Nature-Culture

I have studied some permaculture design, and it is useful, but I'm moving towards a different vision of design that is looser and more natural. Nature-culture.

Nature-culture is an anthropology term, but I'm using it as a design and real-life-living concept: living my life as part of nature; sharing my resources with those who share theirs (the bees and the birds, etc.); becoming more aware of nature's needs so I can be a better neighbor; changing my habits so I can cause less harm.

Permaculture aims to create "agriculturally productive ecosystems that mimic the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems". I don't care so much if my yard is agriculturally productive, but the last part is a good aim. If I could turn my little plot back into a wetlands meadow or an oak savannah, and still live here, I would.

My working definition of Nature-culture is "humans living in unity with nature: acting in ways that create shared spaces that mimic the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems."

Parts and principles of Nature-culture include:

• Staying in daily touch with your local ecosystem - observing and interacting, learning the names of the flora and fauna, and being mindful of the season and climate; becoming a better neighbor.
• Creating a wildlife garden with native plants to reverse some of the human-caused habitat destruction that is hurting wildlife.
• Growing a food garden using regenerative agricultural practices - learning from nature and attempting to build healthy soil, collecting and saving seeds, using organic practices, and choosing plants that flourish locally. 
• Living our indoors life as close to nature as possible, using less plastics and less processed foods; causing less harm.
• Limiting waste by recycling, reusing, and repurposing materials, making compost, and using brush and weeds on site.
• Paying forward the benefits you receive from nature by educating others and advocating for nature.