8. Permaculture ethics, or we should all be doing this
One of the big draws of permaculture for me is the three ethics - a set of codified moral perspectives - at the foundation of this design process. They are; People Care, Earth Care and Fair Share or Future Care. These ethics are common to many traditional communities and belief systems, and provide a framework for self regulation when trying to achieve a desired outcome. They shape what is a good outcome, and what is a bad outcome. Permaculture is about creating low carbon, productive and resilient systems - so good outcomes are manifestations of this. Permaculture ethics move thinking, and feeling, into action through a design process that can be applied to gardens, businesses, cities and beyond.
There is a lot of writing about Permaculture ethics, I’ve linked to resources at the end of this blog. I’ve articulated how I’ve come to understand them during my DYCP below. I’ve followed this definition with some of the questions that I might use to shape projects in relation to each ethic. I'll keep developing these and inviting others to contribute as I go. I’m interested in finding a balance between rigour and dogma, and exploring the full potential of this way of thinking and designing.
Earth care
Recognising that the earth is a complex, living system with intrinsic value, not just valued for what it can provide us. Noticing that the earth provides all we need for life, outside of monetary systems. So for ‘free’, but requiring our sensitive engagement and labour. How can our actions support and nurture the living systems that our existence depends upon? It’s not enough to minimise harm, it's about positive and supportive actions, in line with the way that systems already work, to regenerate and support flourishing.
How will we talk about earth care in relation to the project - with practitioners, participants, and the wider community?
How can we minimise or eliminate carbon emissions on this project - through travel, resources used, working practices?
How can we use existing knowledge to design a project that cares for the earth - from the people engaged in the project and their networks and resources like the Theatre Green Book, research from Julie's Bicycle.
How can we design this project to use only essential resources?
What is the full life cycle of any resources that we use - how can we procure, use and dispose of resources in a regenerative way? (Where are we sourcing materials, are they reused or recycled, do they contain pollutants, who has made them, what happens to materials when the project finishes)
People care
Meeting people’s needs in a compassionate way. A balance of taking personal responsibility for meeting our needs, and inviting others to do the same. Then working together in collaboration to create resilient, self-sustaining systems. Recognising collective wisdom can bring about change. People care also starts with the self, spreading outwards through those closest to us, and encompassing all humanity, in our planning and choices.
How will I take care of myself during this project? (a question for all involved)
How will this project take the best care of the people who are encountering it?
What does care look like in this project?
How can we meet the needs of people engaging with this work? This includes access needs, fair pay and conditions, removing barriers to participation.
How can we support people participating to develop self responsibility for their participation?
How can we establish and grow collaboration in this project? What training or support might be needed to improve the collaboration skills and behaviours of people taking part?
How will we talk about people care in relation to the project - with practitioners, participants, and the wider community?
Fair Shares or Future Care
Recognising limits of consumption and production, and rejecting ideas of unfettered growth. Taking what is needed and no more - much like the Swedish principle of Lagom, which seeks balance and builds a sense of the commons by not taking too much or too little. This ethic invites us to think about what appropriate limits for our use and consumption are on a wider scale, and what is an equitable distribution of resources. It’s about consciously working towards a fair distribution for humans and the more than human world, and for generations to come. It’s a stabilising ethic that builds resilience - unfair distribution is a source of tension, limits collaboration and can pull communities apart.
How, and with whom, can we share the project resources? Can this sharing be used to redress historical imbalances?
What are all the possible yields - the outcomes and outputs - of this project and how can these be distributed as widely as possible?
What impact could this project have on the future? How can we design a regenerative project that supports future flourishing?
Learning about permaculture ethics, applied as a thinking tool, helped me to identify the challenges on projects I have worked on. And how many could have been avoided had the project been planned, and adapted, in line with these ethics. As an artist, and citizen, aware of the climate and ecological emergency - and all its intersections with social justice, these ethics offer a framework for creating regenerative projects that align with how I want to work.
I intend to bring these ethics to every project that I work on and I will invite all those I work with to do the same. There will be challenges to bringing this thinking to projects, which are often under-resourced and have limited capacity to spend time on planning. However, skipping this vital step limits the potential of work, and increases the likelihood of poor choices and behaviours that don’t embody care for earth, people and future.
Resources, references and further reading
What is Permaculture: Part 1 – Ethics
Permaculture Ethics - Earth Care • People Care • Fair Share
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