Ecosystems

The Australian Bill Mollison coined the word "permaculture" in the late 1970's. He defines permaculture as "the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems, which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems". Since then permacultural design is used for all parts of a sustainable society; housing as well as community development.

The ethics of permaculture are: care for the earth, care for people, distribute surplus, Reduce consumption.

Permaculture basically means permanent agriculture and uses natural processes to assist with the growing of plants and animals. It is a combination of ecology and farming.

1. Everything works at least two ways, give every element in your design at least two functions.

9. Minimise maintenance and energy inputs, achieve maximum yields, avoid work that nature can do for you.

In permaculture, ecologists, agronomists and farmers are working on systems similar to what happens in nature.

Stimulating a living soil to avoid ploughing and manuring, establishing a permanent organic soil cover to avoid weeding and loss of water, an agroforestry system making optimal use of space over, on top and under the land, mixing multi-purpose trees, shrubs and herbs.
Revitalising knowledge about wild edible plants and species of food crops ecologically appropriate to local conditions. Permaculture does not exclude but includes anybody and any idea that makes a more sustainable way of living possible.

Traditional farmers were forced to observe and understand nature .If they did not , they starved. Because there were no chemical fertilisers and poisons , they had to look after the soil , conserve water supplies and control pests naturally .Farmers knew that keeping a variety of crops and livestock serves as a protection against drought , disease and other problems .Today farmers have to go back to their roots while learning ways of reusing their land year after year without destroying its fertility. This can be achieved by applying some principles of sustainable agriculture:

Barble farming.	Sharing ideas.
Sustainable housing.	Gene selection.

Respect the land
Use land for what it is suited . Don't use dry, marginal lands for expensive, intensive crop farming . Rather use inexpensive , 'low input' systems for marginal lands .

Conserve the soil
Add organic matter to the soil , either compost , manure or plant 'rubbish'. This can help degraded soil become fertile again , by stimulating biological activity .

Manage rainwater
Too little or too much rain reduces plant yields . Water harvesting involves collecting rainwater from roof's and digging banks and ditches to control the flow of water and help it sink into the soil.

Promote co-operation
Co-operation between your community and agricultural extension officers or other agencies like "Ecosystems" means that valuable advice and help can be shared .

Encourage integrated farming
Mixing crop with livestock farming is a good way to achieve inexpensive ,low -input farming. For example where chemical fertilisers cost to much, organic manures can provide free and healthy fertiliser while increasing the organic matter of the soil.

Increase productivity
To increase the productivity and sustainability of rain-fed farming , farmers should pick the old , strong varieties of plants that are adapted to the local conditions . Growing two or more crops together can also increase productivity if the crops are carefully chosen .

Use pesticides and fertilisers cautiously and wisely.
In the low-income , developing countries 10000 people die a year from pesticide poisoning while another 40000 get very sick. Pesticides also kill many beneficial animals. Instead of pesticides you should use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) i.e. you should encourage the natural enemies of pests. Chemical fertilisers alone cannot conserve the soil as they discourage the growth of micro-organisms so essential for a healthy soil system.