It’s about time this blog had a spark of positivity – and here it is! Today I share with you the principles of permaculture and how they relate to horse training.
“What is permaculture?”
I hear you ask…
Permaculture is a way of providing sustainable food and shelter for people, whilst not harming the environment, the soil or the living organisms within that landscape. The 3 main ethics around which the principles revolve are: care of the earth, care of people and redistribution of surplus. Permaculture’s sustainable approach extends to animals too – their health and welfare, and for them to live a useful and pleasant life.
In reading about the ethics and design principles of permaculture, I am struck by the cross-over into horse training. Take a look at the principles following, but think instead about each regarding interaction with horses – I think your brain will start to spark in interesting ways!
Like 12 months of the year, there are 12 governing principles:
- Observe & interact
- Catch & store energy
- Obtain a yield
- Apply self regulation & accept feedback
- Use & value renewable resources & services
- Produce no waste
- Design from patterns to details
- Integrate rather than segregate
- Use small & slow solutions
- Use & value diversity
- Use edges & value the marginal
- Creatively use & respond to change
Your task for the day, is to sit quietly, preferably somewhere outside – such as in a field, on the beach, or under a tree, and contemplate these principles, then report back to me. If it helps, close your eyes, or walk around (preferably not at the same time, because you might walk onto the road, or into a tree…)
I would love to hear what you come up with.
Permaculture was invented by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in Australia in the 1970s.
If you would like to find out about helping the earth through sustainable living, as well as your (hopefully) sustainable riding, you can check out the following sites:
http://permacultureprinciples.com/ (they also do a wonderful diary, full of inspirational stories and growing tips)
www.holmgren.com.au – David Holmgren
www.tagari.com – Bill Mollison
I am currently reading Rosemary Morrow’s Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture, which I highly recommend as a very great introductory text with plenty of cute and informative illustrations by Rob Allsop.
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