Indigenous Wisdom in Permaculture and Regenerative Agriculture
Permaculture and regenerative agriculture are deeply rooted in ancient indigenous practices that have sustained ecosystems and communities for millennia. These systems, popularised in the West, are in fact ancient wisdom repackaged. Indigenous peoples, from Native Americans to the peoples of Mesoamerica and the Amazon, have long cultivated land in ways that preserve biodiversity, restore soil health, and ensure food security.
For example, the Three Sisters—a method of interplanting maize, beans, and squash—used
by Native Americans is a classic example of permaculture. Each plant supports the others in
a balanced ecosystem: beans fix nitrogen in the soil, corn provides a structure for beans to
climb, and squash covers the ground to retain moisture. This is now recognized as a
sustainable, regenerative technique, yet it has been used by indigenous peoples for
centuries.
Similarly, the milpa system in Mesoamerica, where crops are rotated and diversified,
regenerates the land and builds food security. Practices like agroforestry, where trees and
crops are grown together, mimic natural ecosystems and were practised across the
Americas, from the Amazon’s Chagra system to the carefully managed forests of North
America.
What’s now called permaculture is essentially the remembering and connecting to these
ancient practices. Indigenous communities have always understood their role as stewards of
the land, creating a reciprocal relationship with nature that allows ecosystems to thrive.
References:
1. Article on indigenous agroforestry practices:https://sustainableamerica.org/blog/indigenous-knowledge-permaculture
https://sustainableamerica.org/
2. Article on Three Sisters method:https://permaculturenews.org/2020/10/15/native-american-three-sisters-garden
Permaculture Research Institute - The Permaculture Research Institute (permaculturenews.org)
Indigenous Ethiopian Permaculture Practices In Ethiopia, indigenous farming practices such
as soil conservation, water harvesting, and the use of local crops like enset have been
crucial in maintaining food security and supporting local ecosystems. The revival of these
methods through permaculture projects shows that what is often labelled as 'new' in Western
contexts is in fact ancient knowledge that has been preserved and passed down.
Ethiopia's enset crop, also known as the 'false banana,' has sustained people in times of
drought, offering a resilient and nutritious food source that grows with minimal water. Efforts
to incorporate these indigenous practices in modern farming systems demonstrate how
African wisdom plays a significant role in regenerative agriculture and global food security.
References:
1. Enset as a superfood in Ethiopia:https://sdg2advocacyhub.org/enset-superfood-east-africas-food-security
Written by : Tariqua Telahun
Tariqua Rooted
Date : February 2020
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Indigenous Wisdom in Permaculture and Regenerative Agriculture
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Indigenous Knowledge & Regenerative Design
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