13 Jun Permaculture in Action

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There are so many problems throughout this world stacking up that it’s hard to take sometimes. We can’t even trust our own food system with the extreme rise of GMOs, the spread of global deforestation, our corrupt politicians taking away so many rights on our freedom and security along with countless other problems encroaching on the human life force as well as our planet. Who can we trust to make sure these issues are eradicated and healed? We can trust ourselves and we can trust our vibrant local community around us to become active and informed on these issues. We can take action right here where it counts the most, in our own home and neighborhood.

But, with all of these pressing issues it can feel hard to start somewhere. Following a discipline like permaculture gives so much light and direction to sustainable action. What is permaculture you might ask? It is a holistic and sustainable design system that uses nature’s existing systems as a base model for everything. It spans all the way from using the concepts in day-to-day life all the way to an all-encompassing 50-100 year design plan for any property. Whether you live in a tiny condo in downtown or a large amount of acreage 3 hours from a large city, permaculture gives you a map to live sustainably and intelligently, even by the laws governing our world today.

 

Permaculture follows these 12 basic principles:

Principle 1: Observe & interact

By taking the time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation.

Principle 2: Catch and store energy

By developing systems that collect resources when they are abundant, we can use them in times of need.

Principle 3: Obtain a yield

Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the work that you are doing.

Principle 4: Apply self-regulation & accept feedback

We need to discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems can continue to function well.

Principle 5: Use & value renewable resources & services

Make the best use of nature’s abundance to reduce our consumptive behavior and dependence on non-renewable resources.

Principle 6: Produce no waste

By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste.

Principle 7: 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.

Principle 8: Integrate rather than segregate

By putting the right things in the right place, relationships develop between them and they support each other.

Principle 9: Use small & slow solutions

Small and slow systems are easier to maintain than big ones, making better use of local resources and produce more sustainable outcomes.

Principle 10: Use & value diversity

Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides.

Principle 11: Use edges & 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.

Principle 12: Creatively use & respond to change

We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing, and then intervening at the right time.

(Source: permacultureprinciples.com)

 

In my experience the very best way to get any of these wonderful concepts fully integrated into your lifestyle is to start living them immediately, not only at your home but, more importantly, throughout the community around you. Go out and find events and volunteer! This gives you real hands on knowledge to apply to your life, helps you meet more beautiful like-minded people, and, maybe best of all, inspires you to the utmost extreme to go out and conquer the world! Go out and fill your sustainability toolbox with all of the tools you’ll need for exactly that: skills to build things, know how for planting fruits and vegetables, the multiple functions of any of the elements in a sustainable design or landscape, and the friendship of other skilled people to make these dreams come into reality. We cannot do this alone. It really does take a village to transform all of our daily lives into a full functioning zero waste, ecosystem restoring lifestyle!

Ok so really though….what do you do now? Right now? Go out there in the world and attend a sustainably minded event or even throw one yourself! It’s all out there just waiting for you…

There are so many events even this weekend but the first that comes to mind is out at an aspiring sustainable eco farm in San Marcos called Heirloom Blooms. They are having a fundraiser this weekend called June Blooms N' Tunes. There will be plenty of like minded people out there to rub elbows with and you will be helping out a truly beautiful space and group of people make their dream happen: to become a sustainable landscape they will use to share and teach others with. Please visit their website or facebook page for more information.

 

See you out there!

 

Taelor Monroe

Austin Permaculture Guild

monroe.taelor@gmail.com

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