The other day I came across an interesting article in the New York Times about the permaculture movement. I might just have to pick up Bill Mollison's "Introduction to Permaculture." I wonder if the guiding principle are similar to those found in Masanobu Fukuoka's "One Straw Revolution."
The Permaculture Movement Grows from Underground - New York Times, July 27, 2011
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I took a workshop a few years ago on permaculture from a local community/farm that utilizes the principles (http://svionline.org/). In our small acre, I try to apply some of the methods I used from it. We have an herb spiral and we use gravity pumping from our rain barrels (although that might have to change). I've been interested in the concepts for years. There is also Southeastern Permaculture Gathering coming up this week that I can't go to, but the website might be of some interest to you (http://southeasternpermaculture.org/). There are also others across the country.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of permaculture, there is a wonderful farm in the north of NZ where you can go to learn about it, but I'm married to a man who likes to plant things in regimented rows...
ReplyDeleteThomas, is there any update on the woman you posted about, who had planted vegetables in her front garden, but was being taken to court?? Hopefully the 'officials' have growen a brain?
Hello Thomas,
ReplyDeleteThe guiding principles of permaculture have roots in the work of Masanobu Fukuoka, but also were heavily influenced as a process by Howard T. Odum and P.A. Yeomans. From that body of work, and Bill Mollison and David Holmgren's own observations, came the guiding ethics and principles.
The ethics are:
Earth Care
People Care
Fair Shares (sometimes described as limit population and consumption)
Principles vary by author as Mollison teaches that we should use what works, not prescribe ourselves dogmatically to what has been developed by others. For that reason you may find as few as 5 or 14 (or more) depending on who you read.
If you would like a very accessible "Principles and Techniques" book on permaculture, I highly recommend Toby Hemenway's Gaia's Garden. For a more philosophical/high order discussion of ideas, David Holmgren's book "Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability".
Scott, thanks for the great info!
ReplyDeleteA great blog ........ lots of useful information ..... You helped me to learn new technologies ..... Thank you!
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