Prairie Gardening & Landscapes

"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow..." -A. Hepburn

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Permaculture Principle 12: Creatively Use and Respond to Change

Permaculture is about the durability of natural systems and human culture, but paradoxically, this durability depends on flexibility and change. 

For example, science has shown us that the apparently solid and permanent is, at the cellular and atomic level, a mass of energy and change. It is important to integrate this understanding of impermanence and continuous change into our daily consciousness and understand that stability, permanence, and sustainability are shifting as we go. 

Permaculture uses design to make use of change in a deliberate way. For example, if we were to plant a forest today, it would evolve over time into larger trees, different species of plants and animals, altered interactions with elements such as air and water, etc. Knowing how it might look and function in the future, and what the climate and social contexts might be at that time, will help us design for tomorrow. The proverb “vision is not seeing things as they are but as they will be” emphasizes that we can contribute to design that is evolutionary rather than static. 

Permaculture also looks for ways to creatively respond to large-scale change which is beyond our control or influence. And if something happens that was not predicted (which it likely will), it is seen as an opportunity to learn and adapt. 

Activity:

What changes are occurring in your community? How are you and your community creatively responding to these changes? What future changes might be coming down the road?

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

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Permaculture Principle 11: Use Edges and Value the Marginal

It is at the edge of anything that the most dynamic and flourishing activities take place. For example, the living soil, which may only be a few centimetres deep in places, is an edge between earth’s non-living mineral layers and the atmosphere. For all terrestrial life, including humanity, this is the most important edge of all, as it is where life begins and ends. Edges such as estuaries, forest edges, mangroves, and riparian areas also team with life, diversity, and activity. Therefore, designs that see edges as opportunities are more likely to be successful. 

Our communities tend to undervalue, ignore, and even try to eliminate the “marginal.” Whether it be spaces, species, issues, ideas, things that don’t look “pretty,” women, LGBTQ persons, Indigenous cultures, seniors, youth, the landless or homeless, the disadvantaged, small businesses, the dot that doesn’t fit into the trend-line, or whatever else is uniquely different, we need to discard these negative connotations associated with the word “marginal” and see these people, places, and other aspects of our communities for what they truly are: sources of innovation, diversity, creativity, vibrancy, and resiliency that contribute to the well-being of us all.

Activity: 

What edges or marginal people/places/aspects are found in your community? What value do they bring?

How can we re-define or re-interpret the typical definition of “marginal” to represent value and importance?

Do you have any personal examples or experiences that relate to this principle?

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

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Permaculture Principle 10: Use and Value Diversity

Having a diversity of species, cultures, and individuals on the planet is one of the most important ways to reduce vulnerability to change and challenge (not to mention, it makes life more interesting). Diversity increases self-reliance and productivity within a group due to the wide range of goods, services, functions, ideas, knowledge, etc. that is available from each individual within the network. 

For example, it is now widely recognized that monoculture (planting one type of crop over a large area) is a major cause of vulnerability to pests and diseases. This vulnerability then leads to widespread use of chemicals and energy. A polyculture (diverse crop system) is often healthier, more adaptive to change, and more capable of preventing pest problems and diseases from occurring in the first place. 

Think of the diversity of these crops as a web or community – if you take out one section of the polyculture (e.g. the tomatoes), there are still multiple connections and species that hold that web together. Whereas, in the less diverse system, if you take out one section (e.g. canola), the whole system is vulnerable to collapse. 

Simply put, this principle is based on not putting all of your eggs in one basket. 

Activity: 

Provide examples of how diversity has improved a situation, idea, or experience in your community or personal life.

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

[s4tomorrow]

Permaculture Principle 9: Use Small and Slow Solutions

Systems can be designed to perform functions at the smallest scale that is appropriate, practical and efficient for that use. Our culture’s drive to be big, fast, and furious has reduced our opportunities to act on a human-scale, contemplate and value what is around us, reflect on the impacts of our and others’ actions, and notice the simple solutions that surround us. 

Examples of small and slow solutions include:

Rather than using fast-acting and short-lived fertilizers, use compost to provide slow-release, sustained and balanced plant nutrition. 

Rather than supporting industries where livestock is raised quickly in mass numbers, support practices where animals are raised at their natural rate and in smaller, healthier numbers.

Rather than using a car, use a smaller, slower, simpler solution, such as a bicycle, that allows freer movement, without pollution or noise. 

Rather than purchasing from large global corporations, support small, local businesses. 

Rather than going out of your way to perform a grand gesture, perform multiple small deeds every day. 

Rather than expecting or demanding an answer from someone immediately, take the time to have a meaningful conversation and gain an understanding from them over time. 

Activity: 

Can you think of more examples of small and slow solutions beyond what’s already been listed?

What are the benefits of small and slow solutions?

How do you utilize small and slow solutions in your own life?

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

[s4tomorrow]

Permaculture Principle 8: Integrate rather than Segregate

In every aspect of nature, we find that the connections between things are as important as the things themselves. Thus, an effective community has elements placed in such a way that each part serves the needs and supports the functions of others.

This principle focuses closely on developing communities of plants, animals, and people that gain benefits from these relationships. Not only is this done through intentional design, but also by opening up spaces for relationships to develop and self-organize.

To design systems that create mutually beneficial relationships, it is important to understand that: 

Each “element” (e.g. plant, animal, person, etc.) performs many “functions” (e.g. provides food, water, knowledge, work, care giving, friendship, etc.);

Each function should be supported by many elements; and 

Cooperative, integrated and symbiotic relationships (rather than competitive, segregated and predatory relationships) will be more effective at supporting the two factors above. 

Activity: 

What “elements” are present around you? What “functions” do they perform? How are these elements and functions integrated? How do they support each other?

What “functions” do you perform? How do these functions support others? How are they supported by others?

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

[s4tomorrow]

Permaculture Principle 7: Design from Patterns to Details

Details tend to distract our awareness and understanding of the whole system; the closer we get, the less we are able to comprehend the larger picture. Drilling down to the details may be important and necessary, but it isn’t the first step. Start with big picture thinking. 

For example, when you go to the library, you don’t need to know the details of each book, you simply need to understand the system in place to find the book you’re looking for. Similarly, artists don’t typically draw the most detailed part of their piece first, they start by sketching out a general design to determine the placement of their subject and how it will interact with other elements in their piece. These are examples of pattern recognition and creation, which people tend to be pretty good at. 

We know the general pattern of a spider web, finger print, or tree structure, even if we can’t explain the variances and details unique to each. Similarly, we tend to pick up on the cultural patterns that determine how we respond to situations, communicate with people, and live our lives. Using this skill to find and learn from natural patterns helps permaculturalists create appropriate designs.

Activity: 

What patterns are common in nature? (e.g. think about sun, water, wind, land formation, plant growth, species migration, etc.)

What patterns are common in our communities? (e.g. how we live, work, play, feed ourselves, transport ourselves, etc.) 

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

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Permaculture Principle 6: Produce no Waste

A common phrase you’ll hear from permaculturalists is that “waste is a design flaw,” which is based on the view that stable, well-functioning systems do not produce waste.

Waste comes in many forms. Essentially, it is any output of any system that is not being used productively by another part of the system (Bill Mollison). The result is pollution and excess. For example, we are producing greenhouse gases at a rate faster than our world can absorb; the result is pollution and excess that is not being used productively by the system. Potential solutions include stopping/slowing the release of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as preserving and creating more ecosystems that can absorb these greenhouse gases and put them into productive use (forests, grasslands, wetlands, etc.). 

The earthworm is also a suitable example of how waste can be seen as an opportunity, for the reason that it lives by consuming plant litter and organic matter. It then converts these “wastes” into humus that improves the soil environment for itself, for other soil micro-organisms, and for plants. Thus, the outputs of one becomes the input for another. 

This principle encourages us to look for ways to minimise pollution and excess, as well as consider wastes as “outputs” that could be put into productive use by other parts of the system.

Activity: 

What are the “outputs” of a city, a yard, or a house? Are these outputs being put to use by another part of the system? Which outputs are being wasted?

How could we change our communities to produce no waste?

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

[s4tomorrow]

Permaculture Principle 5: Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services

Renewable resources are those that are renewed and replaced by natural processes over reasonable periods of time, and are gained from elements such as plants, animals, soil, and water. Similarly, passive services, such as sunlight, wind, and shade can be accessed repeatedly without being depleted.

Permaculture design aims to make the best use of earth’s resources by using renewables and passive services to maintain systems over time, while limiting non-renewable resources to the start-up phase and establishment of systems. For example, fossil fuels may be needed to create wind turbines, to install a new landscape, or to build a house, but once built or established, these systems should no longer require non-renewable inputs.

To give a business-related example, renewable resources and services should be seen as our operating budget that is replenished each budget cycle, while non-renewable resources should be thought of as our capital budget, which is one-time funding that usually comes in a lump sum. Just as it’s not sustainable to maintain a business’s operations out of a capital budget that is not being replenished, it’s not sustainable to spend our world’s one-time, non-renewable resources to maintain our lives.

Essentially, it comes down to: conserving what’s here, restoring what is not here, and replacing what we use. 

Activity: 

How are renewable resources and passive services used in your community?  How could they be better used?

How are you conserving what’s here, restoring what has been taken or lost, and replacing what you use?

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

[s4tomorrow]

Permaculture Principle 4: Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback

Self-regulation requires actively managing your life so that you have “enough,” without having too much. This principle functions at both a community and individual level, where health and well-being need to be achieved at the same time as moderation and limits on consumption and growth. From a permaculture lens, self-regulation is based on avoiding the exploitation of other people, species, or resources, and on living within ecological and planetary limits. 

One way to understand if self-reliance is being achieved is to accept feedback from the world around us and the systems we’re living within. For example, the world is currently telling us that we are exceeding its capacity to manage our lifestyles by giving us feedback in the forms of: rising global temperatures, extreme weather events (such as flooding, drought, and severe storms), ocean acidification, species extinction, human illness, etc. This type of feedback needs to be received and understood in order for us to determine an appropriate course of self-regulation and action.

Activity: 

How is (or isn’t) self-regulation being applied in your community? How could you better apply self-regulation in your own life?

What types of feedback are we receiving from the planet? Our communities? What potential solutions exist to address this feedback? 

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

[s4tomorrow]

Permaculture Principle 3: Obtain a Yield

Permaculture design systems result in sustainable yields for both personal and community consumption. A yield, profit, or income could come in the form of food, money, enjoyment, energy, or some other benefit. Because a yield functions as a reward, it encourages participation and helps ensure people will continue to maintain the system that generated the reward.

For example, if your garden gives you food, enjoyment, peace, and/or money, you are more likely to put your time, effort, and care into maintaining that garden. 

Many of the current ways our society grows food, makes money, and finds enjoyment rely on fossil fuels and are unsustainable. Therefore, finding flexible, sustainable and creative ways to obtain a yield will be critical in the transition to a world that no longer relies on fossil fuels.

Activity: 

Choose a place/community you’re familiar with. 

What yields does this place provide? How are these yields obtained in a sustainable (or unsustainable) way?

What yields do you receive in your life? How are they produced / achieved? Could some of these yields be produced / achieved in a more sustainable way? 

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

[s4tomorrow]

Permaculture Principle 2: Catch and Store Energy

Catching energy when it’s available allows us to use it immediately and/or store it for future use.

Energy can come in a number of forms and we can catch and store it in a number of different ways. For example: 

Sun and heat: solar panels; passive solar buildings; trees and plants; materials with high thermal mass

Wind: wind turbines; boat sails

Water: swales; rain barrels; ponds; plants; soils

Food: cold storage; canning; dehydrating; freezing

Nutrients: soils; plants and animals; compost

Money: trading; saving; investing

Human work: improving people’s health, happiness, education, and well-being

Knowledge and skills: investing in learning, education, practice and training

Activity: 

Consider your life and how energy is (or isn’t) captured and stored in order for you to maintain your current lifestyle.

What types of energy are available? How are these types of energy captured and stored? Are there more opportunities to catch and store energy?

What are the advantages of capturing and storing energy?

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

[s4tomorrow]

Permaculture Principle 1: Observe and Interact

Continuous and careful interaction and observation (e.g. with a place, site, or system) can provide inspiration and insight, lead to more appropriately designed systems, and highlight changes as they emerge over time.

This principle refers to the idea that thorough research, lived experience, and developing a deep understanding can result in localized solutions and more appropriate design.

Activity: 

Choose a place outdoors.

What’s here? Not here? What do you notice around you? What patterns or themes emerge? What is unique about this place? What is the history of this place, and how is its history different from or the same as its present? How do natural elements and social systems impact it?

How can observation and interaction improve a community?

Do you have any personal examples or experiences that relate to this principle?

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

[s4tomorrow]

Part 3: Permaculture Principles

Permaculture principles play a foundational role in permaculture design. Although they are considered “universal,” permaculture does not use a one-size-fits-all approach; rather, the ways in which the principles are applied vary according to context, place, situation, and the people involved.

For example, permaculture will look different in a tropical climate and the prairies. It will look different when taken up by different cultures. It will also change depending on one’s access to resources, materials, and skills. And that’s okay! In fact, applying methods based on context is encouraged, as described throughout the 12 guiding principles of permaculture: 

Observe and Interact

Catch and Store Energy

Obtain a Yield

Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback

Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services

Produce no Waste

Design from Patterns to Details

Integrate rather than Segregate

Use Small and Slow Solutions

Use and Value Diversity

Use Edges and Value the Marginal

Creatively Use and Respond to Change

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Part 2: Permaculture’s Roots

Permaculture has grown out of both science (primarily ecology and systems thinking) and ethics. This makes it somewhat unique compared to other practices, because usually we’re taught that ethics and values should be left at the door in order for us to be objective and rational. And although I strive to make decisions based on good research and science (and encourage others to do the same), I would also argue that we are never able to act completely objectively because we are all unconsciously and consciously bringing our values, upbringings, cultures, and assumptions to the table in everything we do.

And so, I respect permaculture for being honest about the lens it’s looking through and acting from, and for embracing subjectivity. Permaculture’s ethical standpoint has made it more attractive to many people, including myself, than if it was just sourced from and driven by scientific reasoning.

The ethics that I’m referring to that permaculture is based off of include:

Care for the earth (e.g. soil, water, plants, and other species);

Care for people (e.g. look after your self, your friends and family, and your community as a whole); and

Fair share (e.g. set limits on your consumption and wealth, redistribute and share your surpluses with other people and species, and create equitable systems).

It is also important to note that permaculture has looked to Indigenous practices, knowledges, values, and ways of life to build its own definition and ethics, as Indigenous cultures represent the best examples of how humans can live in relative balance in/with nature for a sustained length of time. 

Stay tuned for PART 3 on Permaculture Principles.

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.  

[s4tomorrow]

Part 1: What is Permaculture?

A few weeks ago, I did a workshop on permaculture for Next Up, a youth leadership group in Saskatoon. The discussions and ideas that it prompted reminded me of the importance of deep, thoughtful dialogue.

So I’d like to share some of the core pieces and principles of permaculture in a multi-part post in the hopes that others may find these ideas relatable, meaningful and compelling.

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PART 1: What is Permaculture?

Permaculture is a difficult word and concept to define, similar to sustainability, because it’s interpreted and taken up in slightly different ways. That said, I generally define permaculture in the following way:

Permaculture is a way of designing systems that mimic the patterns and relationships found in healthy, functioning ecosystems. Permaculture design provides ways for people to meet their needs for food, water, shelter, materials, energy and community in a sustainable way. And the “resulting” permaculture systems stay within ecological and planetary limits.

So what it really comes down to is creating a culture that is conscious of:

Where and how people access their food and water;

What types and amounts of materials and energy people use;

How people build their buildings and with what materials; and

How people organize their communities and social systems.

And although people often identify with permaculture through its many techniques, such as capturing rain water, growing organic food and perennial plant systems, building environmentally friendly homes, using green energy, or creating community, permaculture isn’t any one of these things on its own. Rather, permaculture is the system of linking these pieces together in ways that lead to mutually beneficial relationships between people and people, people and nature, and people and “resources.”

Permaculture is also taken up as a life philosophy for some, in the sense that it focuses on: opportunities rather than obstacles; making the choice to be adaptive, creative and resilient; and creating a way of life that revolves around preserving and establishing sustainable human habitats.

Stay tuned for PART 2 on Permaculture’s Roots. 

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I would like to acknowledge David Holgrem’s writing and ideas for greatly influencing this post.

Holmgren, David. (2013). Essence of permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from ‘Permaculture Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability.  

[s4tomorrow]

Happy International Compost Awareness Week!

[s4tomorrow]

Salsa Saturday

Made salsa from the USDA's Complete Guide to Home Canning today. It tastes amazing! The document also does a great job of outlining the steps to safe canning. It's long, but I appreciated the detail. 

As an added plus, I had the opportunity to use ingredients from my garden!

I will definitely look up some more recipes from the USDA's guide next time I do some canning. 

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TOMATO SALSA (Pg. 3-23) 

7 qts peeled, cored, chopped garden tomatoes 

4 cups seeded, chopped long green chiles (I used Anaheim Chiles that I found at Coop)

5 cups chopped garden onions 

1/2 cup seeded, finely chopped jalapeño peppers (I used some from the Farmers' Market)

6 cloves garden garlic, finely chopped 

2 cups bottled lemon 

2 tbsp salt 

1 tbsp black pepper 

2 tbsp ground cumin 

3 tbsp fresh oregano leaves from the garden