Permaculture Principles

these are some of my notes from permaculture class with Liz and Oliver.
they are a bit vague, written for myself, but hopefully the essence of the idea is still communicated.

Permaculture Principles

*relative location*

• put stuff where it makes the most sense.
• zones: are a series of proximities, according to use, with zone 1 being highest use and zone 9 being lowest use. Plant high maintanence thing in zone 1, low maintanence in further zones. ie. woodshed on the way to the outhouse
• ergonomics. efficiency. convinience. balance.
• be honest about behaviour, and go the lazy route.

*each element supports many functions*

• three functions for every element
• three elements for every function
• An used resource becomes a pollutant.

*each function supports many elements*

• mulitple elements for single fuctions
• Nature always has a backup plan
• eg. multiple varieties and successions
• eg. how many ways can you put out a fire
  

*use biological resources*

• use living resources
• all biological resources can be multifunctional. Dead things are often single use.
• eg. animal tractors, and living fences

*succession*

• accelerate natural succession
• cycles through time

*edge*

• edge supports more biodiversity: edges are dynamic systems
  
• maximize edge efficiency
• eg. keyhole beds

Permaculture Ethics

1. Care of the Earth

2. Care of the Earth and people
self reliance, community support and interdependance (helps avoid war)

3. Give away surplus
keeps the energy flowing. Try to produce more than you consume, if possible.

4. Everything has intrinsic value
in and of themselves.

respect
balance
effeciency
simplicity

Some Mollisonisms

"Everything gardens."
"The problem is the solution."
"The solution is the problem."