Permaculture as Ecological Design
The term permaculture is derived from “permanent agriculture” or “permanent culture.” It represents the design and development of self-sustaining communities inspired by natural ecosystems. Local agriculture is a key component, as well as reducing dependence on industrial production and distribution as much as possible.
The Permaculture Mandala (left) sums up the ethics and principles of permaculture design. A larger version can be viewed on Wikipedia.
Quoted from Permaculture, Wikipedia: In the mid 1970s, two Australians, Dr. Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, started to develop ideas that they hoped could be used to create stable agricultural systems. This was a result of their perception of a rapidly growing use of destructive industrial-agricultural methods. They saw that these methods were poisoning the land and water, reducing biodiversity, and removing billions of tons of soil from previously fertile landscapes. A design approach called “permaculture” was their response, first made public with the publication of Permaculture One in 1978.
I am interested in permaculture for its potential application in urban settings. While I support free and fare international trade, local economies based on ecological principals could create pleasant neighborhoods with easy access to goods and services. This would decrease our reliance on modes of transport that harm the environment. Until clean transportation becomes a viable option, self-sustaining communities will be of great benefit in reducing global warming.
I’m not sure how we might encourage a move toward permaculture in urban development. It will probably require a solid commitment on the part of policymakers to stimulate local entrepreneurship in this area. There must be a preferable alternative to the status quo if we expect anyone to alter their lifestyle so dramatically.