Originally, the word “permaculture” was the combination of the words “permanent” and “agriculture” coined in the 1970s. Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It uses the inherent qualities of plants and animals combined with the natural characteristics of landscapes to produce an ecologically-sound system that provides for its own needs.
It is an agricultural philosophy that allows us to use all of the resources that surround us to their fullest potential, rather than focusing on single product systems. By observing and learning from our environment (how does nature replenish its soil? how does nature protect and conserve its water resources? how has nature adapted to the specific climate of an area?), we can learn how to imitate these natural processes.
