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What is permaculture?

I find myself asking that question and occasionally having to answer it when other people ask. So I should write and answer, perhaps one about what it means to me as even Holmgren writes:

"The quest by some for a completely consistent and logical picture of permaculture may not be useful. Rather than seeking to define or control permaculture, I write about it as simply one more contribution to understanding, meaning and action in a world full of uncertainty." --- Holmgren, PPPBS, pg. 9. "The Purpose of this book"

Three things

Perhaps permaculture is three things:

A set of Ethics and Principles that form the basis for a design system
A set of techniques ("patterns") commonly used when designing with permaculture
A movement of like minded people?

My definition

Permaculture is a creative design response grounded in systems thinking to realise a progression towards a world of declining reliance upon energy.

Unpicking my definition

There are a few components to this definition, I should elaborate on these at some point:

Design response
Systems thinking, e.g. permaculture principles
Declining energy? Why? - Necessity? Ethics? It may or not be necessary (peak oil? climate change?)

Quotes:

"Permaculture is a creative design response to a world of declining energy" --- Holmgren, PPPBS,

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