The concept of permaculture was developed by Australian Bill Mollison “latterally with David Homgren” from 1972-1974. The concept did not mature sufficiently until 1981.
Mollison describes permaculture as an “interdisciplinary earth science with a potential for positivistic, integrated and global outreach.”
“Permaculature (permanent agriculture) is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way.”
“Without permaculture, stable social order is not possible.“
“Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms.”
“The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions rather than asking only one yield of them and of allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions.”
excerpts from Permaculture A Designers’ Manual, Bill Mollison, Tagari Publications 1979
Much said about permaculture lean towards the benefits and rarely about the cost; nothing comes for free! Laws of physics tells us “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” The benefit permaculture is great but make no mistake, the work to get there is equally great. “You must want it down to your bones” or the path to permaculture can be a hell on earth. Yellowstone season 4, episode 5.
Rough Canyon Ranch 