How does Permaculture compare to other types of Land Management?

Question

I'm in the odd position of knowing a fair bit about permaculture, as we use it in our design and management of the farm, but have very little idea about other design principles and how they stack up against permaculture, so how does it compare?

Answer 1

Special K - Excellent, Edible Forest Gardening is Part of Permaculture you were right to associate the two.

I have spent all day and most of the night thinking about this question and you have me stumped. The conclusion I have come to is there is no other designed system to compare Permaculture with.

Other types of land management? This too is a red herring. The other 'practices' I came up with today, and hey, I have come up with many, it has been a long day .... the other practices have the sole aim of growing crops.

This is where Permaculture differs, IF it is a land management system at all, I could argue that it is not, but it will be very lengthy so won't bother here.

So my thoughts, Permaculture has:

A strong ethical basis: Earth Care, People Care, Fair Shares, that are underpinned by the notion of the key Permaculture Ethic of PERMANENT AGRICULTURE. An explanation of this key ethic is essential so that readers can really understand why Permaculture is a unique way of dealing with human need.

Going back to my comments about land management I stated
'The other practices have the sole aim of growing crops'. That is it, they plant to take the crop. From organic production to commercial farming, the crop or continuing to take a crop the next year is the sole aim.

In Permaculture we do take a yield but the whole point is we are providing and enriching ecosystems for ourselves and for FUTURE generations, we are PROTECTING the wildneress/natural environment for future generations by meeting our own needs for fuel, food and dealing with our outputs. So many Permies will plant trees knowing that they will not get the most benefit from them, it will be future generations that do. Permies are investing in the future but having their needs met as ethically as possible whilst providing a legacy for future generations.

Our ethics inform our action. So HOW Permaculturists' design and manage land is also key to the differences between it and other agricultural methods.
In order to live ethically and sustainably we have to understand that we are a single system; not separate. Whatever we do locally affects other people and the environment globally. Local solutions provide the best answers, we have different climates, soils, flora and fauna. Different needs, wants, tradition and cultures. But by acting locally we must keep an eye on the Horizon by limiting the damage on the environment and people globally.

By being as self reliant as possible we do not exploit others, nor the land. Permaculture seeks to provide Permanent Agriculture. One earth it is socially just to share with everyone, all other living things and with future generations.

By limiting our consumption of everything including family size it supports the needs of everyone throughout the world to have access to clean water, clean air, food, shelter, fair and living wage, community etc.

So all the design principles are based on the above, that is what makes Permaculture different. It is DESIGNED with the ethics being central to the practice. So each part of the design stems from these ethics from Relative location, to Multiple functions for each element, from using the most efficient methods to using Existing Energy Flows From natural succession to stacking.

In Permaculture Information and Observation replaces Energy and the key is maximum observation and minimum interference in any natural system including those designed to meet man's needs.

Answer 2

There is one other option that not many people know about. Agro-forestry. I suppose Permaculture is actually a form of agro-forestry. Agro-forestry simply put, incorporates woody perennial into an annual agriculture system. For example, Planting walnut trees in rows with soybeans growing up in the middle. The idea is to make a system where the overall yield per/acre is increased. In this case the soybeans have "shelter belts" which have shown to increase yields in some cases and protect against damage from frost and wind. While the trees receive the nitrogen the legumes produce. Each crop my preform less so than it would in a complete monoculture, but combined they have more value/acre. There are tons of types of these systems out there, including ones that incorporate livestock. One system called a "forest garden" closely resembles permaculture.

Answer 3

There is no other system that concentrates on intelligent interrelating designs ,following energy flows enhancing and utilizing them or creating them.

Permaculture at the end of the day is an organic factory where all the components affects each other with their needs or effects.and results in a variety of growth including animals as compacted as is possible.Utilizing ALL space as much as possible in a cubic way.

Permaculture is Unique in this way .

There is Organic farming or other types of farming ,but they all concentrate on the farming nothing else

Permaculture also includes the accommodations,.for both animals and people, their designs and locations,the basic shaping of the whole land to make it water receptive to the point of zero run off)water harvesting) and possibly aqua culture to breed fish.

Road works that reach all parts of the property,alternative energy systems (solar,Wind,Water,bio digester's etc)

And the growing of material for building or other things outside of food production.
here are some links to some relevant answers.
agro Urbanization
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvVsTtuIZrBClrX.vX7TxSTsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071013043017AA6wcWX
water conservation
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkWU2HWC0wIue_pUVTjDnYjsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071001175406AAED6I7
permaculture design
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AohGCiKOpGhRUJhPAwtUISbsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070709124111AAW92a2

Answer 4

ive been interested in permaculture for many years and was surprised to see that it can cause more problems than it solves --- its been in Australia for many years and it can introduce species that become pests in a very short time --- so it can be more productive than other forms of management provided only native species are used or the introduced species are kept under tight control