Principles Of Permaculture: How Growing Locally Can Save Big!
Permaculture is part of a growing sustainability movement that seeks to increase productivity and minimize waste. The current model of growing foodstuffs far away from the urban areas where they are largely consumed is wasteful in many ways. Food that has to be shipped long distances is by necessity picked before peak freshness, so that it does not become overripe in transit. Packing and transportation costs are added to the purchase price of the item at the grocery store. The end result is a lower quality product with a higher financial and environmental cost.
Proponents of permaculture know that a lot of food can be produced in a small area, and that you do not need a traditional large acreage farm to produce significant volumes of produce. Within urban areas, you can use dense planting techniques, such as square foot gardening to grow a large percentage of the vegetables that your family eats. Backyard space can be utilized to keep a few hens for fresh eggs. Even rooftops of apartment buildings can be pressed into service to keep container gardens. With careful and creative space management your community can save money, eat more healthfully, and keep your environment healthier too.