Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. It doesn't just deal with the elements themselves (plants, animals, buildings, water, energy, etc) but rather focuses on the relationships that can be created between them by how they are placed on the landscape and how they can benefit each other. The aim is to create systems that are ecologically sound, provide for their own needs, do not exploit or pollute, and are therefore sustainable in the long term. It is a philosophy of working with, rather than against, nature.

 

Permaculture principles are derived from three basic ethics: 

1. Care of the earth

2. Care of people

3. Limit needs and reinvest in the future.

 

Ahimsa applies ten permaculture principles whenever possible in our landscape designs. They are as follows:

1. Place every element in relationship to another so that they assist each other.

2. Each element performs many functions

3. Each important function is supported by many elements

4. Efficient energy planning for the house and settlements

5. Emphasis on the use of biological resources over fossil fuel resources

6. Energy recycling on site

7. Using and accelerating natural plant succession to establish favorable sites and soils

8. Use a poly-culture and diversity of beneficial species for a productive, interactive system

9. Use edge and natural patterns for best effect

10. Use small scale, intensive systems

 

Through the application of these design principles we begin to establish systems that are regenerative and require very little maintenance because they begin to take care of themselves once established. By working with nature we are utilyzing the natural occuring energies on our site to do the work for us, freeing up our time, energy, and resources to be put to beneficial use elsewhere. This is, at heart, the definition of the third permaculture ethic. When our landscapes yeild resources, whether they be food, water, extra time, or money, those resources should be reinvested back into our systems to take BETTER care of the earth and people. Imagine the possibilities if everybody did this.