Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Without permanent agriculture there is no possibility of stable social order.
The relationship to agriculture and society is the primary reason why I continue to write Field to Table. Field to Table is about the journey that food makes from the field where it is grown to the table where it is consumed. This nature of the voyage our supper makes plays a dominant role in defining our way of life, our society. We can build sustainable communities by creating a sustainable food supply system. One major step toward sustainability we can take is to become producers instead of consumers. We may not be able to produce all the food we require but we can either produce some or if not, we can buy our food from local producers. Either way, we make a difference. We can grow organically or purchase organic produce. This way we avoid the pesticides and chemical fertilizers which poison our soil, or food and our bodies. We cannot grow nutritious food when we kill off all the life forms which assist us to grow this food in the first place.
We do not all have to become permaculture designers to make that difference. We can develop a few skills that will help us live simply, reduce stress and save a few bucks. Before we explore the possibilities lets take a look at the foundation of permaculture, ethics.
Ethics of Permaculture
1. Care of the earth --This includes all living and non-living things, such as animals, plants, land, water and air.
Provision for all life systems to continue and multiply.
2. Care of people -- Provision for people to access those resources necessary to their existence. The aim is to promote self-reliance and community responsibility.
3. Return of surplus -- to pass on anything surplus to our needs (labor, money, information, etc.) to serve the above aims. This carries with it a voluntary setting of limits to population and consumption.
Implicit in this set of ethics is the "Life Ethic": all living organisms are seen not only as a means but an end. In addition to their instrumental value to humans and other living organisms, they have an intrinsic value or worth.
