Permaculture Farming

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Question: How does Permaculture compare to other types of Land Management?

I’m in the odd position of knowing a fair bit about Permaculture, as we use it in our design and management of the farm, but have very little idea about other design principles and how they stack up against Permaculture, so how does it compare?

Answer: Special K – Excellent, Edible Forest Gardening is Part of Permaculture you were right to associate the two.

I have spent all day and most of the night thinking about this question and you have me stumped. The conclusion I have come to is there is no other designed system to compare Permaculture with.

Other types of land management? This too is a red herring. The other ‘practices’ I came up with today, and hey, I have come up with many, it has been a long day …. the other practices have the sole aim of growing crops.

This is where Permaculture differs, IF it is a land management system at all, I could argue that it is not, but it will be very lengthy so won’t bother here.

So my thoughts, Permaculture has:

A strong ethical basis: Earth Care, People Care, Fair Shares, that are underpinned by the notion of the key Permaculture Ethic of PERMANENT AGRICULTURE. An explanation of this key ethic is essential so that readers can really understand why Permaculture is a unique way of dealing with human need.

Going back to my comments about land management I stated
‘The other practices have the sole aim of growing crops’. That is it, they plant to take the crop. From organic production to commercial farming, the crop or continuing to take a crop the next year is the sole aim.

In Permaculture we do take a yield but the whole point is we are providing and enriching ecosystems for ourselves and for FUTURE generations, we are PROTECTING the wildneress/natural environment for future generations by meeting our own needs for fuel, food and dealing with our outputs. So many Permies will plant trees knowing that they will not get the most benefit from them, it will be future generations that do. Permies are investing in the future but having their needs met as ethically as possible whilst providing a legacy for future generations.

Our ethics inform our action. So HOW Permaculturists’ design and manage land is also key to the differences between it and other agricultural methods.
In order to live ethically and sustainably we have to understand that we are a single system; not separate. Whatever we do locally affects other people and the environment globally. Local solutions provide the best answers, we have different climates, soils, flora and fauna. Different needs, wants, tradition and cultures. But by acting locally we must keep an eye on the Horizon by limiting the damage on the environment and people globally.

By being as self reliant as possible we do not exploit others, nor the land. Permaculture seeks to provide Permanent Agriculture. One earth it is socially just to share with everyone, all other living things and with future generations.

By limiting our consumption of everything including family size it supports the needs of everyone throughout the world to have access to clean water, clean air, food, shelter, fair and living wage, community etc.

So all the design principles are based on the above, that is what makes Permaculture different. It is DESIGNED with the ethics being central to the practice. So each part of the design stems from these ethics from Relative location, to Multiple functions for each element, from using the most efficient methods to using Existing Energy Flows From natural succession to stacking.

In Permaculture Information and Observation replaces Energy and the key is maximum observation and minimum interference in any natural system including those designed to meet man’s needs.

PEACH Permaculture Farm News – May 6, 2009 – #06

Welcome to the Permaculture Farming Blog

Permaculture is growing more important daily because at our current rate, the Earth cannot keep up with all the production and consumption needed for the entire population. Food, natural resources and energy will not last forever but there are ways for us, everyone, to help make them last much longer.

Permaculture Farming involves techniques and strategies to make farming much more efficient and ecologically friendly. Permaculture Farming utilizes nature in the farming process instead of artificial, manmade, destructive methods that would harm the soil and the plants. Permaculture Farming is the future of all farming.

This Permaculture Farming website is dedicated to providing resources on Permaculture techniques, principles as well as strategies used in Permaculture Farming. There are plenty of free resources on Permaculture and Permaculture Farming online.

First you should start with understanding what permaculture is and how permaculture works. Then you can study the techniques of Permaculture Farming. If you have found a technique or method that agrees with the Permaculture Farming principles, then please share your finding with us on our Contact us Page above, so that more people can conserve natural resources and energy as well as producing better and healthier produce and foods for the entire population.