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Introduction to Permaculture (1994)

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Re: Introduction to Permaculture (1994)

#3

Post by joshvm »

Note that this isn't just a preview, you can borrow this book (and another million or so) if you have an account with archive, it's free. You can have ten books at a time, two weeks per book.

What I like about permaculture is that it doesn't suggest that everyone should be a smallholder. The author comments that it's more sensible to support a local farm that grows sustainably than to try and grow everything yourself (though you can of course!) And in principle, permaculture is a very hacker friendly idea. Everything in your property is placed optimally, which makes for a fun game trying to figure out how to maximise the use of your land whilst minimising negative effects.

Re: Introduction to Permaculture (1994)

#4

Post by PostOnce »

joshvm wrote: post #3

Note that this isn't just a preview, you can borrow this book (and another million or so) if you have an account with archive, it's free. You can have ten books at a time, two weeks per book. What I like about permaculture is that it doesn't suggest that everyone should be a smallholder. The author comments that it's more sensible to support a local farm that grows sustainably than to try and grow everything yourself…

You can also return the book instantly if you're not actively reading it, sometimes i check them out, flick through them, and return them, then check em out again later when I want to read more, instead of hanging on to them for 2 weeks

Just something I was thinking about earlier now that archive.org is getting popular.

Re: Introduction to Permaculture (1994)

#5

Post by fouc »

It's interesting that Permaculture is already more than 26 years old. It's got quite a number ideas that probably seem very controversial to the average gardener or small farmer.

But the genius of Permaculture is that it's also way less effort. Work with nature, rather than fight it.

Chop and drop. Pull out weeds then drop them on the ground, let it turn into mulch.

Re: Introduction to Permaculture (1994)

#6

Post by jmiskovic »

PostOnce wrote: post #4
joshvm wrote: post #3

Note that this isn't just a preview, you can borrow this book (and another million or so) if you have an account with archive, it's free. You can have ten books at a time, two weeks per book. What I like about permaculture is that it doesn't suggest that everyone should be a smallholder. The author comments that it's more sensible to support a local farm that grows sustainably than to try and grow everything yourself…

You can also return the book instantly if you're not actively reading it, sometimes i check them out, flick through them, and return them, then check em out again later when I want to read more, instead of hanging on to them for 2 weeks Just something I was thinking about earlier now that archive.org is getting popular.

Off topic, but I feel that analog library terminology really doesn't carry over well to digital libraries. Most likely because artificial scarcity is so unnatural concept. I wonder how digital libraries will look like and operate in 10 years.

Re: Introduction to Permaculture (1994)

#8

Post by blunte »

fouc wrote: post #5

It's interesting that Permaculture is already more than 26 years old. It's got quite a number ideas that probably seem very controversial to the average gardener or small farmer. But the genius of Permaculture is that it's also way less effort. Work with nature, rather than fight it. Chop and drop. Pull out weeds then drop them on the ground, let it turn into mulch.

> seem very controversial

It's just a matter of experience and perspective. Many of the permaculture principles have been practiced since long before industrialization. In the scale of human existence, the current "normal" agriculture practices are abnormal, while permaculture is normal.

Also, don't cut the weeds unless you have a very good reason. Even the definition of "weed" is questionable. Most of the time, the "weed" grows where it is actually beneficial.

Re: Introduction to Permaculture (1994)

#9

Post by mceoin »

dbmueller wrote: post #7

So, I guess in the meantime some developments on the idea have been made. What would a modern intro/reference be?

Gaia's Garden is great for beginners and is what I tend to gift people as an on-ramp. Edible Forest Gardens, Volume 2 is a comprehensive and complimentary to Permaculture - A Designers Manual, which is also comprehensive and rather timeless.
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