WHAT IS PERMACULTURE?
Permaculture was founded by Australians Bill Mollison & David Holgren in the 1970's. The word "permaculture" came from combining "permanent agriculture" to represent a form agriculture that reflects a forest or a natural ecosystem that self-sustains without intervention.
Permaculure has evolved to now be interpreted as "permanant culture" as permaculture can be applied to all areas of life.
It is a holistic design system that integrates people, their emotional health, their homes, relationships, communuties, gardens, as being part of nature, not seperate or superior to.
It is a way to thrive on Earth, with Earth.
Permaculture follows 3 ethics & 12 principles.
THE 3 ETHICS
The 3 ethics are the foundation of permaculture. They are a straightforward guide that add meaning to the choices we make and the impact we create.
-
Earth Care: The Earth is a living organism & permaculture teaches us to value & respect it. As indivuduals & communties we learn responsibility by putting Earth first. We nurture the garden & tend to the wildness, the creatures, the plants, the soil, the water etc. Through Earth Care everyone benifits & we can become proud of the contribution we make to the planet - rather then what we take from the planet.
-
People Care: To nurture ourselves & eachother. To sustainably meet our needs spiritually, emotionally, physically & intellectually in lasting ways. To value & support diversity & to create groups that foster creativity, resourcefuless, resilience & love.
-
Future Care: To be a good ancestor. To live in balance w/ nature, w/ natural limits & to not consume more then what we can give back. We must share Earth's abundance with Earth, eachother & future generations. To replenish the well - is to give back & share the surplus.
THE 12 PRINCIPLES
The principles were redefined by David Holgren in 2002. Creating a set of 12 to act as a fundamental design guide. If the 3 ethics are the foundation, the principles show us how to build it. The principles are not separate. They overlap & interact as needed always showing us that nature is our teacher on how we live & grow our food.
THE 12 PRINCIPLES
1. Observe & Interact: Observing gives you your own perspective & prepares you to take inspired action.
2. Catch & Store Energy: Energy is all around us. From natural resources to creative projects, to our relationships. Fill up.
3. Obtain a Yield: Say yes to life & the abundance in all things. Joy, knowledge, laughter, love, pets, creativity, food, etc.
4. Apply Self-Regulation & Accept Feedback: Have your listening ears on when relating to nature, self or others. Be open to feedback, adjustments & refinement.
5. Use & Value Renewable Resources: True weatlh resides in the soil, sun, wind & water.
6. Produce No Waste: wastes are resources. Repurpose, re-use & rethink.
THE 12 PRINCIPLES
7. Design from the Patterns to the Details: Zoom out to see the larger picture & zoom in to see the structure that holds it together.
8. Integrate rather then Segregate: Create & nurture benificial relationships in your life & gardens.
9. Use Small & Slow Sollutions: Small steps transform a vision into reality.
10. Use & Value Diversity: Diversity creates resiliency. Monoculture creates fragility.
11. Use & Value Edges & the Marginal: The crossroads between 2 ecosystems are the most creative & prodcutive. Look here for innovative solutions that serve the whole.
12. Creatively Use & Respond to Change: Be adaptable, study & build skills to adjust to new situations.
COMMITMENT TO DECOLONIZE
We are committed to decolonizing permaculture as it synthesizes many indigenous & traditional practices w/ modern science.
Starflower Eco Farm is located on Havasupai Land in Northern Arizona.
We are grateful for the indigenous wisdom that is shared through permaculture & the harmony we found through these teachings.
To help decolonize permaculture - look up the original people of the place you live & offer an acknowledgement that feels natural to you.
And consider reading the books “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States” by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and “Braiding Sweetgrass”
by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Growing food in gardens that maximize a living sponge like forest floors. Decreases the amount of water we have to use & increases soil fertility.
Before & After Grey Water Garden
Spring/Summer 2021
Stone lines placed on contour mark the walking path & sink the rain water creating an underground reservoir & habitat for wildlife. Stone lines are indigenous practice in the Southwest.