Project Goals

The purpose of this independent study is to gain an understanding of the biological systems critical to self-sustaining agricultural practices. I will read about different theories of designing sustainable production systems from a varitety of perspectives; first person accounts, primary scientific research, certified permacultural designers and experiential wisdom of farming practices.

Permaculture is a concept founded on the belief that current mainstream agricultural production has a negative net affect on the health of the land and people as well as the overall health of communities and society. The founding principle is that proactive, responsible stewardship of the earth is inherently beneficial to human beings, and that food production can have a positive net effect on the land and on human-beings.

My focus is an in-depth look into the biology present on the farm. Specifically how responsibly managed farms immitate and exploit various natural processes such as the symbiosis between plants and animals to improve their land and acheive profit.