Feature Articles

Permaculture
"Observe the interrelationship between the mineral, plant, animal and human worlds"

Permaculture is the opposite of agriculture says Bill Mollison.  He maintains that "green revolution" agriculture based on intensive mono-cropping, massive world bank loans, high tech equipment and loads of chemical pesticides and fertilisers is a disaster.  It has turned good, productive soil into salt-laden deserts, poison ground water and rivers and burdened developing countries with massive foreign debts.

"The biggest agricultural product in the world today is the American lawn.  This is ludicrous.  You can't eat a lawn.   Yet Americans lavish more phosphate, water, pesticides and tractor hours on their lawns than the combined total agriculture's of Africa and India".

Modern agriculture turns input such as fertiliser, tractor hours and water into a small percentage of product and a large percentage of pollution (all wasted resources become pollutants).  Permaculture, by contrast seeks to turn all inputs into products.  For example, instead of allowing rainwater to become soil eroding run-off, it is collected to replenish ground water supplies.  Animal manure is used as fertiliser, reducing reliance on chemicals rather than allowing it to pollute water ways.

Recognising the multiple uses of input makes them more productive;  a chicken is not only useful for meat, feathers and eggs;  it can also eat weeds and insect pests, manure the ground and aerate the soil.   Plants to have multiple uses;  the Acacia Albida tree, a leguminous indigenous tree, will nourish the soil with nitrogen;  provide fruit and pod fodder for animals, act as a windbreak and shade tree;  provide weeds for mulch;  provide fuelwood and the bark for medicinal purposes.  In a permaculture design, the same tree might further be used as a trellis to support a food-bearing vine.  Underneath the tree, shade- loving or food- bearing plants will be grown.  Plants that repel pests and support insect predators will also be planted.

Permaculture projects are thriving in Brasil, Mexico, Nepal, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, India and the Pacific Islands.   The permaculture approach is one of 'maximum observation and minimum interference'.

Permaculture was founded by Bill Mollison, President of the Permaculture Institute of Australia.

Extract:   New Ground Magazine - Interview by Maria Johns

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