We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth... is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of Gods creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.
Permaculture is a system of human and agrarian culture based upon a set of ethics that may be expressed as Care of Creation, Care of Humanity, and Care of the Community. It is in perfect harmony with Catholic Social Teaching.
Here is how Permaculture cares for creation. In a permaculture system, we are constantly observing how God has designed plants, animals, and people to work together. We notice patterns of organisms that work together to help each other. For instance, we look deeply into the soil to observe its structure, mineral content, mycorrhizal and bacterial activity, water content, and animal life (insects and worms, for instance). This will tell us much about the health of the land we’re stewarding as well as what is the best use. Our study of these interrelationships also helps us to know how to create ideal conditions for a different use such as opening land to be used in annual vegetable production, or converting an open field to an orchard.
Permaculture is gentle and kind to creation. We design systems to work harmoniously together in patterns that God created which results in far less stress to the environment and greater sustainability.
Permaculture takes into account human workers. We design for maximum efficiency and most comfortable labour.
Permaculture conserves resources. We design the system to use its natural resources to best advantage and to recycle energy and resources.
Permaculture cares for livestock. We design the system to best suit out livestock, ensuring that they have living conditions and readily available fodder that is as close as possible to that which they would naturally choose if left to their own instincts.
Permaculture cares for wildlife. We design the system to deliberately include wildlife corridors and largely unmanaged spaces where wildlife can live, breed, feed, and travel undisturbed by human activity.
Interested in learning more about Permaculture and how you can design your own home to work by these principles? Visit The Farm School at Renaissance Farms.