engaging interactively with nature. Common observations, including the direction of the wind and the way birds build nests, can provide inspiration.

2. Catch and Store Energy

The storing of abundant energy is an essential core principle of permaculture. This principle posits that we should "catch" energy and store it when it is most abundant, so that it can be used in times of need. Examples of this principle might involve storing solar energy in batteries during summer months, for use in winter, or harvesting an unusually abundant wild crop for long-term storage.

3. Obtain a Yield

Permaculture is only rewarding if you are getting something out of it. Permaculturists should plant crops, attract animals and build facilities of genuine use and value. Although permaculture principles do not discount the aesthetic or inherent value of home agriculture, it does emphasize yields that offer practical and material gain.

4. Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback

To function properly in the long run, permaculture establishments must be treated as living, adaptable ecosystems. A permaculture garden can last indefinitely, but its guardian needs to discourage activities that can harm these systems. It is also important to seek ways to improve the permaculture system as it evolves and adapts. Permaculture principles treat establishments as living beings rather than stagnant investments.

5. Use and Value Renewable Resources

Permaculture seeks to eliminate, or at least drastically reduce, our dependence on non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels, plastics and metals. A sustainable permaculture system is composed primarily (or entirely) of resources that can be naturally replenished within a human lifetime. Renewable materials such as bamboo, hemp, fast-growing woods, grasses, air, sunlight and compost form the backbone of a permaculture system.

6. Produce No Waste

This principle of permaculture emphasizes the reclamation of waste materials and by-products. Permaculture utilizes products that would otherwise be discarded. For example, chicken manure may be used as fertilizer, while scrap-wood may be used as mulch and tomato leaves may be used in compost. Permaculture principles challenge the traditional view of waste, instead viewing everything as an ultimately usable resource.

7. Design from Patterns to Detail

Permaculture principles are based in the big picture of natural patterns. A permaculture strategist bases a system in the broad principles nature and human culture. This gives the fundamental structure necessary for developing a sustainable system. The fine details of a permaculture system are the last to go into a plan or design.

8. Integrate; Don't Segregate

In nature and in permaculture, nothing can be taken as a single, isolated point in a system. All individual components of a permaculture system directly interact with one another to form a complete network of related components, which ultimately functions as a living being. A permaculture system does not segregate functions and sections. Instead, it functions as a holistic network of individual components.

9. Use Small, Slow Solutions

Permaculture principles de-emphasize convenience and instead focus on sustainability. Systems that take a long time to mature and focus on a specific bioregion are more likely to produce a sustainable yield in the long run. These "small, slow solutions" utilize local resources and are more likely to withstand the test of time.

10. Use and Value Diversity

In a permaculture system, the designer emphasizes a variety of materials, species, plant varieties and sources. This minimizes the natural and manmade threats, including disease and weather, that can destroy an otherwise-established permaculture system. Permaculture designers use a wide array of materials and resources to create a unique and sustainable local ecosystem.

11. Use Edges and Value the Marginal

Edges in ecosystems, including permaculture, are often the most diverse, interesting and productive elements. For example, fencelines and water-edges are of critical importance in a classic permaculture garden. Permaculture principles emphasize optimizing the yield of these areas and viewing them as primary points of interest.

12. Use Creatively and Respond to Change

A sustainable ecosystem must be capable of adapting to both short-term and long-term changes in environment. Viewing the permaculture system as a living being, the designer must help the system to adapt to fluctuations in weather, wildlife and changes in demands. This is the only method for keeping the system alive and truly sustainable.