Rethinking How We Live: Lessons from Permaculture

How often do we pause to think about our place in the world? In modern life, it’s easy to feel separate from nature, living in houses made of concrete, travelling on paved roads, and buying food wrapped in plastic. But what if we started seeing ourselves differently?

Permaculture, as Morag Gamble so beautifully describes it, is about shifting our thinking, our relationship with nature and each other, and designing human habitats that are connected with and informed by nature. It’s a way of living that fits within the earth’s ecological limits while repairing the damage we’ve already done.

Seeing Ourselves as Part of the Web of Life

For centuries, humanity has acted as though we’re above nature—conquering it, exploiting it, and bending it to our will. But that mindset has led to many of the challenges we face today: depleted soils, polluted waterways, and disrupted ecosystems caused by land clearing and development.

Permaculture flips that thinking. Instead of seeing ourselves as separate, it invites us to see ourselves as part of the web of life—just another thread in a complex, interconnected system.

When we recognise this, everything changes. We start to realise that every decision we make—how we grow our food, how we build our homes, how we dispose of waste—has an impact not just on us but on every other living being we share this planet with.

Designing with Nature, Not Against It

One of the core principles of permaculture is to work with nature rather than against it. This means observing natural systems—how water flows, how plants and animals interact—and designing our lives in ways that align with those patterns.

For example:

• Instead of using chemical pesticides to fight “pests,” we might plant flowers to attract predatory insects that naturally control pests.
• Rather than letting rainwater run off into storm drains, we could collect it in swales or tanks to water our gardens.
• Instead of clearing land to make it “tidy,” we could leave areas wild to support pollinators and other wildlife.

By designing with nature, we create systems that are not only more sustainable but also more resilient. These systems thrive because they are in harmony with the world around them, rather than constantly battling it.

The Shift to Ecological Thinking

Shifting to ecological thinking requires a change in mindset. It’s not just about what we do—it’s about how we see the world.

• From Consumer to Caretaker: Instead of thinking of the earth as a resource to exploit, we start seeing it as something to care for and nurture.
• From Independence to Interconnection: We move away from the idea of being self-sufficient to recognising that we’re all interdependent—on each other, on the soil, on the air, on the water.
• From Short-Term to Long-Term: We stop looking for quick fixes and start thinking about how our actions will impact the earth for generations to come.

This shift isn’t always easy. It takes time to unlearn the habits and beliefs we’ve inherited. But as Morag Gamble says, to design with nature, we must see ourselves as part of the web of life, not separate and above it.

Restoring the Damage

The good news is that nature is incredibly forgiving. When we start to work with it instead of against it, ecosystems can recover surprisingly quickly.

• Planting trees can restore degraded land and bring back wildlife.
• Building soil through composting can make barren land fertile again.
• Reducing waste and pollution can help rivers, oceans, and air become cleaner.

Permaculture isn’t just about stopping the damage—it’s about actively restoring what has been lost. It’s about leaving the world better than we found it.

What You Can Do

The beauty of permaculture is that anyone can practice it, no matter where they live. Here are a few simple ways to begin:

• Observe Your Surroundings: Take time to watch how water flows, where the sun shines, and what plants grow naturally in your area.
• Start Small: Plant a tree, set up a compost bin, or grow some herbs.
• Think Cycles, Not Waste: Look for ways to keep nutrients and materials in use, whether it’s turning food scraps into compost or reusing old items creatively.
• Reconnect with Nature: Spend time outdoors, pay attention to the seasons, and learn about the ecosystems in your area.

Living Within Nature’s Limits

Permaculture reminds us that we don’t have to fight against the natural world to live well. In fact, the more we align with nature, the more abundance we can create—for ourselves, for other species, and for future generations.

By shifting our thinking and designing with nature, we can move toward a way of life that fits within the earth’s limits while healing the damage of the past. It’s a hopeful, practical, and powerful vision for the future—and it starts with each of us.

What Do You Think?

• How do you see yourself in relation to nature?
• Are there areas in your life where you could start working with nature instead of against it?
• What small change could you make today to become part of the web of life?

Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear your ideas and experiences.