Introduction to Permaculture

Martin GustafssonChristopher WegweiserUAG 2014 – June 17

Bill Mollison & David Holmgren

The givens

Climate changeUnsure economic futureResource managementSocial inequalitiesAgricultural unsustainability

Permaculture

• Creating synergies with local ecology

• Consumer > producer cultures

• Permaculture – a practical tool for constructing resilient systems

• Constantly evolving

“Permaculture is the use of ecology as the basis for designing integrated systems of food production, housing appropriate technology and community development. It offers a practical, creative approach to the problems of diminishing resources and threatened life support systems now facing the world”

– Simon Henderson

"Permaculture is meeting human needs, while improving ecosystem health “

- Rafter Ferguson

Permaculture Ethics

Earth CarePeople CareFair Share/Equal Distribution

of Surplus

Design Process

(Some) Permaculture Design PrinciplesObserve

Connect

Each element performs multiple functions

Each important function is supported by many elements

Catch and store energy and materials

Use small-scale intensive systems

Efficient energy planning

Use biological and renewable resources/diversity

The problem is the solution

Observe

Observation/Site Analysis• Flows of

• energy• sun • rain• wind • noise • potential fire• people• materials • etc…

•…as they enter and move through the site

Further Aspects of Observation/Analysis • Legislation• People and Community• Physical resources– Energy– Capital–Waste disposal and recycling

• Economic Resources• Vegetation and Wildlife• Aesthetics, foul or pleasant smells,

sightlines

ConnectCreate synergiesIncrease number of beneficial

connections → stability Match output & input of different

elements → No waste.

Each element performs many

functions

Willow - Salix• Wind shield• Fodder crop• Riparian buffer• Weaving, fencing and building• Energy• Root activation – Indolebutyric acid• Phytoremediation• Wastewater management• Medicinal - Salicylic acid

deepgreenpermaculture.com

Comfrey - Symphytum uplandicum

• Fertilization

– N, P, K, calcium, magnesium, other minerals

• Compost starter

• Chop and drop

• Medicinal

• Pollination

Good King Henry - Chenopodium bonus-henricus

• Perennial spinach

• Edible seeds

• Deep taproots

• Ground cover

Sea buckthorn –Hippophae rhamnoides

• Nitrogen fixer• Healthy berries– Vitamins A, C & E, carotenoids, essential

fatty acids, etc.

• Medicinal– Oil used for ointments, cosmetic products

• Edible hedge• Dyes

Bill Mollison – Introduction to Permaculture (1991)

Apple tree niche analysis

Greenhouses

• Season (and possibilities) extention

• Propogation and seed harvest

• Social area

• Animal shelter

• Wind protection

• Water harvesting

Physical Structures

• Rainwater harvesting

• Storage spaces

• Heat retention

• Indoor functions

Each important function is supported by many elements

Identification - which functions in the design are critical (e.g. water, food, energy, fire protection)

AnalysisNo single point of failure =

redundancy + resilience

Irrigation

• Rainwater collection

• Greywater

• Municipal source

• Well

• Ponds

• Swales

• Mulching

Food

• Balconies, allotments & working on farms

• Foraging & dumpster diving

• CSAs & coops; Bees and animals

• Preservation

Fertilization

• Worm leachate

• Compost teas

• Manure

• Cover crops

• Mulch

• Urine

Catch and store energy and materialsEfficient use of available resourcesIdentify, collect and hold useful

flows. Nutrients, materials, sun, wind,

water, knowledge, moneyCatch, store and use at highest

possible potential

Small-scale intensive systems

”Small steps make small mistakes” Start small, from nucleus and build on

success “Systems should be designed to

perform functions at the smallest scale that is practical and energy efficient for that function”

Efficient energy planning

Sector analysisZone planningSlope

Sector Analysis

Flows of sun, light, rain, water flow, wind, noise and potential fire as they enter and move through the site

makingsenseofthings.info

Zone planning

bayfm.com.au

http://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/4-efficient-energy-planning-original-permaculture-design-principle

http://mandalaway.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/zones-of-use.jpg

Zone planning

http://homebiome.com/

Slope•Site in profile•Downhill flow of resources/energy

Patrick Whitefield: Earth Care Manual (2004)

Using slope – raised vegetable beds on contour

geofflawton.com

Use biological and renewable resources/diversityBiological resources build up over time,

assist yield and interact with other elements.

Diversity – healthy, productive and sustainable ecosystem.

The problem is the solution

Turn constraints into opportunities Mistakes are tools for learningIdentify areas for change

Design Process

Vision statement

A vision is something one strives to achieve. It is often expressed as a future state one wishes to realize.

Vision statement

”Ulleråker is the hub for Transition Uppsala where food is grown and cooked together, soil and community are built”

Goals

S Specific

M Measurable

A Acceptable

R Realistic

T Time-bound