Permaculture Design
What does permaculture design have to do with business? Isn’t it something to do with gardening, alternative living and hippies?
Permaculture Design is a creative, holistic, and regenerative design framework, that can be applied to any endeavour, from growing systems including gardens and farms, to social systems and communities, or to businesses and organisations of all sizes and sectors. It is based on a foundation of ethics, with design principles to guide planning, strategy, implementation and management.
Permaculture Design was developed during the 1970’s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in Australia. The term was originally a contraction of Permanent Agriculture, but is now recognised as a contraction of Permanent Culture, highlighting the importance of a stable culture to enable people and nature to thrive. The concept was influenced by systems theory and indigenous land management, alongside publications such as The Limits to Growth in 1972. Since the launch of Permaculture One in 1978, Permaculture has evolved into a worldwide movement, and has in turn influenced a new generation of thought leadership. While it may be most familiar as a garden and food growing system, it has much broader application, and offers a comprehensive approach to caring for people and planet, and as a framework for ethical business.
The Three Ethics:
- Earth Care
- People Care
- Fair Share
The Twelve Design Principles:
- Observe & Interact
- Catch & Store Energy
- Obtain a Yield
- Apply Self-Regulation & Accept Feedback
- Use & Value Renewable Resources & Services
- Produce No Waste
- Design From Patterns to Details
- Integrate Rather than Segregate
- Use Small & Slow Solutions
- Use & Value Diversity
- Use Edges & Value the Marginal
- Creatively Use & Respond to Change
If you are interested to explore how Permaculture Design can support your business, workshops for professionals, or design and strategy consults, please email fleur@realearthsolutions.com.