Free BLOG #4: Permaculture in the STEMS Classroom

Permaculture Defined
What is Permaculture and why should you care? Permaculture is a design system for living, which takes into consideration the unique bioregion and culture it is set in. It strives also to be ecologically sound in that it is a closed loop system - one which creates no waste. Permaculture employs observation, biomimicry, and working with and within ecosystems, rather than against them.

As defined by permaculture activist, Guy Baldwin of Cortez Island, British Columbia, "Permaculture is a holistic approach to landscape design and human culture. It is an attempt to integrate several disciplines, including biology, ecology, geography, agriculture, technology, gardening and community building".

Permaculture is Place
Permaculture involves having not only a strong sense of place, but a working knowledge of what is happening in that place. What sorts of trees, plants, animals and people live there? What natural ecosystems are in and around the region? What is the temperate zone and how much rainfall does the area get? Is it an urban, suburban or a natural environment? How are energy, food and shelter needs met for the people who live there? Where does human generated waste go? How can the system be maintained to benefit the environment and all who live there?
Elements employed in permaculture design serve more than one purpose. It is efficient because, as in nature, each element employed performs many functions. For example, if chickens are part of our design system, they provide not only meat and eggs, but also fertilization for soil regeneration and pest control, by eating slugs and other harmful insects.

 Interacting Systems for Living

Many people think that permaculture has only to do with growing food - but that is only one aspect of it. As stated above, permaculture is a design system, that strives to create environmentally responsible plans for living. It manifests in innovative building design, wherein  passive and alternative sources of energy without residual waste products, are used. Permaculture also solves problems of drought, with rain catchment systems, grey water systems, the use of swales and gravity to capitalize on the natural flow of water, leading it to a destination where is can be put to use.

Doing as Nature Does
Permaculure concerns itself with biodiversity in agriculture. Following natures example, a permaculture farm is not monocropping, it does not employ harmful pesticides rather looking to nature for solutions.   Building healthy soil, growing clean food and food sustainability are some of the goals of permaculture as well as urban greening and better city planning, for community enhancement and community building.

Ethics
Permaculture is based on ethics: earth care, people care, fair share. Application of permaculture design is meant to benefit all. It is happening worldwide and has empowered people to have a say in where food and energy come from and to make educated decisions on what is good for the planet, for the community and for themselves.

Some of the Permie-STEMS projects I envision for students are engineering rain harvesting systems that rely on calculating the amount to be caught from their home or school rooftops. I see kids interested in plant and soil science as they design gardens, watered by their rain catchment systems, which produce goods that can be taken home, sold at farmers markets or delivered to elders, homeless people or families in need. I see kids thinking about green architecture, how the placement and design of an energy efficient building relies on the aspect of the sun and the climate of the area. I imagine neglected city parks and abandoned spaces being turned into community gathering spaces with edible landscapes by students who employ their knowledge of indigenous plants, ahupua'a systems, soil science, and natural pest control. The possibilities are endless. My goal is to create a coherent STEMS curriculum based in permaculture design.

STEMS + Permaculture = <3

S:Testing and regenerating soils, water sampling/testing, observing weather patterns, observing ecosystems / bioregion, data collection, plant /animal science, botany, ethnobotany.
T:Research, Collect Data, Create Presentations: movies, power points, slide shows. Use tools.
E:Design: green building, rain harvesters, passive solar structures, community spaces, gardens, shelter, tools
M:Quantify: carbon footprints, rain catch, food yield, energy needed,harvested, cycled.  Construction math.
S:Cultural connections to sustainable practices, effects on community, engagement of (high risk) youth,  elder care, community spaces, markets, gardens. Civic involvement.
S:Educating about and nurturing connection to place: self, others, community, bioregion, nature, earth = stewardship.

If this sounds interesting, the following are just a few good introductory talks on permaculture:
I'm also including, reposted on You Tube, the link for my STEMS/ELL video, from a couple years back to illustrate how ELL, ELA, STEMS and Permaculture can be connected!  https://youtu.be/sboEWkUWIDI

•  TEDx Honolulu -Mathew Lynch-Beyond Sustainability: The Story of a Reformed Capitalist
•   Geoff Lawton @ TEDx Ajman
• A Subversive Plot: How to Grow a Revolution in Your Own Back Yard TEDx Dirigo.