An Introduction to Permaculture

Graham Bell & Sandy JamesQuarries Farm, Bangor

Objectives

• By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain what Permaculture is• State its relevance to 5 aspects of their lives• Make a garden in a day• Explain their future development plan• Identify the main useful species relevant to

their area• Show the connections between the above.

Objectives

• By Lunchtime, participants will be able to:

• Explain their preferred model for learning• Name all their fellow participants• Identify their expectations for the course• See and explain the main areas of their lives

where Permaculture is relevant.

PERMACULTURE:

Designing for a Sustainable Future

Natural Patterns:

• Maximise Edge

• Use natural successions

• Exploit stacking opportunities

Behavioural Patterns

• Everything Gardens• Everything is a Gift• Start Small, start Local• Yield is Unlimited• Minimum intervention for maximum return.

Minimum Intervention

• Do Nothing

• Increase Throughput

• Biological Intervention

• Mechanical Intervention

• Chemical Intervention

Energy Pattern

• First: Harvest Energy

• Second: Conserve Energy

• Only then: Use Energy

Some other Patterns – Relationships

• Maximise Relationships• Diversity of Elements• Duplicity of Function• Maximise Energy Usage between source and sink• Learn about them• Relative to Place