Perma/BASE

hu:Perma/ALAP Permaculture ethics Permaculture ethics Permaculture is a broad based and holistic approach that has many applications to all aspects of life. At the heart of all sustainable design and practice however is a fundemental set of ‘core values’ or ethics which remain constant whatever our situation, whether we are creating systems for town planning or trade, whether the land we care for is a windowbox or a 2000 hectare forest. Ethics are culturally evolved mechanisms that regulate self-interest, giving us a better understanding of good and bad outcomes. Earthcare Care of the Earth is defined by Bill Mollison as: "Provision for all life systems to continue and multiply." The Earth is a living, breathing entity. Without ongoing care and nurturing there will be consequences too big to ignore. Peoplecare Bill Mollison defines Care of People as: Provision for people to access those resources necessary to their existence. Permaculture is, in practice, the result of choices made with a specific philosophy in mind. Choices made in the spirit of cooperation will lead to "peace and plenty," while selfish and greedy choices will lead to "war and waste." The ethic of "Peoplecare" follows on logically from that of Earthcare: For we are all a part of, not apart from, the earth on which we live. If peoples needs are met in compassionate and simple ways, the environment surrounding them will prosper. Fairshares Fairshares is shorthand for the third ethical principle of Permaculture, and is more fully known as Setting Limits to Population and Consumption. It is described by Bill Mollison as follows: "By governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to further the above principles (Care of The Earth and Care of People)." Mollison includes this principle to illuminate the need to be self-reliant, but also cooperative. We are provided with times of abundance which encourages us to share with others. Holmgren's 12 design principles These restatements of the principles of permaculture appear in David Holmgren's Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability ; Also see permacultureprinciples.com ; Observe and interact - By taking the time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation. Catch and store energy - By developing systems that collect resources when they are abundant, we can use them in times of need. Obtain a yield - Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the work that you are doing. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback - We need to discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems can continue to function well. Use and value renewable resources and services - Make the best use of natures abundance to reduce our consumptive behaviour and dependence on non-renewable resources. Produce no waste - By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste. Design from patterns to details - By stepping back, we can observe patterns in nature and society. These can form the backbone of our designs, with the details filled in as we go. Integrate rather than segregate - By putting the right things in the right place, relationships develop between those things and they work together to support each other. Use small and slow solutions - Small and slow systems are easier to maintain than big ones, making better use of local resources and produce more sustainable outcomes. Use and value diversity - Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides. Use edges and value the marginal - The interface between things is where the most interesting events take place. These are often the most valuable, diverse and productive elements in the system. Creatively use and respond to change - We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing, and then intervening at the right time.