Permaculture as a Catalyst
for Agroforestry Adoption
Perennial Production Systems on
Diversified Farms
Dr. Rafter Sass Ferguson
Dr. Sarah Taylor Lovell
Multifunctional Landscape Analysis and Design Lab
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagin
multifunctionallandscape.com
North American Agroforestry
Conference 2015 • Ames, Iowa
Overview
Introduction
What is permaculture?
Objectives
Methods
Results & Discussion
Synthesis
permanent ~ agriculture
A Perennial Agriculture
for Human Settlement
David
Holmgren
Bill
Mollison
Founded 1975
international distribution
Projects on Permaculture Global
http://permacultureglobal.org/projects
912 Responses to 2012 web survey (English only)
Grassroots Engagement with Transition to Sustainability:
Diversity and Modes of Participation in the International Permaculture
Movement. Ferguson RS, ST Lovell. (In Press) Ecology and Society.
“the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally
productive ecosystems which have the diversity,
stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.”
Mollison 1988, p. ix
Permaculture for agroecology: design, movement, practice,
worldview. A review. Ferguson RS & Lovell ST, 2014.
Agronomy for Sustainable Development 34:2, pp 251-274.
PERMACULTURE
AGROECOLOGY
many
distinctive
elements
CONCEPTS
distinctive approach
or emphasis
• agroforestry
• agrobiodiversity
• semi-natural
landscape elements
• design framework
• land use &
livelihood diversity
• synergies between
components
• multifunctionality
PRACTICES
common
elements
• nutrient cycling
• reduced tillage
• biological pest
control
• crop rotation
• intercropping
• alternative crops
• perennial
polycultures
• integrated water
mgmt
Overview
Introduction
What is permaculture?
Objectives
Methods
Results & Discussion
Synthesis
How are permaculture farmers assembling livelihoods
around diversified and alternative production?
Quantify the nature and scope of income
diversification:
perennial production systems, other production and nonproduction enterprises
Quantify adoption of AF practices for farmstead and
commercial use
Synthesis: does permaculture play a role in catalyzing
adoption and supporting producers?
Overview
Introduction
What is permaculture?
Objectives
Methods
Results & Discussion
Synthesis
Methods
Data Collection
Field Research: Jun 2013 - Jan 2014
• 48 sites
• 5-12 hours / visit
• crowdfunded at
$10,000 / 175 donors
Field Research: Jun 2013 - Jan 2014
• 48 sites
• 5-12 hours / visit
• crowdfunded at
$10,000 / 175 donors
Methods
Analysis
1. Characterization
- farm characteristics
- agroecosystem mapping
(ongoing)
2. Classification and clustering
(3. Modeling returns to labor)
Overview
Introduction
What is permaculture?
Objectives
Methods
Results & Discussion
Synthesis
Results and Discussion
Characterization
Scale
Gross Income
$2000 - $800,000
farm-based income
Acres in Production
1.5 - 1500 acres
in production
Age and Experience
Years Farming
2 - 40 years of
farming experience
Age of Farm
1 - 100 year
old farms
Agroecosystem mapping (ongoing)
OR
TN
14 ha
0.6 prod
28 ha
5.6 prod
VA
3 ha
1.8 prod
CA 2
779 ha
483 prod
CA 1
22 ha
3.3 prod
OR
seed
production
28 ha
5.6 prod
open and woodland pasture
mixed annual/perennial
TN
14 ha
0.6 prod
forest garden w/ poultry
multi-species silvopasture
water management
22 ha
3.3 prod
40 ac
30 prod
pollination services
water management
water mgmt/terracing
VA
annual production
3 ac
1.8 prod
contour cultivation
drip irrigation & low tunnel
mixed annual/perennial
CA 2
779 ha
483 prod
orchard silvopasture
large up-slope reservoir
rangeland
Prevalence of AF practices on 48 permaculture sites
for home and commercial use
Results and Discussion
Clustering
Clustering of 36 farms based on distribution of
gross income across enterprises classes
$300K
Enterprise class
cultural
$200K
material
animal
$100K
perennial
annual
mixed
$0
cultural/
production
animal
base
cultural
service
base
small
integrated
mixed
production
production
Overview
Introduction
What is permaculture?
Objectives
Methods
Results & Discussion
Synthesis:
catalyzing adoption and
supporting producers
Permaculture farmers are...
Permaculture farmers are...
• implementing AF at a high rate
Permaculture farmers are...
• implementing AF at a high rate
• managing highly multifunctional
landscapes
Permaculture farmers are...
• implementing AF at a high rate
• managing highly multifunctional
landscapes
• facing same hostile environment as
other AF producers and diversifed farms
Permaculture farmers are...
• implementing AF at a high rate
• managing highly multifunctional
landscapes
• facing same hostile environment as
other AF producers and diversifed farms
• using a familiar set of strategies to
survive (non-production enterprises)
Neither magic wand
nor pyramid scheme!
Neither magic wand
nor pyramid scheme!
Permaculture is not...
Neither magic wand
nor pyramid scheme!
Permaculture is not...
• enabling farmers to simply avoid or
overwhelm the constraints of a hostile
environment
Neither magic wand
nor pyramid scheme!
Permaculture is not...
• enabling farmers to simply avoid or
overwhelm the constraints of a hostile
environment
Permaculture is...
Neither magic wand
nor pyramid scheme!
Permaculture is not...
• enabling farmers to simply avoid or
overwhelm the constraints of a hostile
environment
Permaculture is...
• fostering the narratives and values that
inspire and motivate AF & diversified
producers
Neither magic wand
nor pyramid scheme!
Permaculture is not...
• enabling farmers to simply avoid or
overwhelm the constraints of a hostile
environment
Permaculture is...
• fostering the narratives and values that
inspire and motivate AF & diversified
producers
• providing social capital for cultural
enterprises (i.e. education)
Neither magic wand
nor pyramid scheme!
Permaculture is not...
• enabling farmers to simply avoid or
overwhelm the constraints of a hostile
environment
Permaculture is...
• fostering the narratives and values that
inspire and motivate AF & diversified
producers
• providing social capital for cultural
enterprises (i.e. education)
• connecting farmers with communities
and networks
Thank you.
Acknowledgements
• The Agroecology Scholars Program and the
JB Turner Fellowship
• The Multifunctional Landscape Analysis and
Design Lab Group
• My lab assistant Devin Renee Jen
• All 175 donors to my field research
• All 48 farmers who took the time to
participate
Results
Model