Austin Permaculture Guild

PERMACULTURE is a worldwide movement for sustainable design. It was founded in the late 1970s by two Australians: Bill Mollison and David Holmgren.

Mollison defines permaculture as “a design system for creating sustainable human environments.” Another definition, coined by Austin area permie Selwyn Polit, is “practical sustainability.”

The cornerstone of permaculture design is observing and mimicking patterns found in nature. People often arrive at permaculture through an interest in gardening. And certainly, growing food where people live is an essential component of creating a more sustainable society. But permaculture isn’t a gardening system per se, and it isn’t (necessarily) about growing your own food or living out in the country. In fact, the worldwide permaculture movement is as much about co-designing more sustainable cities, towns, villages, neighborhoods, workplaces, professions, companies, schools, economic arrangements, financial institutions, and social organizations as it is about making our agricultural practices more sustainable.

Permaculture design draws on natural patterns to create human systems that are healthier and more productive. Using this design approach, human beings can actually have a positive impact on the land and on all other species (as opposed to merely reducing our negative impact).

Ever feel hopeless about all the bad news you hear, and powerless to address the problems of the world? Study and practice permaculture. You’ll come to know that making positive change is much easier and closer to home than you think.

The Austin Permaculture Guild is a loose-knit association of permaculture design course graduates who are dedicated to teaching and promoting this approach to design. We have classes and events throughout the year. Visit this website often for updates.

Join our email list, the Austinperm Yahoo Group, to exchange ideas with several hundred like-minded people about permaculture topics from chickens to alternative finance. You may choose to receive emails in Regular or Digest mode.

To register for a permaculture design course or just talk about permaculture with a live human, call us anytime at 512-619-5363.

Following is an overview of the content of a permaculture design course.

CONTENT OF A PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE

A permaculture design course consists of classroom instruction, field trips, hands-on projects, and a site design project. Intensive courses include rustic accommodation (camping or other simple arrangements), supplementary evening programs (videos, guest speakers, etc.), and communal meals.

Topics covered include:

– Orientation; introductions; state of the world — and our typical responses
– Introduction to Permaculture ethics and design principles
– Designing from patterns to details
– Observations, pattern, and design
– Methods of design (hands-on site observation)
– Ecosystems, bioregions, climate, bio-geography
– Soils, water (incl. ponds, rainwater, greywater), earthworks
– Forests & trees; food forests
– Edible landscaping; use of edible perennials
– Small-animal systems
– Small-scale, intensive cultivation
– Techniques and strategies for the urban environment
– Broadscale (rural/large-site) design
– Wildlife management
– Ponds, aquaculture, mariculture
– Energy production and use
– Appropriate technology
– Natural building
– Greenbuilding
– “Waste” management; treatment; re-use
– Biological “pest” control
– Designing/retrofitting your home
– Designing your landscape
– Invisible structures (laws/norms; institutions); toward more sustainable arrangements
– Alternative business/economic/financial structures; right livelihood; attitudinal principles
– Intentional community; eco-cities; eco-villages
– Tools for the designer
– Finding your right livelihood
– The global permaculture organization; how you can get involved