intro to permaculture gold coast permaculture

Introduction to Urban PermacultureGold Coast Permaculture

WELCOME!

What is permaculture?Permanent agriculture

Ecologically sound &

Economically viable

Provide for their own needsSustainable in the

long term

Do not exploit or pollute

Perm

acul

ture

dea

ls w

ith:

Permaculture Design

Permaculture Ethics

• Care of the Earth• Care of the people• Share of surplus

Moral beliefs and actions in relation to

survival on our planet.

Care of the earthCare of all living & non living things:

• Soils & Athmosphere• Species and their varieties• Water, Forests & Animals

Active conservationEthical use of resourcesWorking for useful & beneficial systems

Care of peopleBasic needs for:• Food• Shelter• Education• Satisfaying

employment• Convivial human

contact

Fair ShareContribution of surplus:1. Time2. Money3. Energy to achieve the aims of earth and people care.

Permaculture Principles“Thinking tools that allow us to re design our

environment and behaviour”

Design Principl

es

Relative

Location

Multiple

functions

Multiple

Elements

Energy

Efficient

Planning

Using Biologic

al Resource

s

Energy

Cycling

Small Scale

Intensive Accelerati

ng Successi

on

Diversity

Edge Awarene

ss

Attitudinal

principles

1. Relative Location“We must put it in the right place”

Chicken Pen close house & garden

Wind break – Stop wind but not sunWorm farm close to kitchen

Gravity for

natural water flow

1. Relative LocationWorking relationships between each element

• Inputs needed by one are supplied by other• Outputs needed by one are used by other

2. Multiple FunctionsEach element in the system should be chosen and placed so it performs as many functions.

Pond in the backyard

Habitat for birds

2. Multiple Functions

Water plants used as fertilizers

3. Multiple ElementsBasic needs such as:• Water & Food• Energy & Fire

protectionShould be served in two or more ways

Dam near house in case of fire

Moringa as a perennial food tree

Water harvesting from roof into water tanks

4. Efficient Energy Planning

Zone PlanningPlacing elements according to how much we use them or how often we need to service them.

4. Efficient Energy Planning

Sector PlanningUnderstanding the direction from which:sun, wind, fire and flood come helps in the placement of structures and vegetation.

4. Efficient Energy Planning

Slope Observe relative elevations to decide on the placements of: • Dams &

water tanks • Drains,

flood & flow diversions

• Place wastewater

5. Using Biological ResorcesPlants and animals do the work for us!

Animal Tractors

Umbelliferous &

Composite Plants

Natural fertilizers: Comfrey & Leguminous

6. Energy CyclingCatch, store and use!

Composting kitchen wastes

Thermal mass Strawbale

&Superadobe

Natural BuildingLeaves raked for mulch

7. Small-Scale Intensive SystemFully develop the nucleus before going on!

Time stacking

8. Accelerating Succession and Evolution

Raise organic levels artificially

Plants that will easily survive

Using what is already growing

9. DiversityFunctional connections between elements

9. DiversityGuilds - Placement of species which benefit each other

10. Edge EffectsProductivity increases at the boundary between two ecologies. Resources from both systems can be used.

Herb Spiral increase edge and micro climate

Keyhole & Mandala Gardens

11. Attitudinal Principles

“You don’t have a snail infestation, you have a duck

deficienty”

11. Attitudinal Principles

Permaculture is not energy or capital intensive. Permaculture is information-intensive!

If we take the time to read, observe, discuss and contemplate, we design systems which save

energy and give us yields.

WELCOME TO OUR URBAN PERMACULTURE

COURSE!

Permaculture Ethics in our own lives• Long-term consequences of your actions. • Natives X Invasive species• Intensive systems X Extensive systems• Be diverse, polycultural for stability or change• Bring food-growing back into the cities• Promote community responsability• Reafforest earth, restore fertility to the soil• Recycle all wastes• See solutions, not problems• Work where it counts

Local Great Resorces • Gold Coast Organic Growers• Botanic Gardens Benowa• Community Gardens GC Council• Food Connect Brisbane• Griffith Logan Refugee Community Garden• Northey Street City Farm Brisbane• Djanbung Gardens Nimbin• Yandina Community Gardens• Mudbrick Cottage Herb Farm