What is Permaculture ?

How does it relate to Malta Organic Agriculture Movement (MOAM)

This is a follow up of the question of ‘What is organic farming?’ aptly answered by my wife Mary. Whilst organic farming is certainly practiced by permaculturists, organic farmers are not necessarily permaculturists. Permaculture takes the notion of organic farming to the holistic limit by harmonizing human activity into the, inherently, sustainable nature of the natural world.

Whilst some farmers may decide it is beneficial for them to grow organic tomatoes in large quantities under glass as a mono-culture crop; it does not necessarily qualify them as permaculturists, particularly if they consume large amounts of oil generated electricity to warm their green houses and airlift their product to far away countries in cargo jets. Surely growing and providing organic tomatoes is to be recommended but in a permaculture setting the benefits are much more. So, ideally organic farming should be designed to work in a permaculture setting.

In a permaculture setting, a farmer would not grow one monoculture crop but as diverse a crop as possible with fields interspersed with wild life habitat like garigue, ponds, carob and olive trees. Farm animals would be free range, diverse and in limited numbers. Electricity would be generated on site using renewable energy sources like photovoltaic and wind. He would heat his green houses using solar water heaters and try and use water encatchment as much as possible, to collect rain water. His farm design would incorporate waterless toilet facilities and purifying plant for grey water from sinks, baths and showers. Manure from farm animals would be naturally dispersed by their free range or composted. In short, the design of a permaculture system would involve the blending of an organic farm eco-system with the natural eco-system of the locality where both systems would compliment each other in a sustainable way.

Believe it or not, this ideal situation existed, here, in Malta before the last world war, sixty or so years ago. Yes, permaculture was practised well before the word was ever coined. Accounts from farmers of that era and the study of the old farmhouses they inhabited are witness to this. All produce was grown organically without the use of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides or artificial fertilizers. True, they did not have or need the technology we have today to generate electricity from renewable sources or to purify grey water and heat water with the sun but they surely integrated their farm ecosystem of crops and free-range farm animals with the natural environment around them. They did not intrude on the environment, but complimented it, contrary to what is happening today. Ironically, we have more learning but less wisdom than those days. If you ever get to visit an old Maltese farm, notice the cluster of carob trees dispersed here and there around the plot. There will invariably be a stream, pond or water reservoir nearby acting as a life source for diverse fauna, including insects and frogs. These are just a part of the natural food chain of birds, mammals and reptiles that take refuge in the rubble walls, trees and rocky garigue to be found close by.

 So, permaculture involves a design process whereby human intrusion on the environment is made to be complimentary and sustainable, maintaining the integrity, vitality and diversity of  an ecosystem as a whole. Permaculture is a philosophy pertaining to land-use and life style options that use natural resources in a sustainable way that guarantees our healthy survival and that of future generations. It follows that Permaculture is ethical and moral, not to mention intelligent. Permaculture is respectful of life.

Here in Malta, one is made very conscious of the intrusion, disrespect and outright destruction, of the local environment due to the high population density of such a small island. Damage has been made by, stone quarrying, land development and intensive farming. Natural underground water is being ruined by indiscriminate, and sometimes, illegal pumping. Although discouraging, there is still hope, because there is yet a lot to save, such is the abundance and diversity of Malta’s fauna, flora, topography and terrain.

MOAM apart from promoting organic farming as a speciality is committed to convey these concepts holistically, and that means within a permaculture design.

Towards this aim it is envisaged that specialized courses could be organized, whereby experts from Malta and abroad would be invited to give hands on instruction on such subjects as wind turbine construction and bio diesel manufacture. Other possible courses apart from the numerous organic agriculture subjects, are listed below

· Photo voltaic cells and connecting to the grid

· Water management and grey water purification

· Composting

· Worm farming

· Building solar ovens

· Solar water heating

· Designing energy efficient buildings

· Building composting toilets

· Food as medicine

· Designing a permaculture farm

· Local flora/fauna.

· Medicinal properties of local flora

 If you are interested, your first step should be to become a member of MOAM. A questionnaire will be provided where members can indicate which area’s are of most interest to them, for the purpose of organizing the first course.

Permaculture is for everybody because it is equally applicable to a balcony/roof/back garden  as to a farm. It is very educational and of interest and benefit to children and grownups alike. We are witnessing the havoc humans have caused to climate and the natural world. The time to act is now. The age of permaculture should commence in earnest now.

Join MOAM NOW. Hope to see you soon.

By David Mallia, Razzett il-Fuklar, Organic Farm /Permaculture Operative

Malta Standards Authority licence number MT 01 A/B 001