Permaculture
Climate change is a global invitation to remember who we truly are, as human beings. Many explorers have led the way, offering maps to guide those ready to step into the unknown.
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We are waking up to recognize that everything is connected. One thing leads to many others, as if we are all entangled in a web of life. Science shows that we actually are. Complexity grows, causing some to turn away, forgetting that structure is integral to chaos (as well as vice versa). Maps help.
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Any community is its own ‘laboratory’ to learn how to grow one that flourishes and prospers – for everyone.
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We use the frame of People, Planet, Prosperity and Place. The picture is the permaculture flower with seven petals, each representing different functions of a community.
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Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments – a permanent culture. It offers positive solutions, using ecology as the basis of organizing systems of food production, housing, technology, economics, community and other human endeavors. – Bill Bilodeau
There is no greater power than a community discovering what it cares about. – Margaret Wheatley
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Permaculture Overview
Permaculture is based on patterns found universally in nature. If we design our systems to work in the same way nature does, then we have a much better chance of living in a sustainable and resilient world. Just as nature covers so many interacting components, permaculture also encompasses many interacting elements. It includes ecological agriculture and also culture incorporating social, economic and political aspects. as well.
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The domains of permaculture are illustrated by the petals permaculture flower below (click on the appropriate text below [highlighted in yellow] for more details):
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Ethical & Design Principles – field of consciousness spiral
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Land & Nature Stewardship – tending food, trees and water
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Building – structures, resilient construction, transit
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Tools & Technology – solar, wind, renewables, energy efficiency, energy independence
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Education & Culture – arts/music, social justice, Indigenous knowledge, transitions, eco-literacy, transformation, action research, peace
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Health & Spiritual Well Being – healing arts, mind/body/spirit practices, natural medicine, integral/complementary medicine, faith communities, death
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Finance & Economics – time banking, local currency, micro enterprise, economic justice, sacred economics, socially responsible investing, conscious capitalism, farmer/craft markets, CSAs
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Land Tenure & Community Governance – cooperatives, cohousing/eco-villages, eco-districts, policies/ordinances