What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is a holistic design methodology that combines ecology, sustainable gardening processess, and nature's own wisdom in an attempt to create better ways to live together and feed our growing world while minimizing the destruction of the planet. It is about making the best possible use of limited resources such as water to maximize efficiency through beautiful, interactive, multi-function designs for food production and more. This can include everything from aquaponics to compost toilets; swale systems to collect rainwater; food forests where every plant has multiple functions, and beyond. Permaculture also extends into ethics and human relationships - everything is connected.
I started my adventures in Permaculture at the beginning of 2016 by signing up for an online course with the Regenerative Leadership Institute: Open Permaculture School (Regenerative.com) and have spent countless hours watching course lectures and educational videos about Permaculture basics and design principles. I have not gone so far as to design my own system and qualify for a certificate, however the learning has been substantial, and is a source of hope for the future. With this system it is possible to grow food and become more self-sufficient in almost any environment, rural or urban, and on any scale, with endless innovative ways to improve conditions in the world.
What I really enjoyed about the course were the lectures and "field trips" - each of the instructors are very knowledgeable, experienced, and above all, totally passionate about their subject. Permaculture is a perfect fit with the other intentional "movements" of which I am a fan, including Ubuntu Contributionism and Zeitgeist (the need for a new economy). Although I grew up on a farm with a substantial vegetable garden, I'm sad to say I am newbie in terms of actually planting and growing (my family only needed my help when it was time to harvest). Permaculture has helped fill me in on some of my missing knowledge, as well as increase my confidence about just trying things.
There are a lot of things to love about Permaculture, including the emphasis on efficiency - working smarter, not harder - its respect for nature, and a preference for simple tools and processes, rather than large machines. This worked perfectly for me, as even during my time on the farm, I had very little access to machinery or other resources. Here are some of the results from my early experiments:
Permaculture is a holistic design methodology that combines ecology, sustainable gardening processess, and nature's own wisdom in an attempt to create better ways to live together and feed our growing world while minimizing the destruction of the planet. It is about making the best possible use of limited resources such as water to maximize efficiency through beautiful, interactive, multi-function designs for food production and more. This can include everything from aquaponics to compost toilets; swale systems to collect rainwater; food forests where every plant has multiple functions, and beyond. Permaculture also extends into ethics and human relationships - everything is connected.
I started my adventures in Permaculture at the beginning of 2016 by signing up for an online course with the Regenerative Leadership Institute: Open Permaculture School (Regenerative.com) and have spent countless hours watching course lectures and educational videos about Permaculture basics and design principles. I have not gone so far as to design my own system and qualify for a certificate, however the learning has been substantial, and is a source of hope for the future. With this system it is possible to grow food and become more self-sufficient in almost any environment, rural or urban, and on any scale, with endless innovative ways to improve conditions in the world.
What I really enjoyed about the course were the lectures and "field trips" - each of the instructors are very knowledgeable, experienced, and above all, totally passionate about their subject. Permaculture is a perfect fit with the other intentional "movements" of which I am a fan, including Ubuntu Contributionism and Zeitgeist (the need for a new economy). Although I grew up on a farm with a substantial vegetable garden, I'm sad to say I am newbie in terms of actually planting and growing (my family only needed my help when it was time to harvest). Permaculture has helped fill me in on some of my missing knowledge, as well as increase my confidence about just trying things.
There are a lot of things to love about Permaculture, including the emphasis on efficiency - working smarter, not harder - its respect for nature, and a preference for simple tools and processes, rather than large machines. This worked perfectly for me, as even during my time on the farm, I had very little access to machinery or other resources. Here are some of the results from my early experiments:
Growing indoors and outdoors; my experimental garden box to extend the growing season (I had lettuce well into the Alberta fall, until I got too lazy to remove the snow); wildflowers; growing through cardboard; my trampoline frame garden; a variety of fresh veggies and sprouting an avocado seed. We experienced drought conditions; heavy hail; pests and more but still had something to show for our efforts at the end of the season. :)
Following this were adventures in how to preserve the extra food - but that is another story! ;)
There are many wonderful books on permaculture, homesteading, sustainable gardening and the like. Here are a few that helped me get started (in addition to the online materials, as I do like to have a book or two to refer to), as well as a couple of others recommended in the course:
Following this were adventures in how to preserve the extra food - but that is another story! ;)
There are many wonderful books on permaculture, homesteading, sustainable gardening and the like. Here are a few that helped me get started (in addition to the online materials, as I do like to have a book or two to refer to), as well as a couple of others recommended in the course:
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Additional online courses:
Supplies:
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An incredible invention I first heard about at the Zeitgeist Conference in Vancouver: Warka Water Towers offer a means of collecting water in the driest of conditions - how incredibly inspiring! They are still fundraising for various projects around the world - to find out more please check out their website or follow them on Facebook!
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Please note: this page contains affiliate links which may result in my receiving a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking. As always, I only promote products and websites that I believe in, and that I feel meet the criteria of my website, taking steps toward healthier living in a kinder world ;)
Join Verge Permaculture in Alberta for their training courses in Calgary!
With 72 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction, this course is the international standard for permaculture certification and is taught by award-winning engineer and ecologist, Rob Avis of Verge Permaculture. The Permaculture Design Course will provide you with the skills to design and implement living environments that are both sustainable and regenerative, in both rural and urban settings.
Nine month part-time course offered in Calgary starting in Fall 2017.
For more information, see their website.
With 72 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction, this course is the international standard for permaculture certification and is taught by award-winning engineer and ecologist, Rob Avis of Verge Permaculture. The Permaculture Design Course will provide you with the skills to design and implement living environments that are both sustainable and regenerative, in both rural and urban settings.
Nine month part-time course offered in Calgary starting in Fall 2017.
For more information, see their website.
