- Permaculture FAQ, Version 1.1 Steve DiverMon, 12 Feb 1996 22:27:09 -0600 (CST) http://sunsite.unc.edu/london/permaculture.faq.v1.1 - PERMACULTURE FAQ Version 1.1 February 1996 * The Permaculture FAQ is divided into three parts: (1) introduction to permaculture (2) the practical application of permaculture (3) permaculture resources * This FAQ was drafted for the permaculture-mg list (permaculture-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu) and can be found on the web at: http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/faq.html and http://sunsite.unc.edu/london/permaculture.html INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE The word "permaculture" was coined in 1978 by Bill Mollison, an Australian ecologist, and his student, David Holmgren. It is a contraction of "permanent agriculture" or "permanent culture." Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is an approach to land use which integrates human dwellings, microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, and water management into stable, productive communities. A central theme in permaculture is the design of ecological landscapes that produce food. Permaculture design concepts may be applied to single households or whole farms and villages. A major emphasis is placed on use of food-producing plants and on the integration of animals into the system. ================================================================ Permaculture Defined: 1. From Michael Pilarksi, founder of Friends of the Trees, and published in International Green Front Report (1988): Permaculture is: the design of land use systems that are sustainable and environmentally sound; the design of culturally appropriate systems which lead to social stability; a design system characterized by an integrated application of ecological principles in land use; an international movement for land use planning and design; an ethical system stressing positivism and cooperation. In the broadest sense, permaculture refers to land use systems which promote stability in society, utilize resources in a sustainable way and preserve wildlife habitat and the genetic diversity of wild and domestic plants and animals. It is a synthesis of ecology and geography, of observation and design. Permaculture involves ethics of earth care because the sustainable use of land cannot be separated from life-styles and philosophical issues. 2. From Lee Barnes (editor of Katuah Journal and Permaculture Connections), Waynesville, North Carolina: Permaculture ("Perm"anent "agri"culture and "Perma"nent "culture") is a sustainable design system stressing the harmonious interrelationship of humans, plants, animals and the Earth. To paraphrase the founder of Permaculture, designer Bill Mollison: "Permaculture principles focus on thoughtful designs for small- scale intensive systems which are labor efficient and which use biological resources instead of fossil fuels. Designs stress ecological connections and closed energy and material loops. The core of permaculture is design and the working relationships and connections between all things. Each component in a system performs multiple functions, and each function is supported by many elements. Key to efficient design is observation and replication of natural ecosystems, where designers maximize diversity with polycultures, stress efficient energy planning for houses and settlement, using and accelerating natural plant succession, and increasing the highly productive "edge-zones" within the system." Permaculture designs have been successfully and widely implemented in third-world countries, but there is current need to expand these principles in temperate climates, and especially urban areas to create more enjoyable and sustainable human habitats. ======================================================================= THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF PERMACULTURE Permaculture is not limited to just plant and animal agriculture. It also includes community planning and development, use of appropriate technologies (coupled with an adjustment of life-style), and adoption of concepts and philosophies that are both earth-based and people-centered, such as bio-regionalism. Many of the appropriate technologies advocated by permaculturalists are well-known. Among these are solar and wind power, composting toilets, and solar food cooking and drying. Information on appropriate technology and homesteading is available elsewhere. Due to the inherent sustainability of perennial cropping systems, permaculture places a heavy emphasis on tree crops. Systems that integrate annual and perennial crops--such as alleycropping and agroforestry--take advantage of "the edge effect", increase biological diversity, and offer other characteristics missing in monoculture systems. Thus, multicropping systems that blend woody perennials and annuals hold promise as viable techniques for large-scale farming. Ecological methods of production for any specific crop or farming system are, of course, vital to permaculture and sustainable agriculture in general. Since permaculture is not a production system, per se, but rather a land use planning philosophy, it is not limited to a specific method of production. Furthermore, as permaculture principles may be adapted to farms or villages worldwide, it is site specific and therefore amenable to locally adapted techniques of production. As an example, standard organic farming and gardening techniques utilizing cover crops, green manures, crop rotation, and mulches are emphasized in permacultural systems. Yet, the use of the Keyline chisel plow, rotational grazing, the Aerway implement in no-till farming, and a whole number of other techniques are adaptable to farms working within a permacultural framework. The decision as to which "system" to go with is site-specific and management dependent. Farming systems and techniques commonly associated with permaculture include the Keyline method (soil and water management), rotational grazing, agroforestry, swales, contour plantings, hedgerows and windbreaks, and integrated farming systems such as aquaculture, intercropping, and polyculture. Gardening and recycling methods common to permaculture include edible landscaping, keyhole gardening, sheet mulching, chicken tractors, solar greenhouses, vermicomposting, spiral herb gardens, swales, and polyculture intercrops. Water collection and management systems like greywater, rain catchment, and Keyline play an important role in land use designs. Permaculture is not about prescription farming, it's about designing ecological landscapes that integrate farming and other human activities into ecosystems with minimal disturbance. Permaculture advocates farm ecology, not pharmacology. PERMACULTURE RESOURCES The two basic sources of information on permaculture are permaculture design courses and permaculture literature. The permaculture design course is the primary vehicle for transfer of permaculture expertise. The standard course is 72-hours in length and lasts two weeks. Graduates are issued a permaculture design certificate and are entitled to use "Permaculture" in the pursuit of livelihood and for educational purposes. The permaculture literature is a rich source of information on a wide range of topics dealing with appropriate technology, water management, land use, energy-efficient and toxic-free housing, and plant and animal agriculture. Permaculture Resources in the U.S. The Permaculture Activist Box 1209 Black Mountain, NC 28711 (704) 683-4946 Editor: Peter Bane Cost: $16, quarterly The Permaculture Activist is the leading periodical for North American permaculture. In publishes articles on permaculture, edible landscaping, bioregionalism, aquaculture, etc, and provides a current listing of upcoming permaculture design courses. It serves as an important networking tool in the U.S., Canada, and Central America. Back issues are still available. The International Permaculture Solutions Journal (TIPS) Yankee Permaculture/Elfin Permaculture, and Forest Ecosystem Rescue Network (FERN) P.O. Box 672 Dahlonega, GA 30533-0672 Editor: Dan Hemenway Cost: $27.50, four issues The International Permaculture Solutions Journal (TIPS) is published on an irregular basis, but is a rich source of information. Prior to TIPS, Yankee Permaculture put out a fantastic yearbook called The International Permaculture Species Yearbook (TIPSY). The TIPSY series is a goldmine of permaculture information; much of the information is still quite useful. FERN publishes a permaculture newsletter called Robin that deals with forest issues. Yankee Permaculture also publishes The Resources of International Permaculture - TRIP. Volume 5 of TRIP, published in 1993, is a 68-page issue that contains 1,540 listings of groups working in permaculture, sustainable food systems, and tree-based agriculture. Restoration Forestry Friends of the Trees P. O. Box 4469 Bellingham, WA 98227 (206) 738-4972 Editor: Michael Pilarski Restoration Forestry (1994) is a 525-page guide to resources in restoration forestry. It contains over 50 review articles, 780 organizations, 230 journals/periodicals, 800 books, 100 restoration forestry projects underway, and 100 directories on topics relating to restoration forestry, forest ecology, tree seedlings, bioregionalism, and permaculture. It is a massive addition to tree-based agricultural literature. Friends of the Trees Society also publishes a newsletter, West Coast Permaculture News & Gossip. Other publications from Friends of the Trees include the International Green Front Report (1988, $7.00), Kiwifruit Enthusiasts Journal (Vol. 6, $17.20) and Third World Resources (1993, $5.00). Permaculture Drylands Journal Permaculture Drylands Institute P.O. Box 156 Santa Fe, NM 87504-0156 (505) 983-0663 Cost: $25, 3 issues per year Permaculture Drylands Journal (formerly Sustainable Living in Drylands) is published in April, August, and December by the Permaculture Drylands Education and Research Institute. It focuses on permaculture concepts and designs for arid lands, with a heavy focus on New Mexico and Arizona. PDJ has published articles on straw bale buildings, solar box cookers, dryland farming, and much more; back issues are available. PDI offers a regular series of Permaculture Design Courses. Temperate Bamboo Quarterly Earth Advocates Research Facility 30 Myers Road Summertown, TN 38483 (615) 964-4151 Cost: $24, quarterly Temperate Bamboo Quarterly is a quarterly publication from Earth Advocates, a permaculture team run by Sue and Adam Turtle. It focuses on the bamboo plant which has unique, multi-purpose uses. They also operate a nursery with dozens of bamboo species. Permaculture Resources P.O. Box 65 56 Farmersville Rd Califon, N.J. 07830 (800) 832-6285 Educational publisher and distributor of permaculture resources and publications. Permaculture Resources in Australia Permaculture International Journal Permaculture International Ltd. P.O. Box PG6039 South Lismore, NSW 2480 Australia Phone: (066) 220 020 International: (066) 220 579 Cost: U.S. $24, quarterly (available in the U.S. through The Permaculture Activist) PIJ serves as the leading periodical for permaculture worldwide. It contains articles, book reviews, and news of permacultural events around the world. It serves as an important networking tool. Back issues to the early 1980s are available. The Permaculture Edge Permaculture Nambour, Inc. P.O. Box 148 Inglewood 6050 Western Australia Cost: U.S. $20, quarterly (available in the U.S. through The Permaculture Activist) The Permaculture Edge aims to report activities that are seen to be at the cutting edge of permaculture developments around the world. The "permaculture edge" refers to the "edge effect" found at the boundaries of two ecological systems where there is more synergism, biological activity, and variations in the microenvironment and which can be used to increase yields in designed systems. It also points to permaculture ideas as being "at the edge" of a change in the push towards a sustainable future. Permaculture Institute P.O. Box 1 Tyalgum, NSW 2484 Australia Phone: (066) 793 442 The Permaculture Institute in Tyalgum, Australia, serves as the coordinating organization for permaculture activities such as permaculture design accreditation. Permaculture Resources Around the World Permaculture Magazine: Solutions for Sustainable Living Permaculture Association (Britain) Permanent Publications Hyden House Limited Little Hyden Lane Clandfield, Hampshire PO8 ORU England Cost: U.S. $24, quarterly A quarterly journal published in cooperation with the Permaculture Association of Great Britain. It contains articles, projects, books, and solutions from Britain and worldwide. GroundCover Permaculture Association of Zimbabwe Box CY 301 Causeway, Harare Zimbabwe Telephone/Fax: (+4) 726911 Cost: U.S. $30, per year KEY BOOKS ON PERMACULTURE INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE by Bill Mollison and Reny Mia Slay. 1991. Tagari Publishers, Tyalgum, Australia. 198 p. PERMACULTURE ONE: A PERENNIAL AGRICULTURE FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, 3rd ed (Reprint of 1978 ed) by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. 1987. Tagari Publishers, Tyalgum, New South Wales, Australia. 127 p. PERMACULTURE TWO: A PRACTICAL DESIGN FOR TOWN AND COUNTRY IN PERMANENT AGRICULTURE by Bill Mollison. 1979. Tagari Press, Stanley, Australia. 150 p. PERMACULTURE: A DESIGNER'S MANUAL by Bill Mollison. 1988. Tagari Publications, Tyalgum, Australia. 576 p. THE BEST OF PERMACULTURE by Max O. Lindegger and Robert Tap. 1986. Nascimanere Publishers, Nambour, Australia. 136 p. THE PERMACULTURE WAY: PRACTICAL WAYS TO CREATE A SELF-SUSTAINING WORLD by Graham Bell. 1992. Thorsons, London. 239 p. THE PERMACULTURE GARDEN by Graham Bell. 1994. Thorsons, London. 170 p. URBAN PERMACULTURE by David Watkins. 1993. Permanent Publications, U.K. 152 p. PERMACULTURE IN A NUTSHELL by Patrick Whitefield. 1993. Permanent Publications, U.K. 75 p. EARTH USER'S GUIDE TO PERMACULTURE by Rosemary Morrow and Rob Allsop 1994. Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst, NSW Australia. 152 p. GETTING STARTED IN PERMACULTURE by Ross and Jennifer Mars. 1995. Candlelight Trust, Hovea, Western Australia. 60 p. A Few Good Books for the Permaculturist's Bookshelf CORNUCOPIA: A SOURCE BOOK OF EDIBLE PLANTS by Stephen Facciola. 1990. Kampong Publications, Vista, CA. 678 p. DESIGNING & MAINTAINING YOUR EDIBLE LANDSCAPE NATURALLY by Robert Kourick. 1986. Metamorphic Press, Santa Rosa, CA. 370 p. TREE CROPS: A PERMANENT AGRICULTURE by J. Russell Smith. 1987. Island Press, Washington, D.C. 408 p. THE PERMACULTURE BOOK OF FERMENT & HUMAN NUTRITION by Bill Mollison. 1993. Tagari Publications, Tyalgum, Australia. 288 p. ELECTRONIC SOURCES OF PERMACULTURE INFORMATION 1. Permaculture-mg Internet Discussion List permaculture-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu To subscribe: send email to almanac@ces.ncsu.edu with the text: subscribe permaculture-mg 2. Permaculture at Communications for a Sustainable Future http://csf.colorado.edu:8080/ 3. Organic Gardening & Permaculture Information http://sunsite.unc.edu/london/The_Sustainable_Farmstead.html email london@sunSITE.unc.edu for more information http://sunsite.unc.edu/london/permaculture.html send email to page at permaculture@sunsite.unc.edu 4. Permaculture Global Assistance Network http://www.peg.apc.org/~pgan 5. Permaculture International Journal Email: pcjournal@peg.apc.org 6. Cross Timbers Permaculture Institute http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/ Email: 7539.1353@compuserve.com 7. Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute Email: 103070.2354@compuserve.com 8. Correspondence Course in Australia on Permaculture http://www.qldnet.com.au/acs 9. Permaculture List in Australia perma@cessysv.eepo.dialix.oz.au To subscribe send e-mail to: listserver@eepo.com.au with the text: SUBSCRIBE PERMA Your Name 10. Dwayne's Home Page at Latrobe http://www.latrobe.edu.au/nexus/Permaculture/permaculture.html 11. Amy's Home Page with Permaculture Material http://wwwpub.utdallas.edu/~amyd/index.html 12. Carmela's Home Page with Permaculture Material http://www.ozoline.com.au/permaculture/index.html 13. The Tree House http://www.charm.net/~flora/> 14. Plants for a Future On-Line http://www.liv.ac.uk/~rmorris/pfaf/index.html 15. Permaculture FAQ on the Web http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/faq.html http://sunSITE.unc.edu/london/permaculture.faq.v1.1 =========================================================== * Compiled by Steve Diver Send comments and updates to: steved@ncatfyv.uark.edu or permaculture-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu ===========================================================