In the years since its conception, permaculture has become a successful approach to designing sustainable systems. Its adaptability and emphasis on meeting human needs means that it can be utilized in every climatic and cultural zone. However, at the moment the large proportion of practitioners are only likely to be inspired individuals and there is a distinct lack of broadscale permaculture projects. Nevertheless, permaculture has also been used successfully as a development tool to help meet the needs of indigenous communities facing degraded standards of living from development of land and the introduction of industrialized food.

I first learned about permaculture in 1998 after I had already been living for several years off the grid in Costa Rica. In fact, I was already learning and applying the key principles of permaculture learned from the Costa Rican native and indigenous people long before I had ever even heard the term itself. I quickly ran off to take a three-week intensive permaculture design course offered on the Big Island of Hawaii. It really rocked my world. It was more than just learning about the principals of designing community. It was about learning these principals while actually living in community where these very design decisions were in practice. We had a bicycle powered laundry machine and were planting things according to how much we used them and how much attention they needed. For example, large fruit trees that only need to be visited a few times a year to prune and harvest were planted further from our house and delicate salads were planted in areas nearby that received lots of attention. It just made sense.

I often compare taking a permaculture design course to a computer that recently had an anti-virus program installed. From that moment on no matter what that computer does, it is going to have to pass through the anti-virus test. I find a permaculture course to be like that for any person. After taking the intensive course, no matter what decisions that person makes, or whatever system he/she designs, it is going to pass through the deep ecological test in their brain instilled by taking the course. It’s funny because it all just seems so simple and obvious. The ethics of permaculture are: care for earth, care for people and distribution of surplus. Seems pretty straightforward. Permaculture is not directly about agriculture but efficient design in general and can be applied to all aspects of life.

The way I personally describe permaculture is: How can we meet our goals and while using less energy. It is often assumed that by the word energy I mean coal, gas or electricity, but this includes our own physical, mental and financial energy as well. People all over the world mostly have very similar goals when it really comes down it. We strive for happiness through things like a comfortable home, nice friends and family, abundant good food and an all around level of sufficiency. So how can we meet this lofty goal as a species? I honestly believe if permaculture were taught in grade school we would be way closer to achieving this and people would be living a much fuller and more rewarding life. Through thoughtful and efficient design, responsible use of resources and the permaculture ethic, care for Earth deeply imbedded into our corporations and government’ constitutions the world would be a much cleaner and happier place to live.

Stephen Brooks is a jungle tropical fruit farmer in Costa Rica, the co-founder of Kopali Organics and is the Food Field Reporter on Planet Green's G Word.

With all travel and work away from home, it looked nearly impossible to attempt “walking the talk” at our farm. That was nine years ago, though, and we since have succeeded in turning our land and and home into a drylands permaculture and sustainable living showcase. Our practices and climate reflect the need for a more perennial polyculture system which is in the best tradition of permaculture. We also have to take into consideration the aesthetics and desires of our fellow community members, with whom we share the joys and the ownership of our ten acre oasis. 

After years of building soil, “growing” shade and biomass, increasing biodiversity, incorporating animals (and people), working with sun, wind, water, cold drainage and Mother Nature - we are now celebrating the gifts of good land!

Fruit trees’ bloom, native and honey bees, medley of medicinal herbs, milk goats, heirloom chickens and turkeys, a gang of loud guinea fowl, a restored wetlands teeming with fish, dragonflies, bugs and native waterfowl; rich gardens, pastures and orchards surround our natural home with its cutting edge energy and water management design. It is truly beautiful and rewarding to be alive in a permaculture oasis!

With the abundance comes food processing, sharing of surplus, recycling of nutrients, teaching and learning new aspects of permaculture life style.

Sample partial plant lists for guild planting in desert Southwest:

• Cover Crops as Bee Forage for Desert Southwest by Lynda Prim
• Pollination & Wildlife Habitat Hedge Plant List by Arina Pittman
• Goat Forage Plant List by Arina Pittman
• Poultry Forage Plant List by Arina Pittman
• Edible Perennial Greens by Mary Zemach
• Mineral-accumulating Plants - Partial List by Oregon Biodynamic Group
• Cultivating Indigenous Micro-organisms in Your Soil