THE POWER OF PERMACULTURE
Care for People, Sustain the Planet, Share the Surplus by John D. Ivanko
T
he ethics of permaculture are simple: Everything revolves around caring for people and
the planet, while sharing the surplus. A term coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s, permaculture melds the needs of human habitation and horticulture, creating viable integrated designs based on natural ecological systems, in which what’s produced by one element of the system becomes the input for another. “It’s about design and
relationships,” explains Bill Wilson, co- founder of Midwest Permaculture, with
his wife Becky. “Permaculture is larger than gardening. It’s a creative and artful way of living where people and nature are both preserved and enhanced by thoughtful planning and the careful use of resources. Practices mimic patterns found in nature. Principles reflect a respectful approach to life. Embraced, these attributes create an environment of diversity, stability and resilience, where all may thrive for untold generations.”
Self-Sufficient Systems Permaculture is widely adaptable to suit local climates, soils and geographies, and can scale to any size location that can sustain life. Because nature fosters no waste, permaculture- inspired gardens recycle or reuse all nutrients and energy sources; this approach regenerates natural systems, while boosting the self-sufficiency of human settlements and reducing the need for industrial production systems that rely on polluting energy sources. Plants are selected and planted according to the way they help one another. Animals also play key roles in garden sustainability. Free-range
12 Tucson
Courtesy of John D. Ivanko
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