3. From Lee Barnes (former editor of Katuah Journal and Permaculture
Connections), Waynesville, North Carolina:
Permaculture (PERMAnent agriCULTURE or PERMAnent 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.
++===++
This is why one needs a PD course with a good instructor or group of
instructors, to open the door to the millions of creative possibilities
implied in the statement above by Bill Mollison. Can you accomplish this
without a course? Some surely can, some might not. It is sure that many,
new to permaculture, who sign on to a course will experience this right
away, and many of these people may go on to teach others, sharing their
valuable experience, expanding the global permaculture community
and enriching its shared knowledgebase.
Permaculture: portal to an expanding global network of landtech pioneers --
Re: [permaculture] US National Permaculture Conference
, (continued)