Every Little Helps

April 1, 2018 12:00 AM

Permaculture was developed in Australia in the Seventies by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison. Originally standing for "permanent agriculture," it concentrated on the potential for making land-based projects more self-sustaining by following patterns observed in natural ecosystems. It was developed as a response to the industrial-agricultural sector, which Holmgren and Mollison believe is exploitative of the Earth’s resources.

For many people, to practice permaculture still means needing access to land, which is out of reach for most city-dwellers. However, after spending many years developing Melliodora, a leading rural demonstration project showcasing cool climate permaculture in Australia, Holmgren has recently released a new book called Retrosuburbia (2018). The book explores how city living can be made more enjoyable and more sustainable—both from the point of view of human psychology and species biodiversity. To do this, it draws on one of the core messages of permaculture: the need to adapt in response to our environment. Permaculture has now been expanded to mean "permanent culture." to acknowledge that social changes are also integral to finding a permanent and sustainable way of living.

Anna Gurney is an English permaculture teacher who lives in the Montjuïc area of Barcelona. She is also a math teacher and mum to a lively four-year-old. She belongs to several Barcelona- based permaculture groups and owns and manages a land-based project about two hours outside of Barcelona in the Matarranya region. Named Boodaville, after a nickname that Gurney was given in her twenties, it is an environmental education and permaculture site where she hosts courses, weekend retreats and family camps. Gurney advocates the ‘12 Permaculture Principles’, as laid out by Holmgren in Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability (2002), as key to making manageable yet meaningful changes to life in the city. She believes that they can be easily applied to daily life.

“Take principle number six: produce no waste,” she said. “That can feel like a massive undertaking, but even remembering to carry reusable bags limits the amount of plastic bags in circulation.” Following a ban on free plastic bags introduced by the Catalan government in March 2017, there are a few euros to be saved too. “Carrying a refillable water bottle also makes a difference,” said Gurney. This example resonates with number nine: make small and slow changes. Rather than going "no plastic" from one day to the next, carrying reusable bags and a refillable water bottle develops positive habits which can then be built upon. “As they say in Catalunya, ‘poc a poc."”

The question of plastic bottles is particularly pertinent in Spain, where bottled water is prevalent. Three and a half billion drinks bottles are used every year in Spain according to Seas at Risk, a Brussels-based umbrella organization of environmental NGOs from across Europe. The organization highlighted the massive scale of the single use plastic problem in Europe in an October 2017 report, while in June of last year, The Guardian reported that a million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute.

Implementing these new habits is also likely to influence the people around you, which leads to principle number eight: integrate rather than segregate. “Alone, you can make a small difference, but coming together with others makes our actions more effective and more enjoyable,” said Gurney. “Sharing your energy and waste-saving tips with friends encourages everyone by normalizing the behavior. We are all at different places on our journeys, but even people who seem very different to you can still be involved in the conversation.”

“I have an idea for those of you who commute. What would happen if your journey took five minutes longer, but incorporated a short walk or cycle through a park? That little space to be surrounded by greenery, where you can be affected by the weather and notice the change in seasons, could be really healthy for your body and mind. If you commute by public transport, maybe you could get off one stop early and find a park on your way home? If you change buses or trains at any point, maybe there’s a chance to walk somewhere nice in-between? If you cycle, maybe find a longer but more attractive route? If you drive, maybe park on the other side of a park? (I say this because I cycle up and over a hill on my way to work instead of down with the traffic. I find going to work more pleasant because I see trees in blossom and green space).”

- Anna Gurney, permaculture teacher, Barcelona

Gurney is a big believer in the power of community. She has found that taking part in permaculture activities helps to ground people and provides opportunities to meet like-minded people in a relaxed environment. This reasoning is embodied in the activities she hosts at Boodaville, but also applies to city-based groups. In the Born, there is a community garden group, Hortet del Forat, where you can get your hands dirty and grow vegetables. In partnership with Permacultura Barcelona, they also offer workshops on various topics, such as how to make compost on your balcony and how to create a space-saving vertical planter.

Permacultura Barcelona is also active at Can Masdeu, on the edge of the Serra de Collserola Natural Park, where work in the garden is followed by a shared lunch and interesting discussions. In Poblenou, ConnectHort has a similar approach. This group has converted an abandoned building site into a thriving huerto (allotment) and hosts weekly get-togethers. As well as gardening, they hold film screenings, yoga sessions, talks, workshops and more. Permaculture activities normally begin with gardening, but often end up incorporating many more aspects of everyday life.

Even in a city like Barcelona, close to both the mountains and coastline, the hustle and bustle can still result in a feeling of disconnection. Whether through small adjustments to daily life or through community projects, we should be inspired by permaculturists on their mission to re-connect people and nature.

12 Principles of Permaculture

1. Observe and interact. Planning your commute through a local park will let you engage with nature and increase your energy levels for the whole day.

2. Catch and store energy. Flush less, switch off the lights, central heating and air conditioning when not needed, and take fewer flights to make the resources we have last longer.

3. Obtain a yield. Community connections strengthen our network and increase opportunities for mutual support, but be careful—we need to feel rewarded for the work we do.

4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback. It’s easy to get caught in unhelpful loops of thought and behavior. A good friend or mentor can help us identify patterns that we can’t, or don’t want to, see for ourselves.

5. Use and value renewable resources and services. Supermarkets may be cheap and convenient, but supporting local businesses keeps wealth in the local economy.

6. Produce no waste. Reduce, reuse, recycle. It’s easy to be wasteful in times of abundance, but this waste can lead to hardship later.

7. Design from patterns to details. Step back and observe the patterns of everyday life to help you manage the smaller details. Look at your daily routine and streamline it to save energy and time.

8. Integrate rather than segregate. Building a community makes life easier for everyone, helping people to be better prepared in the face of future uncertainty.

9. Use small and slow solutions. You don’t have to change everything at once. Remember, poc a poc!

10. Use and value diversity. Just as a habitat needs many types of animals and plants, society also benefits from a range of different people and viewpoints.

11. Use edges and value the marginal. The most popular approach to a problem is not necessarily the better solution for you. Take risks, and you’ll be surprised at the new opportunities that arise.

12. Creatively use and respond to change. We know the environment is changing in a way that seems out of our control, but you can take small steps individually, or as a community, to create a positive impact socially and environmentally.