A Definition of Permaculture ---------------------------- From: Dr. Lee Barnes Editor of: "The Permaculture Connections: Southeastern Permaculture Network News" P.O. Box 1303 Waynesville, N.C., 28786 Telephone: 1-704-452-5716 $10.00/year, 8 page Quarterly Permaculture ("Perm"anent "agri"culture and "Perma"nent "culture") is a sustainable design system stressing the harmonious interrelationship of humans, plants, animals and the Earth. To paraphrase the founder of Permaculture, designer Bill Mollison: "Permaculture principles focus on thoughtful designs for small-scale intensive systems which are labor efficient and which use biological resources instead of fossil fuels. Designs stress ecological connections and closed energy and material loops. The core of permaculture is design and the working relationships and connections between all things. Each component in a system performs multiple functions, and each function is supported by many elements. Key to efficient design is observation and replication of natural ecosystems, where designers maximize diversity with polycultures, stress efficient energy planning for houses and settlement, using and accelerating natural plant succession, and increasing the highly productive "edge-zones" within the system." Permaculture designs have been successfully and widely implemented in third-world countries, but there is current need to expand these principles in temperate climates, and especially urban areas to create more enjoyable and sustainable human habitats. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996 21:37:51 +0200 From: Thilo Pfennig To: london@mercury.interpath.com Subject: Re: Newsgroup > >I was thinking of forming alt.agriculture.permaculture as part of the >alt.agriculture.* (misc, fruit, alt.sustainable.agriculture) >"heirarchy". If someone will write a statement of purpose I will >post this to alt.config and other groups for discussion then ask my >newsadmin to form and propagate this new newsgroup. I thaught about something like this: (reformat it how you like it best) We want to start a new newsgroup for Permaculture What is permaculture? The word "permaculture" was coined in 1978 by Bill Mollison, an Australian ecologist, and his student, David Holmgren. It is a contraction of "permanent agriculture" or "permanent culture." Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is an approach to land use which integrates human dwellings, microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, and water management into stable, productive communities. A central theme in permaculture is the design of ecological landscapes that produce food. Emphasis is placed on multi-use plants and the integration of animals to recycle nutrients and graze weeds. However, permaculture entails much more than just food production. Permaculture design concepts are being applied in urban as well as rural settings, and are applicable to single households or whole farms and villages. "Integrated farming" and "ecological engineering" are terms sometimes used to describe permaculture. Though helpful, these terms do not capture the holistic nature of permaculture and thus the following definitions are included to provide insight. (from The Permaculture FAQ by Steve Diver, ) -- From london@sunsite.unc.eduMon Aug 5 11:44:15 1996 Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 11:42:40 -0400 (EDT) From: Larry London To: london@sunsite.unc.edu Subject: msg00103.html _________________________________________________________________ [Prev][Next][Index][Thread] RE: PURPOSE OF THIS LIST? _________________________________________________________________ * To: "Petrus J. Saaiman" * Subject: Re: Purpose of this list? * From: Piedmont Communities Online * Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 18:51:42 -0400 (EDT) * cc: permaculture-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu * In-Reply-To: <199608011527.RAA14231@rhino.sabc.co.za> _________________________________________________________________ - Piedmont Communities Online http://sunSITE.unc.edu/piedmont mailto:piedmont@sunsite.unc.edu - On Thu, 1 Aug 1996, Petrus J. Saaiman wrote: > Has anyone got a description of the aims and objects of this list? > Keep it perma-nent! Permaculture-mg mailing list provides aspiring and practicing permaculturists with a forum they can use to promote the uses and development of permaculture systems on a global scale as well as a place to exchange ideas and resources amongst themselves and with others knowledgeable in sciences such as biology and agriculture. It serves also as medium for information exchange between practitioners, scientists and other professionals involved in landscaping, construction, renewable energy, sustainable community development, appropriate technology and other fields. Lawrence London mailto:london@sunSITE.unc.edu http://sunSITE.unc.edu/london/permaculture.html