Permaculture, Coined By Bill Mollison, Is A Sustainable Design System That Harmonises Human & Environmental Needs, Ensuring Long Lasting Agricultural And Cultural Practices. But Let’s Dig Deeper Into .. What Is Permaculture?
In this video Professor Andrew Millison of Oregon State /university delves into What is Permaculture and does so very well in a succinct and simple video. My only comment would bet that he neglects two words .. horticulture and gardening. He starts with the notion of permanent agriculture and moves quickly on to permanent culture but doesn’t mention horticulture or gardening. I’m sure it is because he is making a short explainer video but, for those of us in horticulture and gardening, I feel we need to stress that permaculture is equally as important to us.
Permaculture goes beyond just food production and Millison, in this and subsequent videos that I will feature later, captures the subtleties of the system very well.
Permaculture is the ethos we used to create our food forest and is behind the civic food forest concept that we have subsequently created.
For those that prefer the written word rather than time spent watching videos, I have noted the highlights and insights of Andrew’s video as I interpret them.
A final note before I leave you with my highlights. I often caution against advice from the US simply because the climate, pest, diseases and crops vary from what we can expect in Europe. However, this video is about the concept and notion of permaculture. It is about the mindset behind it. And that should be a global mindset.
What is Permaculture? Highlights
Table of Contents
🌱 Definition: Permaculture combines “Permanent” and “Agriculture,” promoting sustainable living.
🌍 Ethics: It is an ethically-based design system that integrates humans and nature harmoniously.
🍽️ Needs: It addresses food, energy, shelter, and other essential needs sustainably.
♻️ Regeneration: Systems must create more energy than they consume, ensuring a regenerative approach.
🌾 Permanent Culture: Emphasises the importance of a culture and mindset that supports sustainable agriculture.
💧 Enduring Systems: Focuses on creating lasting environmental structures that do not degrade over time.
🌿 Biodiversity: Supports natural biodiversity and healthy ecosystems through thoughtful design.
Remember, the law of conservation of energy says that energy is neither created nor destroyed. So when we say that we must create more energy than we use we aren’t magically breaking this law. Additional energy is brought into the system via the sun and subsequent photosynthesis, plus the energy and potential to capture energy from wind, water etc.
What is Permaculture? Key Insights
🌱 Sustainability: Permaculture is rooted in sustainability, ensuring that agricultural practices can continue indefinitely without harming the environment. This long-term perspective is crucial for addressing current and future ecological challenges.
🌍 Integration: The harmonious integration of landscapes and communities highlights the importance of working with nature rather than against it, fostering a symbiotic relationship that benefits both.
🍽️ Resource Needs: By addressing fundamental needs like food and energy through sustainable practices, permaculture offers a comprehensive solution to modern living challenges, reducing reliance on external resources.
♻️ Energy Efficiency: The principle of creating more energy than consumed is vital; it ensures that systems are not just sustainable but also regenerative, contributing positively to the environment.
🌾 Cultural Support: Recognising “Permanent Culture” emphasises the need for societal values and practices that reinforce sustainability, making it a collective responsibility rather than an individual endeavour.
💧 Durability: The focus on creating enduring systems ensures resilience against climate change and resource depletion, making it essential for future-proofing our societies.
🌿 Ecological Health: Promoting biodiversity is not just an environmental goal but a necessity for robust ecosystems, which are foundational to any sustainable living framework.
What is Permaculture? The Video
Hopefully this video will help you if anyone says, Permaculture, what is it?
