Definition of permaculture
Permaculture is a design philosophy /methodology and set of practices that aim to create sustainable and self-sufficient human settlements and agricultural systems (and of course everything that is related to it). It is based on the principles of working with, rather than against, nature; maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste; and taking a holistic and integrated approach to design.
Permaculture practices include using diverse plant and animal species in mutually beneficial relationships, incorporating elements such as composting, water management, and natural building materials into designs, and minimizing the use of non-renewable resources. Permaculture can be applied to a wide range of contexts, including urban and rural settings, and is often used in agriculture, forestry, and land management.
Techniques and strategies
Some common techniques and strategies used in permaculture include:
- Plant guilds: Groupings of plants that have mutually beneficial relationships, such as a fruit tree surrounded by nitrogen-fixing plants, pest-deterring plants, and plants that attract beneficial insects.
- Polycultures: Planting a diverse mix of crops together, rather than a monoculture of a single crop, which can improve soil health, increase pest and disease resistance, and improve overall yield.
- Agroforestry: Integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural systems, often by planting trees and crops together in a way that maximizes their productivity and ecological benefits. Good example is the multistrata agroforestry - the food forest.
- Water harvesting and management: Capturing and storing rainwater and using it efficiently, through techniques such as swales, contour planting, and cisterns.
- Composting: Decomposing organic matter to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used to fertilize plants.
Permaculture has the potential to help create more sustainable and resilient communities and food systems, and is increasingly being adopted around the world as a way to address environmental and social challenges.
If you want to learn more about permaculture and permaculture education read on at https://nordicpermaculture.org
Articles tagged with Permaculture
Herb spiral at Beyond Buckthorns
This design is for a herb garden area at Beyond Buckthorns, close to the house. The design follows a V-CEAP design process. The herb garden area is planned for a zone 1 spot very close to the house and under an oak tree. This is Lumia Huhdanpää-… more
Thoughts about Artificial Intelligence in permaculture in context of the Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design
In 2021 I came across generative AI, first image, then text. This article is for my colleagues, the tutors at the Permaculture Association Britain in order to give them some insights into my thoughts about AI.
This article was co-written by… more
Enjoying the basics together
This July, we hosted the course "Introduction to Permaculture" in Finnish again. Designed for those new to permaculture, the course aimed to teach practical solutions for sustainable living. This second edition was a great success, attended by 11… more
Introducing the EuPN certified PermaHub – a modern data driven approach to accreditation
This design is to show a data driven approach to assessing and accrediting permaculture places. It was driven by the frustration I got working with the LAND (Learning, Action, Network and Demonstration) system in Finland. The PermaHub, as I call… more
Exploring Permaculture Design: Insights from the 2023 DesignCamp
On August 5th, we hosted our 3rd DesignCamp, a crash course in Permaculture Design. Unlike the standard curriculum required for the Permaculture Introductory Course, our DesignCamp focuses exclusively on the design process itself.
Introduction to Permaculture course at Beyond Buckthorns
On the first weekend of July 2023 Beyond Buckthorns was buzzing with excitement. Eleven awesome people got together to learn about permaculture in Finnish language, with me, Lumia as their teacher.
Introducing the interactive plant map at Beyond Buckthorns
At Beyond Buckthorns we combined a curated plant database with geospatial data to create a digital twin, extending the edge permaculture design and fostering a connection of the online and natural world.