What is Permaculture?

Wikipedia says:
"Permaculture is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural sys
tems that are modelled on the relationships found in natural ecologies."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture
The Permaculture Association says on its homepage:
"Permaculture works with nature to make a better world for all. By observing the
natural world we can see a set of principles at work. Permaculture design uses
these principles to develop integrated systems that provide for our needs of foo
d, shelter, energy and community in ways that are healthy and efficient. We can
use permaculture design methods to improve the quality and productivity of our i
ndividual lives, our society and our environment."
http://permaculture.org.uk/
on its What is Permaculture? page it has:
"Permaculture combines three key aspects:
1. an ethical framework
2. understandings of how nature works, and
3. a design approach
This unique combination is then used to support the creation of sustainable, agr
iculturally productive, non-polluting and healthy settlements. In many places th
is means adapting our existing settlements. In other cases it can mean starting
from scratch. Both offer interesting challenges and opportunities.
The word 'permaculture' comes from 'permanent agriculture' and 'permanent cultur
e' - it is about living lightly on the planet, and making sure that we can susta
in human activities for many generations to come, in harmony with nature. Perman
ence is not about everything staying the same. Its about stability, about deepen
ing soils and cleaner water, thriving communities in self-reliant regions, biodi
verse agriculture and social justice, peace and abundance."
http://permaculture.org.uk/knowledge-base/basics
On the Permaculture Insitute of Australia (and US) site it says:
"Permaculture (permanent agriculture) is the conscious design and maintenance of
agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and r
esilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape a
nd people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-materi
al needs in a sustainable way. Without permanent agriculture there is no possibi
lity of a stable social order.
"Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strateg
ic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms.
"The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against,
nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and tho
ughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions, rather than askin
g only one yield of them; and allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutio
ns."
http://permaculture.org.au/what-is-permaculture/
Co-founder of Permaculture David Holmgren says:
"permaculture is Consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relat
ionships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy
for provision of local needs. "
http://www.holmgren.com.au/DLFiles/PDFs/Essence_of_PC_eBook.pdf
On the back of Patrick Whitefield's "Permaculture in a Nutshell" it says:
"Permaculture is a creative approach to abundant and fulfilling lifestyles. It i
s for everyone wishing to live sustainably and tread more lightly on the Earth.
"Permaculture is an ecologically sound approach to providing for our needs, incl
uding our food, shelter and social structures. Is is based on co-operating with
nature and caring for the Earth and its people."
In Patrick Whitefields' "Earth Care Manual" is says:
"Permaculture means different things to different people, but at root it means t
aking natural ecosystems as the model for our own human habitats. Natural ecosys
tems are, almost by definition, sustainable, and if we can understand the way th
ey work we can use that understanding to make our own lives more sustainable."
In the intro to Graham Burnett's "Permaculture: A beginners' guide" it quotes Bi
ll Mollison as saying:
"Permaculture offers a radical approach to food production and urban renewal, wa
ter, energy and pollution. It integrates ecology, landscape, organic gardening,
architecture and agro-forestry in creating a rich and sustainable way of living.
It uses appropriate technology giving high yields for low energy inputs, achiev
ing a resource of great diversity and stability. The design principles are equal
ly applicable to both urban and rural dwellers"
And also adds:
"PERMACULTURE is a word that was originally coined in the mid seventies by two Austral
ians, David Holmgren and Bill Mollison, to describe the design system pioneered
as a response to what they, and many others globally, saw as serious challenges
to the survival of all of us. Originally derived from the words PERMAnent agriCULTU
RE, permaculture has gone beyond its roots in looking at strategies to create sustaina
ble food growing methods to become a worldwide movement encompassing all aspects
of how we as human beings can live harmoniously in relation to our Earth and its f
inite resources- A PERManent CULTURE. Permaculture now probably has as many defi
ntions as there are practitioners, but one that is particularly useful might be-
"CREATING SUSTAINABLE HUMAN HABITATS BY FOLLOWING NATURE'S PATTERNS"
In Toby Hemenway's "Gaia's Garden" he says:
"If we think of practices like organic gardening, recycling, natural building, r
enewable energy, and even consensus decision-making and social-justice efforts a
s tools for sustainability, then permaculture is the toolbox that helps us organ
ize and decide when and how to use those tools. Permaculture is not a discipline
in itself but rather a design approach based on connecting different discipline
s, strategies, and techniques."