Permaculture has been around since the 70s, but few know what it's all about. Here is a quick rundown to help you understand its central principles.

Permaculture is a portmanteau of "permanent" and "agriculture." Bill Mollison coined it in the late 70s, and he is the founder of a global permaculture movement. He says, "Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems."

Mollison's formulation presupposes the idea that nature is resilient and stable without any adverse human intervention. Therefore, the permaculture mentality is one of constant attention and mindfulness concerning how we interact with the environment to get food, especially near our homes. Mollison developed three ethics and several principles to guide farmers through the permaculture design process.