Cows and Permaculture

Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treat any area as a single product system

 -Bill Mollison

The term Permaculture was coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970’s and is a hybrid of the words permanent and agriculture.    

Mollison and Holmgren developed three formal guiding ethical principles behind Permaculture.  

·         Care for the earth

·         Care for the people

·         Return of surplus

In David Holmgren's book Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability, he went on to detail twel design principles. 

 

1.       Observe and interact – This emphasizes the different perspectives in nature to understand what is going on with the various elements within this system. 

2.       Catch and store energy – Underscores the need to develop a system that collects resources when they are abundant so we can use them later in times of need.

 

Drying bananas in the sun. 

 

3.       Obtain a yield – Think of the proverb “You can’t work on an empty stomach.”  Rewards need to be had from the work that’s being done.

4.       Apply self-regulation and accept feedback – This principal deals with aspects of permaculture that limit or discourage inappropriate actions/behaviors.   Building off of what works is key to planning effectively.   

5.       Use and value renewable resources and services – We need to make the best use of nature to reduce our consumption and dependence on non-renewable resources. 

6.       Produce no waste – By valuing the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste. 

 

Cows not only give us dairy but they mow grass and produce manure that is used in composting.

 

7.       Design from patterns to details – This principle tells us taking a step back so we CAN see the forest for the trees.   Patterns can become the backbone of our designs.

8.       Integrate rather than segregate – By putting things in the right places, relationships can develop naturally and support existing systems. 

9.       Use small and slow solutions – Small and slowly developing systems can be easier to maintain than large ones and therefore can make better use of resources and produce sustainable outcomes. 

10.   Use and value diversity – Diversity can reduce vulnerability and takes advantage of the unique nature of our environment. 

A diverse apple orchard contains early and late flowering trees and trees that produce apples for eating and cooking.  If weather damages some trees, others may still be able to produce later on. 

11.   Use edges and value the marginal – Tells us the interaction between things  is where interesting events take place. Important things happen at intersections. 

12.   Creatively use and respond to change – We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing and intervening at the right times. 

Why use Permaculture?

Permaculture gardens do many things by not limiting the garden to only one use.  Permaculture gardens provide food, wildlife habitations, an eye-catching appearance, and an atmosphere that can be relaxing.  Permaculture gardens can be self-sustaining and once established, needs little work. 

Some common permaculture techniques include –

• Edible gardens and companion plantings.  Vegetables, herbs, flowers and edible fruits can be grown together and when designed properly, can help to serve as natural ways to control pests.  For example, marigolds are great for deterring mosquitoes, aphids and other insects because of its strong odor.   Planting basil near tomatoes can improve flavors and repel mosquitoes. 

•  Raised beds and vertical techniques.  Raised beds can take up less space and are easily accessible.  They can also help protect your crops from wildlife such as moles and rabbits.  Vertical gardening includes growing plants on trellises or in hanging baskets.  The creativity with vertical gardening is endless.  I grow strawberries vertically in PVC pipes attached to my fending. 

• Lasagna gardening.  Rather than having to till up the soil or dig, you can use lasagna gardening to build a garden beg.  Lasagna gardening staves off weeks and can save a lot of time.  With this method, you layer materials that will decompose right in the bed.  Layering leaves, newspapers, grass clippings, coffee grounds and other materials, creates something like a typical compost pile and the heat from the sun decomposes the material naturally.

By adopting the ethics and applying these principles in our daily life we can make the transition from being dependent consumers to becoming responsible producers. This journey builds skills and resilience at home and in our local communities that will help us prepare for the future.