Building upon the rich tapestry of global Indigenous knowledge, Permaculture Design offers a practical application of Living Systems Theory.
In the early 2010’s, I found myself at Zaytuna Farms in New South Wales, Australia, attending Permaculture Design Certificate training.
Arriving at Zaytuna through a series of adventures, living and working with New Zealand and Australian homesteaders, and increasingly convinced that our modern education system was not teaching the knowledge, skills and worldview(s) need to live a happy, sustainable life. I sought out a good framework to rework my thinking around the purpose of learning and education.
Permaculture design is a framework for creating sustainable human settlements that mimic the interconnectedness and resilience of natural ecosystems.
Just as in nature, permaculture emphasizes working with, rather than against, natural forces. By observing natural patterns and mimicking ecological processes, Permaculture designers seek to create human systems that are regenerative, resilient, and in harmony with the natural world.
Blending together the words “permanent’ and “agriculture”, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren wrote Permaculture One in 1978, and followed up with Permaculture Two: Practical Design for Town and Country in Permanent Agriculture in 1979.
While permaculture originated as a set of design principles, it has evolved into a broader social and ecological movement that seeks to create a more sustainable and just future.
what’s permaculture got to do with facilitating?
Have you ever planted out all your seeds only to have a downpour wash them away?
Or come home from a party to find the pigs have busted the fence and went on a moon light walk?
Had the sun scorch your seedlings or the birds snag all your berries?
I have.
Learning about and putting into practice the Permaculture Design framework gave me first hand experience with how living systems are interconnected, self-organizing and require adaptability in complex situations where you have little control.
Similar to working with groups of diverse people, who all have their own ideas, strengths and motivations.
Being able to witness and work with living systems in my own backyard, I was able to see how living systems patterns show up in many areas of our lives, including when we gathered in groups to do good work together.
Living systems—organizations, teams, families, and communities—contain both order and chaos. This dynamic tension, where creativity and engagement flourish, is essential for generating new ideas and addressing complex issues through dialogue and collaboration.
Working with Living Systems, Helped me practice leadership on the “Chaordic Path”.
The photos below are from some of my permaculture adventures.
