Permaculture For Beginners - How To Grow Your Own Food
Have you ever considered the idea that you could feed yourself or your family with a backyard permaculture garden? Do you want to reduce your food bill and eat healthier, organic food which is free of any additives?
Permaculture is a subject which is not just confined to those who are interested in gardening and agriculture. In fact, it's more of a lifestyle involving nature and the environment.
However, if you're looking for an integrated system of food, water and shelter production for your home or homestead — permaculture is the way to go.
What Is Permacutlure?
Permaculture isn’t just about plants. It’s about people, too – and our relationship with nature and the environment.
Permaculture is a way of life. It’s all about living sustainably, in a way that’s mindful of the environment, leaving as little negative impact on the earth as possible. To do this, you need to understand how natural systems work (plants, animals, soils and so on) and design your garden to mimic these systems as closely as possible.
Permaculture is based on three key ethics: care for the earth; care for people; share fairly what you harvest or produce.
What Does Permaculture Mean?
The word "permaculture" is a contraction of "permanent agriculture." It was coined by Bill Mollison in 1978. Since then, it has come to mean a whole lot more than just gardening.
Permaculture takes into account all aspects of life, including (but not limited to) housing and shelter, food production, energy consumption and generation, social systems and education, recycling water and waste disposal.
The Principles of Permaculture
As we mentioned above, permaculture is a design philosophy but not one that you can just pick up and start using. It's more of a way of thinking and acting, something that changes the way you interact with the natural world. Let’s take a look at some of the key principles.
Observe and Interact
Spend time observing and learning from nature. Where does the sun shine? Is there a large tree with dappled shade below? Is it near easy-to-access water? What does the area look like when it's wet? When it's dry? How do plants grow in those conditions throughout the year? Learn about weather patterns in your area and how the insects interact with nature. And if you get a chance, learn about local traditions in agriculture.
Catch and Store Energy
Developing systems such as rainwater collection for irrigation or household use or solar panel systems to catch light and warmth from the sun allows you to draw upon these resources later. Another way is through composting where you turn discarded organic waste into soil.
Obtain a Yield
Permaculture designs should aim to yield food, energy, and materials for everyday use. In nature, plants and animals live in symbiosis with each other; their existence is balanced. In this way we must follow suit and design systems that are sustainable, but that also give us something back. An example of a yielding system is if you grow an apple tree that feeds your family who then eat some of its fruit while leaving enough to feed the birds who spread its seeds elsewhere.
Apply Self-Regulation & Accept Feedback
A self-regulating system is one that is inherently working towards its own health and balance. By making small changes on a regular basis and taking time to observe allows you get feedback from the nature will prevent major disasters – such as floods, pests or droughts - to happen in the future.
Use and Value Renewable Resources & Services
Renewable resources are things like solar power, wind energy, and rainwater—things that naturally replenish themselves and often cost less than non-renewable ones.
Produce No Waste
Recycle, reuse and upcycle. Make use all of the resources that are around you so that nothing goes to waste.
Design From Patterns to Details
In permaculture, patterns in nature - wind direction and speed, rainfall amounts and distribution, seasons, sun angles - are all taken into consideration. This allows you to work with nature rather than against it.
Integrate Rather than Segregate
When proper systems are put place that foster developing supportive relationships than a community or tribe can thrive. The same is true when applying permacutlture principles to your garden. Don’t separate or isolate your plants according to categories or specific needs. Instead, treat them as an integrated whole and work towards a garden that looks natural and harmonious. Focus on creating an ecosystem where all parts support each other.
Use Small & Slow Solutions
Start small in your permaculture garden and build up as you go along. Small scale solutions are more effective and easier to manage. Slow solutions last longer because they're built on firm foundations.
Use and Value Diversity
Diversity is key to a healthy ecosystem because the more diverse your garden is, the less susceptible it will be to pests, disease or crop failure. It also allows for less reliance on artificial controls like pesticides or herbicides because nature will take care of itself.
Use Edges and Value the Marginal
Edges are very productive. More things happen at edges: more yield, greater efficiency in use of space and time, faster nutrient cycling, more stable ecosystems and structures, more stable economies, cultures and political systems.
Creatively Use and Respond to Change
By embracing change in your permaculture garden, you can learn to adapt to changing conditions. A well designed garden will be resilient and able to face the changes in climate. The key here is flexibility.
The best part about permaculture principles is that they are not rules, but rather guidelines that can be tailored to your lifestyle and needs.
By observing nature, you will be able to apply these ideas on your farm or garden in whatever makes the most sense for you.
If you’re in Bali and interested in getting your hands dirty then join us for our next permaculture workshop.
