Permaculture is a design science for sustainable agricultural environments. Through the observation of natural function, it seeks to integrate and arrange various elements within a farm enterprise (e.g. plants, animals, buildings and infrastructures) in such a way that they support and benefit each other while performing multiple functions (e.g. harvesting water, providing shelter, feeding farm stock). It was developed in Tasmania during the 1970s by two Australians, David Holmgren and Bill Mollison. They took the view that modern industrial agriculture was too highly dependent on the use of non-renewable resources and that this was leading to reduced biodiversity and increasing pollution of soils and water. In response, they developed a design process for agricultural systems that would sustain the needs of both nature and human habitation. They coined this process of sustainable agriculture 'permaculture'. |
Core ethics
The last core value implies limits on the consumption of resources are needed and that humanity must find ways to live within these limits. The overriding intention of the design process is to provide sustainable human habitation within agriculture. Due to its focus on natural ecosystems, it borrows heavily on other nature-orientated approaches to agriculture such as organics, biodynamics and biological farming. However, what distinguishes it from others are 12 design principles, which are structured and scientific in their approach. They look for positive outcomes and opportunities and use feedback mechanisms to evaluate and self regulate.
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The design process
The first step in any farm permaculture design focuses on 3 key aspects: 1. Water – the harvesting and collection of water and slowing its movement through landscape. 2. Access – the design of roads and access so that this element has multiple functions, e.g. vehicle access, water harvesting, stock lanes. 3. Structures – the strategic placement of structures is the final step in designing because 90% of the time the first two steps are not flexible. Structures include buildings, but can also include wood-lots, hedgerows, ponds and crops animals, i.e. various elements serving functions within the farm. |
"All too often, 'nature-friendly' systems of agriculture turn into exercises of what you 'can't do' rather than 'what's possible'." |
Tools used in implementing the permaculture design process 1. Zones 2. Layers 3. Edges 4. Guilds |
Example of an innovative sustainable agriculture solution by Joel Salatin |
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Where to from here?
Potentially, small farm operations have much to benefit from permaculture.
Its design process is very farm specific and ensures the best use is made of a property's natural capital. Adopters of the science can expect high levels of farm function, fertility, biological capital and well-being to ensue.
Workshop courses are commercially available as are qualified consultants who can advise and assist in system design.
For agriculture to serve humanity sustainability, we not only need to learn how to live within the limits of our environment, we also need to explore and develop these limits through utilising the very best of our scientific knowledge and know how. For this, permaculture offers a compelling way forward.
Acknowledgement: Nick Huggins from Permaculture Business World has kindly contributed to this article.
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The author, Roger Martyn has spent 20 plus years working in agriculture and horticulture since graduating from Massey University with an Agricultural Science degree. He has helped many farmers improve their farm productivity and profitability as well as often increasing the enjoyment they got out of farming. |