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GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The power of permaculture rests in its easy-to-understand foundations. Understanding them and our relationship to Earth’s ecology is where the work begins. n Take cues from nature: The goal of
permaculture is to mimic a natural landscape, and to make it more productive for human needs, as well. n Put up your own food; preserving
a garden’s harvest is like capturing sunlight.
n Grow perennials that produce food;
n Use less energy, feed the soil and har-
have unintended consequences; make the least change necessary and see if it works. As E.F. Schumacher famously stated: “Small is beautiful.”
vest rainwater. On a finite planet, only renewable resources are sustainable.
n There’s strength in diversity; value it by
plant an edible landscape, not a lawn.
avoiding a monoculture of anything. n Enable the surplus of one design
element to supply the need of another: Garden scraps feed chickens, which produce manure, which makes compost to nourish the garden.
n Remember that living on the edge
can be a very productive place; not all good ideas come from the mainstream.
n Strive for self-reliance and resiliency,
not self-sufficiency, and engage with the community; permaculture is an integrated system.
Source: Karl J. Schmidt, founder and owner of Glacial Lakes Permaculture, created this summary, adapted from the principles originated by permaculture pioneer David Holmgren, an ecological design engineer.
n Avoid big and fast solutions that can
Lanier’s staff have attended. An instructor there also helped complete the permaculture plan for Lanier’s property.
Place-Based Living Permaculture is equally appropriate for the urban and suburban areas where most Americans now live, says Wilson. “It’s for any size property, including an apartment, and for any climate... any place.” He and other permaculture enthusiasts maintain that, “With more and larger settings, together we can have a great positive effect on the total environment.” When it comes to the potential for rural areas, “We can harvest a far greater amount of resources than we do now—water, sun, carbon dioxide and wind—and greatly improve productivity, while improving the overall quality of the region.” However, he quickly clarifies: “One can be very successful in small spaces, too.” John D. Ivanko is the co-author of Rural Renaissance, describing Inn Serendipity’s journey toward sustainability (InnSerendipity.com), based in part on permaculture and onsite generation of wind and solar power.
Permaculture is for any size property, including an apartment, and for any climate... any place.
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April 2011
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