New Mexico Roots Down

New Mexico is at the heart of a revolution. The new green rev-
olution has begun with a common view and practices that will
provide food and fiber that are economically sound, environ-
mentally wise and socially and culturally appropriate now and
into the future. Sustainability of natural resources and our
own connection with the Earth improve with the practice of
Permaculture. “Permanent Agriculture” is the conscious
design and maintenance of cultivated ecosystems, which
have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosys-
tems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape, people
and appropriate technologies, providing goods, shelter, ener-
gy and other needs in a sustainable way. Permaculture is a
philosophy and an approach to land use which works with
natural rhythms and patterns, weaving together the elements
of microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals,
water, soil management, and human needs into intricately
connected and productive communities.

All living systems are centered around energy flow. The
existing energetic forces in the high desert of New Mexico,
sun, rain, wind, humans, and money act through systems;
whether that system is a garden, a family or a business. In a
permaculture system, position interconnects elements in the
system into beneficial relationships. When designed correct-
ly, such a system will become, like a natural ecosystem,
increasingly diverse and self-sustaining. Permaculture is
based on three ethics: Care of the Earth, Care of the People
and Setting limits to population and consumption. By gov-
erning our own needs, we can set resources aside to further
the first two principles.

Successful permaculture systems have three guiding
principles that have proven successful. The first prin-
ciple is that each element must perform multiple
functions within the system. An example would be the cher-
ry tree outside a home in the valley. The small tree bears fruit
or a cash crop, the rotten cherries fall or get eaten by birds,
spreading the fruit and also fertilizing the ground for the
berries that grow in the shade. The twigs are used for kin-
dling in the winter and the leaves act as mulch in the com-
post pile. The second principle is that each desired function
is supported by multiple elements (shade is provided). Lastly,
interconnectivity is vital. The susceptibility and output of a
New Mexican permaculture system is not dependent on the
number of elements, but rather the number of varied
exchanges. Think about the diversity and richness of an old
growth forest versus that of a monoculture tree farm.
Water is the dominant energy theme in dryland permacul-
ture design. New Mexico and the Colorado Plateau have
water resources that are being diminished at astonishing
rates and the “ownership” of that water is being disputed
with ever increasing fervor. When we take a step back from
the water crisis and evaluate the sources of water and the
lasting climatic and geographic patterns of our state, a
drought should be no surprise. Water system quantity fluc-
tuates dramatically in the high altitude deserts of the world,
being subject to varying inland climatic patterns due to dra-
matic mountain ranges and complicated geomorphology.
The pattern that many hydrologists and climatologists sug-
gest is governance of our consumption. This can be done by
various means: “gray water” systems, rainwater catchments
or drought tolerant plant species. Two other sources of ener-
gy in New Mexico are sun and wind. By taking advantage of
these forces, we can harvest and store amazing amounts of
energy and build our communities with a more “earth cul-
tural” mindset.

Traditions Converge

In New Mexico there is a rich legacy of profound human
interconnection with the land and its blessings of food
plants. The native peoples of this region hold an intimate
connection with the land and plant life. When the Spanish
arrived in the 15th century they brought with them their
own plants and practices, and when the Anglos arrived later
they transported many botanical allies as well as foes. These
traditions converged to form a rich and unique legacy, which
serves as a primary source of health and healing.
At the heart of is the profound reservoir of indigenous
knowledge, gleaned from millennia of living in intimate
relationship with the natural world. Throughout the year
ceremonial dances and rituals celebrate the gifts of the
earth, giving thanks for corn, beans, seeds, rain and the
mysterious tapestry of sacred relationships that sustain
human beings and all life. Modern agribusiness built an
industry based on the use of packaged hybrid seeds and
toxic chemicals. The restoration of Native food plant and
cultural heritage will be a difficult task, and is necessary for
the evolution of permaculture design. We must use innova-
tive, viable models for environmental restoration and
implement them at the same level of importance as other
political endeavors.

Permaculture is about understanding our human
relationship to place; it is about being attached,
connected, and belonging to the essence of these
natural places and the delicate environmental balance. The
cycles of energy to matter and matter to energy, and of birth,
death and rebirth are ongoing. A slender thread binds the
weave tight in the intricate, mysterious fabric of life, and yet
we have been blindly unraveling the tapestry of creation. As
we strain to find the limits of the natural world, we can no
longer escape the knowledge that we are inseparable from
our surroundings and that our fates are the same.
Permaculture principles are being used on every continent
except for Antarctica. Design solutions exist worldwide for
every environment and technological, social and economic
needs can be modeled on natural systems.