Banner images by Melody Crouch at a Fair Harvest Permaculture Design Course.

Permaculture is a way of thinking about human lives in harmony with nature for the flourishing of all. It’s a set of design principles, ethics and ideas to help us create spaces, communities and systems which allow humans and the Earth to thrive. 

Permaculture stands for:

• PERMAnent agriCULTURE –– sustainable food systems

• PERMAnent CULTURE –– sustainable human environments and lives

Illustration by Brenna Quinlan

Many people apply permaculture ideas to their garden and food growing efforts, from large scale farms to urban backyards and little balcony setups. Permaculture ideas can also be helpful when thinking about how we use money, how we set up our neighbourhoods, how we shape our career and how we create equity for all. 

Practicing permaculture in your own life might look like:

• Composting your food scraps at home

• Growing microgreens on your windowsill

• Making a homemade calendula balm for healing cuts and scrapes

• Cleaning your home with natural, non-toxic ingredients

• Swapping seeds with your neighbours

• Planting a food forest in your backyard

• Setting up habitats for native bees in your garden

• Using chemical-free methods to deal with weeds and pests

• Giving your excess tomatoes to a neighbour in exchange for a jar of their honey

• Shopping from local growers and makers 

• Starting a social enterprise business that benefits your community

And many, many other ways!

Let’s get a bit deeper into understanding permaculture thinking by looking at the ethics and principles.

Permaculture Ethics

Underpinning everything in the world of permaculture are three ethics: Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share. These ethics help guide permaculture design and permaculture living. 

Whatever action you’re taking or decision you’re making, the ethics ask us to consider: 

• Does this action show care for the Earth, the wildlife, the soil and the ecosystems around me? 

• Does this action show care for people and the communities I live in?

• Does this action ensure everyone has fair and equal access, including the more-than-human life now and into the future?

These ethics help us design our homes, lives and communities in ways that are kind to all.

Permaculture Ethics & Principles

Permaculture Principles

Permaculture principles are ideas we can use to help us design our spaces and lives. They aren’t a prescription or set of fixed rules, but a tool to help us notice, think and plan. 

The principles aren’t unique to permaculture–– many people around the world may practice these ideas without calling it permaculture. Permaculture draws deeply on the wisdom of nature and Indigenous peoples.

One of the fathers of permaculture, David Holmgren, summarised permaculture principles into these 12:

1. Observe and interact

2. Catch and store energy

3. Obtain a yield

4. Apply self regulation and accept feedback

5. Use and value renewable resources

6. Produce no waste

7. Design from patterns to details

8. Integrate, rather than segregate

9. Use slow and small solutions

10. Use and value diversity

11. Use edges and value the margins

12. Creatively use and respond to change

The website Permaculture Principles is a great place to start exploring these principles in more depth.

Where to Learn Permaculture in Perth?

There are many ways to learn Permaculture in Perth! Here’s a little guide to get started. 

Perth Permaculture Resources

• Urban Revolution – check out our Permaculture Resources page and our upcoming workshops and events.

• Permaculture West – have a directory of permaculture teachers, designers and local groups specific to WA. Also have some downloads and resources.

Permaculture Courses & Workshops

• Perth City Farm – fabulous urban farm in East Perth offering Permaculture Design Courses and Permaculture Living Courses (the first is more focused on design skills, the second on practical permaculture skills). They also put on regular half-day Intro to Permaculture workshops as well as shorter permaculture skills workshops like cheesemaking, fermenting and edible weed walks.

• Permaculture Educators Alliance (PEAs) – run by the incredible Martina Hoeppner who also works at Perth City Farm. In addition to collaborating on Perth City Farm PDC, they offer a Permaculture Design Course spread out over one day a month for 10 months.

• Ecoburbia – very inspiring example of urban permaculture in Beaconsfield run by Tim and Shani. They offer a range of workshops and educational experiences. 

• Fair Harvest – a gorgeous permaculture farm in Margaret River run by Jodie and Do. They offer 2-week immersive Permaculture Design Courses twice a year.

Also check out Earthwise in Subiaco and Enviro House in Bayswater for workshops and more. If you're down south, Postcode Permaculture in Bridgetown is a great resource.

Check out our range of permaculture books.

Permaculture Books, Podcasts & Websites

Reading is a great way to learn more about permaculture. Here are some of our top recommended permaculture books:

• Retrosuburbia by David Holmgren: a fantastic resource for urban permaculture, creating a thriving neighbourhood and strengthening your local community.

• Earth Restorer’s Guide to Permaculture by Rosemary Morrow: a Bible for anyone looking to set up their own permaculture property or adapt their current space with permaculture design.

• Getting Started in Permaculture by Ross and Jenny Mars: great one to start learning practical skills for a permaculture garden written by WA authors.

• The Basics of Permaculture Design by Ross Mars: a solid intro to permaculture design skills by WA permaculture legend.

• Pip Magazine: a quarterly Australian permaculture magazine and a fantastic source of seasonal inspiration.

Also check out our blog post: Inspiring and Hopeful Podcasts, Books and Films: Stories for a Resilient, Regenerative Future

If you have any questions or need help finding further resources, reach out to our friendly team of permies. We’d love to hear from you!