Permaculture or permanent Agriculture

After seeing the negative effects of industrial agricultural methods, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren developed Permaculture, which can be defined as agro ecological culture or alternate agriculture. The industrial agri methods were reducing biodiversity, poisoning water and land and removing billions of tonnes of topsoil from previously fertile landscapes. The solution is Permaculture, with emphasis on ecosystems and organic bio farming.

Based on ecological and biological principles, using natural patterns to minimise work and maximise results, Permaculture is sustainable use of land design.

Permaculture was first practised by the Austrian farmer, Sepp Holzer and later this theory was scientifically developed by the Australian farmers, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. In Permaculture, the eco processes of plants, animals, their nutrient cycles, weather cycles and climatic factors are used. "Wastes" become resources, work is minimised and yields and productivity increase. For instance, the farmers in India use the Vedic Astronomic Calender for planting seeds. This is using the Weather Cycles. Using Jnattuvelas or Sun's ingresses into the constellations, seeds are planted. There is a time to sow and a time to reap and why not use Astrology for planting seeds ? ( For instance, today, the 25th of May, is the beginning of the Rohini Jnattuvela, when the Sun enters the constellation of Rohini. It rained yesternight. It also rained in the afternoon. Using the Vedic Astrologic Calender, the weather cycles can be known. The next Jnattuvela, Makiryam Jnattuvela, will be fiercer, as far as rains are concerned. It will be raining cats and dogs during Thiruvathira Jnattuvela. Such indications are given by the Astrologic Calender ).

The aim of Permaculture is to increase yields and productivty, without damaging the ecosystems.