I'm a student still getting the hang of it. Much appreciated if you would leave it alone.
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| “ | Permaculture is a system for creating consciously designed landscaped which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy for provision of local needs. It is a vision of permanent (sustainable) human culture based on permanent (sustainable) agriculture. | ” |
| — David Holmgren[1] | ||
Permaculture
editThe origin of the concept of permanent agriculture can be traced to Hopkins (1910) and F.H. King (1911), both university professors in agricultural science. [2][3] In the 1970s this agricultural form, now termed permaculture, emerged again in Australia by agriculturalists Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. Permaculture is short for ‘permanent agriculture’ and can be defined as a design principle that tries to understand which principles enable natural systems to thrive best, and mirroring these principles in whatever is chosen to design.[1] Mollison and Holmgren believe that by studying the natural world and pre-industrial sustainable societies generalized principles can be derived that will be universally applicable on the development of the creation of sustainable land and resources. [1]
Ethical Principles of Permaculture
editThere are three ethical principles in Permaculture that can be distinguised.[1][4]
Caring for the Earth
edit‘caring for the earth’ means not asking more from the earth than the earth has to offer. Permaculturists consider caring for the earth to be our greatest responsibility, because the basis of our lives is the natural environment. Therefore, the design principle highlights the need for self-sufficiency and small scale farming that keeps soil fertility healty and in turn ensures continuous production. The other two principles are a derivative from this first principle because care for the Earth is seen as the basis. [1][4]
Caring for the People
editThe maxim ‘caring for people’ relates to individual responsibility and caring for the human community, because all individuals are connected to the collective society. The ‘prisoners dilemma’ or ‘the tragedy of commons’ is connected with the paradox of individual actions and collective concequences when refering to the use of natural resources.[4] The dilemma or tragedy occurs when individuals do not feel responsible for the overuse and exploitation of natural resources, because citizens do not expect other community members to cooperate and make use of natural resources in a sustainable way.[5] It is therefore recommended by permaculturalists that everybody cultivates in an harmonious way and forge cooperative relationships with each other.[1][4]
Fair Share
editAs a third principle 'fair share' is directed towards overconsumation.[1] It reflects the fact that man's exploitative behaviour is at the root of the coruption of the natural resources. [5] As a concequence the human population be stabalised because overpopulation leads to overconsumption, which leads to the overexploitation of our natural resources. Giving back to the earth via recycling and redistribution of surplus are core ideas underlining this principle. [1][4]
Business Principles
editPermaculture is not only used in agricultural settings, businesses are also exploring the possibilities of permaculture's design principles.[6] The main principle of creating a sustainable design in accordance to the business' core value can lead to a succesful business. A business that is efficient, has a minimum of surplus because it produces an amount that is needed and its design plans a healthy long term capital management. [6]
| “ | The Permaculture-based Strategic Management process encourages sustainability and are well-managed systems to monitor or asses sustainability of natural resources. If these policies are reviewed or monitored continuously it will improve the competence and effectiveness of the designed tool. A cycle of analysis, design, implementation, evaluation and re-planning is utilized to achieve sustainable management. | ” |
| — Faiza Akhtar[6] | ||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Holmgren, D. (2002) Essence of Permaculture. Victoria: Holmgren Design Services.
- ^ Hopkins, C.G. (1910) Soil Fertility and Permanent Agriculture. Boston: Ginn and Company
- ^ King, F.H. 1911. Farmers of Forty Centuries or Permanent Agriculture in China, Korea and Japan. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press.
- ^ a b c d e Suh, J. (2014) Towards Sustainable Agricultural Stewardship: Evolution and Future Directions of the Permaculture Concept. In: Environmental Values. 23:75-98 Boston: Ginn and Company
- ^ a b McManus, B. (201) An integral framework for permaculture. In: Journal of Sustainable Development. Vol 3(3)
- ^ a b c Akhtar, F., Lodhi, S.A. & Khan, S.S. (2015) Permacultural approach: linking ecological sustainability to businesses strategies. In: Management of Environmental Quality. Vol 26(6).