As i said before, Permaculture has evolved out of the need to to keep energy flowing through, into and not out of the system at hand.
we all remember the first law of thermodynamics, yes? energy and mass can neither be created nor destroyed- it is constant.
whether it be water, sunlight, organic matter, human resources or any other number of factors, it can be overwhelming at times to try and keep track of all that energy and the different systems you have going.
this can even include, day to day things in life its self. Permaculture is not just environmental- it can be about the farm and land, but also sub-urban, urban, and the human mind- but we shall get to those wonderful "invisible structures" later on.
Bill Mollison's Permaculture principles:
Observation-
work smart not hard! observe your system well- get to know how it all functions and what exists within it- don't waste your time on labor that is redundant to the mechanics of what you already got!
Resources-
any energy storage that assists yield. the work of the Permaculture designer is to maximize useful energy storage in any system- be it the house, livelihood, urban or rural landscape.
The Problem is the Solution-
we are the problem, we are the solution. In Permaculture the focus is on turning constraints into resources. Sometimes the very problems we are trying to fix such as abundance of water flow, (or lack there of) or over abundance of manure, can be the solutions to other problems- hydropower/water mills/water storage, or poor soil.
Pollution is An Unused Resource-
if resources are added beyond the capacity of the system to productively use them, the system becomes disordered and goes into chaos. imbalances may occur as a result. ex: too much grey water or too much fertilizer can result in nutrient overload, thus nutrients can become inaccessible to plants.
System Yield-
the sum total of surplus energy produced by, stored, conserved, reused or converted by the design. energy is in surplus once the system itself has available all its needs for growth, reproduction, and maintenance.
Biological Resources-
Living things reproduce and buid up their availability over time assisted by their interaction with other compatible elements. use and preserve biological intelligence.
Ex. integrated pest management- including wild life, bees, birds, worms, bacteria, ducks, chickens, pigs, cows spiders, frogs etc. create a plan to allow them to do what they do naturally to aid in the fertility and maintenance of the land thus decreasing the human and technological work load.
Use Onsite Resources-
Determine what resources are available and what resources are entering the system on their own and maximize their use. Ex. keeping water on site and reusing as much as possible with ponds, grey water, retaining rainwater from roofs, and surface runoff. maximize the use of sun, wind, people, biological resources etc.
One Calorie in/One Calorie Out-
The sun runs all life processes. a finite amount of growth can occur in a given season. as we export trees, grass clippings, "weeds" animals (cattle and sheep for meat) we are essentially "mining" our soil of minerals. we need to grow crops to replace the minerals and nutrients exported during the harvest. keep as much biomass onsite as you can. hell, take in kitchen scraps from local businesses... after all one persons kitchen scrap is another persons biomass gold.
Law of Return-
what ever we take we must return. every object must provide for its replacement. maintaining cycles=sustainability.
Every Element Supports Many Functions-
how many functions can we get from every element we include in our plans? choose each element in a system and place it so that it performs as many functions as possible.
Ex. a pond provides cooking, supports ducks, fish and aquatic plants. thus creating a richer habitat. it also catches rainfall, gives fire protection and domestic household water. the clay dug from the pond site can be used for building structures such as buildings, walls, benches, ovens and plaster finishes.
Every Function is supported by Many Elements-
patterns here anyone??? planed redundancy will ensure that all-important functions will be met despite the failure of one or more elements. Ex. Poly-cultural crops, diverse energy sources, diverse lively hoods.
Relative Location-
recognize connections. locate elements relationally. maximize relationships among components. components placed in a system are viewed relatively, not in isolation. Ex. location of trees can provide windbreaks.
Diversity-
as sustainable system mature, they become increasingly diverse over time. the number of elements is not as important as the functional relationship between them.
Local Focus-"think globally, act locally"-
create community, share seed, save seeds, grow food, and support local economy.
Stocking-
finding the balance of various elements so that one element doesn't overpower others over time. how much of an element needs to be produced in porder to fulfill the need of the whole system? more isn't always better.
Stacking-
1. multiple functions for each element (stacking functions!)
2. vertical stacking. always look at the space as 3D. vertical space is more valuable then sq. footage. trellising, multiple canopies of functional plants.
Succession of Evolution-
recognize that certain elements prepare the way for the system to support other elements in the future. working in the dimension of time.
The Yield of a system is Theoretically unlimited-
the only limit on the number of uses of a resource possible is the limit of the information and imagination of the designer.
Work Within Nature-
aiding the natural cycles results in higher yield and less work. a little support goes a long way.
Edge-
optimize edge. edges or eco-tones are areas where two ecosystems come together to form a third which has more diversity and fertility then either of the other two. Ex. Edges of ponds, forests, meadows, etc.
Make Least Change for Greatest Possible Effect-
the less change that is created the less embedded or embodied energy is used to create the system.
Planting Strategy-
1st native plants, 2nd proven exotics, 3rd unproved exotics on small scale with lots of observation.
Small Scale Intensive Systems-
start small and create a system that is manageable and produces high yield. when you start small "mistakes" or "learning curve" has less impact on the environment.
Relinquishing Power-
the roll of a successful design is to create a self-managed system.
Everything Gardens-
all organisms manipulate their environment to their benefit.
Appropriate Technology-
what is appropriate in one context may not be so in another. Permaculture principals apply energy efficiency, cooking, lighting, transport, heating, sewage treatment, water delivery, and other energy needs.
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