Presenting 12 more images illustrating the principles

Twelve fresh images illustrating the principles now feature on the website. These photos were submitted from people around the world and were selected to feature in the 2015 Permaculture Calendar.

Principle 1: Observe and interact - Discovering Springtails

Principle 2: Catch and store energy - Sustainable harvesting from a sustainable source — *‘Sustainable harvesting from a sustainable source’ photo taken in El Parado, Mexico by David Holmgren*

Principle 3: Obtain a yield - Transforming food for flavour, longevity and vitality — ‘Transforming food for flavour, longevity and vitality’ photo contributed by Kate Berry

Principle 4: Apply self-regulation & accept feedback - Taking a break during a shared effort — *‘Taking a break during a shared effort ‘ photo contributed by Richard Telford*

Principle 5: Use & value renewable resources & services - A see-saw from the sea shore — *‘A see-saw from the sea shore’ photo contributed by Nelson Lebo*

Principle 6: Produce no waste - Getting more out of an orchard — *‘Getting more out of an orchard’ photographed by Robyn Rosenfeldt*

Principle 7: Design from patterns to details - Firing for the Festival of Light — *‘Firing for the Festival of Light’ photo by Sandra Bowkett*

Principle 8: Integrate rather than segregate - No fuss shiitake — *‘No fuss shiitake’ photo contributed by Kirsten Bradley*

Principle 9: Use small and slow solutions - Living fences and mulchers — *‘Living fences and mulchers’ photo contributed by Oliver Holmgren*

Principle 10: Use and value diversity — *‘Finding a balance in the garden’ illustration contributed by Emma Lawrence*

Principle 11: Use edges & value the marginal - The Bus Stop Library — *‘The Bus Stop Library’ photo contributed by Russ Grayson at Clovelly Road in Sydney, Australia*

Principle 12: Creatively use and respond to change - Choosing to eat fresh and local ingredients — *‘Choosing to eat fresh and local ingredients’ photo contributed by Richard Telford*

Each year I add a new collection of images to the website to help give a wider interpretation of how the design principles can be applied. All of the images used on the principle pages have been included in previous Permaculture Calendars, which is now in it’s 7th incarnation.

This website has been designed as a starting point for people who are interested in exploring what permaculture is all about, as well as a place where practitioners can get a better sense of how the principles can be applied. It’s an ideal spot to expose projects that demonstrate permaculture thinking to the hundreds of thousands of people that visit the site each year, as well as the many thousands more who see the calendar up in people homes and offices.

2015 Permaculture Calendar — The Permaculture Calendar embodies the ethics in its design. It’s on sale now while stocks last.

Interested in submitting your own images?

From previous experience it’s good to set yourself an exercise of taking a photo to illustrate a particular principle. This could be a good exercise for permaculture teachers to set students, or a local permaculture group? Permaculture Northern Beaches in Sydney is running a photo competition with all submissions considered for the next calendar.

If you think that you may have something, point me to your online photo library or email me your images and I’ll let you know if there is a possibility or two. Photos with people and/or animals in them tend to fare well as they help bring images to life. I’m after photos (or illustrations) in landscape format that are high resolution jpeg files (around 3000 x 4000 pixels), so that they can be printed at over A4 size. Email your submissions to [email protected] before the end of June 2015.

If your image is selected as the cover for the Permaculture Calendar you’ll receive twelve copies, a further eleven selections will receive four copies along with links and credits – a small token of thanks for successful contributions. Think of the exposure it will bring to your project.

For inspiration, check out the collection on each of the design principle pages. Happy snapping!

Richard Telford