The Three Ethics of Permaculture — FarmPal

The foundation of all permaculture design: Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share. Every design decision flows from these three ethics, creating regenerative systems that serve both people and planet.

Principles

  • Earth Care: Provision for all life systems to continue and multiply
  • People Care: Provision for people to access resources necessary for their existence
  • Fair Share: Set limits to consumption and redistribute surplus (Return of Surplus)
  • These ethics are the lens through which all design decisions are made
  • They create a framework for ethical land use and community building

Action steps

  1. Observe before acting

    Spend a full year observing your site through all seasons before making major changes. Note sun patterns, water flow, wind, wildlife, soil conditions, and microclimates.

  2. Design from patterns to details

    Start with the big picture where does water flow? Where is the sun? Then zoom into specific plantings and features.

  3. Apply ethics to every choice

    For each design element, ask: Does this care for the earth? Does this care for people? Does this share surplus fairly?

  4. Start small and slow

    Begin with Zone 1 (closest to your home) and expand outward. Small, well-maintained systems outperform large neglected ones.

Benefits

  • Provides clear decision-making framework
  • Creates regenerative rather than extractive systems
  • Balances human needs with ecological health
  • Builds community connections

Further reading

  • Introduction to Permaculture Bill Mollison
  • Permaculture: A Designers' Manual
  • Gaia's Garden Toby Hemenway
  • The Permaculture Handbook Peter Bane