describe "permaculture" in one sentence

[iris lilies]

My friend asked me what "permaculture" is since one of our mutual friends is now enchanted with it and DH and I have been on the annual city permaculture tour and etc. I was at a loss to explain it.

What is "permaculture" for simpletons? It is sustainable food production, but what's a better way to say that. C'mon you wordsmsiths (cough cough catherine.)

[catherine]

That is a tough question, iris lilies! I've seen whole web pages with dozens of definitions.

Here's the one I used for a recent blog post on my Exit 9 website:


Permaculture is a design system inspired by nature which is based on ethics and design principles that can be used to guide you, your household and your community ‘beyond sustainability’. -- David Holmgren

In my mind permaculture goes beyond food production--one of the founders, David Holmgren, has also defined the ethics of permaculture (Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share) and the principles, and he has created a Permaculture Flower with all the "petals" that include food and Land/Nature Stewardship and also Building, Tools and Technology, Education and Culture, Health and Spiritual Well-Being, Finances & Economics, and Land Tenure/Community Governance.

So in my mind, it's really a lifestyle in which we use our human intelligence to innovate and design nature-inspired and anthropocentric solutions and systems that are regenerative and restorative for the long-term good of us all.

(My permaculture teacher feels that the "anthropocentric" part is important because permaculture is really designed for human benefit above all. It goes beyond conservation for conservation's sake).

[Rosemary]

It's a great question since I've read entire books on permaculture and never seen a clear, concise definition! I like the one that Catherine has provided.

[iris lilies]

... it's really a lifestyle in which we use our human intelligence to innovate and design nature-inspired and anthropocentric solutions and systems that are regenerative and restorative for the long-term good of us all...



That's pretty darn good, I like it!

[catherine]

That's pretty darn good, I like it!

Thanks! To be honest, I'm pretty proud of myself that I didn't use the word "sustainable" once! ;)

[bae]

Sustainable landscape systems design and engineering.

[Gregg]

The development of a self-perpetuating system that promotes and encourages interaction between all life forms within it and places particular emphasis on the health and quality of life of each organism.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Something about efficiency I'd think (that word comes to mind as being at the core of it before even sustainability - efficiency and sustainability).

The "beyond sustainability" thing must be in the "little big pregnant" category though, either something is sustainable or it's not (although external conditions can change of course).

[pinkytoe]

Our local guild describes it thus:
PERMACULTURE is a set of design principles for anyone to use based on how nature operates.