This is the definitive Permaculture design manual in print since 1988. It is the textbook and curriculum for the 72-hour Certificate course in Permaculture Design. Written for teachers, students and designers, it follows on and greatly enlarges on the initial introductory texts, Permaculture One (1978) and Permaculture Two (1979) both of which are still in demand over twenty years after publication. Very little of the material found in this book is reproduced from the former texts. It covers design methodologies and strategies for both urban and rural applications, describing property design and natural farming techniques. Topics include:

• design methods
• understanding patterns in nature
• climatic factors
• water
• soils
• earthworks and their use in earth repair
• techniques and design strategies for both urban and rural applications
• the temperate climates
• dry lands
• cold climates
• humid cool climates
• humid tropics
• trees and their energy transactions
• aquaculture
• waste management
• energy efficient architecture
• legal strategies and trusts
• effective working groups
• right livelihood
• money and finance
• ethical investment
• bio-regional organisation
• effective aid

Permaculture (permanent agriculture) is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Without permanent agriculture there is no possibility of a stable social order.

Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms.

The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions rather than asking only one yield of them; and of allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions.

Bill Mollison is the Executive Director of the Permaculture Institute, which was established in 1979 to teach the practical design of sustainable soil, water, plant, and legal and economic systems to students worldwide.

Preface
Author's note
Permaculture defined and its use
Conventions used
Access to information
Cover story

Chapter 1, Introduction
Chapert 2, Concepts and Themes in Design
Chapter 3, Methods of Design
Chapter 4, Pattern Understanding
Chapter 5, Climatic Factors
Chapter 6, Trees and their Energy Transactions
Chapter 7, Water
Chapter 8, Soils
Chapter 9, Earthworking and Earth Resources
Chapter 10, The Humid Tropics
Chapter 11, Dryland Strategies
Chapter 12, Humid Cool to Cold Climates
Chapter 13, Aquaculture
Chapter 14, The Strategies of an Alternative Global Nation

Plant list by common name
Plant list by species name
Glossary
Resources
References
Index