It can be challenging to pinpoint exactly what Permaculture is because, while at the core of the practice exists ethics and principles, to a certain extent, it is also open to interpretation and can therefore mean different things to different people - but that is the beauty of it!
So then, what is Permaculture to me, especially at this point of my journey?
First of all it is incredibly important to me that anything I do is based in morals, observations, and critical thinking in order to make informed decisions.
From a very young age I have always felt that there is not enough consideration of these concepts in this world and could never understand why everyone was just going along with the status quo. This lead me to embrace my ancient cultures, study thinkers and philosophers, obtain a minor in social psychology, research many aspects of the system in which we live and beyond, study computer software and database design, and scrutinise many of the lies we are told about our society and it's history - connecting the dots and recognising the patterns as I went along - all the while becoming more and more discontent with the way we are doing things and the direction we are heading in as a species. Often feeling helpless at the sheer amount of control that this system has over people's thoughts and therefore their actions. At some time during all this (I can't pinpoint the exact moment) I decided that enough was enough. I could sit around feeling defeated and caged in or I could start to do something about it. Going into detail at this point would be opening a can of worms of a size I can't even begin to imagine, so I'll leave this discussion there!
My point being that what drew me to Permaculture originally, besides the gardening/natural/sustainability/design aspects was that there are some very clear ethics, concepts, principles and tools that form the basis of how we interpret and implement Permaculture into our lives. Even though I realise that I am only at the tip of the Permaculture iceberg, many of these ideas are not only logical, but are something that I deeply and personally identify with.
At the root of Permaculture is 'earth care, people care and fair share' which branches out into principles, and then to the components used in design. These base ethics really clicked with me, especially when I have seen time and time again that focus is placed on only one of them, so much so that people can and do fail to consider the others. It is clear that the Earth, it's inhabitants; and levelness, balance, share and equality all deserve the same regard.
Although I realise that it is not all bad, I take countless issues with our system. The main problem I have is that the power and decisions come from the top down - forming a pyramid structure. All the problems that arise from this structure are too numerous to list here, but common sense tells us that not only is this structure unfair and unjust, but also unsustainable and unstable. Both in good times and bad, those who will suffer the most are the ones who make up the lower levels of the pyramid, while those who prosper are at the top. There is no room for real growth. There is no trickle down effect. There is no sharing. Those at the top hoard the resources and power, while those at the bottom are left with the crumbs and are expected to do little more than have blind faith - having next to no input in the decision making process. Resources are non-renewable and therefore entire continents are torn apart, the lifeblood ripped from the lands and whole peoples very nearly wiped from existence. Nature suffers so we who are a part of nature, suffer alongside her.
Permaculture models on the other hand, are often displayed as a tree, interconnected flow chart or equal pie chart model with no-one and nothing on top, but rather with branches, links, relationships, micro and macrocosms and equal slices of pie. These models are based on very traditional ways of thinking that meant we thrived for 100's of 1000's of years. In Permaculture, decisions are based on ethics, thought, observation...not power and money. The community can interact with each other to make the decisions that are needed to reach organised, achievable goals in all areas, to tweak natural designs and systems, and live with minimal impact. From there we can regenerate and create, not destroy and annihilate. Resources are renewable. Pollution is avoided and waste is reduced, reused and recycled. We live in harmony with nature and nurture our planet and everything on it. Our everyday quality of life is improved and the survival and continuation of life itself, even after all the damage that has been done, for once in a long time, looks hopeful.
The ideas used in Permaculture are not new, exclusive, or anything many traditional cultures haven't used before. They are only ideas that have been based upon the common sense and instincts we seem to have lost as a species, and can be used in modern westernised societies as a part of everyday life. If we are to to find our way back and begin to clean up, regenerate, heal, restore and continue to not only survive, but to live and thrive on this planet we need an approach open to critique and adjustments, that can address the problems that we face now; tools that can bring us together to create real change.
Maybe Permaculture is that approach.