Collaborative research project. Feel free to use the discussion tab at the top of this page to discuss this topic. Use the resources from the Permaculture design course, and conduct your own research and add summarised notes here to produce a useful quick reference page for others.

Permaculture contains ethics that lead to principles. Some of the ethics overlap the principles. The principles lead to methods. The principles and the methods overlap each-other. The methods lead to outcomes. The outcomes overlap everything because it works like the our cells work in our body. It is a self regulating perpetual cycle, and we are part of it. There is no "one solution." To me, permaculture is the synergy of all elements. Capt Benny Pants, an online participant in the Permaculture Design Course 2008.

• Earthcare – recognising that the Earth is the source of all life (and is possibly itself a living entity- see Gaia theory) and that we recognise and respect that the Earth is our valuable home and we are a part of the Earth, not apart from it.

For example:

• Conservation of Biodiversity
• Clean air and water
• Restoration and conservation of forests, habitats and soils
• Recycling and pollution reduction
• Conservation of energy and natural resources
• Appropriate technology

• Peoplecare – supporting and helping each other to change to ways of living that are not harming ourselves or the planet, and to develop healthy societies.

For example

• Health and well-being
• Nourishment with good food
• Lifelong learning
• Right livelihood and meaningful work
• Community belonging
• Open Communication
• Trust and Respect

• Fairshare (or placing limits on consumption) - ensuring that the Earth's limited resources are utilised in ways that are equitable and wise. Also if a wall retains heat, pass on the heat to a plant that needs it; if a plant provides shelter, place it on a wall that needs cooling.

For example

• Co-operation
• Networking and sharing
• Distribution of resources and wealth
• Reduction of consumerism
• Rethinking current notions of growth, progress and development
• Making a contribution

These restatements of the principles of permaculture appear in David Holmgren's Permaculture: [Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability http://www.holmgren.com.au]; Also see permacultureprinciples.com;

1. Observe and interact - By taking the time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation.
2. Catch and store energy - By developing systems that collect resources when they are abundant, we can use them in times of need.
3. Obtain a yield - Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the work that you are doing.
4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback - We need to discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems can continue to function well.
5. Use and value renewable resources and services - Make the best use of natures abundance to reduce our consumptive behaviour and dependence on non-renewable resources.
6. Produce no waste - By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste.
7. Design from patterns to details - By stepping back, we can observe patterns in nature and society. These can form the backbone of our designs, with the details filled in as we go.
8. Integrate rather than segregate - By putting the right things in the right place, relationships develop between those things and they work together to support each other.
9. Use small and slow solutions - Small and slow systems are easier to maintain than big ones, making better use of local resources and produce more sustainable outcomes.
10. Use and value diversity - Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides.
11. Use edges and value the marginal - The interface between things is where the most interesting events take place. These are often the most valuable, diverse and productive elements in the system.
12. Creatively use and respond to change - We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing, and then intervening at the right time.

David Holmgren's "Permaculture Flower" is a model that illustrates the seven interconnected domains where permaculture principles can be applied to create a more sustainable culture.

The seven domains are:

• Land and Nature Stewardship: Managing and caring for the land and natural systems.
• Building: Designing and constructing human environments.
• Tools and Technology: Using appropriate and sustainable tools and technologies.
• Education and Culture: Sharing knowledge, skills, and values within communities.
• Health and Spiritual Well-being: Fostering physical, mental, and spiritual health.
• Finance and Economics: Creating fair and regenerative economic systems.
• Land Tenure and Community Governance: Establishing equitable ways to manage land and make decisions collectively.

They are often grouped into two categories: the "obvious" physical domains (Land, Building, Tools & Technology) and the "invisible" social domains (Education & Culture, Health & Spiritual Well-being, Finance & Economics, Land Tenure & Community Governance).

Permaculture is a design science based on a set of ethics and principles that seeks to create self-sustaining and regenerative human settlements. Permaculture projects integrate a wide range of methods and techniques, which can be categorized into seven domains.

More details: Permaculture Design/Land and Nature Stewardship This domain encompasses practices related to ecological design, agriculture, and forestry. Here are some common model, technique and activity.

• Food forests: A low-maintenance, sustainable, plant-based food production system that mimics a natural forest ecosystem by incorporating multiple layers of vegetation.
• Hügelkultur: A method of creating raised garden beds by mounding soil over a base of decaying wood, which improves water retention and soil fertility.
• Keyhole gardens: A circular garden with a slice cut out, resembling a keyhole, which allows easy access to the central compost pile for fertilizing.
• Swales: A ditch dug on contour lines to intercept and spread rainwater, helping to prevent soil erosion and rehydrate the landscape.
• Sheet mulching: The process of layering organic materials, such as cardboard and compost, over the ground to suppress weeds and build healthy soil without digging.

More details: Permaculture Design/Building This domain includes the design and construction of sustainable, energy-efficient structures. Here are some common model, technique and activity.

• Passive solar design: A building design approach that uses sunlight to heat and light a building, reducing the need for artificial heating and lighting.
• Earthships: A type of passive solar house made of natural and recycled materials, designed to be self-sufficient in terms of energy, water, and food.
• Straw-bale construction: A building method that uses bales of straw as structural or insulating elements, creating well-insulated, low-cost buildings.
• Earthen materials: The use of readily available natural materials such as adobe, cob, and rammed earth for construction.
• Rocket stoves: A highly efficient wood-burning stove that uses a specific combustion process to achieve very high temperatures, often used for heating buildings.

More details: Permaculture Design/Tools and Technology Here are some common model, technique and activity. This domain focuses on the development and use of appropriate, low-impact technologies.

• Compost toilets: A type of toilet that converts human waste into compost, eliminating the need for flushing water.
• Rainwater harvesting: The collection and storage of rainwater from surfaces such as rooftops for later use.
• Solar ovens: Devices that use the power of the sun to cook food.
• Biogas digesters: Systems that use anaerobic digestion to convert organic waste into biogas for energy and nutrient-rich fertilizer.

More details: Permaculture Design/Education and Culture Here are some common model, technique and activity. This domain involves the sharing of knowledge, community-building, and artistic expression.

• Permaculture Design Courses (PDC): A certification course that teaches the core principles and ethics of permaculture design.
• Skillshares and workshops: Informal, community-based events where people teach and learn practical skills from each other.
• Forest schooling: An educational approach where students learn in a natural, outdoor environment.
• Community gardens: Shared plots of land where community members can grow food, fostering social connection and food security.

More details: Permaculture Design/Health and Spiritual Well-being This domain is concerned with practices that promote holistic health, resilience, and personal development. Here are some common model, technique and activity.

• Herbalism and traditional medicine: The use of plants for medicinal purposes, often in conjunction with traditional knowledge.
• Community-supported healthcare: A model where community members collectively support a healthcare provider or a local clinic.
• Yoga, Tai chi, and meditation: Practices for maintaining physical and mental health.
• Nature connection: Activities that strengthen an individual’s relationship with the natural world, such as foraging or forest bathing.

More details: Permaculture Design/Finance and Economics This domain explores alternative economic models that are local, ethical, and regenerative. Here are some common model, technique and activity.

• Local currencies: A form of money that is used within a specific region to support the local economy.
• Community-supported agriculture CSAs: A model where consumers buy a share of a farm's harvest in advance, providing financial security for the farmer.
• Tool libraries and seed banks: Community resources that provide access to tools and seeds, reducing individual costs and promoting sharing.
• Co-operatives: Businesses or organizations owned and operated by their members for their mutual benefit.

More details: Permaculture Design/Land Tenure and Community Governance This domain is about creating fair and equitable systems for managing land and social structures. Here are some common model, technique and activity.

• Consensus decision-making: A process where a group makes decisions by mutual agreement, ensuring all voices are heard.
• Land trusts: A non-profit organization that holds land for the benefit of a community, typically for affordable housing or conservation.
• Sociocracy and Holacracy: Governance systems that use a hierarchy of circles to distribute authority and facilitate decision-making.
• Open-Space Technology: A meeting format that allows participants to create and manage their own agenda, focusing on topics of their choosing.

Outcomes are the things that result from the methods. Outcomes should be accountable to the ethics and principles, and if they deviate, either the method must be reviewed, or the ethics and principles adjusted.

• "Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability" by David Holmgren, originally published in 2002.
• Wikipedia Feb 2008
• Wikibooks 2008
• Video: Earth Care by Astral Jester that introduces the principles and ethics of Permaculture.
• Seed International