Permaculture Design/Characteristics

These are all common characteristics that you will find in Permaculture systems. Each system will be unique as the conditions of climate, soils, aspects, culture, time & energy resources will guide its design & development


 * Small scale land use. By using the least possible area, marginal land is preserved in, or returned to, natural ecosystems.
 * Diversity of species & cultivars (types of plants) yields, microclimates, habitats, functions social roles & work.
 * Interweaving of agriculture, animal care, forestry, aquaculture, (water food systems), wilderness management, foraging, economics, culture, & land form engineering (such as dams).
 * Use of wild & domestic plants & animals. Rare, endangered & indigenous are included.
 * Uses the natural ways of plants, animals & their relationships to the characteristics of landscape to create environmentally safe sustainable agriculture. This means energy & biological resources including water & soil, are conserved rebuilt, self-regulating & self- repairing.
 * Long ~ term sustainability. Permaculture systems can be designed to adjust to environmental changes.

To sum it up in a few words:


 * Diverse
 * Interwoven
 * Multi layered
 * Conservative (of resources!)
 * Self-regulating
 * Self-repairing
 * Low inputs
 * High yields