Permaculture Principles Explained

Welcome to the heart of permaculture! Before you start planting, it’s important to understand the ideas that guide every permaculture garden. These ideas are called ethics and principles. They help us make good choices for the earth, for people, and for our gardens.

The Three Ethics of Permaculture

Permaculture is built on three simple ethics:

1. Care for the Earth

Take care of the soil, plants, animals, and water. Healthy earth means healthy gardens!
Example: Use mulch to protect your soil and plant flowers that attract bees.

2. Care for People

Help yourself, your family, and your neighbors. Share what you grow and make sure everyone has what they need.
Example: Share extra tomatoes with a neighbor or invite friends to help in your garden.

3. Fair Share

Take only what you need and share the rest. Make sure there’s enough for everyone, including future generations.
Example: Compost your kitchen scraps to feed the soil, and only pick what you can use.

The 12 Principles of Permaculture

Here are the 12 main principles, each with a simple example for your garden:

1. Observe and Interact
   Watch your garden closely and learn from it.
   Example: Notice which spots get the most sun before planting tomatoes.
   
   
2. Catch and Store Energy
   Save resources like water and sunlight for later use.
   Example: Collect rainwater in a barrel to water your plants.
   
   
3. Obtain a Yield
   Make sure your garden gives you something useful—like food or flowers!
   Example: Grow lettuce you can eat for dinner.
   
   
4. Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback
   Change what isn’t working and keep learning.
   Example: If a plant isn’t growing well, try moving it to a sunnier spot.
   
   
5. Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services
   Use things that come back each year, like sunlight and compost.
   Example: Use fallen leaves as mulch instead of buying plastic weed mats.
   
   
6. Produce No Waste
   Find a use for everything.
   Example: Compost veggie scraps and use them to feed your soil.
   
   
7. Design from Patterns to Details
   Look at the big picture before planning the small stuff.
   Example: Notice how water flows in your yard before placing garden beds.
   
   
8. Integrate Rather Than Segregate
   Put things together that help each other.
   Example: Plant basil next to tomatoes—they grow better together!
   
   
9. Use Small and Slow Solutions
   Start small and build up over time.
   Example: Try a small herb garden before planting a big vegetable patch.
   
   
10. Use and Value Diversity
    Grow many different plants to keep your garden healthy.
    Example: Plant flowers, veggies, and herbs together to attract more pollinators.
    
    
11. Use Edges and Value the Marginal
    Make the most of every space, even the edges.
    Example: Plant strawberries along the edges of your garden beds.
    
    
12. Creatively Use and Respond to Change
    Be ready to try new things and adapt.
    Example: If a new bug shows up, learn about it and see how it fits into your garden.
    

Why These Principles Matter

Following these ethics and principles helps your garden grow strong and healthy, while also caring for the planet and people around you. Permaculture isn’t just about gardening—it’s about creating a better world, one small step at a time.

Ready to see these ideas in action? Explore the next sections to start building your permaculture garden!