What is permaculture? This question may have entered your mind if you are planning to establish your own backyard organic farm. Permaculture, as the name suggests, is a technique to land management which adopts patterns observed in natural eco-systems. It incorporates a set of highly sophisticated design principles derived via whole-plant, community-based thinking.
What is permaculture not? Permaculture has nothing to do with farming; instead, it is a term used to describe a set of alternative approaches to farming based upon a “naturalized” agricultural system. Some of the more common areas under the term permaculture include: eco-industrial gardens, composting and food waste digestion, hydroponics, aquaculture (fish production), recycling, tree farming and much more. It’s a broad umbrella that is rapidly expanding. In order to further understand what is permaculture, it is advisable to learn a little about the various strategies that can be implemented on a piece of land.
What is permaculture not? On a theoretical level, it is an ethical system that seeks to co-exist with natural systems and their processes. Permaculture is not ethically self-sufficient, as it relies on ecologically sustainable practices. The primary goal is to build self-sufficiency through the interdependence of humans and the Earth. However, permaculture as an ethic encourages collaboration among human societies and promotes direct relationship with the natural systems they interact with.
What is permaculture not? Unlike conventional farming systems based on animal and plant domestication, what is permaculture not is the attempt to manipulate natural landscapes to control pests or increase productivity. What is permaculture not is a means of augmenting food supply, rather than self-sufficiency. What is permaculture not is a way to provide more food on a large-scale than our current agricultural methods allow. What is permaculture not is a substitute for agriculture and its practices.
What is permaculture not? It is not an agricultural system that grows and exports of agricultural commodities in return for a minimal profit. What is permaculture not is a way to circumvent the ecological integrity of ecosystems and the resilience of species. What is permaculture not is a way to increase economic output at the expense of the environment.
What is permaculture not? It is neither an efficient nor a cost-effective way to provide food on a large-scale nor is it a substitute for modern agriculture. What is permaculture not is a way to provide more food on a large-scale than our current agricultural methods allow. What is permaculture not is a way to increase economic output on a large-scale than our current ecological systems allow. What is permaculture not is an appropriate replacement for the earth’s natural systems.
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