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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Care of the Earth[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Provision for people to access those resources necessary to their existence
Setting Limits to Population and Consumption[edit | edit source]
By governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to further the above principles
David Holmgren[edit | edit source]
- 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)[edit | edit source]
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.
