Permaculture is a word originally coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the mid seventies. With this word they wanted to describe an integrated system in which perennial plants and animal species can constantly evolve.

According to David Holmgren, a more updated definition of Permaculture would be the following: “a consciously designed territory  that mimics the patterns and relationships that can be found in nature. This territory, in turn, produces enough food, fibers and energy to satisfy the local needs.”Permaculture is based on three cornerstones: people, their buildings and the ways in which they organise themselves. Thus, the approach of Permaculture regarding a permanent (sustainable) agriculture has evolved toward a permanent (sustainable) culture.

More precisely, Permaculture refers to a “design system based on the principles of ecology” that provides the organisational framework necessary to implement the approach already described. This concept gathers the different habilities and ways of living that should be re-discovered and developed, so that we find the strength necessary to evolve from dependant consumers into responsible producers. In this sense, Permaculture does not refer to the territory, or to the abilities in ecological gardening or sustainable agriculture, the energy-efficient buildings or the development of Ecovillages; it can be used, though, to design, establish, manage and enhance these and all other efforts made by individuals, families and communities with the aim of creating a sustainable future.

Permacultura is also a global network and a movement involving individuals and groups working in rich and poor countries around the globe. In most cases these people do not receive support from the government or other private companies. However, they are building a sustainable future by means of redirecting their lifes and jobs according to the principles of Permaculture. So it is how small local changes are starting to happen, and these changes are influencing, both directly and indirectly, the measures taken in the environment as a whole, in the ecologic agriculture, the development of appropriate technology and the emergence of communities and other initiatives in favour of the creation of a sustainable world.

Bill Morrison states that “we live in a planet that is suffering a profound crisis; very often people feel powerless and can’t find the way to change. Permaculture offers positive solutions to global problems. One of the keys to success is to use ecology as the basis for studying, designing and conceiving lasting, functional, sustainable and integrated systems that support both human settlements and natural ecosystems. Permaculture covers the production of food, the housing, the technology, the community development and the legal and financial systems necessary to attain these goals.

Understanding Permaculture will allow the creation of an environment capable of sustaining itself in any situation, from the largest rural property to the tiniest urban space.

The design process consists in placing every component of a system there where the needs of said component are covered. A system can be considered sustainable when all its components provide or preserve enough energy during its lifespan and produce a surplus that can be returned to the system.

To sum up, Permaculture is the science that hides behind the best relative positioning of the components in a plan or a model in order to increase the resources available, preserve or create energy and reduce or dispose of pollution and waste. Permaculture combines the wisdom of the ancient world with the technology of the modern times.”