One permaculture principle is to turn waste into resources. Composting is one common example of this by turning food scraps and animal waste into soil for growing. Water collection systems such as rain barrels are another example.
Another permaculture strategy is to restore the environment. This involves observing what is and isn’t working well within a landscape. Areas of erosion or flooding as a result of human interference are locations that could potentially be restored by making small changes over time. Even an effort such as returning a lawn to native landscape can be restorative.
Increasing yields is a third permaculture focus. This primarily refers to the harvest from the landscape which can be increased as a result of improving the soil, growing more edible plants, succession planting and using season extenders. Some growers may suggest that increasing the yield also includes other benefits reaped such as enjoyment of watching wildlife invited to the landscape and overall improved well-being.
Minimizing manual labor is one of the goals of permaculture as well as one of the natural outcomes of working with the environment. Growing recommended cultivars and companion planting are strategies to reduce problems with pests. Fewer pests equals less effort from the grower. Likewise, selecting the proper locations for specific plants prevents the grower from battling the environment and allows the plants to flourish.
In short, permaculture is a tool for sustainability. The designs are intended to meet the needs of humans while simultaneously supporting the health of the environment. The principles are based on a respectful approach to others. In Hort Newsletter 2024 we will share various strategies that can be implemented into your landscape to grow towards sustainability.