Permaculture is a set of design principles based on mimicking the patterns and adaptive nature of an ecosystem. When I first started studying permaculture, it was because I was concerned about the climate and the future of the human species.

After first hearing about permaculture at a music festival in Santa Rosa, I attended a two-week workshop at the Regenerative Design Institute in Bolinas, CA and earned a Permaculture Design Certification. I subsequently spent some time living and working on organic farms.

While I’m still concerned about the climate and our future, my ideas about how to attack those problems are constantly evolving. While changing the way that we think about our basic infrastructure is important, not all of us are living on off-grid farms or re-engineering cities. While our species certainly needs a broad infrastructure reboot, all we really have the power to change is our own lives.

After spending nearly a decade reflecting on the ideas first outlined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, I’ve discovered some ways to apply the twelve original permaculture principles to an average modern life.

The Twelve Principles of Permaculture

1. Observe and interact

Photo by Quentin Lagache

When I sit down to write an article, I’m not just typing in a void. First I have to take a step back and look at the topic. Am I writing about cats? Time to do some cat research first. Maybe I’ll read a book about cats, or watch my neighbor’s cat for a couple of hours.

When applied to a living system, this principle is about getting the lay of the land. Which area gets the most sun? How far is the spring from the garden that needs to be watered? What is the soil composed of?

Applying for a job? It might be helpful to know what the average salary is in your field, and what kind of education your competitors have. Shopping for a house? It would be beneficial to learn about the local market first and to make sure that you get an inspection before closing the deal.

While it’s good to take the time to observe, so you can make educated decisions about how to proceed, don’t take too long.

Here’s one thing my permaculture teachers told me that really stuck with me: beware of “paralysis by analysis.” Observe and interact. At a certain point, you have to stop planning, and start doing.