Many have heard the word “permaculture” but most only have a vague understanding of the philosophy it proposes and how its design principles are applied. Bill Mollison and David Holmgren originated the permaculture concept in the early 1970s in Australia. Since that time is has become a global movement with groups and guilds in almost all major cities. Following three core tenets – take care of the Earth (first and foremost), take care of the people, and share the surplus – the permaculture approach to gardening, farming, community planning and landscape management applies 12 design principles inspired by Nature’s systems (check out shows 100112 on Biomimicry and 102212 on Buckminster Fuller). Jay Ma is the founder of the Living Mandala group, which produces courses, workshops and events on permaculture. Our discussion covers the history and current form of the movement, and explores how permaculture ideas are being put into practice, and changing our perception of and relationship to the natural world.

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