| Permanent Culture, or Permaculture, was initially | | | | boundaries that define the system, as well as the |
| conceived as a self-sustaining agricultural method, | | | | natural resources that are available within it. |
| where agricultural systems are designed to | | | | 2. Evaluating these parameters then leads to the |
| require minimal, or ideally, no external human | | | | design, implementation and long-term maintenance |
| intervention. In modern days this term has been | | | | of the permaculture system. The design is a |
| extended to describe a holistic approach to | | | | highly creative and innovative process that is |
| designing self-sufficient and ecologically-balanced | | | | really the key to the success of the system. |
| human settlements, which minimizes our | | | | 3. Central themes in the design include the use of |
| dependence on industrial systems of production | | | | patterns, both natural (like a shape of a wave or |
| and distribution and promotes synergy and | | | | spiral, common in nature) or patterns useful for a |
| harmony among the different components of our | | | | particular need (like a particular structure to |
| immediate environment. | | | | minimize waste). |
| Permaculture aspires to establish an ecological | | | | 4. Permaculture often makes use of layers, in |
| balance within the system. A perfectly balanced | | | | order to create a harmonious and efficient use of |
| system is one that does not require external | | | | space. For example, layering different sized plants |
| modifications and relies completely on its own | | | | on a single soil patch will optimize space usage and |
| resources, where one product is used to feed | | | | allow a diverse and complementary eco-system |
| another. For example, a very simple permaculture | | | | to emerge. |
| farm is one which uses its animal waste to feed | | | | How can we create and benefit from |
| its crops, which in turn are used to feed the | | | | permaculture? There are many resources, books, |
| animals. At the same time, just enough crops and | | | | courses and online websites that teach individuals |
| animal products (such as meat, eggs, etc) are | | | | how to improve their household and |
| generated to feed the human community. Such a | | | | home-farming based on permaculture methods. |
| simple system can evolve over time and turn into | | | | We can start from planting plants in a certain |
| a highly complex ecosystem of its own. | | | | pattern, raising farm animals in a certain manner |
| Permaculture relies on a set of a well-defined set | | | | or collecting and recycling water for home use. |
| of design principles: | | | | There are many levels of practicing permaculture |
| 1. Underlying permaculture is observation and | | | | and everyone can benefit from its obvious |
| planning: before building a farm one needs to | | | | advantages. And on top of it all, we get to |
| observe study and understand its natural | | | | preserve our environment and live harmoniously |
| components and how they relate to each other. | | | | with our planet and its many ecosystems. |
| One needs to consider the natural and artificial | | | | |