The idea of permaculture is becoming increasingly popular, and not just for agricultural production. Many individuals are changing their lifestyles to adapt to this design. But, what exactly is it?
The main basis of permaculture design is to promote self-sufficiency and sustainability, which leads to healthier and happier living. It is ultimately a system for sustainable and ecological living that focuses on the interconnections between plants, animals, people, communities, and buildings. This interconnectivity, which reflects patterns in nature, then allows for an abundance of yield and energy efficiency.
So, how does this translate to everyday life? Keep reading for the principles that drive permaculture design and how these principles can be applied to our lifestyles.
The Principles of Permaculture Living
Ultimately, permaculture design revolves around 3 main ideas that each overlap each other: Care for the Earth, Care for People, and Fair Share. These 3 main ideas are broken down into the following 12 principles:
Observe and interact
Catch and store energy
Obtain a yield
Self-regulate and accept feedback
Use and value renewables, like resources and services
Produce no waste
Design from patterns to detail
Integrate; work together
Use small, slow solutions
Use and value diversity
Use edges; value the marginal
Creatively use and respond to change
Picture from www.permaculture.co.uk
How Does the Permaculture Design Apply to Everyday Life?
You’ve learned about the 12 principles, but how do these transition into our daily life, work, and play? Let’s go over the principles again, this time applying them to our lives.
Observe and Interact.
Truly pay attention to what’s happening around you and take time to appreciate it. Don’t just walk mindlessly through life or remain glued to your phone screen. When we do this, we are not actually taking in and enjoying our surroundings. Slow down, observe, interact with others around you and your surroundings, and appreciate doing so.
Catch and Store Energy.
Nobody can go through life without taking time for themselves, too. Be sure to allow yourself time to relax and rejuvenate yourself. Schedule that valuable “me time” to catch and store energy for yourself. Or, spend time with those positive friends who inspire you, exercise, or read that book you’ve wanted to read for a while. Regardless, allow yourself time for activities that restore you.
Obtain a Yield.
In whatever you invest in, make sure you are getting valuable results. In traditional permaculture, this means effectively planting crops to generate a yield: food. However, these yields do not have to always be financial. Instead, the reward could be bringing a smile to a friend’s face or making a family member’s life easier. Whatever it may be, invest in things in life and reap the valuable rewards.
Self-Regulate and Accept Feedback.
This principle is rather straightforward and super important. Each day, continuously keep track of your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors and manage them in a positive way. Accept feedback from others around you, as feedback helps you improve. Whether you are on the job or running errands, being in touch with your feelings and being open to feedback is vital.
Use and Value Renewables.
Using and valuing renewables, like resources and services are obviously better for our environment. They are a part of the core idea of taking care of the earth and maintaining our resources. So, try to cut back on your dependency on scarce resources.
Produce No Waste.
This is another straightforward, yet crucial principle. Throughout your everyday life, try to limit the amount of waste you produce. For example, a way to cut back on food waste is to only buy what you need and start composting scraps.
Design From Patterns to Detail.
Permaculture design suggests that we observe natural/social patterns in nature and society and apply them to design. We do this naturally, but perhaps we could be even more intentional about observing patterns and using the subsequent knowledge to inform our decisions.
Integrate.
In life, capitalize on how things work together. After all, teamwork makes the dream work. Purpose to live harmoniously with others, integrating others into every part of our lives. Form communities and work together to achieve goals.
Use Small, Slow Solutions.
A quick and easy solution is oftentimes not the best solution. That’s why these are called “quick fixes,” and not long-term fixes. Permaculture design suggests that when problems arise in life, go for the small, slow solutions that allow for the use of local resources and more sustainable outcomes. While this may not always be the case, as some problems do require quick and big solutions, it is worthwhile to consider the small, slow solutions.
Use and Value Diversity.
Diversity is a wonderful thing. Permaculture suggests to leverage and value it. Diversity allows unique perspectives, ideas, and skills to come together to form a more effective, favorable outcome in every area of life.
Use Edges; Value the Marginal.
Don’t cut corners; use and value the edges! This principle suggests that the most valuable and productive part of a system can sometimes be found on the edge. This can be taken figuratively, like using the edge of your house to grow a garden, but it can also mean to more effectively use our resources, even the “edges.”
Creatively Use and Respond to Change.
This is another self-explanatory principle that is super applicable and important to all areas of life. Change is inevitable, so it’s best to get creative and respond effectively to anything that life throws at us. Leverage change and be resilient, rather than letting it bring you down.
We hope that you’ll consider incorporating these principles into your life! They can help you create a healthier, happier, more sustainable lifestyle.
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