An introduction to Permaculture Course first given at the Hawkesbury Earthcare Centre in April 2009 http://www.earthcare.org.au/intropermcourse by Penny & Karim http://caughtintheart.blogspot.com/ & Kat http://twitter.com/katska The course is based on Bill Mollison's "Introduction to Permaculture" http://www.tagari.com/item.php?itemid=156

3. Why Permaculture? The Stages of Change Model After DiClemente, 2003

7. Permaculture Principles Observe & interact Catch & store energy Obtain a yield Apply self-regulation and accept feedback Use & value renewable resources & services Produce no waste Design from patterns to details Integrate rather than segregate Use small and slow solutions Use and value diversity Use edges and value the marginal Creatively use and respond to change Diversity Energy Cycling Edge Effects (microclimate) Multifunction Back up your major functions Relative Location Energy Efficient Planning Accelerate Succession & Evolution Small Scale Intensive Systems Use Biological Resources Attitudinal Principles David Holmgren Bill Mollison

17. Principle 3: EDGE EFFECTS in design We can use our observations to create positive advantages and increase productivity and yields in our designs.

22. Principle 4: MULTIFUNCTION

25. Principle 6: RELATIVE LOCATION

31. Topology or Relief Principle 7: EFFICIENT ENERGY PLANNING

38. SOILS - initial observation With simple tests we can get some ideas about the nature of the soil we are working with. Take a handful of soil how does it feel, smell? Does it hold together, is it wet? Put some in a jar with water, give it a good shake, and let this settle for at least 15 minutes. Leave for 24 hours for clear results The soil will settle into layers in order of particle size and density, and can be surprising sand - large particles do not bond, does not hold water silt - organic matter, holds moisture & nutrients clay - minute particles which trap water

39. SOILS Soil types by clay, silt and sand composition. Image by Richard Wheeler Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

68. Principle 9: SMALL SCALE INTENSIVE SYSTEMS Sustainable (Permaculture) vs. Industrial (Agriculture) Cyclic & renewable Linear, non-renewable Hand tools & small machinery Large machinery, heavy processing Minimum, Efficient use of space Maximum, Inefficient use of space Economical, low energy Costly, energy intensive Kind on the environment Ecologically invasive Analogous to: Aikido Karate

69. Principle 9: SMALL SCALE INTENSIVE SYSTEMS

81. COMPANION PLANTING

82. COMPANION PLANTING

83. PLANTING CALENDAR

84. PLANTING CALENDAR