Permaculture is a form of sustainable land use design which imitates relationships found in natural ecologies. Permaculture principles restore and maintain mutually beneficial ecosystems. Land use designs utilize outputs, minimize human labour and maximize productivity. Landscapes of any size or scale may employ the permaculture method with great success. Examples have been seen on semi-populated rural districts as well as in efficiently designed urban villages.
The principles of permaculture have been growing and evolving for years. In the 1970’s David Holmgren published 12 succinct permaculture design principles. These principles are listed below.
- Observe and interact
- Catch and store energy
- Obtain a yield.
- Apply self-regulation and accept feedback
- Use and value renewable resources and services
- Produce no waste
- Design from patterns to details
- Integrate rather than segregate
- Use small and slow solutions
- Use and value diversity
- Use edges and value the marginal
- Creatively use and respond to change