Permaculture
Coined by Bill Mollison & David Holmgren in the 1970’s, the term is a portmanteau of Permanent Agriculture & Permanent Culture
Permaculture is “the conscious design and maintenance of cultivated ecosystems which have the diversity, stability & resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape, people & appropriate technologies, providing food, shelter, energy & other needs in a sustainable way…”
–Bill Mollison & Scott Pittman
Permaculture Ethics:
- Care of the Earth
- Care of the People
- Fair Share of Resources
The 12 Permaculture Principles:
Permaculture is rooted in the fact that no single problem or solution stands on its own. The permaculture ethics are used to guide 12 design principles:
- Observe and Interact
- Catch and Store Energy
- Obtain a yield
- Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback
- Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services
- Produce No Waste
- Design From Patterns to Details
- Integrate Rather Than Segregate
- Use Small and Slow Solutions
- Use and Value Diversity
- Use Edges and Value the Marginal
- Creatively Use and Respond to Change
Office of Sustainability
312-314 Corbett Hall
Orono, Maine 04469-5774
Tel: 207.581.1571
sustainability@maine.edu
