Allison Houghton, Permaculture and Gardening Teacher Permaculture methods for ecological design are especially useful for bringing productivity and biodiversity to urban settings. Allison Houghton shares some methods for planning and growing successful garden spaces. Presented at the Urban and Suburban Carbon Farming to Reverse Global Warming conference at Harvard University on May 3, 2015, organized by Biodiversity for a Livable Climate. www.bio4climate.org

1. Gardening for the Planet
Harnessing the incredible power of
biodiversity using permaculture
Allison Houghton

2. Defining Permaculture
● combining “permanent” and
“agriculture”
● the development of agricultural
ecosystems intended to be sustainable
and self-sufficient.
● Is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally
productive systems which have the diversity, stability, and
resilience of natural ecosystems.
● It is an agricultural philosophy that uses the resources that we
have around us to their fullest potential.

3. Permaculture
Ethics
and
Principles

4. Permaculture Ethics
Care for the Earth
Care for the People
Return the Surplus

5. Soil Health is the Base of Everything
All Soil Life
Plants
Insects and Other
Arthropods
Vertebrates
Good Soil
Health
Poor Soil
Health

6. There are more soil microbes in one handful of
healthy soil than there are people on this planet.
Mycorrhizal fungi
extending root reach

7. Catching and Storing Energy and Materials
● Identify, hold, collect,
capture “flows” or
“resources” in your system
● Think about gradients,
sunlight, kitchen waste,
life cycles
● Reinvest resources to
maximize your output

8. Some ideas:
● home composting
● capture rainwater using
rain barrels, rain
gardens, or adjustment
in shape of the
landscape
● mulching with garden
and home materials
MINT
KITCHEN
“WASTE”

9. Working With and Maximizing Edges
● edges are the intersection
of two environments
● incredibly diverse
● where materials and flows
collect, transform, produce
● where high levels of
productivity happen

11. Sustainability for You
● Sustainability is important for
the garden, but also for you.
● Start in small and
manageable
● Get a yield
● Care for the Earth, Care for
People (including yourself)
and Return the Surplus