The Three Ethics

To live a life of liberty and respect requires not only some principles, but also a firm set of ethics. Rules to live by, as they say. In permaculture our common goal is to build resilient systems that will provide for generations to come. We accomplish this by following three core ethics.
Care of the Earth
We really don't have anywhere else to go. If we continue on exploiting the earth without reparation we are doomed to the fate of Easter Island, the Anasazi or in more recent times, the American dust bowl. In our haste to grow onward and upward we have forgotten that our dear mother needs care and attention, as she provides all that we truly need. Act locally, think globally is a good phrase to explain this ethic. We apply our trade at home as individuals, but as a common worldly entity we accomplish outstanding feats. We care for the earth by consuming less, recycling more and conserving energy and resources through multifunctional designs. I would extend this ethic to the working animals of a permaculture system, from pollinators to pigs.
Care of People
We are all in this together. Every man, woman and child can make a difference if they put in the effort. It doesn't have to be much, a simple smile whilst opening a door for someone, a basket of fresh veggies from your garden to someone in need. Care comes in the form of compassion, respect, empathy and acceptance. When we take our own ego out of the equation we open ourselves up to a beautiful world. Each individual has that spark deep down inside, just waiting to ignite their true passion. Find your spark.
Return the Surplus
Also known as "Fair Share." When we obtain a yield, we often have more than we need. We need to give it back. This could mean sharing your extra food, volunteering with a local agency, setting up an unused part of your property for a community space or sharing your knowledge with those who want to learn. Sometimes this will be at your discretion, other times pure necessity (like an over abundance of zucchini). This can also mean planting extra food for your pollinators and pest control species. If we are going to plan a system of abundance, we also need to plan to give some of it away.
In closing...
Thank you all for joining me on this journey through the principles and ethics of permaculture. I am viewing this from the perspective of the student, my first PDC is starting soon. It is being filmed at Elisha's Spring Farm in West Virginia, the inaugural PermaEthos farm. I am excited to see what Josiah Wallingford, Jack Spirko and friends have in the works for this awesome project. I will be sharing some of my experiences with you on the blog as things progress.
Growing liberty and love,
Russ