Permaculture Workshop FEI Capita Selecta Wageningen University 22

Permaculture Workshop FEI Capita Selecta - Wageningen University - 22 -07 -2015 Illustration by Cecilia Macaulay Fiona Morris - Atelier Rabbit fiona. morris@atelierrabbit. com www. atelierrabbit. com

Overview: What is Permaculture? Design method summary Zoning exercise

PERMANENT AGRICULTURE

Definitions: • . . . the conscious design and management of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. • . . . the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. (Bill Mollison, 1988)

Philosophy: • working with, rather than against, nature; • observation before action; • looking at systems in all their functions, rather than asking only one yield of them; • allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions (working with sucession) – self-organisation & ecomimicry concepts.

Concept first published, 1978, Australia ‘Permaculture 1: A perennial agricultural system for human settlements’

How observing natural, sustainable, productive systems. . .

. . . could inspire people to take responsibility through designing productive ecosystems with integral conservation, land repair, and social sustainability

Permaculture design application: Spread from selfsufficiency agriculture to: • • Horticulture Architecture Ecology Economic systems • Land access strategies • Development

‘Permablitzing’. . . (Melbourne, Australia - www. permablitz. net) . . . to painting. . . (City Repair, USA)

. . . and grassroots sustainability movements:

≈ 2015 The Last Oil Shock by David Strahan (2007)

IMF FOOD PRICE INDEX € IMF OIL PRICE INDEX

2 -10 = 1

Alternatives to industrial mono-cropping for the challenge of diminishing resources and biodiversity… BBC Documentary (2009) – www. youtube. com/watch? v

Rebecca Hosking – Devon, UK

Landscape restoration, community, education, & economy… Julius Piti, CELUK project Zimbabwe Chikukwa,

The stream dried-up, and the land was eroding. . . • Help from a permaculture centre stimulated: – return of water flow – land recovery – improved productivity – peer-to-peer learning – an organic, community-based NGO • http: //permaculturenews. org/2013/08/15/the-chikukwapermaculture-project-zimbabwe-the-full-story/ • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=j. TMWsj. G 0 N-0

Permaculture design system:

ETHICS EARTH CARE: Care of all living & non-living things – harmless, ethical, & rehabilitative activities. Provision for all life systems to continue and increase. PEOPLE CARE: Provision for people’s basic material and social needs to avoid broadscale destructive practices. Promoting self-reliance & community responsibility. FAIR SHARES: Contribution of surplus time, money, & energy to achieve the aims of earth & people care. Setting limits to population and consumption: by governing our own needs, we can set time and resources aside to further the above principles. (Mollison & Holmgren, 1978)

PRINCIPLES Ecological, attitudinal & spatial design principles such as: Create a yield Let nature do the work Important functions are supported by many components Diversity (for stability) All elements are multi -functional

SYSTEMS ETHICS PRINCIPLES THINKING Interactive components in synergistic, interconnective organisation

AGRO- ECOLOGY TECHNIQUES Animal management Pest management Crop management Weed management Water management Techniques are site & issue dependent – there are no universal templates Cycling of energy/materials Soil management Permaculture Approach

SYSTEMS SECTOR ETHICS ZONING PRINCIPLES ANALYSIS THINKING Systematic assessment of abiotic and biotic influences on the space

ZONING = Energy planning

. . . to mushrooms. The relationship between accessibility and intensity of use of space (input-output). ZONE 0 House/village/centre of human activity ZONE 1 (home garden) 6 -12 m periphery. Frequent use/ high maintenance/ constant observation. ZONE 2 (home orchard) Less intensive animals/perennials/orchard/ structures. ZONE 3 (farm-scale) Broad-scale farming – crops/ water-storage/ managed woodland. ZONE 4 (managed woodland) Wild forage/ fuel - pasture/ range/ water-storage. ZONE 5 (wilderness) Natural/ unmanaged – where you learn the rules to apply elsewhere.

. . . to mushrooms.

. . . to mushrooms.

. . . to mushrooms.

. . . to mushrooms.

. . . to mushrooms. The relationship between accessibility and intensity of use of space (input-output). ZONE 0 House/village/centre of human activity ZONE 1 (home garden) 6 -12 m periphery. Frequent use/ high maintenance/ constant observation. ZONE 2 (home orchard) Less intensive animals/perennials/orchard/ structures. ZONE 3 (farm-scale) Broad-scale farming – crops/ water-storage/ managed woodland. ZONE 4 (managed woodland) Wild forage/ fuel - pasture/ range/ water-storage. ZONE 5 (wilderness) Natural/ unmanaged – where you learn the rules to apply elsewhere.

A few resources: • Introduction to Permaculture, Mollison & Slay • Permaculture: A Designers' Manual, Bill Mollison (WUR library) • Farm for the Future - BBC Documentary (2009) www. youtube. com/watch? v=v. JMgf. Kq. KXw. Y Fordhall Farm - Grass pasture system: www. fordhallfarm. com/fordhall_farm. php? pid=9 Martin Crawford - Agro-forestry Research Trust: www. agroforestry. co. uk • (EN) UK Permaculture Association: www. permaculture. org. uk/ • (NL) Permacultuur Nederland: www. permaculture. org. uk/ • Plants for a Future - database: www. pfaf. org