Permaculture (permanent agriculture) is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Without permanent agriculture there is no possibility of a stable social order. Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms. The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions rather than asking only one yield of them; and of allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
112 of 113 people found the following review helpful
For those of us searching for an ecologically responsible lifestyle amid urban and suburban insanity, Bill Mollison has a real and exciting answer. This book is full of helpful advice presented in a very readable way. (The only problem might be getting stuck in the chapters on climates that don't concern you; just skip them until later!) The groundwork philosophy of permaculture is laid first, and the book moves from there to the practical business of actually designing one. The emphasis is on letting various plant and animal species work together as much as possible, to form a basically self-sustaining system from which people can reap a continual harvest, not only of food, but of interest and self-respect. What a prospect! It is certainly a very different one from what we young people have been taught to expect from life! This volume is much more complete in both the philosophy and the practice than were the original "Permaculture One" and "Permaculture Two." It is also much less focused on the Southern Hemisphere, which is helpful for North Americans trying to visualize their own permaculture. I can only hope that more people happen upon this book as I did and are themselves inspired to create a fulfilling life for themselves and their children.
104 of 105 people found the following review helpful
This is the definitive Permaculture design manual in print since 1988. It is the text book and curriculum for the 72-hour Certificate course in Permaculture Design. Written for teachers, students and designers, it follows on and greatly enlarges on the initial introductory texts, Permaculture One (1978) and Permaculture Two (1979) both of which are still in demand over twenty years after publication. Very little of the material found in this book is reproduced from the former texts. It covers design methodologies and strategies for both urban and rural applications describing property design and natural farming techniques. Topics include:
design methods,
understanding patterns in nature,
climatic factors,
water,
soils,
earthworks and their use in earth repair,
techniques and design strategies for both urban and rural applications,
the temperate climates,
dry lands,
cold climates,
humid cool climates,
humid tropics ,
trees and their energy transactions,
aqua-culture,
waste management,
energy efficient architecture,
legal strategies and trusts,
effective working groups,
right livelihood,
money and finance,
ethical investment.
bio-regional organisation,
effective aid.
116 of 121 people found the following review helpful
By GENE GERUE
Amazon Verified Purchase
Bill Mollison is an ecologist of the first rank. In 1981 he received the Right Livelihood Award--the Alternative Nobel Prize--for his work in environmental design. He and David Holmgren coined the word permaculture; Mollison has devoted his life to teaching the concept. Permaculture is humans working with, not against, nature. It's about causing land, water, plants and animals to synergistically cause multiple benefits and to improve an ecosystem simultaneously. It maximizes functional connections so that the many parts become a whole. To create permaculture design is to make the strongest possible statement of our eco-values, a resounding vote against current agribusiness practices. I have four of Mollison's books--this one has it all plus 129 color photos and a gazillion drawings by Andrew Jeeves. Here is complete knowledge to create your personal permaculture, a place to work and live in harmony with nature, a place that will nuture your body and your soul.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Permaculture: A Designers' Manual is a superb book!
I like this book because it is thorough, usefull with and without the PDC-course and covers every thinkable part of ecosystem thinking and permaculture principles.
Published 1 day ago by Irene Verbeek
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!
There is littel I can say about it if I want to be complete. It is a manual, so it gives guidelines, not answers to your specific questions, but on how to approach them.
Published 1 month ago by Vangeel
5.0 out of 5 stars
The definitive guide on PERMACULTURE
I've been tinkering with the idea of buying farm land and developing it sustainably and at a profit for the past few years and began studying the principles of permaculture two... Read more
Published 2 months ago by diligentzombiekiller
5.0 out of 5 stars
The last book you'll ever need
This is the manual for living in alignment with natural systems and thus the manual to human happiness. Read more
Published 2 months ago by colin beverly
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommend it
If you are going to survive this economy, you better learn how to garden. Between this book and "Gardening When It Counts", I have become a pretty good gardener. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Dorey E. Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars
this is the only book you need to buy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it has everything from "what is permaclture" to "how to build your own pond". There are many book on the subject and this one is big by it is designed very well and make it an... Read more
Published 6 months ago by max d
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best price you will find for this book
I purchased this book for my daughter. She needed it for a class she had taken and found it so useful that after using the library's copy she wanted one for herself. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Susan J. Dickens
5.0 out of 5 stars
highly recommended
This is an excellent book. This book is by far the definitive book on permaculture. There is an overwhelming amount of information in here which is presented very nicely for the... Read more
Published 18 months ago by lando89
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Bible of Permaculture
This is an outstanding book written by one of the co-founders of permaculture. This book is comprehensive, includes both theoretical and practical aspects of permaculture, and... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Nate
5.0 out of 5 stars
The beginning of Permaculture and the essential foundation.
I can not add much to the earlier reviews of Permaculture: A Designers' Manual by Bill Mollison, but I wanted to add another 5 star rating and a few comments. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Forest7
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