Permaculture design is done within the context of ethics. What are ethics? In permaculture this concept has a very specific definition: “Regenerative living is ethical.” What will not only will allow a system to persist and sustain itself, but actually heal damaged parts of the system, and improve yield and long term survival potential? This definition is precise and can be measured. Is the soil more fertile or less so? Are you depleting the water supply or renewing it? Is your body healing from chronic diseases? Are your finances more resilient? Etc.
We believe that ethics should be woven into all of our decision making processes. The reason for this is that where humans have neglected ethics, per this definition, trouble has occurred. Entire civilizations have died and been lost forever because of neglect of ethics.
Ethics are at the center of the permaculture flower for a reason. They act as goals, as a design tool, and as boundaries within which we operate. They are not a nice theory, but a core part of the tools we use to be successful in creating a regenerative design.
They are beautifully simple, yet comprehensive:
Care of the earth
Care of people
Care for the future
Care of the earth would entail keeping ecosystems healthy by protecting and repairing them. It would entail working with nature rather than destroying her. Thus, when we design systems, we design them in a way that increases abundance for the natural world as well as for ourselves.
On a practical basis, this could mean including native wildflowers for your landscape design for native pollinators. Or including some native habitat for pest predators or rare species or other native species.
It could mean ensuring your water supply is kept healthy by leaving wetlands on your land intact that can filter the water. We’ll go into detail on how you can achieve this first ethic in a way that is harmonious with caring for people (including yourself).
Care of people would entail designing systems that help people to improve their health, well-being and quality of life, and that help people have more options and choices about their life. Permaculture design can provide more security and opportunity for all, regardless of your circumstance.
The third ethic of permaculture has been described as many things - staying within the carrying capacity of the earth, sharing the surplus, and fair share. These points can fit into one of the other ethics. In nature, nothing is wasted. Nature uses surplus efficiently and creates more abundance with it. We’ll discuss in detail ways you can do this to increase yield. One example would be to perceive waste as "surplus" and thus a resource. Just that one point has launched very successful businesses and greatly decreased garbage in the landfill.
All of these together result in caring for the future, which is key. A good permaculture design will take into consideration not only one's immediate needs, but the needs of future generations.
The tools and methods in this course are designed to provide you with pathways to live all three of these ethics.
More On Ethics
Ethics deals with the survival potential for self, others, and across the board. The more an action increases the survival the more ethical it is. The more it damages the more unethical it is.
Ethics is in every decision we make. Thinking beyond self is vital to survive in an environment with so many other people, animals and the environment which includes soil, plants etc. (There is a lot more to nature that can and will have an impact on you.)
The more things are aligned to coexist the more you increase your survival potential. In permaculture we seek to be as regenerative as possible and at least sustainable in our choices.
For example: you have a problem with rats, mice or similar. A common so-called solution is to put out poisonous bait. It kills the rats that are visible to you, but the bird, snake or other animal who cleans up will also die and the chain reaction can go on for quite a bit. Thus a solution that creates another problem is not really a good solution but a bad one.
Whenever we make decisions that change or affect life in some form or another we need to be clear of what effects we are creating as sooner or later it will come back to help or bite us. It can come in the form of fewer food options, poor air and water quality. Or it can come back with a better crop and a healthier environment and happy people.
The oceans were for a long time considered a great garbage dump. Once out of sight the problem was gone, we thought. Now we have a huge garbage patch floating in the ocean. It is leaching plastic into the oceans and is greatly damaging the ecology.
In the late 1800’s we developed a spray called DDT which is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless chemical. Originally developed as an insecticide, it became infamous for its high impact on people and the environment, subsequently the US banned it in 1972. At the time it was considered a wonder-chemical. In reality it is highly toxic and can be fatal if ingested. Though outlawed in the US now, it is still being used in Africa and elsewhere.
This is a good example of how a poorly understood subject has undermined a great many lives, and thus can end up highly unethical.
We see how understanding is vital for a successful life. With that we see that being educated on key principles of life opens the door to increasing the survival potential. Life has shown us that when misinformation is spread everyone is sooner or later affected, even if it takes a long time to come around.
A fear driven society has a very low survival potential. Knowledge and understanding raises people out of fear. Our policy is to share knowledge, allow and help everyone to learn to the best of their ability.
When society, meaning the people in it (you and me) are allowed to flourish – everyone wins.
Permaculture is a practice where everyone wins.
This course will give you the knowledge to effectively increase your own potential. All it takes is a sincere effort to learn and a willingness to ask for help when needed.