what is Permaculture?

What is Permaculture?

For this question, you will probably get a hundred different answers if you ask a hundred practitioners!

Here is one definition: “Permaculture is a creative design process based on whole-systems thinking informed by ethics and design principles“.

Here are some other definitions:

The Definition of Permaculture: An Interview with Bill Mollison
Wikipedia Permaculture Definition

Let’s see how some CoLab members defined permaculture…

Permaculture, as a study of sustainable living covers a range of different domains, is delimited by a series of 3 permaculture ethics, is often exemplified by a range of different permaculture principles, and uses a variety of tools, such as: “social tools”, “zoning”, “client interviews”, and good old fun! There are a multitude of books written about permaculture you can read to go deeper.

Maria Paez

For me, permaculture is a life philosophy rooted in understanding our role and place in nature which includes others. It’s a personal journey of permanent re-learning, self-discovery and reconnection.

Kate Swatridge

Morag Gamble once said this: “Permaculture addresses the multiple crises together, holistically, locally, accessibly, quietly, radically, regeneratively.” It doesn’t say what permaculture actually is, but I like it.

Tanya Medhuka

I see permaculture as an integrative, alive, and multidimensional way of living & doing that fosters creativity, inspired by nature and fueled by collaboration.

Aimee Fenech

Permaculture is a philosophy and ethical way of life that affects all domains of human interactions with each other, within the systems we live in and the environment and ecosystems we are a part of. It is a centering of ethics in all that we do; people care, earth care and future care for those who will come after us.

Jorge Barbosa

For me, permaculture is a holistic design system that offers an ethical base, principles, design methods and tools, and, collaborating with many other disciplines, aims to help humans develop regenerative lifestyles and cultures.

Aline VaMo

Permaculture is one of many tags for the EcoSocial Design we need to be engaging in as a species whilst on this planet.