Permaculture compared to other regenerative disciplines

It's permaculture week and I wanted to share what permaculture is (there are a lot of misconceptions) and some of the overlaps between permaculture and regenerative practice.

What is permaculture? There are as many definitions as there are practitioners, but essentially:

Permaculture is an ecological design process that is inspired by living-systems principles and a set of ethics, that can be used to design gardens, landscapes, food systems and human ecosystems (such as: individual lives, businesses, communities, economies).

?So what are the overlaps and differences with other regenerative practices?

1.???Permaculture is guided by living systems, just like the best regenerative practices

Permaculture principles are essentially living-systems principles, and you can see similar living-systems principles showing up in many different places, such as regenerative economics, regenerative business and biomimicry

2.???Permaculture shares holistic design processes. Many other regenerative practices also involve holistic design processes to design outcomes whilst remaining true to life’s complexity and inherent inevitable change.

3.???Permaculture has an explicit set of ethics (Earth Care, People Care, Fair Shares) whereas other regenerative disciplines tend to have this as a more implied way of being and doing.

4.???Other regenerative practices have often been inspired by permaculture and then adapted for specific audiences (such as Looby Macnamara 's Culture Emergence and my own Think like a Tree / Think like a Forest

?So which regenerative practice should you turn to?

?If you’re designing land (at any scale) I would always recommend land-based permaculture.?It’s core design concepts are universally useful and its principles ensure that your design will be aligned with the principles with which life creates health and abundance.?Permaculture also allows you to bring in many different tools from a wide range of practices (simply evaluate them against the principles and ethics and then off you go). So whether it’s rewilding, regenerative agriculture or your back yard, permaculture will give a wide range of core frameworks that other observations and tools can be added to.

For personal and cultural development there are many nature-inspired options such as– Think like a Tree / Think like a Forest Cultural Emergence The Work that Reconnects and Gaia Education

For community and society Transition Network are inspired by living systems at a national level (although this doesn't always show up in practice)

If you’re designing products, architecture or engineering solutions then check out biomimicry (although of course you can also use permaculture design processes alongside that). The Biomimicry Institute

?For businesses and organisations, have a look at regenerative leadership, regenerative business. Carol Sanford Laura Storm Giles Hutchins , nRhythm TetraMap UK Andres Roberts Bioleadership Project Jannine Barron Paul Pivcevic Thomas Mansfield 's Cards for Life and many more. (and my own Think like a Forest (from Think like a Tree ).

?For economics, have a look at regenerative economics, especially John Fullerton 's Capital Institute

However, in my experience, when you’re redesigning your business, organisation, community or economy, sooner or later you are going to come across the need for permaculture design.?That’s because pretty much all human activity takes place on land (or water), so you’re going to need to make holistic decisions, taking into account Care of the Earth, Care of People, and Sharing the Surplus (the 3 permaculture ethics). So I say why not incorporate permaculture from the start?

?So why isn’t permaculture on everyone’s lips in this space??There are variety of reasons too numerous to re-hash (although please feel free to share in the comments), but essentially in our times of polycrisis we need to all raise the profile into the mainstream.

WE NEED TO END THE TABOO AGAINST PERMACULTURE IN THE PROFESSIONAL REGENERATIVE SPACE.?

I'm going to say it as I see it - I’m fed up of seeing tumbleweed when I mention permaculture as a solution, I’m fed up of permaculture being passed over for newer regenerative practices when permaculture would have provided the, holistic design processes that were the better longer-term option, and I’m fed up of permaculture not being the go-to solution on everyone’s lips for solutions to the polycrisis.

In my view Permaculture as a movement has a lot to learn from other regenerative disciplines, but it also has a lot to offer, and with bucketsful of holistic design frameworks, principles, ethics and tools, we’re unwise to ignore it.

So if you ask me "Does my business, organisation or community need permaculture? I say yes! So what are you waiting for - invite a permaculture consultant into your life, your business, your community and you'll open up a whole world of potential.

?#permaculture #regenerative #regenerativeleadership #permaculturedesign #sustainabledesign #regenerativedesign

I am a speaker and trainer, for individuals, businesses/organisations and communities bringing regenerative, nature-inspired practices to life and work.

I completed a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design which incorporated land-based, community-scale, business practices and personal development / health designs.

I have also trained in many other regenerative disciplines, bringing a cross-disciplinary approach to all my work.

The photo is of one small part of my own permaculture back garden - my greenhouse 'happy place'. We also have no-dig veg, woodlands, forest gardens, orchards, wilded areas, ponds and more.

I believe a deep connection with nature, as well as working with nature by providing for human needs on the land, offers huge insights as to how to life in alignment with other living beings on our Earth.

You can find out more about my work at www.thinklikeatree.co.uk

?To find out more about permaculture in the UK head to Permaculture Association They have a free-to-join network where you can ask questions and find solutions, and when you join you'll gain access to a huge amount of resources and events.