Permaculture

If you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, it’s likely that you’ve heard the word Permaculture. But what is it? Permaculture is an interdisciplinary design system that aims to create ecologically sound and viable agricultural systems. Its concept is rooted in its name, the word Permaculture is a conjunction of permanent and agriculture and/or culture. It is a design system that if maintained will be both sustainable and economically viable long term. The foundations of Permaculture are heavily influenced by the knowledge behind Indigenous and land-based cultures around the world, and how that knowledge intertwines with our modern sciences and technologies to create new ways of building resilient communities. Permaculture re-designs agriculture so that it works with nature and is unique and adaptable to local resources. That being said, a Permaculture design meant for a farm in California is going to be much different from the design for a garden here in Vancouver. 

Permaculture is not only meant to strengthen the health/usage of the land, but also its practitioners. Permaculture also has to do with community culture, starting and maintaining a Permaculture garden/farm/forest involves building relationships with people. Practitioners should share resources, what they know from past experiences and support one another. 

What’s great about Permaculture is that it can be used on a large and small scale. On a small scale, anyone can apply Permaculture to their garden/backyard/planter boxes. Village Vancouver (VV) has been applying Permaculture methods to our gardens and events. We have been connecting Permaculture enthusiasts by hosting workshops/potlucks where anyone can attend and share their experience with Permaculture. For those who want to be more hands on and gain some skills with Permaculture, VV has a Permaculture Demonstration at Aberthau park that is maintained by our amazing volunteers. 

You can adopt Permaculture into your garden/daily life by applying the 12 Principles of Permaculture. Consider the Principles as ‘thinking tools’, and when used together, help to creatively re-design your environment and behaviours in a world of less energy and resources. This approach aligns with whole systems thinking. 

1. Observe and Interact: While observing take the time to pay attention to different perspectives that wouldn’t necessarily have before. This will help you understand/learn about various elements in your system. 

2. Catch and Store Energy: Collecting resources when abundant and use when needed. 

3. Obtain a yield: In return for the work you are doing, you are getting a reward that is useful to you. 

4. Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback 

5. Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services: Reducing our consumption of non-renewable energy source and make use of what we have. 

6. Produce No Waste 

7. Design from Patterns to Details: Take the time to step back and look at the system as a whole. Are there any patterns you noticed? These can be the bases of your new design. 

8. Integrate Rather Than Segregate: This method is interdisciplinary, try to develop connections to support one another. 

9. Use Small and Slow Solutions: Essentially don’t bite off more than you can chew. Start with a small project and focus on using local resources to produce your outcome. 

10. Use and Value Diversity: Each system is unique to its area, use that to your advantage. 

11. Use Edges and Value the Marginal: ‘The interface between things is where the most interesting events take place. These are often the most valuable, diverse and productive elements in the system.’ 

12. Creatively Use and Respond to Change: We can have a positive impact by intervening at the right time. 

For more information about Permaculture, you can refer to these links: 

https://permacultureprinciples.com/  (this link touches on the relationship between Permaculture and Systems Thinking) 

https://permaculture.org/about/ 

If interested in working with Village Vancouver check out our permaculture projects at Permaculture Village.