Permaculture in New Zealand

Permaculture Principles and Ethics, by Formulated by Robyn Clayfield

Care of the Earth

• Provision or all life systems to continue and multiply
• Doing what is right for the planet

Care for people

• Provision for people to access the resources necessary for their existence
• Looking after each other

Share our Resources

• By governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to further our ethics.
• Sharing and recycling our resources

Elevational planning

• Look at the site in profile, noting relative elevations to decide on the placement of various elements
• Water flows down hill. It is cooler at the bottom

Multiple functions

• Every element (plant, animal, structure) must be placed so that it serves at least two or more functions.
• Lots of uses for everything.

Sectors

• To channel external energies (wind, sun, fire) into or away from the system
• Cool breezes sunny spots

Zones

• The placement of elements depends on importance, priorities and number of visits needed for each element.
• The dunny is closer to the back door than the woodlot.

Maximise Edge

• The interface between two ecosystems represents a third more complex system which combines both.
• Live on the edge, there is more life there.

Relative location

• To enable a design component to function efficiently, we must put it in the right place.
• A great place for it to go

Diversity

• The number of functional connections between elements. It is not the number of things, but the number of way in which things work. A guild of elements that work harmoniously together.
• Variety is the spice of life

Patterns

• Permits our elements to flow and function in beneficial relationships. It is the way we frame our designs.
• Learning to see the shapes of life.

Biological resources

• Using plants and animals wherever possible to save energy and to do the work of the farm or system.
• Why buy a dishwasher when the kids can do it.

Natural succession

• Evolution of a system. To enable a cultivated system to evolve toward a long term stable state, we can construct a system. Carefully planning the succession of plants and animals, so that we can receive short, medium and long term benefits.
• Growing up

Energy recycling

• To stop the flow of nutrient and energy off the site and instead turn them into cycles.
• Keeping the energy in the system.

Multiple elements

• Every function (eg water collections, fire protection) is served in tow or more ways.
• More than one way to get what you want.

Entered by Aleena La'ulu