Chapter 3: Beyond sustainability, a regenerative system
3.2 In what sense Permaculture is sustainable
3.2.1 Permaculture improves the efficiency in the use of resources
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other words, Permaculture imitates the sustainability of natural ecosystems that can be found in nature.
To provide more details about Permaculture’s sustainability and in order to further demonstrate the fact that Permaculture is essentially sustainable, the 5 principles mentioned is the first part of this chapter will be broken down in order to see whether Permaculture is able to respond to these principles point by point.
3.2.1 Permaculture improves the efficiency in the use of resources
As a reminder, the first principle of the FAO encourages farmers to modify their current practices in order to improve the productivity of food and agricultural production system that will not only take into account the yield but this time the environment too. This productivity is to make sure to produce a sufficient supply of food and other agricultural products not only to feed populations but also to limit arable lands expansion and harmful intrusions in ecosystems.
As shown in the second chapter, Permaculture productivity completely outranks Agriculture in terms of calories generated per acre. Indeed, as Eric Escoffier observed, 15 calories (inputs) are invested to reap 1 calorie (output) in agricultural systems, while 1 calorie is invested to reap 10 to 20 calories in permacultural systems. On one hand, one system uses 15 calories, thus consumes 15 calories including 9 in fossil fuels to generate only one calorie of food.
These 15 calories invested are in most cases harmful for the environment: pesticides, fertilizers that degrade soils and destroy ecosystems. They are also, in most cases, not renewable - such as fossil fuels - and further participate in the exhaustion of the limited natural resources available of this planet. On the other end, another system where the capital of this planet is saved - only 1 calorie invested - and where a small investment as such can generate huge outputs in the range of 10 to 20 calories. Therefore, given that the investment required is much lower to generate the same amount of outputs, Permaculture is already a very good alternative to improve the efficiency in the use of resources.
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In addition, prior to the implementation of the systems, Permaculture dedicates a fair amount of time to the design of the system. In the book Introduction to Permaculture, Morison (1991) explains how to properly design a Permaculture system so as to obtain an efficiency use of energy. Planning to conserve and make good use of resources (and money) is essential in any good design. Thus, Permaculture uses zones, sectors, and slope in where to position elements such as structures, trees and plants, animals, buildings and water features to make the most efficient use of energy.
First, zone planning is a system where the location of an element is determined by the frequency with which this element is going to be used. As a consequence, the elements that are the most used and need the most attention are located closest to the house. Conversely, the elements that are used the least often are located the furthest away of the house. Everything is placed accordingly to the degree of importance. Doing so allows to get an easier access to the elements that are the most needed, decreasing the amount of energy spent required to access them, thus making a more energy efficient system.
Next, sector planning deals with energies external to the site, the outside elements and forces of Nature that pass through the system, such as winds, sun angles, water flow and flood prone areas, unwanted view, fire danger areas, etc. Because these energies get through the system from outside, in order to benefit from and deal with them, the different elements (plants, trees, structures, etc.) must be strategically placed in the system. With such a design, the incoming energy can either be blocked, channeled for a specific use or an area can even be opened to let the incoming energy in if needed.
Last, slope takes into consideration the site in profile. With slope, it is possible to take advantage of gravitational force to improve the efficiency of the system. Indeed, gravity can move elements from the highest point to the lowest. Consequently, in order to make a more efficient use of resources, it is necessary to place them uphill and use gravity to move them down. For example, as water naturally flows from up to down, water can be harvested at the highest point and rely on gravity to create a drip irrigation system that will move water downhill.
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3.2.2 Permaculture conserves, protects and enhances natural resources
In the first chapter, the twelve principles that Permaculture follow as described by David Holmgren in his book Permaculture: principles & pathways beyond sustainability were defined. According to the fifth principle, farmers in Permaculture use and value renewable resources and services. Indeed, Permaculture design aims to make best use of renewable natural resources in order to manage and foster productivity, although some use of nonrenewable resources is needed when the systems are established at the beginning.
Likewise, renewable resources with passive functions are encouraged in Permaculture. These passive functions are the ones provided by plants, animals and living soil and water, without them being consumed. The best example is tree. A tree is generally used for wood as a renewable resource. However, when a tree is used as a shelter, or when the shade of tree is used in gardening to grow specific kind of plants, advantage can be taken from the living tree that was not consumed (that was not burned to make a fire or used to build something).
Therefore, this advantage does not consume and does not require any harvesting energy.
Thanks to this simple but meaningful and powerful understanding, Permaculture is able to transit from systems where many simple functions have become dependent on non-renewable and unsustainable resource use to systems making an efficient use of sustainable resources and benefiting from all their functions while not consuming these resources.
Another principle described by Holmgren (2002) shows how Permaculture improves the efficiency in the use of resources: it is the 6th principle. Produce no waste, or in other words, make the best use of all the outputs generating by the system. Permaculture responds to this criterion as it gives a role to all the outputs of the systems. Nothing goes to waste as every output will be used by at least one of the components of the system. Nothing becomes a pollutant as Bill Morison defined it – “an output of any system component that is not being used productively by any other component of the system” -.
Therefore, in Permaculture, all the resources of the system are being productively and efficiently used.
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3.2.3 Permaculture protects and improves rural livelihoods, equity and social well-being
The objective of this principle is to ensure that “producers have adequate access to and control of productive resources”. Can Permaculture “provide decent employment conditions to those who practice it, in an economically and physically safe, healthy environment”, as suggested by the FAO?
The various surveys portrayed in the second chapter made evident the role that Permaculture can play in providing the access to and control of productive resources. The urban food garden in Johannesburg enabled people who decided to get involved in the project to become gardeners, and then get a job. The project was to give a plot of land of a hectare to the participants with the aim of growing fruits and vegetables to the benefit of people who took care of the plot, while training them to provide themselves sustainable and healthy habits as well as income. Therefore, the project succeeded in generating employments that enabled them to get access and control to productive resources, economically sustainable and within a healthy environment. Plus, people who participated to the project considerably increased their learning about Permaculture and organic gardening, and increased their human and intellectual capital. The site became a model providing service learning for students.
Participants gained knowledge regarding medicinal herbs: what to use and how to use them.
They also learned about nutrition and healthy cooking habits. Finally, the project strengthened their social capital by enhancing their community. The project offered a place where people could gather, network and identify themselves as belonging to the same community. Indeed, this Permaculture project demonstrated the development of networking and capacity building around nature: humans are innately made to gather and connect to nature.
The greywater reuse project, in turn, showed the significant social impact - including community strengthening and even gender dimension - that Permaculture had over population of the Jordan small urban area used for the experiment.
Thanks to the project, families were able to save a decent amount of money as well as generate income for their daily needs. But also, the project enabled them to get employments
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and valuable skills. Permaculture even tackled the problematic feelings obtruding the access to development such as dependence, worthlessness and hopelessness that are often greater obstacles to development than money itself. Regarding the gender dimension, this Permaculture experiment gave to the women a major role. They managed the household budget and were responsible for the health and nutrition of the family, 3 key aspects of the project. Furthermore, women are the ones who gained the most from the project in terms of skills and education. Finally, the community became stronger and even grew over the project realization.
3.2.4 Permaculture enhances resilience of people, communities and ecosystems
Permaculture aims at building resilience into systems using the interactions between the different elements included in the system, a phenomena that can be found in natural systems.
Designers in Permaculture strive to create stable, diverse, and resilient systems that meet the requirements of humans and all other animals and plants that live in humans’ close environment. A resilient system is a stable system that is able to resist to abrupt changes (disasters, dryness, flood, fire, cold, heatwave, pollutions, diseases, wind, plagues, conflicts, social disturbances, etc.). By definition, it is therefore synonym of homeostasis or self-regulating.
As mentioned above, natural ecosystems including Permaculture – Permaculture imitates the model of natural ecosystems - follow the law of homeostasis and apply self-regulation. This is the first step towards resilience. Indeed, according to the fifth principle of Holmgren (2002) encouraging to apply self-regulation, an auto-regulated system composed of self-reliant elements is more resistant to external disturbances. For example in Permaculture design, it is best to favor robust, half wild and self-procreating crop varieties and livestock species instead of dependent and numerous crop varieties and livestock species. Moreover in the past, farmers applying self-reliance on their site were considered as the base of a strong and independent society. Indeed, a self-reliant system ensures to the community certain independence due to the fact that this community does not rely on external inputs that would
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be hard to get access to in case of crisis. Farmers in Permaculture have a total control of all their production means.
Last, as explained in the second chapter, and given that Permaculture systems nurture diversity, diversification of crops, animals, plants (elements of the system) is the best way to ensure a year-round food security. Indeed, the more diversethe system is, the more options there is in choosing what food can be harvested and eaten. Since diverse foods of the system are harvested at different times of the year, people will be less vulnerable in case of external disturbances. Indeed, a shortage on food seldom appears as diversity ensures a constant food supply. As a consequence, Permaculture enhances resilience of people, communities and ecosystems.
3.2.5 Permaculture implies responsible and effective governance mechanisms
Permaculture more than a design method can be defined as an activist movement gifted with its own philosophy and politics. At the beginning, Permaculture was thought to cope with humanity and planet issues thanks to a deep understanding of the nature of problems and a pragmatic approach: understand the problem, come up with a solution and take actions to implement this solution.
Permaculture is a system that is always run accordingly to its three ethical principles - care for the People, care for the Planet, and the principle of fair share. Capable of building communities with an ecological design, Permaculture promotes and values unity, harmony and diversity, as well as nature. In that way, Permaculture goes against the destructive ideology of western societies, where man fear nature and have to control and submit it by any means. Given that Permaculture is also an applied science, Permaculture shares the same values as the ancient Greek philosophers, which are logic, reason and science. Therefore, one of the key values of Permaculture is to foster “cooperation, not competition”. Due to this strong value, Permaculture can bring unity and harmony in order to integrate people instead of dividing them, and build communities.
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Consequently, Permaculture is an independent system as a whole that has its own responsible and effective governance mechanisms to ensure accountability, equity, transparency and the rule of law. By enhancing the power of cooperative communities, Permaculture can create its own future, powered by its own ethics that everyone respects, and can lead by example.
3.3 Permaculture goes beyond sustainability: it regenerates
Up to part of the thesis, the term sustainability was employed when writing about Permaculture. Nevertheless, given the current situation of our world described in the introduction of this thesis, sustainability alone might probably not be enough to carry on its shoulder the burden of environmental problems. A nuance should be made in the definition of sustainable development given by the United Nations. As a reminder, the United Nations defined sustainable development as a “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of generations to meet their own needs”.
According to Hemenway (2011), if this might have been true a thousand years ago when the first civilizations discovered how to make fire or when other civilizations started to develop Agriculture and then first started to pollute the environment due to the inherent characteristics of Agriculture described in the introduction, it is not as true nowadays. Indeed, since then more than 10,000 years of Agriculture have passed and have continuously degraded the environment, depleting natural resources and degrading soils. And this process has drastically seen itself accelerated since the advent of industrial societies and fossil fuels. Thus, when the United Nations state that humanity must aim towards a sustainable development - in other words meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability to meet our future needs -, two questions naturally arose in Hemenway’s mind:
- How is it possible to know that meeting people’s needs of the present is going to leave enough for the future needs?
- How can the word “need” be defined?
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Every person has different particular needs, from people to people, from groups to groups, from cultures to cultures, and above all from generations to generations. As a consequence, it is almost impossible to predict what will be the needs of future generations. Given that there is a doubt about whether sustainability enables us to be capable of meeting our future needs, the most careful approach is to go beyond sustainability, to achieve more than just sustainability.
Figure 9: Degenerative, sustainable and regenerative systems
Note: reproduced from Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment (2010), Toby Hemenway – How Permaculture Can Save Humanity and the Earth, but Not Civilization
Seeing sustainability from another angle, Hemenway (2011) defines it as the mid-point between activities that are degenerative, in other words activities that pollute, destroy, damage,
Sustainable
Degenerative Regenerative
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regenerative, in other words activities that purify, restore, create, etc. Sustainability is in the middle of degenerative and regenerative. However, because the world is already so much involved and bogged down in the degenerative side, one must not limit himself in aiming towards sustainability, which is in the middle. People must first shift from degenerative development to sustainable development, and then from sustainable to regenerative development, to make sure that people will be as ready as possible in the future to meet their needs.Permaculture is here to come to the rescue. In actual fact, Permaculture is not merely sustainable but also regenerative. “Regenerative” means the capacity to “restore to a better, higher, or more worthy state "; hence, a regenerative activity has the inherent capacity to bring itself into existence one more time. Regenerative systems can be considered to continuously improve the world from its current state: for example, creation of habitats, water purification, and improvement of soil (through nitrogen and carbon ratio). Plus, a regenerative activity/system must generate more energy – or calories - than was used in its production. For example, a system that relies on fossil fuels natural gases, fertilizers, etc. such as Agriculture to generate energy is a degenerative system. Reversely, if the by-product of a crop as well as other inputs coming from different elements belonging to the same system serves as future inputs for this crop during the following season, the system can be considered as regenerative.
Permaculture, as was already proved in the precedents parts, gathers all these conditions. By essence, Permaculture designs systems so that “each element – of the system - performs many functions” and “each important function is supported by many elements”. In that context, all the elements of the systems are chosen beforehand during the design phase and placed accordingly so that they provide as many functions as possible. The designed system is
“resilient”, as explained in the previous part, which means that even if one element of the system fails, the system will not collapse given that essential functions are carried out in various different ways. This can guarantee to the system a continuous longevity through the introduction of multiple systems that support each of particular functions in the design, single points of failure (weak links) are avoided, and the overall system will more likely continue working should any unplanned circumstance prevail. Last, taking the accurate energy wise
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definition of Permaculture, the conclusion is that Permaculture is regenerative as it can produce more than it consumes – 1 calorie invested (input) to generate 10 to 20 calories (outputs).
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Chapter 4: How replicable is Permaculture and what is required for replication
4.1 Replicability of Permaculture
4.1.1 Reach the sufficient productivity
Permaculture can be an attractive model and a replicable model if it ensures in any case a sufficient productivity to people who practice it, as this is the main objective of most people – cf second chapter - who get started with Permaculture. In Permaculture, in order to reach the sufficient productivity and meet our daily dietary needs, or even support our daily income if people who apply Permaculture decide to sell surplus, the third principle detailed by David
Permaculture can be an attractive model and a replicable model if it ensures in any case a sufficient productivity to people who practice it, as this is the main objective of most people – cf second chapter - who get started with Permaculture. In Permaculture, in order to reach the sufficient productivity and meet our daily dietary needs, or even support our daily income if people who apply Permaculture decide to sell surplus, the third principle detailed by David