12 Principles

Whether you are starting a new garden or introducing permaculture practices to your existing space, these twelve principles will help guide you along the way.

OBSERVE & INTERACT: Know your site and local conditions; visit nearby gardens to see what grows well. CATCH AND STORE ENERGY: Collect resources when they are abundant for use later.

OBTAIN A YIELD: Yield food crops as well as less tangible items like shared garden wisdom and access.

APPLY SELF-REGULATION AND RESPOND TO FEEDBACK: Recognize that you are part of a continuum; protect your land for yourself and future generations. USE RENEWABLE RESOURCES: Find and use things that have multiple purposes.

PRODUCE NO WASTE: Find ways to reuse everything in the garden.

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USE AND VALUE DIVERSITY: Plant new varieties along with favorites to create a balanced system. USE THE EDGES: Make use of all possible space. RESPOND CREATIVELY TO CHANGE: Adapt to the shifting patterns of temperature, rainfall, and pests.
More information can be found in The Vegetable Gardeners Guide to Permaculture, available everywhere books are sold. www.timberpress.com/permaculture

DESIGN FROM PATTERN TO DETAILS: Mimic the successful patterns found in nature.

INTEGRATE RATHER THAN SEPARATE: Group plants in the right combinations to help them cooperate rather than compete. USE SMALL AND SLOW SOLUTIONS: Create a garden system made up of small parts that each contribute to the overall function of the garden.