Permascience and Hope for the Future: July 2011

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Switching to Permaculture

http://www.crmpi.org/CRMPI/What_is_Permaculture.html

Permaculture, a combination of the words permanent and agriculture, offers a unique approach to the practice of sustainable farming, ranching, gardening and living.

Permaculture shows how to observe the dynamics of natural ecosystems. We can apply this knowledge in designing constructed ecosystems that serve the needs of human populations without degrading our natural environment. Permaculture sites integrate plants, animals, landscapes, structures and humans into symbiotic systems where the products of one element serve the needs of another.

Once established, a permaculture system can be maintained using a minimum of materials, energy and labor. By recycling "waste" resources back into the system, it also minimizes pollution. It serves human needs efficiently by incorporating useful, high-yielding species. A permaculture system is designed to be diverse, so that even when one element fails, the system has enough stability and resilience to thrive. This gives it greater potential than a conventional system for long term economic stability.

Permaculture was developed in Australia in the late 1970’s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. It has since grown into an international grassroots movement. Permaculture is a unique blending of traditional practices and scientific knowledge, of ageless wisdom and innovative ideas, of time-tested strategies and useful information from around the world. Demonstration sites span the globe.

Permaculture systems have been established on every scale, from farms to apartments, from ranches to suburbs, in cities, gardens, schools and communities. They are proving successful in every climate, including the tropics, deserts, mountains and shores.

American agriculture is at a crossroads. We have achieved remarkable productivity, but have not addressed some consequences of our current agricultural practices. The costs of soil erosion, water pollution, economic uncertainty and the demise of the family farm have yet to be completely assessed. There is a growing awareness that we must profoundly shift our thinking and practices. Rather than exploiting natural resources until they are gone, we must learn to understand Nature, share in her abundance, and help to guide the process. Many people are realizing that in addition to considering short term gains, American agriculture must focus on reinvesting in the future.

A cornerstone of permaculture philosophy is to turn problems into opportunities, and apparent "wastes" into resources. Runoff from stagnant manures, for example, can be a source of ground water pollution. Feedlots and dairies can prevent this contamination and increase their revenues by composting the manure, growing worms in it, and selling both the worms and the finished compost.

This pamphlet shows how applying basic permaculture principles and specific strategies can be of benefit in farming, ranching, gardening and living sustainably.