Permaculture is a method for designing sustainable, human-supporting landscapes that mimic the operation of natural ecosystems. By linking the different parts of each system in ecologically sensible ways, permaculture achieves high yields for low energy inputs while actually building fertility over successive seasons. For some, permaculture means a backyard garden that for relatively little work supplies an abundance of organically produced food all year round. For others, permaculture means a drought and flood-proof rural property ensuring food, water and energy security into the coming decades.

If you have any affinity at all for the idea of growing food at home and haven't heard of permaculture, then please read on.  You are about to get excited.

Permaculture was started in the seventies by a Tasmanian (Bill Mollison) and an Australian (David Holmgren).  Since then, it has become a global movement providing design solutions for every climate, landscape and culture imaginable.  As an example of permaculture at work in one of the harshest climates on earth, check out this youtube video where one of our personal teachers and mentors, Geoff Lawton, literally greens a desert.

Such impressive demonstrations aside, however, permaculture is every bit as relevant to designing a vibrant, productive and truly sustainable edible garden in the Melbourne suburbs - check out this article by Dan for a few examples - and stay tuned as we find time to upload more  of our urban designs (along with before, during and after photos).

As a comprehensive system integrating modern science and traditional sustainable agricultural techniques from cultures the world over, and weaving these into a set of ethics and principles that apply any where at any scale, permaculture is hard to get across briefly.  To get a better feel for what it's all about, come along to our next two-day introduction to permaculture.  Be warned though, for a lot of people (all of us included), learning about permaculture can be life changing.  It can fill you with an optimism about the future you didn't know you had and an unstoppable energy to get things happening on the ground.  Learn more about our permaculture design consultancy services here.