Hello! What is permaculture? What are the benefits of Permaculture - how it can help humans, animals and the environment?
Permaculture is an ethical design system that provides all the basic needs (food, energy and shelter) for human being in the way that it also benefits the local, and global environment.
Permaculture is a life giving, earth care system. It starts with three ethics: Caring for Earth - Caring for People & Returning the Surplus to those two.
To me permaculture is about designing for a sustainable lifestyle that we all can be proud of.
Permaculture is a life giving, earth care system. It starts with three ethics: Caring for Earth - Caring for People & Returning the Surplus to those two.
To me permaculture is about designing for a sustainable lifestyle that we all can be proud of.
Photo source: Heli Iso-Aho at Labrador Community Gardens
I quit working in the garden maintenance industry a few years ago as I didn't like what I was doing to the environment by using artificial fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides (-cide means to kill).
When I decided to take up PDC (Permaculture Design Certicate) course I didn't have expectations, only thing I knew, that there has to be a better way. I felt something was lost and missing in my life.
I soon realised that permaculture was following exactly the same foot steps that I was taught to follow as a child - working with Mother Nature and leaving the environment a better place than I found it.
I soon realised that permaculture was following exactly the same foot steps that I was taught to follow as a child - working with Mother Nature and leaving the environment a better place than I found it.
Instantly I knew it - this is it. I had found my passion again. Passion for interacting with nature and its ecosystems. Passion for growing food. Passion for soils and water resources.
The PDC gave me tools to design, but more importantly it gave me a purpose - to be a part of something so meaningful - and a piece of mind, knowing that every single person can make a difference, it's only matter of making a choice.
The PDC gave me tools to design, but more importantly it gave me a purpose - to be a part of something so meaningful - and a piece of mind, knowing that every single person can make a difference, it's only matter of making a choice.
Photo source: Heli Iso-Aho - at UrbanPermacultureProject
What are the Benefits of Permaculture? A permaculture design creates ecosystems, saves energy and water consumption. Produces no waste.
The goal is to place the elements in the design, to serve multiple functions e.g a chicken tractor (performing duties that are natural to them), chickens scratch and fertilise a block of vegetable garden or a food forest before planting. They feed on insects (nature's pest control) and weed seeds. Also chickens provide us eggs, chicks, feathers and meat. Happy animals, happy humans :-)
Permaculture saves energy and reduces water consumption. e.g if we put biology back in our soil by using good compost with beneficial micro-organisms, we could reduce watering by 70%! Great videos here on soil biology by Dr. Elaine Ingham from the SoilFoodWeb.com .
Permaculture system uses techniques and strategies that produces healthy and nutritious food while still growing a fertile soil by keeping all those beneficial micro-organisms 'Happy as Larry'. One technique is called 'chop & drop' which is widely used in the permaculture food forest.
The goal is to place the elements in the design, to serve multiple functions e.g a chicken tractor (performing duties that are natural to them), chickens scratch and fertilise a block of vegetable garden or a food forest before planting. They feed on insects (nature's pest control) and weed seeds. Also chickens provide us eggs, chicks, feathers and meat. Happy animals, happy humans :-)
Permaculture saves energy and reduces water consumption. e.g if we put biology back in our soil by using good compost with beneficial micro-organisms, we could reduce watering by 70%! Great videos here on soil biology by Dr. Elaine Ingham from the SoilFoodWeb.com .
Permaculture system uses techniques and strategies that produces healthy and nutritious food while still growing a fertile soil by keeping all those beneficial micro-organisms 'Happy as Larry'. One technique is called 'chop & drop' which is widely used in the permaculture food forest.
Housing and structures are built from natural materials already in the property (if possible) or purchased locally - perhaps using second hand building materials or byproducts from grain crops e.g straw bales.
I think the greatest benefit of permaculture is that it creates better human beings by changing the way we view the world and take action towards sustainable way of living. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
It all can start in our own backyards or homes we live in e.g growing some of the foods we eat, reducing (first and foremost) - reusing - recycling, composting, worm composting etc. Here's a great short video on How You can Change the World with Permaculture by David Holmgren.
It all can start in our own backyards or homes we live in e.g growing some of the foods we eat, reducing (first and foremost) - reusing - recycling, composting, worm composting etc. Here's a great short video on How You can Change the World with Permaculture by David Holmgren.
We need to care for this beautiful earth and its ecosystems, so that we leave this planet a better place for next generations to enjoy and be proud of.
Permaculture works anywhere and for anyone. Here is a great video from Urban Homestead. I think you may find it interesting and so inspiring - enjoy!
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Next post will be on How I Started my Urban Permaculture Project.
Let's Spread Permaculture to the World!
Warmly,
Heli Iso-Aho
www.UrbanPermacultureProject.com
www.facebook.com/UrbanPermacultureDesignProject
www.twitter.com/PermacultureABC
