Digital Permaculture: design for personal digital sustainability

1. A brief summary of permaculture..

Permaculture, a portmanteau of ‘permanent’ and ‘culture’, was originally developed as a method for sustainable land management and settlement design, inspired by the thriving patterns observed in natural ecosystems. The concept was co-originated in the 1970s by Bill Mollison, his partner Reny Mia Slay, and Mollison's student David Holmgren. A key aspect often overlooked is the profound influence of the land management practices of Aboriginal Australians on the development of permaculture principles. Their deep understanding of and harmonious relationship with the land significantly shaped the foundations of permaculture.

Since its inception, permaculture has evolved from its initial focus on agriculture to become a broader approach to sustainable living. In the 2020s, as climate change became a pressing issue worldwide, permaculture was recognized on a larger stage as a solution to contemporary agricultural and environmental challenges. Practices like agroforestry, syntropic farming, and the development of food forests are examples of permaculture techniques that practitioners around the world have refined for decades.

Today, permaculture is acknowledged as a solution to a multitude of problems, ranging from the loss of biodiversity and food insecurity to the erosion of local communities. It is a testament to the enduring wisdom of indigenous peoples, particularly the Aboriginal Australians, whose sustainable living practices have provided valuable insights into creating harmonious, resilient communities in balance with nature.

Ethics

When I came to permaculture I found it hardest that no one ever wanted to discuss ethics on a meta-level with me. What are ethics, what are their limits? What are current ethics? How did they get defined? Back in the days I needed clarity for myself. Not about the permaculture ethics, but about what ethics in general entail.

Ethics refers to a set of moral principles or values that guide an individual's behavior and decisions. It involves the understanding and analysis of what is right and wrong, good and bad, and just and unjust. Ethics can be personal, societal, or professional, and they often vary based on cultural, philosophical, and religious beliefs.

In a broader context, ethics is the discipline of philosophy that deals with moral conduct, duty, and judgment. It concerns itself with questions like:

What is the right thing to do in a given situation?

How should people live their lives in relation to others?

What are the principles that define good conduct?

Ethics can manifest in various ways, such as:

Personal ethics: The individual principles and values that one holds. These are often influenced by upbringing, culture, religion, and personal experiences.

Professional ethics: These are standards and practices that govern the behavior of individuals within a profession. For example, medical ethics guide the conduct of healthcare professionals.

Social ethics: This pertains to values and principles that govern the behavior of people within a society. They are often codified into laws and social norms. For example in Finland, significant importance is placed on the spoken word; words are chosen deliberately to convey a message effectively. This cultural norm emphasizes the value of meaningful communication, with a preference for saying less and avoiding superfluous small talk. Or as Pythagoras put it: Be silent or let thy words be worth more than.

Environmental ethics: This area of ethics focuses on the relationship between humans and the environment, concerning issues such as conservation, sustainability, and the rights of non human entities.

Ethics plays a crucial role in decision-making, guiding individuals and groups to make choices that are not only beneficial to themselves but also considerate of others and the broader environment.

Compared to moral, ethics are external. The 3 permaculture ethics were defined by Mollison and then the 3rd ethic has been redefined over the years by the community.

In its heart permaculture is based on its prime directive: The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children. It is surrounded by the 3 ethics Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share. All 3 together are required in order to create a permanent culture.

Let’s have a look at the 3 permaculture ethics:

Earth Care: Emphasis on preserving and enhancing the health and vitality of natural ecosystems. It recognizes that humans are a part of the natural world and that our actions can have profound impacts on the environment. Earth Care encourages us to work with nature rather than against it, adopting practices that regenerate ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and improve soil health. We have to remember: The infinite cyberspace is bound to finite resources.

People Care: fostering social well-being and ensuring that human needs are met in equitable and sustainable ways. People Care encourages the creation of supportive, resilient, and self-reliant communities where individuals can thrive. It promotes practices like sharing resources, building social connections, and encouraging local and participatory decision-making processes. It is also about self care.

Fair Share (or the limit of resources and consumption, or Return of Surplus or Future Care): This ethic is centered around the concept of limiting consumption and redistributing surplus resources to promote equity and sustainability. It acknowledges that the earth's resources are finite and that over-consumption contributes to environmental degradation and social inequality. Fair Share encourages us to use resources mindfully, reduce waste, and share what we don't need with others, whether it be knowledge, time, money or material goods.

Illustration Permaculture Cake

When People Care, Earth Care and Fair Share come together as we apply permaculture design we get permaculture.

Just as there are numerous cake recipes to choose from, permaculture offers a diverse range of strategies, techniques, and applications that can be tailored to specific contexts and individual preferences. The beauty of permaculture lies in its adaptability and the creative freedom it provides. It invites us to explore and experiment, celebrating the multiplicity of solutions and approaches that can be integrated into our design practices.

By embracing the metaphor of the cake, we recognize that permaculture is not about rigid adherence to a singular definition of good permaculture, but rather about the process of continuous learning, adaptation, and innovation. It is through this dynamic and ever-evolving approach that we can create regenerative systems that align with our values and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The 3 ethics don’t stop at our garden gate, not when we are using our phone and not when we interact in social media.

To use a slightly modified quote from a small green alien:

My ally permaculture is, and a powerful ally it is.

Permaculture design

Let’s first define permaculture design. Permaculture design is a subset of design. Design in general is the process of planning and creating something with a specific function and/or aesthetic in mind. To quote Wikipedia¹: Design is the concept of or proposal for an object, process, or system.

Permaculture design focuses on creating sustainable, self-sufficient ecosystems that mimic natural systems. It integrates principles of ecology, sustainable practices, and holistic planning to enhance biodiversity, soil health, water management, and overall ecological balance.

The term design is fundamental to permaculture. In fact, to be considered permaculture, a project must involve design. The sum of all permaculture designs results in permaculture.

Bill Mollison's seminal book is titled "Permaculture: A Designer's Manual²," emphasizing the central role of design in permaculture practice. Permaculture design requires specific skills and a deep understanding of the subject matter, whether it's a website, a piggy-bank, a product, a house, or a garden.

Design is inherently context-sensitive, meaning that the designer must tailor their approach to the unique characteristics of the project. Designers must possess or acquire the knowledge necessary to initiate the design effectively.

We all have to become permaculture designers and I hope this book helps you to become one!

I acquired my design skills over decades of designing, starting with advertisement leaflets and party flyers when I was 16, continuing with websites, t-shirt prints, and all kind of different products – and now even entire homesteads.

Design process

A design process is a systematic and iterative method used to create a plan, solution, or product that meets specific requirements and objectives. It involves several stages that designers, architects, engineers, and other professionals follow to bring an idea to fruition.

Most permaculture design processes resemble more or less an action learning² path.

Action learning cycle

To initiate the design process, I select a suitable design framework or process. There are several recognized processes in permaculture and design in general. While some have been established for many years, some are more recent.

From the established processes most notable there are SADIMET³, OBREDIMET⁴, CEAP⁵, and Looby’s Design Web⁶. All of them are used for land- or social permaculture design. CEAP is the original design process developed by Bill Mollison. It is linear. SADIMET and OBREDIMET are circular, hence iterative, using an evaluation and tweaking stage. Looby’s Design Web is something entirely different. It is a non-linear non-circular process that allows the designer to use given anchor points in whatever order the designer deems necessary.

For me permaculture design processes come with a lot of benefits:

Clarity and direction: A structured design process provides clear steps and stages, which can guide a project from conception to completion, ensuring that all critical aspects are addressed.

Efficient resource use: By planning thoroughly and anticipating potential issues, resources such as time, money, and materials can be used more efficiently, reducing waste.

Quality and cohesiveness: A systematic approach can improve the quality of the final project by ensuring that all components work together cohesively.

Continuous improvement: The iterative nature of evaluating and tweaking allows for continuous refinement, leading to progressive improvement in design and outcomes.

Risk mitigation: Analysis and regular evaluation can identify risks and issues before they become significant problems, allowing for proactive management.

Stakeholder satisfaction: Involving stakeholders throughout the process helps to align the design with their needs and expectations, increasing satisfaction.

Adaptability to change: Flexibility is built into the process, allowing for adjustments in response to new information or changing circumstances.

Enhanced communication: Documenting each phase of the process improves communication among team members and stakeholders, ensuring that everyone understands the project's progress and direction.

Knowledge transfer and learning: Systematic documentation and reflection at each stage of the process create a knowledge base that can be used for training and applied to future projects. Sustainability and longevity: Emphasizing maintenance ensures that the project remains viable and sustainable over the long term, not just upon completion.

The design process SADIMET (or SADIM) is widely used for land-based (you design a piece of land – your garden / homestead / farm) and even social design (you design for yourself / groups / communities) within the permaculture community. It is a suitable process for this book. SADIM is rigid (you will see below). If you are seeking a less rigid and more flexible approach, I recommend Looby Macnamara's Design Web.

SADIMET design process

1. Survey: This initial stage is about gathering a deep understanding of the current state of the project, whether it's a physical site or a conceptual plan. This includes collecting relevant data and observing existing conditions, resources, limitations, and potential. The aim is to acquire a comprehensive overview to guide the next steps.

2. Analysis: In this phase, the information collected during the survey is critically examined to identify patterns, connections, and potential obstacles. This analytical process helps in understanding the project's requirements and opportunities, setting a solid foundation for informed decision-making.

3. Design / Decision: The design phase involves creating a plan that integrates the gathered information and analysis. Designers use permaculture principles, strategies and techniques to develop holistic and regenerative solutions.

4. Implement: This phase is about bringing the design to life, translating ideas into action. Depending on the project, this could involve executing physical changes, initiating new processes, or applying innovative approaches to achieve the desired outcomes.

5. Maintain: Maintaining involves ongoing care and attention to ensure the project continues to function effectively. This could encompass regular monitoring, adjustments, and interventions to address emerging needs or challenges.

6. Evaluate: Evaluation involves regularly assessing the performance and outcomes of the design. This phase helps designers identify successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.

7. Tweak: We tweak our design according to our findings in Evaluation, basically start the design process again.

The shorter version SADIM, skips the evaluation and tweak stage.

Like permaculture design processes and software development this book tends to be iterative. The 10th edition might look different than as its first release.

Survey / Observation is both: the beginning and the end; it's from this vantage point that continuous improvement can be made.

The SADIMET design process as a spiral (linear permaculture design processes are usual circular with no end – hence a spiral.

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design² https://www.tagaripublications.com

2 https://asb.edu.my/action-learning

3 https://permateachers.eu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/sadimet.pdf

4 https://www.permaculturewomen.com/a-design-cycle-application-gobradimet/

5 https://beyondbuckthorns.com/content/diploma-applied-permaculture-design/welcome-permacafe

6 https://loobymacnamara.com/

2. IT terminology and concepts

Let’s get some clarity about some of the terms and concepts used in IT.

Open-source software

Open-source software (OSS)⁷ is software in which the source code is made available to the public, allowing users to view, modify, and distribute the code. This model encourages collaboration, transparency, and community-driven development. Users can customize the software to meet their needs or contribute to its improvement by fixing bugs, adding new features, or optimizing performance.

Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS)⁸ is a specific category of Open-source software that not only provides access to the source code but also guarantees users the freedom to use, modify, and distribute the software without any restrictions or fees. The term ‘free’ in FOSS refers to freedom rather than price. This means that while the software is available at no cost, the focus is on the liberties granted to users.

Open-source software is a broader term that encompasses all software with publicly accessible source code, while FOSS is a subset of Open-source software that emphasizes user freedom and ensures that the software can be used, modified, and shared without any restrictions or fees.

One important point: FOSS or OSS doesn’t mean no one gets paid. That is not the case. There are plenty of companies, individuals and organizations who pay developers to create FOSS / OSS. Often developers of (F)OSS can be contacted and paid directly.

FOSS vs. freeware

Free and Open-source software is distributed under a license that grants users the freedom to use, modify, and distribute the software without restrictions. The source code is also available for anyone to view, modify, and redistribute. This means users have the liberty to control and modify the software as they please. Focus is on the ethical implications of software.

Freeware⁹, conversely, pertains to software distributed for free (price), but the source code may not necessarily be accessible. Users can freely use and distribute the software, but they might not have the ability to modify it or distribute modified versions. Freeware is often employed as a marketing tactic to promote paid versions of the software or generate revenue through advertising or donations. Unfortunately freeware is often mistaken for (F)OSS and inexperienced users can’t distinguish between them. That’s why (F)OSS comes with a license.

The licenses for Open-source software

Open-source software licenses come in various forms. Three of the best-known licenses include:

The GNU General Public License (GPL)¹⁰ is perhaps the most well-known. It mandates that any derivative works (changes or additions to the original code) must also be released under the GPL.

The MIT License¹¹ is permissive, imposing very few restrictions on how the software can be used, modified, and distributed.

The Apache License¹² resembles the MIT License but also encompasses a patent protection clause, providing an explicit patent license for any patents covered by the software.

Feel free to use a search engine of your choice to explore more Open-source licenses.

A prime example of Open-source software is Thunderbird¹³, a mail client from Mozilla¹⁴. This software is available free of charge for users, and its source code is also freely accessible¹⁵. Besides the original Thunderbird there are multiple forks available, like for example Betterbird¹⁶.

Fork

A fork of software is like taking a copy of a recipe and then deciding to change it up a bit to suit your taste or add your own flair. Imagine someone shares a recipe for a cake, and you take that recipe but decide to add some chocolate chips and a hint of cinnamon to make it your own. In the world of software, forking means taking the source code (the recipe) of an existing program and developing a new program from it that might have different features or a different direction than the original. It's a way for developers to build on existing work while adding their own ideas and improvements.

Repository

A repository is like a digital storage space where all the files related to a project are kept. It's similar to a folder on your computer, but it's used for storing and organizing things like code, documents or images. The special thing about a repository is that it keeps track of all the changes made to the files, kind of like a detailed history or a time machine. This means you can see how the project has evolved over time and go back to older versions if needed. Repositories are often used by people working together on a project, making it easier for them to share updates and work on different parts without getting in each other's way.

Open-source hardware

Open-source hardware¹⁷ refers to the design and documentation of physical products, such as electronics, scientific equipment and other machinery, that are made publicly available so that anyone can use, modify, and distribute them. Like Open-source software, Open-source hardware is often developed and maintained by a community of volunteers, tightly knit with the Open-design movement¹⁸, and is often distributed for free or at a low cost.

The idea behind Open-source hardware is to allow for the free exchange of knowledge and technology, and to encourage innovation by allowing others to build upon existing designs. Open-source hardware also allows for greater collaboration and customization of products, as well as reducing the cost of production, research and