1.2 Core ethics: Earth care, people care, fair share
2 min read•august 7, 2024
Permaculture ethics form the foundation of . , , and guide us to protect nature, support communities, and share resources fairly. These principles help create resilient systems that benefit both humans and the environment.
By following these ethics, we can build a better future. They encourage us to think long-term, work with nature, and consider the needs of all living things. This approach helps create thriving ecosystems and communities that can sustain themselves for generations.
Permaculture Ethics
Caring for the Earth and its Inhabitants
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Top images from around the web for Caring for the Earth and its Inhabitants
5. Safeguarding people from environmental risks to health — European Environment Agency View original
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Earth Care People Care Fair Share - Melbourne World Enviro… | Flickr View original
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- Earth care involves protecting and nurturing the natural environment, including soil, water, plants, and animals
- People care emphasizes supporting the well-being and development of individuals and communities
- Fair share promotes the equitable distribution of resources and the setting of limits on consumption to ensure
Interconnectedness and Long-term Thinking
- These ethics are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, as caring for the Earth enables people to thrive, and equitable supports environmental health
- Permaculture ethics encourage a long-term perspective, considering the impacts of our actions on future generations and the planet as a whole
- By adhering to these ethics, permaculture practitioners aim to create resilient, regenerative systems that benefit both human society and the natural world
Ecological and Social Responsibility
Environmental Stewardship
- Ecological stewardship involves actively caring for and managing natural resources in a responsible manner
- This includes practices such as conserving , protecting habitats, and regenerating degraded ecosystems
- Permaculture emphasizes working with nature rather than against it, mimicking natural patterns and cycles to create sustainable landscapes (food forests, rainwater harvesting)
Social Responsibility and Equity
- Social responsibility involves considering the well-being of all members of society and working towards greater equality and justice
- Permaculture recognizes the importance of building strong, resilient communities and fostering a sense of connection and mutual support
- This includes practices such as local food production, community skill-sharing, and creating inclusive spaces for all
Resource Distribution and Limits to Consumption
- Fair share involves the equitable distribution of resources, both within and between generations
- This includes ensuring that everyone has access to the necessities of life, such as food, water, and shelter, while also setting limits on consumption to prevent overexploitation
- Permaculture encourages the use of renewable resources and the minimization of waste, recognizing that the Earth's resources are finite and must be used wisely (, upcycling, energy-efficient design)
- By setting limits on consumption and redistributing surplus, permaculture aims to create a more balanced and sustainable relationship between humans and the natural world
Key Terms to Review (19)
Bill Mollison: Bill Mollison was an Australian ecologist and a pioneer of the permaculture movement, known for developing the concept of sustainable agriculture that works with nature rather than against it. His work emphasized holistic design principles that integrate land, resources, people, and the environment into productive ecosystems.
Biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a given ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genetic variation within those species, and the complex interactions among them. This richness is crucial for ecosystem resilience and health, impacting everything from soil quality to pollination and pest control.
Community resilience: Community resilience refers to the ability of a community to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adverse situations such as natural disasters, economic downturns, or social upheaval. It encompasses various aspects like social networks, local resources, and active participation in decision-making, which help build a strong and supportive environment. By fostering connections among members and utilizing local assets, communities can enhance their ability to respond effectively to challenges and create a sustainable future.
Composting: Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter, such as food scraps and yard waste, into a rich soil amendment known as compost. This process not only enhances soil health and fertility but also aligns with sustainable practices that benefit the environment and communities.
David Holmgren: David Holmgren is an Australian ecologist, author, and co-originator of the permaculture concept, which emphasizes sustainable living and land management practices. His work focuses on integrating ecological principles with agricultural practices, promoting a holistic approach to design that considers both the environment and human needs.
Earth Care: Earth care refers to the ethical principle in permaculture that emphasizes the responsibility to protect and nurture the planet and its ecosystems. It connects deeply with sustainable practices that promote biodiversity, enhance soil health, and preserve natural resources, reinforcing the idea that humans must act as stewards of the earth. By integrating earth care into design and planning, practitioners create systems that harmonize human activity with natural processes.
Ecosystem health: Ecosystem health refers to the overall condition and functioning of an ecosystem, which includes its ability to maintain biodiversity, productivity, and resilience against disturbances. A healthy ecosystem is essential for sustaining life, providing clean air and water, and supporting the natural processes that benefit all organisms. This concept connects deeply with the principles of Earth care, people care, and fair share, as it emphasizes the interconnectedness of environmental well-being, human needs, and equitable resource distribution.
Fair Share: Fair share refers to the principle of equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, emphasizing that everyone has a right to access and benefit from the abundance of nature and society without taking more than what is necessary. This idea fosters a balance between personal needs and the well-being of the community and ecosystem, encouraging sustainable practices and social responsibility.
Holistic management: Holistic management is a systems-thinking approach to decision-making that focuses on the interconnectedness of social, environmental, and economic factors in managing resources. It emphasizes the importance of considering the broader context and long-term outcomes when making decisions, which aligns with principles like Earth care, people care, and fair share. This methodology encourages sustainable practices and is essential for designing resilient systems in agriculture and beyond.
People Care: People care is a fundamental ethical principle in permaculture that emphasizes the importance of supporting and nurturing individuals and communities while ensuring their well-being and social equity. This principle recognizes that healthy ecosystems depend on healthy human communities, advocating for collaboration, respect, and fairness in human interactions to create a sustainable future.
Permaculture Design: Permaculture design is a holistic approach to creating sustainable and self-sufficient agricultural systems by mimicking natural ecosystems. It integrates land, resources, people, and the environment in a way that promotes harmony and resilience, ensuring that human needs are met while also taking care of the Earth. This practice emphasizes the importance of ethical principles and sustainable practices, which are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and addressing environmental challenges.
Polyculture planting: Polyculture planting refers to the agricultural practice of growing multiple crops in the same space at the same time. This method enhances biodiversity, improves resilience against pests and diseases, and fosters healthier ecosystems. By cultivating a variety of plants together, polyculture supports the core ethics of Earth care, people care, and fair share, ensuring that both environmental health and community well-being are prioritized.
Regenerative design: Regenerative design is an approach that focuses on creating systems that restore and enhance the health and vitality of ecosystems, communities, and economies. This concept emphasizes working with nature to regenerate resources and improve environmental quality, rather than merely sustaining what exists. By integrating principles of ecology, social equity, and economic viability, regenerative design fosters resilience and long-term sustainability.
Resource Sharing: Resource sharing refers to the practice of utilizing and distributing resources among individuals or groups in a way that promotes efficiency and sustainability. This concept encourages collaboration and cooperation, enabling communities to make the most of what they have while minimizing waste. In the context of core ethics, resource sharing aligns closely with principles that emphasize caring for the earth, supporting one another, and ensuring equitable access to resources for all.
Social Equity: Social equity refers to the fair distribution of resources, opportunities, and rights among all individuals, ensuring that everyone has access to the same benefits regardless of their background or circumstances. This concept emphasizes inclusivity and justice, striving to eliminate systemic inequalities and promote the well-being of all members of society. It is crucial in fostering sustainable communities and addressing social disparities through collective efforts.
Sustainability: Sustainability refers to the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It emphasizes the balance between environmental health, economic viability, and social equity, creating systems that can endure over time. Achieving sustainability involves ethical considerations that prioritize care for the earth, its inhabitants, and equitable resource distribution.
Sustainable Living: Sustainable living refers to a lifestyle that seeks to minimize an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources, ensuring that the environment is preserved for future generations. It emphasizes a harmonious relationship with the planet, focusing on practices that conserve energy, reduce waste, and promote ecological balance. This concept connects deeply with the principles of Earth care, people care, and fair share, fostering a sense of responsibility towards nature and communities while encouraging equitable resource distribution.
Systems thinking: Systems thinking is an approach to understanding the complex interactions and interdependencies within a whole system, rather than focusing solely on its individual components. This perspective emphasizes that elements within a system are interconnected and that changes in one part can significantly affect the entire system. Recognizing these relationships is crucial for addressing ecological, social, and economic issues sustainably.
Water Conservation: Water conservation refers to the careful management and utilization of water resources to prevent waste and ensure that water is available for future generations. This practice is essential for maintaining ecological balance, supporting sustainable agriculture, and ensuring human access to clean water. By adopting various strategies, individuals and communities can minimize water use and reduce the strain on existing water supplies.