Permaculture Ethics and Principles

System yield is the sum total of surplus energy produced by, stored, conserved, reused, or converted by the design. Energy is in surplus once the system itself has available all its needs for growth, reproduction and maintenance. Unused surplus results in pollution and more work.

Ethics

The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children.

Cooperation, not competition, is the very basis of future survival and of existing life systems.

Principles of Permaculture

Relative Location

Components placed in a system are viewed relatively, not in isolation. Functional Relationship between components.
Everything is connected to everything else Recognize functional relationships between elements.

Every function is supported by many elements - Redundancy Good design ensures that all important functions can withstand the failure of one or more element.

Every element is supported by many functions Each element we include is a system, chosen and placed so that it performs as many functions as possible.

Local Focus

"Think globally - Act locally" Grow your own food, cooperate with neighbors. Community efficiency not self-sufficiency.

Diversity

As a general rule, as sustainable systems mature they become increasingly diverse in both space and time. What is important is the complexity of the functional relationships that exist between elements not the number of elements.

Biological Resources

We know living things reproduce and build up their availability over time, assisted by their interaction with other compatible elements. Use and reserve biological intelligence.

One Calorie In/One Calorie Out Do not consume or export more biomass than carbon fixed by the solar budget.

Stocking

Finding the balance of various elements to keep one from overpowering another over time. How much of an element needs to be produced in order to fulfill the need of whole system?

Stacking

Stacking Multi-level functions for single element (stacking functions). Multi-level garden design, ie., trellising, forest garden, vines, groundcovers, etc.

Succession

Recognize that certain elements prepare the way for system to supports other elements in the future, i.e.: succession planting.

Use Onsite

Resources Determine what resources are available and entering the system on their own and maximixe their use.

Edge Effect

Ecotones are the most diverse and fertile area in a system. Two ecosystems come together to form a third which has more diversity than either of the other two, i.e.: edges of ponds, forests, meadows, currents etc.

Energy Recycling

Yields from system designed to supply onsite needs and/or needs of local region.

Small Scale

Intensive Systems start small and create a system that is managable and produces a high yield.

Make Least Change for the Greatest Effect

The less change that is generated, the less embedded energy is used to endow the system.

Planting Strategy

1st-natives, 2nd-proven exotics, 3rd unproven exotics - carefully on small scale with lots of observation.

Work Within Nature

Aiding the natural cycles results in higher yield and less work. A little support goes along way.

Appropriate Technology

The same principles apply to cooking, lighting, transportation, heating, sewage treatment, water and other utilities.

Law of Return

Whatever we take, we must return Every object must responsibly provide for its replacement.

Stress and Harmony

Stress here may be defined as either prevention of natural function, or of forced function. Harmony may be defined as the integration of chosen and natural functions, and the easy supply of essential needs.

The Problem is the solution

We are the problem, we are the solution. Turn constraints into resources

Mistakes are tools for learning

The yield of a system is theoretically unlimited The only limit on the number of uses of a resource possible is the limit of information and imagination of designer.

Dispersal of Yield Over Time Principal of seven generations. We can use energy to construct these systems, providing that in their lifetime, they store or conserve more energy that we use to construct them or to maintain them.

A Policy of Responsibility (to relinquish power)

The role of successful design is to create a self-managed system.

Principle of Disorder

Order and harmony produce energy for other uses. Disorder consumes energy to no useful end. Tidiness is maintained disorder.

Chaos Has form, but is not predictable. The amplification of small fluctuations.

Entropy

In complex systems disorder is an increasing result. Entropy and lifeforce are a stable pair that maintain the universe to infinity.

Metastability

For a complex system to remain stable, there must be small pockets of disorder.

Entelechy Principal

Entelechy Principal of genetic intelligence. i.e. The rose has thorns to protect itself.

Observation Protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor.

We are surrounded by insurmountable opportunities

Wait one year

Hold water and fertility as high (in elevation) on the landscape as possible