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 |
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Earth Care |
Work with nature rather than against it |
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People Care |
Be socially connected |
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Fair Share |
Be economically viable providing right livelihoods |
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Design from pattern to detail |
Become an organism with closed loop systems |
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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 |
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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 |
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Integrate rather than segregate |
|
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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 |
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Observe and interact |
Enhance the landscape |
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Produce no waste |
Create biological cycles and avoid pollution |
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Creatively respond to and respond to change |
|
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Use small and slow solutions |
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Catch and store energy |
|
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Apply self regulation and accept feedback |
Become an organism with closed loop systems |
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Is cosmically connected linking plants and animals and people to the cosmic and planetary movements and working with these |
To read the full article you can sunscribe to Permaculture magazine. All subscriptions come with free digital access to 25 years of back issues, all searchable by subject of interest: www.permaculture.co.uk/subscribe
Useful links
Video: Biodynamic gardening
