Permaculture – is this idea of sustainability the way of the future? The idea of permaculture (permanent agriculture or permanent culture) was developed by two Australians in the 1970’s, David Holmgren (a graduate student) and Bill Mollison (his professor) (Sullivan, 2008). There are many branches to the permaculture movement, all of which are related to ecology, sustainability and the idea of working with nature rather than against it. Essentially, leaving as small a footprint as possible on the earth. The way to start to do this is to give back to the environment, grow organic food where possible, drive the car less or reduce energy consumption. In what ways can adopting the theories behind …show more content…
This further ties in with my strong feelings about preserving our environment for not only myself and my family but also for future generations. I love the idea of fresh, organic produce and pasture-raised animals that are sustained by foraging for their food. Imagine the quality of the eggs the chickens and ducks would produce when living in this way. Imagine the health benefits to a family who were able to consume these products.
Research Questions
1. What are the principles of permaculture? How do these principles impact on the sustainability of the local environment?
2. How would a community garden contribute to the environmental sustainability of the local area?
3. Can permaculture occur on a small …show more content…
Veteto, J. R., & Lockyer, J. (2008). Environmental anthropology engaging permaculture: Moving theory and practice toward sustainability. Culture & Agriculture, 30(1‐2), 47-58.
This article delves into a brief history of permaculture, provides real-life examples of permaculture in practice and describes ways in which anthropologists can incorporate the adaptation of permaculture in an environmental culture into their studies.
2. Stocker, L., & Barnett, K. (1998). The significance and praxis of community‐based sustainability projects: Community gardens in western Australia. Local Environment, 3(2), 179-189.
This article describes the benefits of the development of community gardens, their use of permaculture principles, and the contribution they make to developing sustainable communities.
3. Sullivan, R. (2008). The living culture whose time has come. Ecos, 2008(144), 8-10.
This article discusses the growing mainstream popularity of permaculture in Australia. It also introduces a permaculture farm called the Food Forest, which has its own website and is a valuable source of information in its own