What Is Permaculture?
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| Food-forest by the side of the apartment |
We live in a culture that has become increasingly reliant on industrial technologies. A culture that relies on fast food, disposable goods and cheap gasoline. A culture that is quickly consuming itself out of resources.
Permaculture, a natural method to farming, is another way to look at the world and its resources. It advocates combinations of natural landscaping and edible landscaping. It's a tool for food growers and gardeners alike.
What kinds of things does Permaculture include?
Today I want to introduce you to the history of this conservational movement and let you meet some of its originators. We’ll also discuss the future of permaculture. You may find that you are already applying some of the basic tenants of this small group without realizing it.
This new way of growing from sustainable resources began in the '70s, introduced by a wildlife biologist and ecologist named Bill Mollison of Australia. He saw the growing monster of the Industrial revolution and its impact on our culture. He could see how this kind of culture was bound to eventually cave in due to its monstrous appetite. Rather than reacting in a negative way to these revelations, he decided to take a more positive approach. By studying nature, he came to several conclusions about how nature goes through sustainable cycles when they aren’t being influenced by the actions of humans. Bill began to live and teach his philosophy.
Another man who has silently built up a following in this movement is Masanobu Fukuoka. He believes that you should disturb the soil and planting area as little as possible. Seeds are then planted on the soil's surface and lightly covered with straw or mulch. Weeds will be trimmed before the flower stage and are allowed to become part of the mulch. This kills unwanted vegetation without poison and gives a favorable soil in which to plant. In time the soil becomes healthy and weeds and pests become less of a concern.
Ruth Stout is another voice in this community. Her ideas about "no-till" gardening have caused many to change their views about weeds and weeding (no dig garden). Similar to Fukuoka, she purported that you ought never to weed, but allow plants to grow together. All vegetation’s, both "good" and "bad," build the soil that leads to healthy crops, meaning less pests. Once the soil is built, weeding becomes as simple as flicking out the weed. All without chemicals and pesticides.
From its small, quiet, revolutionary beginnings, it is apparent that permaculture will have to be embraced to a greater or lesser degree by humans at some point. Pollution, and toxins created by industrial waste and mass transportation systems are on their way down memory lane. It will soon cost too much to ship food in from across the country, so it makes more and more sense to buy food grown locally or grow it yourself.
While nowadays, permaculture seems to be associated with second and third generation "hippies," even Urbanites have recently begun to practice it by growing a garden for vegetables and tossing the trimmings back on the beds.
Yes, permaculture, in all its varied philosophies will influence our lives - for good.
What Is Permaculture Gardening?
The essence of permaculture is to work with nature, not against it. Here are 9 tips from a Permaculturist of Ragman’s Farm.
1. Identify a plot based on how much light, wind, and water the plot receives around the whole year before jumping in with a trowel and a packet of seeds.
2. Divide your plot into multiple zones based on attention required.
3. Permaculture garden designs include growing a diverse range of foods with mutually beneficial relationships. Follow the guide to learn more with this Permaculture companion planting chart..
4. Chickens become an essential ingredient for the soil. Chickens will also clean up most garden pests when allowed to roam in a free-range situation. Several gardeners recommend animal husbandry as part of an organic garden design. The backyard production of chickens, rabbits, fish, goats (and even snails and grubs) is necessary if we are to approach truly sustainable urban food system with local sources of protein.
5. “If you don’t have good soil, you got nothing,” Susanna Raeven said. The key to excellent soil is a healthy ecosystem of microorganisms working the land, and using sheet mulching is a way to provide good habitat for them.
6. Grow green manure, because weeds are deterred by it. It can provide nitrogen for the soil and will also increase levels of organic matter, water-holding capacity, nutrient content, and soil texture. You can sow Mustard, Winter Tares, Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa), Trefoil (Medicago Lupulina) to produce green manure. A green layer is always followed by a brown layer. This prevents the system from becoming anaerobic (i.e. smelly) and too rich in nitrogen. Some great sources are straw, leaf, bark, wood chips or even shredded paper (cardboard) might work. If you can, go for straw or leaf.
7. Worm farms are good for composting, castings and the liquid produced is an added bonus to the health and vitality of soil structure when added to compost. Introduce earthworms to the surface if they were lacking in the soil prior to preparation. This helps to achieve more sustainability.
8. Use passive, solar, earth-sheltered greenhouse to make the garden energy efficient.
9. Use solar energy & earth-sheltered greenhouse to make the system more energy efficient.
Where we can use Permaculture?
You can start a garden within city flats, yards and window boxes suburban and country houses/garden ,community spaces farms and estates,countryside and conservation areas Commercial and industrial premises & Waste groundWhat is Permaculture Design Certificate Course (PDC)?
- Permaculture Design Course was developed by Bill
Mollison to teach principles and foundations of sustainable design. Here you
will learn architectural principles of building environmental friendly &
ecologically friendly food forest in a natural surroundings.
- Permaculture teachers are active across the world. Find out how to become one, or get connected to others. Visit the permaculture association
- Permaculture International Limited. Permaculture International Limited (PIL) provides services to members in support of their work in permaculture design.
- A cropping calendar.
- No dig gardening - Bill Mollison's Permaculture by design identifies that soil can be over cultivated leading to erosion. Uncultivated soil contains far more humus that retains moisture and nutrients.The best time to make a no-dig garden is in the autumn. Over the winter, the bed matures and is ready for planting in the spring.
An Interview With Mark Shepard on Profitable Permaculture
About the author : Arindam is working with non profit companies in spreading the benefits of aquaponics & permaculture in Western India. He already established an aquaponic garden & now working on creating a food forest using permaculture farming technique near Goa.
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