WHAT IS PERMACULTURE

Permaculture originated in the late 1970’s as a response to international oil shortages and contemporary environmental issues. It was developed as a design methodology for integrated food production systems that "mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy for provision of local needs" (David Holmgren and Bill Mollison - Permaculture One, 1978).

Since its conception, permaculture has grown internationally as a grass roots movement. In 2002, David Holmgren published the book Permaculture – Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. This book marks a formal transition in the evolution of permaculture as a concept and design discipline. Permaculture has now developed beyond simply the design of productive landscapes to encompass a range of contemporary issues that include resource management, appropriate technology, ecologically regenerative systems, architecture, economic systems and community development. The common thread holding the emerging strands of permaculture together is the application of systems thinking and regenerative design.

The ethics of permaculture

Introduction to permaculture

David Holmgren’s 12 permaculture principles