What Is Permaculture?

Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is a land use and community building movement which strives for the harmonious integration of human dwellings, micro climate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, and water into stable, productive communities. The focus is not on these elements themselves, but rather on the relationships created among them by the way we place them in the landscape. This synergy is further enhanced by mimicking patterns found in nature. A central theme in permaculture is the design of ecological landscapes that produce food. Emphasis is placed on multi-use and perennial plants, practices such as composting, sheet mulching, recycling, companion planting, natural pest control and the integration of animals to recycle nutrients, graze weeds and provide food and other materials.