Permaculture Resources

Resources for Growing a Thriving Permaculture Community

Explore a curated archive of resources to support your permaculture journey, including practical guides, self-paced courses, videos, books and publications, case studies, a clear glossary, and FAQs to deepen learning and project impact

Permaculture Resources Word Cloud

Permaculture Resources

Permaculture resources exist everywhere, for every level of interest and every media preference. Weve put together this list of our favourite resources for anyone interested in permaculture, whether youre a novice or expert. Check out the whole list, all the way to the bottom of the page. Not everything here is big books.

Books & Publications

For serious readers, start with the big books about permaculture, written by its originators:

Permaculture: A Designers Manual by Bill Mollison (the textbook used in the Permaculture Design Certificate course – published in Australia, it can be quite difficult to find here in Canada)

and

Permaculture: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability by David Holmgren (a basic summary of the principles outlined in his book is available free here). Theres a good long interview with him on YouTube here as well.

Our local library has copies of the following excellent permaculture resources as well:

Most exciting is a DVD (called In My Permaculture Garden) of our own (formerly) local Ron Berezan, about his home permaculture site right here in Edmonton.

Also exciting but less local:

Gaias Garden and The Permaculture City by Toby Hemenway – you can see him speak on YouTube here. Gaias Garden is a great entry-level book about permaculture in a gardening context.

Sustainable Revolution by Juliana Birnbaum – a wonderful overview of what permaculture is accomplishing in communities around the globe.

Food Not Lawns by H.C. Flores – an easily accessible book exploring how to get started in permaculture, not just in your yard but also in your community.

For those looking for more advanced and specific info, the library also has copies of great titles like:

The Resilient Farm and Homestead by Ben Falk – Ben has created a successful permaculture homestead up a mountain in Vermont, with a lot of commonalities to the climate farther north here in Canada.

Sepp Holzers Permaculture by Sepp Holzer – a permaculture pioneer operating in the Austrian mountains, he has accomplished amazing things on a steep, high, cold mountain.

And many, many more – just do a search!

Comprehensive Reading List:

Guides

Design Principles & Philosophy:

Technical Guides:

Plant & Seed Resources:

General Resources:

Videos

Another main resource in the permaculture world is Geoff Lawton, head of the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia (the country where permaculture originated). He was first introduced to the world in this great YouTube video Greening the Desert. He has since released many, many more videos (including full length educational documentaries) through the Permaculture Research Institute and his own website, where you can watch free videos of Geoff exploring permaculture success stories around the globe.

Verge Permaculture, based in Calgary, has created a great series on YouTube, and weve got the first episode for you right here

A further sampling from YouTube:

Educational Video Collections:

Documentaries

Sustainable Me Documentary Series

Developed and Produced by the Edmonton Permaculture Guild & COWS

Documentary series with 6 22-minute episodes on living sustainably. A resource for the engaged individual for making meaningful change in their lives.

Other Films & Documentaries:

And if you enjoy watching films online, check out Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective (released spring 2015) as well!

Another wonderful associated movement is Transition Towns, using permaculture design and community grassroots initiative to transition in a fun, human-friendly way to a lower energy future. Theyve made and released two inspiring films, In Transition 1.0 and In Transition 2.0, both free to watch online!

Courses

Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC)

The Permaculture Design Certificate course uses Bill Mollisons Permaculture: A Designers Manual as its primary textbook.

Online Learning Resources:

Audio Learning:

And if youre into podcasts, iTunes has Permaculture Voices (associated with a yearly conference), Homesteading and Permaculture by Paul Wheaton (originator of the awesome forums at permies.com), and Sustainable World Radio, among others! There are also some permaculture offerings through iTunes U!

Case Studies

Local Edmonton:

  • In My Permaculture Garden (DVD) – Ron Berezans home permaculture site right here in Edmonton

International Examples:

  • Greening the Desert – Geoff Lawtons Jordan project
  • The Resilient Farm and Homestead – Ben Falks Vermont mountain permaculture (cold climate, similar to northern Canada)
  • Sepp Holzers Permaculture – Austrian mountain permaculture pioneer

Community & Networks

Happy trails, and please let us know if you find something wonderful weve missed!