In PM96, Marina O'Connell, co-director of the Apricot Centre, explores the similarities and differences between permaculture and biodynamics.
Here we have a brief comparison of the two.
Permaculture principles |
Biodynamic Principles |
Earth Care |
Work with nature rather than against it |
People Care |
Be socially connected |
Fair Share |
Be economically viable providing right livelihoods |
Design from pattern to detail |
Become an organism with closed loop systems |
Obtain a yield |
Grow and produce high-quality food that is sold as locally as possible |
Use and value diversity |
Enable biodiversity from the soil up, with 10% of the farm given over to biodiversity and Endangered species |
Use edges and value the marginal |
Enables biodiversity from the soil up, 10% of the farm should be given over to biodiversity and endangered species |
Integrate rather than segregate |
|
Use and value renewable resources and services |
Create biological cycles and avoid pollution
Allow animals on the farm to express their nature - high animal welfare standards |
Observe and interact |
Enhance the landscape |
Produce no waste |
Create biological cycles and avoid pollution |
Creatively respond to and respond to change |
|
Use small and slow solutions |
|
Catch and store energy |
|
Apply self regulation and accept feedback |
Become an organism with closed loop systems |
|
Is cosmically connected linking plants and animals and people to the cosmic and planetary movements and working with these |
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Useful links
Video: Biodynamic gardening