What is Permaculture?

One day my boyfriend (who is now my husband) told me he wanted to build a life and career around “permaculture”.

What? Perma-what? Is that some sort of science lab test kit? Does it involve travel? Is it something to do with fashion?

I had never heard of the concept until just two years ago, but now I realize it is a term and a process that defines my life.

Wikipedia tells us that, “Permaculture is a branch of ecological design, ecological engineering, environmental design, construction and integrated water resources management that develops sustainable architecture, regenerative and self-maintained habitat and agricultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems.”“

Basically it is permanent agriculture.

It is the process of using land and resources in their most natural state, so as to get the greatest and most nutritious yield possible, while preserving the constitution of the planet.

How can this apply to you and me? Well, most of our lives are spent eating food!! And if you are anything like me, you are planning your next meal, before you have even finished the current one! We love to eat and we love the community and the fellowship that is built around meals. Our food matters.

Permaculture affects how we plant our food, how we get our food, how we eat our food, and how we relate to the planet and each other.

For example, a permaculture focused landscape has a variety of different plants. In one acre there could be a walnut tree, a couple raspberry bushes, some kale, some bean stalks, and an apple tree. The plants and the land would be organized in such a way that they would all compliment each other and help sustain one another. Therefore, no pesticides are needed, no expensive watering systems, no herbicides, etc… The land would be growing food the way it was meant to…the way God created it to. A person’s job, in a permaculture set up, is simply to tend the plants and land, like you might tend to a garden.

This is just a brief snapshot of the permaculture ideal…and this blog will touch on both the agricultural and social implications of permaculture. In addition, I will also be using Permaculture as a metaphor for how our lives can be more abundant and beautiful if we live the way God intended. 🙂