Book reading
Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual
Bill Mollison
Chapters 1 and 2
Book access & editionsModule 02 / 25
Ethics and Principles
Topics
- Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share (distribution of surplus), Limits Aware (constraints to consumption and population), Positive attitudes and self-responsibility
- Holmgren’s 12 Principles and their correlation to Mollison’s Principles
What you’ll learn
Learning goals
- Know the permaculture ethics and their applications in culture
- Understand that values guide design decisions
- Understanding of ecological design principles and some ideas of how to apply them across cultural domains
Read, watch & explore
Getting the books · access & editions
Use your own copy, buy the book, or borrow it through a library when possible. If you are local to me, contact me about borrowing a copy. You can also contact me for information about digital or other access to assigned readings.
Ask about reading access ↗If your edition uses different page numbers, contact me and we can match the correct section. Contact instructor.
Ethics and design principles
Complete the principles-comparison activity. The Deep Green pages already linked in Design Exercises 1–10 provide additional commentary on Mollison’s principles.
Book reading
Practical Permaculture
Jessi Bloom and Dave Boehnlein
Pages 13 to 17: ethics and transitional choices
Pages 18 to 31: principles reference
Book access & editionsRead
Holmgren’s 12 Principles
justlists.wordpress.com
Open resourceWatch
The Permaculture Principles
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Apply the principles
Use those exercises to explain an actual design choice, including a tradeoff between human needs and ecological effects. Show this application in your Design Exercise work. Read the assigned Mollison chapters alongside these shorter supporting resources.
Exercise & discussion
Exercise: compare Mollison and Homlgren's principles. What are your observations on how they differ?
What to prepare
- A short notes document comparing Mollison’s and Holmgren’s principles, with your observations about how they differ.
Save written notes as a document or PDF. For paper maps or handwritten notes, use a clear photo or scan. You can combine related work in one file.
Share & discuss
Attach your principles-comparison notes.
Email the address listed under “Get In Touch” on my contact page. Do not use the contact form. Include the Permaculture Design Course, Module 2, and “Principles comparison” in your subject or message.
Find my email address ↗Readings & resources
- Permaculture: A Designer’s ManualChapters 1 and 2In lesson ↑
- Practical PermaculturePages 13 to 17: ethics and transitional choicesPages 18 to 31: principles referenceIn lesson ↑
- Holmgren’s 12 PrinciplesReadIn lesson ↑
- The Permaculture PrinciplesWatchIn lesson ↑