Permaculture: A Practical Introduction

There are a lot of garden and farm related buzz words being tossed around these days and “permaculture” is one of the big ones. There are permaculture courses, permaculture design and permaculture principles. Maybe you have heard that incorporating the 12 principles of permaculture into your garden will help it thrive.But just what is permaculture?

Geoff Lawton was one of permaculture founder Bill Mollison’s most dedicated students. Lawton has been working as a consultant since 1985, though he didn’t specialize in permaculture education until 1995. In 1997 Bill Mollison, as he retired, asked Lawton to carry on his work by establishing and directing a new Permaculture Research Institute in Australia

Let’s talk a bit more about permaculture design. This is the tricky part for most people. The principles of permaculture may make sense, but how do you convert them into an actual functioning permaculture design? Remember that permaculture is permanent agriculture. You are trying to create gardens that will continue to grow and produce for

The article “Permaculture: A Practical Introduction” discusses the 12 principles of permaculture and permaculture ethics. This article will show you how to apply them. If you would like to see the permaculture principles explained in detail, please refer back to the introductory article.

A permaculture garden can look like many different things. For instance, a permaculture garden might be a raised bed garden, a no-till garden or a hugelkultur bed. It might incorporate organic or biodynamic gardening techniques. The different faces of a permaculture garden are possible because this is a fluid philosophy based on applying the 12

Bill Mollison is the founding force behind permaculture. He created the original Bill Mollison Permaculture Institute in Australia, where students still flock to take a Bill Mollison permaculture course. He and David Holgrem are credited with designing the system of permaculture,including the 12 principles of permaculture, and spreading it through education.

Permaculture is a hot idea in many circles from green coalitions to community sponsored agriculture to backyard gardeners. There are permaculture books, permaculture courses, permaculture podcasts and permaculture farms where you can go work and learn as a volunteer. But what is it all about?