Permaculture to Ease The Permacrisis

It’s odd to think about gardening even as the air nips and the leaves turn and fall.

Planting a seed or a bulb, or a bush can spruce up your life in any season.

And I believe a dalliance with nature is exactly what we need right now—in a world, we couldn’t have imagined even four years ago.

We have entered the age of Permacrisis. (Yet another word to add to your dictionary.)

It describes the extended period of instability and insecurity we continue to live in. We’ve become numb to political instability, the war in Ukraine, climate catastrophes, the cost of living, and food insecurity. 

It is so relevant that Collins Dictionary has anointed it “Word of the Year 2022.”

Planting a garden isn’t just a means of enhancing the visual appeal of your space. It’s also an increasingly important pastime that offers self-sufficiency and exercise and eases stress.

If you’re keen to get into gardening, but don’t know where to start, this guide contains all the advice you need.

Space and Dirt Count

If you’re interested in taking up gardening as a hobby, it’s important to think about how you can make the most of the space and use it to improve your health and lift your spirits.

Some people are lucky enough to have a private plot or even acres of land. Others may only have a courtyard or apartment. But do not—there are many options. Delve into amazing indoor garden ideas, like terrariums, ganging moss balls, or vertical growing systems.  

Check out your local communal spaces and community gardening projects. I’ve visited some fabulous ones that revitalized communities and built social bonds while providing fresh, delicious fruits and veggies.

In urban food deserts, aquaculture systems installed in backyards can provide fresh greens and protein from tilapia. 

Modern gardens offer a diverse range of uses, including encouraging wildlife, growing produce, creating attractive spaces to entertain, relax and unwind and establishing social areas.

Beginners Mind and Continuous Learning

If you’re a beginner with ambitions to create a beautiful, vibrant outdoor oasis, it’s wise to master the basics, research, and get ideas. Plan and prepare your garden before you start planting. You can design areas for relaxing, entertaining, and growing food.

Plants, trees, flowers, and shrubs bring life, vibrancy, color, and energy to your space, but you need to know how to nurture them.

Ask your local gardeners. What are the right plants for your geography and climate? Which ones are the easiest to grow? How will you prepare the soil and fertile medium to help them thrive?

Using composting bins is a brilliant way to improve soil quality and reduce dependency on chemicals and fertilizers.

Learn to grow with organic methods and roll with frosts and heat waves. That’s Permaculture in Permacrisis, and adaptation is key to surviving chaos.

“We learn from our gardens to deal with the most urgent question of the time: How much is enough?”  Wendell Berry

Break new inner ground

“There’s something about taking a plow and breaking new ground. It gives you energy.” Ken Kesey”

Permaculture offers many benefits to help us survive the Permacrisis we are experiencing.

Gardening can bring great joy and happiness, boost mental and physical health, and enable us to make the most of our personal and community spaces.

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Take Inspiration and Run

Inspiration and resources are all around us—we develop our gardens as we’re moved—at the pace we need. Get your juices flowing from places you visit or garden images you’ve seen.

It’s possible to transform even a small plot into a beautiful outdoor haven with a healthy dose of creativity. Explore different themes and trends, mix and match elements and focus on design concepts and ideas that you love.

Words Matter

Permaculture is the practice of producing food, energy, textiles, and plants using methods that do not deplete the earth’s natural resources.

Permacrisis is us lurching from one crisis to the next without taking a breath.

Gardening can teach us to slow down, live humbly, and foster community to help ease the constant fervor we’ve created.

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.” May Sarton

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