Accurate Quote by Toby Hemenway
“I’m going to argue here that the most accurate and least muddled way to think of permaculture is as a design approach, and that we are often misdirected by the fact that it fits into a larger philosophy and movement which it supports. But it is not that philosophy or movement. It is a design approach for realizing a new paradigm.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability, 2009
Permaculture is fundamentally a design method, not a philosophy; it supports broader movements but stands alone as a practical paradigm.
In simple terms: Permaculture = design approach, not a philosophy.
Key Takeaway
Apply permaculture as a design tool.
Themes
design
environment
sustainability
methodology
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
educational
technical
When to use this quote
- urban gardening
- community planning
- landscape restoration
Key Concepts
systems thinking
ecology
innovation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can design thinking improve your environment?
- What limits design‑only approaches?
A Different Perspective
May be misinterpreted as ideology.
![“He [Groucho's father] had absolutely no training, and if you had ever seen one of his suits, you'd realize what an accurate statement that is. You see, Pop never used a tape measure. He didn't believe in it. He said he could just look at a man and tell hi.” quote by Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/02f/groucho-marx-788_accurate_he-groucho-s-father-had-absolutely-no-tr_22161.jpg)
