Scope And Applications

Agriculture

As a sustainable agriculture framework, Permaculture provides the designs and tools to create small to large-scale farms that are resilient in the face of disasters like floods, droughts, fires etc. Through careful planning based on local factors such as ecological processes, landforms, wind and water movement, farmers can to some extent buffer their farms in times of crisis. With the emphasis on reintegrating indigenous tree and shrub species into the agricultural framework, the links to conservation are much strengthened and agricultural enterprises become more stable.

Windbreaks and pest management zones are implemented using species indigenous to or tolerant of local conditions. The planting of trees as an integral part of agriculture also assists with carbon sequestration, which is vital to our continued survival. In addition, we cannot emphasise enough the role that substantial tree planting can play in “creating” rainfall, as well as improved microclimates.

It is a useful tool especially in arid zones (most of South Africa), where drought mitigation is of utmost importance. Good design and good species selection as well as macro-scale water flow management, and the sinking of water into the subsoil through earthworks, are critical to maintaining good soil hydration and replenishing dwindling borehole waters. In areas where soil or water is saline, Permaculture has had some profound effects.

Another important factor in agricultural design is diversity: the reintroduction of multipurpose indigenous, and other useful plants or trees, already move the farmer towards more diverse production; coupled with this is the need to diversify agricultural crops so that one can weather a certain amount of crop failure, and still have yields to send to the marketplace.

Animals are integrated into food production systems and are not seen as a separate enterprise from crop cultivation. Chickens and pigs especially have been very successfully used to weed, dig and fertilise crop production areas. Often these animals are rotated around designated, fenced areas, with crops following them as they move on. Cattle and sheep are managed in a low-density agro-forestry context, with fenced trees for browsing, nitrogen-fixing for pasture and shade. Bees are also a vital component – pollinating all crops and generating honey. Our local honey supply is low, and a good niche market exists for this product in South Africa.

Construction

There has been a marked resurgence in peoples’ interest in sustainable construction methodologies. You may ask what relevance this has to agriculture. Ranging from low cost to luxury housing, it has a profound impact on local resources and finances, as well as health. Most dwellings consume materials that are non-renewable, if not toxic in nature. Poor housing design adds to energy consumption bills, and poor settlement layout has both disastrous social, environmental, and consequently economic impacts. Also, most agricultural enterprises have ample natural materials to use in construction.

• Sustainable construction minimises the impact that housing provision has on the local and far-flung environment. These criteria are:
• Building materials are acquired from a radius of no more than 50km, wherever possible – cutting down on petrol consumed, and enhancing the local aesthetics of buildings.
• Materials are as unprocessed as possible – alleviating the toxic burden on rivers, soils, atmosphere, humans and wildlife.
• Houses are designed for maximum energy efficiency, with green technology and water-saving strategies built-in. This includes extensive water storage for domestic consumption from roofs.
• The siting of dwellings in a landscape, whether urban or rural is critical. Passive solar design of houses reduces heating and cooling bills. Good design also impacts peoples’ mental health.
• Construction of homes is labour intensive and does not necessarily require highly skilled builders, which can add greatly to job creation in South Africa.

Energy and Technology

Green technology is another important component in Permaculture designs. Our individual and collective impacts on the planet are having a profoundly negative effect. Simple technologies like solar heating and electricity can take pressure off our South African energy generation requirements – which is largely produced through the mining and burning of coal. This particular activity has extremely negative effects on people living near these mines and stations as well as contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Water and sewage management can also be made more effective by using appropriate technologies like composting toilets, biogas digesters, greywater purification and re-use. All of these technologies also take the pressure off freshwater supply for wasteful uses.

Methane gas digesters are also of interest to farmers who are working with livestock, and who generate excess biomass that cannot otherwise be utilised. Digestors can be built on farms to generate cooking gas or electricity, depending on the scale. The digestors also eliminate the smelly sewage problem!

Social Structures

Permaculture is in many ways concerned with empowering people from all walks of life. Consequently, it has also investigated social structures and alternative economic systems. Co-ops, Green investment, and revolving loan schemes are some of the ideas you may encounter. Green city design, co-housing schemes and allotment gardens are some of the social restructurings you would find in urban Permaculture contexts. The ethical stance that Permaculture requires leads naturally to a more just social and economic structure.

Urban and Peri-Urban Permaculture

There is both the need for urban agricultural spaces and the need to “green” our cities. Urban centres consume, and waste, huge amounts of resources. Much of what we consider waste can be fruitfully re-used to create more sustainable cities – green technologies are very useful tools here. Another critical feature of urban ecological agriculture is the reintroduction of biodiversity into these spaces – making every city garden a conservation zone.

With the growing pressure on urban centres to provide work and housing, Permaculture can offer a lifeline to many people. It offers good tools for redefining and redesigning our use of space and resources in cities. The principles outlined above give us a good idea of some approaches.