Permaculture design & consulting services for the Nelson, Richmond & Tasman Regions

Permaculture Philosophy

"Permaculture" is derived from the words - Permanent Agriculture - meaning setting up a system or garden that once set in motion will self-regulate. This is usually applied to a garden or small farm that lends itself to creating "self-sustainability".

In a garden this system revolves around an edible garden (orchard and vegetables) integrated with a balance of natives and exotic plants plus trees. This system is also set up with recycling of nutrients (composting) and companion planting techniques to lower inputs into the system.

In most cases this lends towards organic techniques being practiced. It is a system that gets its energy from the system rather than externally. Permaculture is a philosophy based on working with nature rather than against it hence harnessing her power.

In a lifestyle block system the integration of animals would be added to the system hence mimicking nature. Permaculture copies patterns from nature, it focuses on the way elements are placed in the landscape and in the way they inter-relate rather than on the individual elements.

Permaculture has 3 main ethics:

1 - CARE OF THE EARTH - provision for all life systems to continue and multiply

2 - CARE OF PEOPLE - provision for people to access those resources necessary to their existence

3 - SETTING LIMITS TO POPULATION & CONSUMPTION - By governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to further the above principles