The so-called pinnacles of civilization, particularly in the western world, are in trouble. Everything didn’t quite work out the way we had hoped. And those were such lofty dreams.

The ambition of man to rise up and keep rising goes way back, to the moment we started accumulating resources. Its a pattern that has been imbedded deep within our minds: that to go forward is to go up, to build higher and create bigger is to progress. A mindset that operates largely in three dimensions.

Our current situation is a product of this mindset. As the skyscrapers rise toward the sky, the hole that should be a stockpile of resources gets deeper and darker approaching the color black. It has become a very uncomfortable topic. A lot of people are trying to pretend like its not there. Good luck, kids.

What are our ‘leaders’ doing about it? Not much. Certainly nothing outside of the mindset that got us here. We tinker. Pull a lever here, push a button there. But nothing changes, and nothing will until we evolve our perspective past the three dimensional grab-bag free for all we find ourselves in today.

In the 1970’s an Australian professor by the name of Bill Mollison and his student David Holmgren, recognizing this flaw in the current worldview, developed one of their own. It became known as Permaculture. Permaculture can mean either permanent culture or permanent agriculture. In its essence it is a design philosophy for the building of systems that are meant to last.

This emphasis on permanency is a movement into fourth dimensional space-time. Its an abandonment of the deep-rooted ideas we have inherited about getting while the getting’s good. No, we say, we want to stay. This planet is a good place and we have become smart people in 3D. The time has come to become wise in the fourth and on into the higher dimensions. We have this potential.

Permaculture is one way to begin this transition. It is very elemental, not calling for the end of civilization but rather the transformation of it. It is an ethical design principle with one goal: to create health and happiness that goes on for a long time.

The philosophy is summed up into 3 core tenets and 12 principles.

The Core Tenets:

Care of the Earth Care of People Reinvestment of Surplus

The 12 Principles (By David Holmgren):

Observe and Interact – “ Beauty is in the mind of the beholder”

By taking the time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation. Catch and Store Energy – “Make hay while the sun shines”

By developing systems that collect resources when they are abundant, we can use them in times of need. Obtain a yield – “You can’t work on an empty stomach”

Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the work you are doing. Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback – “The sins of the fathers are visited on the children of the seventh generation”

We need to discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems can continue to function well. Negative feedback is often slow to emerge. Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services – “Let nature take its course”

Make the best use of nature’s abundance to reduce our consumptive behavior and dependence on non-renewable resources. Produce No Waste – “ Waste not, want not” or “A stitch in time saves nine”

By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste. Design From Patterns to Details – “Can’t see the forest for the trees”

By stepping back, we can observe patterns in nature and society. These can form the backbone of our designs, with the details filled in as we go. Integrate Rather Than Segregate – “Many hands make light work”

By putting the right things in the right place, relationships develop between those things and they work together to support each other. Use Small and Slow Solutions – “Slow and steady wins the race” or “The bigger they are, the harder they fall”

Small and slow systems are easier to maintain than big ones, making better use of local resources and produce more sustainable outcomes. Use and Value Diversity – “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”

Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides. Use Edges and Value the Marginal – “Don’t think you are on the right track just because it’s a well-beaten path”

The interface between things is where the most interesting events take place. These are often the most valuable, diverse and productive elements in the system. Creatively Use and Respond to Change – “Vision is not seeing things as they are but as they will be”

We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing and then intervening at the right time.

Through these basic principles, permaculture has been developed into a deep and exacting science. Using the patterns found in nature it has created countless small, efficient, sustainable systems that provide for the needs of its occupants. Beyond mere survival, it creates a natural and connected way of life.

For me its practical, common sense approach is refreshing. Instead of getting gloomy and doomy we focus our energy on positive action. What comes is really quite a beautiful thing.

Check out this short trailer for a longer documentary by Geoff Lawton, the director of the Permaculture Research Institute in Australia. It’s very well done.

If you like what you see I encourage you to learn more. The internet is packet with good info. If you live in the city check out urban permaculture; good stuff happening if you know where to look.

TVP