We will send a series of educational emails every few weeks, themed around the 12 Holmgren principles of permaculture. This is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge, discover new aspects of the design process, and learn useful practical solutions.
 
See the first email for free here.
 
Receive the full series when you join as a member from just £3 a month.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open to find out more about permaculture.

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Welcome to this exclusive membership learning email series.

As part of your Permaculture Association membership we will send you a series of educational emails every few weeks, themed around the Holmgren principles of permaculture. This is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge, discover new aspects of the design process, and learn useful practical solutions. Please feel free to reply to any of the emails with feedback.

 
 

This is permaculture

We think you'll already have at least a basic understanding about what permaculture is. We've created a webpage that you can share with others to introduce them to permaculture too.

People around the world are inspired by permaculture to design solutions. We can challenge systems locally and on wider scales.

The prime directive of permaculture as stated by co-founder Bill Mollison is that “the only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children. Make it now.”

Observe and interact

Observation is key to permaculture. Permaculture is a result of observing nature to understand what makes ecosystems productive and healthy. Developing good observation skills is essential if we want to create well-functioning permaculture designs.

By observing natural and social patterns we are able to use them in our design work at whatever scale - this relates to Bill Mollison's philosophy of 'work with nature, not against'. We have to know how nature works if we want to be able to work with it.

 
 
A group of Permaculture Association members at a local gathering in Sunderland. The tree is decorated by participants, with 'Fair Share. Future generations'
 
Lighting a campfire to cook snacks for the group
 
Observe - photo shows a silhouetted figure sat on a rock staring at a landscape; a cityscape in the backgroun out of focus.
 
 
Inspecting soil in a jam jar test
 
 

Getting to know your soil

By identifying and understanding your soil before you begin growing in it you can ensure you'll be able to work with it appropriately.

You can conduct simple soil surveys to identify texture (hand manipulation), soil type (jam jar test), pH (litmus paper).

 
Find a course - image shows people foraging in Epping Forest
 

Find inspiration in nature

An evolving team at Biomimicry Institute has been developing and curating content. At asknature.org you'll find inspiration from biological structures, processes, and systems that already thrive in balance with Earth’s complex systems.

For example, how can we gain ideas from nature for retrofitting our homes, buildings, and communities to lighten our environmental footprint?

 
 

Identifying trees in the landscape

Patrick Whitefield looks at an oak

What method do you use to identify trees? What can trees tell us about the landscape?

This video series by Patrick Whitefield is sure to teach you more.

Celebrating the cycles of the year

Depiction of the World-tree Ygdrasil by Rune Brimer on Flickr. Shared under CC BY 2.0

Tuning into nature we can begin to understand that there is order to the chaos, with rhythms, patterns and cycles.

"The old seasonal festivals of this land offer a framework within which we can connect to the Earth, ourselves and each other." Read Celebrating the Wheel of the Year.

Photo by Jeremy Gallman on Unsplash.

"This is a self-scoring test on basic environmental perception of place. It favors people who live in the country over city dwellers, and scores can be adjusted accordingly. Most questions, however, are of such a basic nature that undue allowances are not necessary."

 
 

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By becoming a member, you join a network of inspiring, motivated people making positive changes in their lives, communities and landscapes that are for the benefit of all.