What is permaculture?
Permaculture is a creative design process based on whole-systems thinking informed by ethics and design principles that feature on this site.
This approach guides us to mimic the patterns and relationships we can find in nature and can be applied to all aspects of human habitation, from agriculture to ecological building, from appropriate technology to education and even economics.
By adopting the ethics and applying these principles in our daily life we can make the transition from being dependent consumers to becoming responsible producers. This journey builds skills and resilience at home and in our local communities that will help us prepare for an uncertain future with less available energy.
The techniques and strategies used to apply these principles vary widely depending on the location, climatic conditions and resources that are available. The methods may differ, but the foundations to this wholistic approach remain constant. By learning these principles you can acquire valuable thinking tools that help you become more resilient in an era of change.
Explore the principles
You can begin by exploring this website, focusing on an area of interest or step-by-step by clicking on the bike icon to discover examples of how permaculture can be applied and the thinking behind the concept.
If that leaves you with a thirst for more, read the Essence of Permaculture, a precursor to the full length book Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability by David Holmgren. There is a selection of resources available with free downloads, videos, links and our shop with related products. We also have a number of items available specifically designed to help you learn the principles, with a video, magnets, music and our calendar.