projects > Permalab

PermaLab aims to be an online meeting point for creative minds and open source users. I'm now activelly developing the platform from Berlin with Mattia Zucco and Julia Maltry. The idea behind PermaLab is to facilitate an online community and build a space were people from all around the world can show the different projects they work in. We strongly believe in open source culture as a solution for change. Inspired by Bill Mollison, Permalab gets articulated around the following principles:

 

1 - Cooperation

 Cooperation rather than Competition

By putting the right things in the right place, relationships develop between those things and they work together to support each other. Different disciplines shall influence each other in a noticeable way, furthermore they shall help and complement each other.

 

2 - Polyculture

 Elements / Function in Polyculture

Polycultures are stable as they reflect the design of a natural ecosystem. Each function is supported by many elements.Support each vital need and essential function in more than one way. Also recognise that there's more than one way to achieve a task. Everything has many uses and functions. In permaculture we aim to design so that every element performs at least 3 functions.

 

3 - Self-regulation

 Apply Self-regulation and Accept Feedback

Aim to integrate a variety of beneficial elements. This builds a stable and interactive polycultural system that provides for human needs and also the needs of other species. Polycultures are stable as they reflect the design of a natural ecosystem.

 

4 - No Waste

 Energy Planning/Catch and Store Energy

In a natural system there is no waste or pollution - the output from one natural process is always the resource for another natural process. Recycle and reuse your local resources as many times as possible within a polycultural system.

 

5 - Observe and interact

 Creatively Use and Respond to Change

We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefuly observing, and then intervening at the right time.

 

6 - Energy

 Energy Planning/Catch and Store Energy

Place things in a permaculture design to minimise the use of energy. Utilise the energy and resources both on-site and from outside as effectively as possible. This also saves time, energy and money.

 

7 - Resources

 Use and Value Renewable Resources

Make the best use of natures abundance to reduce our consumptive behaviour and dependence on non renewable resources.

 

8 - Edges

 Use Edges and Value the Marginal

There is more life on the edge where two systems overlap. Systems can then access the resources of both. Use the edge effect and other natural patterns observed to create the best effect.

 

9 - Glocal

 Use Small and Slow Solutions

Small and slow systems are easier to maintain than big ones, making better use of local resources and produce more sustainable outcomes.

 

10 - Identification

 Obtain a Yield

Ensure that you are getting truely useful rewards as part of the work that you are doing.