What is Permaculture?

Permaculture is a system of ecological landscape design

Permaculture is a landscape design system for sustainable human settlements and perennial agricultural systems that produce more energy than they consume.  It takes inspiration and mimics relationships and patterns in nature.  In its most concrete sense permaculture is a breed of landscape architecture or landscape design.  The word permaculture was originally a contraction of “permanent agriculture,” but has broadened to be more of a contraction of “permanent culture” with its expanded insight into land stewardship, architecture, tools and technology, community structures and economics.  Permaculture is a way to recreate “Paradise gardens” in every back yard.

Permaculture defines sustainability.  Through ethical sustainable land stewardship and a relocalized economic revival we can remember our place in the natural order of things as a keystone species.  Where we may participate in—rather than damage—our planet’s ecosystems and the process of evolution itself.

In its most concrete sense permaculture is a breed of landscape architecture or landscape design.  In it’s most abstract and poetic sense it is a movement in the symphony of Life to more elegantly integrate Spirit and Matter.

For a deeper introduction to permaculture, please browse some links.

About Us

Principal designer for Midcoast Permaculture

Jesse Labbe-Watson came to permaculture over the last decade by way of the movements for social and environmental justice.  Over the last decade he has come to agree with the idea that “all the world’s problems can be solved in the garden.”  After a brief apprenticeship at Earthaven Ecovillage in North Carolina, Jesse formally studied permaculture with Charles and Julia Yelton at the Newforest Institute and Humustacia Gardens.  He graduated from the their Advanced PDC in October 2008.  He has gone on to start a permaculture landscape design/build and sustainability consultation firm in the Midcoast area.  He has consulted for private residents, market gardens, and non-profit organizations.  He is the primary organizer for the Midcoast Permaculture Network which hosts workshops, meetups and potlucks.  He was also a principal logistics coordinator for the 2010 Northeast Regional Permaculture Convergence hosted at the MOFGA fairgrounds.  Jesse brings an artist’s paintbrush, a philosopher’s pedantry, a tracker’s attention to detail and a holy fool’s comedic relief to the company he keeps.  He lives with his young family in Rockland.

You may reach him via email: watson(at)midcoastpermaculture.com or phone 593-9208