What is Permaculture?
Permaculture , an amalgamation of the two words permanent and culture, is a planning system for sustainable human environments that uses agricultural and social practices whose design planning is centered on simulating or directly using the patterns and characteristics observed in natural ecosystems
Why study permaculture?
It´s a good question and the answers are important. The Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design should grow into a significant body of work and generally should incorporate 10 designs, some of which should be implemented. It was pointed out to me that at Chumbaria, I will be completing many projects so developing them as permaculture designs will improve the outcomes, teach me a lot more about permaculture and document progress. If I want to teach Permaculture and host PDC courses, the Diploma is one of the ways to be recognised as a qualified permaculture teacher.
Where it all started
After being introduced to the word permaculture by a friend, I did some investigating. I found Geoff Lawton’s tour of Zaytuna farm on YouTube.
Watching Geoff describe the functionality of such a beautiful space was like discovering heaven on earth. He actually describes the place in these terms in other clips and I was so overwhelmed by it, I was unexpectedly reduced to tears. Tears of sadness at where we’ve got to in our seemingly insatiable desire for industrial growth and mindless destruction of this lovely little blue and green ball we’re all flying through space on. But also feelings of joy in the realisation that there is a positive way forward. Geoff’s enthusiastic love for the way nature works and the way humans can interact positively to the benefit of all is simplicity itself but requires application of common sense and a level of honesty about what we actually need and really don’t need. Since the beginning of this new journey I have never felt more excited or positive about life and the future.
Along with Geoff Lawton, all the permaculture teachers and practitioners I’ve discovered or met so far have been open, honest, sharing, free with information and assistance. Face-to face or social media platforms, everybody seems to be pulling in one direction and in the face of modern commerce we really need to!
I completed my PDC* August 2019 with Pedro Valdjiu at Terra Alta near Sintra Portugal – a visionary teacher and amazing course, thoroughly recommended.
* PDC – Permaculture Design Course based on the 72 hour curriculum set out by Bill Mollison, co-founder of Permaculture.