The Permaculture ethics are the starting place for making decisions when beginning a permaculture design. Different permaculture teachers have expressed these ethics in different ways.
Prime Directive
Bill Mollison expressed the Prime Directive of Permaculture as:
"The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children."
Jen Mendez of the Permie Kids Podcast has expanded upon the original:
"The only ethical decision is to take an active, whole-systems-thinking approach to learning and life. As authentic, fully-realized communities we have the means to care ourselves, others and the earth.
Bill Mollison
Care of the Earth
Provision for all life systems to continue and multiply
There are three concurrent and parallel responses:
- Care for surviving natural assemblages
- Rehabilitate degraded or eroded land
- Create our own complex living environment
Care of People
Provision for people to access those resources necessary to their existence
Setting Limits to Population and Consumption
By governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to further the above principles
David Holmgren
- Earth Care - Rebuild natural capital
- People Care - Look after self, kin and community
- Fair Share - Set limits and redistribute surplus
A Policy of Responsibility (to relinquish power)
The role of beneficial authority is to return function and responsibilty to life and to people; if successful, no further authority is needed. The role of successful design is to create a self-managed system.
