It is only recently that scientific research has proved that current methods of agriculture have it all wrong. In monoculture,which has been used for years, crops yield is significantly lower than crops yields with multiple combined species, which share soil water and nutrients. Permaculture has shown this for 30 years and the results are surprising.
Imitating the processes of nature and being inspired by its forms, materials, properties and functions of the living: this discipline is called biomimicry. Here, you will find a video showing its usefulness. One of the examples in biomimicry is the glue produced by the mussels, which would today be the most efficient in the world. Also, this article covers the topic of jellyfish which can produce solar energy. The idea is therefore to better observe nature and be inspired by it for the human creations of today. Rather useful in time of raw materials depletion.
Understanding and replicating natural mechanisms
The philosophy of permaculture uses the same process with the following principles: caring for the earth, taking care of the human, and sharing equally. The objective is to reconstitute natural elements, and that people take care of themselves, their relatives as well as their neighbours. Finally, consumption and reproduction are limited by sharing the surplus.
To put it simply, rather than separating the species and deploying them alone as in industrial agriculture, it has been noticed that by creating combinations, plants help each other and share water, sun and nutrients. This biological technique thus provides a much more abundant yield, and is above all sustainable and completely ecological.
The awakening of permaculture
Today, most ecovillages practice permaculture. This technique is within the reach of all, and is also consistent with the goal of life in self-sufficiency, in harmony with nature. The various principles of life in self-sufficiency include eco-constructions, which generate their own electricity, recover their water to fuel household and vegetable needs, and use recycled materials, tending towards zero waste.
To find permaculture projects in eco-villages, click here.
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