How Is Permaculture Connected To Regenerative Agriculture?

“I’ve been transitioning to a permaculture approach in my garden for a couple of years now, and the results have been wonderful. However, I recently started reading about regenerative agriculture and am a bit confused. They seem like they might be related, but I’m not exactly sure how. Should I be incorporating aspects of regenerative agriculture into what I’m already doing with permaculture? If so, how do I go about it? Any help would be greatly appreciated!” thanks, Rebecca, Surrey, UK.

Connecting the Dots: Permaculture and Regenerative Agriculture

Great question, Rebecca! You’re not alone in scratching your head over the relationship between permaculture and regenerative agriculture. They definitely share some common ground, but they also have their own unique qualities, much like two friendly neighbors who borrow cups of sugar from each other but have different recipes in mind.

Let’s walk through the similarities, differences, and how you can blend the best of both worlds in your garden. After all, your garden is your canvas, and these approaches are just different shades of green you can use to paint your masterpiece.

What Is Permaculture?

Since you’ve been practicing it for a few years, Rebecca, you probably have a good grasp of permaculture. But just to make sure we’re all on the same page, let’s break it down a bit.

Permaculture, at its core, is about creating sustainable and self-sufficient ecosystems. It pulls inspiration from natural ecosystems and applies those principles to everything from gardening and farming to community living. Think of it like designing your garden to work in harmony with nature, rather than fighting against it. Instead of monocultures, you’re planting a diversity of crops, using companion planting to help control pests, and maybe even incorporating animals like chickens to help fertilize the soil. You’re closing the loops — nothing goes to waste, and everything serves a purpose.

If you’re familiar with the “three ethics” of permaculture — care for the earth, care for the people, and fair share — then you’ve got a pretty solid foundation. These ethics drive the designs and practices, ensuring that the ecosystem is sustainable and regenerative in its own right.

What Is Regenerative Agriculture?

Now, regenerative agriculture is somewhat of a close cousin to permaculture. It shares the same goal of sustainability but kicks it up a notch by focusing heavily on improving the health of the land. Whereas traditional agriculture often depletes the soil, regenerative agriculture aims to rebuild soil health, increase biodiversity, and sequester carbon.

This approach is all about regenerating the land — essentially healing the damage that agriculture has done over the years. Think of it like nurturing back a neglected garden to a thriving paradise. It uses techniques like cover cropping, no-till farming, and diversifying plant species, all of which build up the soil rather than break it down.

Regenerative agriculture doesn’t just “sustain” — it actively seeks to improve the land so that it’s better off than when you started. So, whereas permaculture often focuses on creating self-sufficient systems, regenerative agriculture puts a special emphasis on restoring vitality to the soil.

How Are They Related?

The similarities between permaculture and regenerative agriculture run deep. Both approaches advocate for working with nature rather than against it, aiming for a harmonious relationship between people and the planet. They both reject the industrial agriculture model that relies on chemical inputs and monocultures and both favor biodiversity and holistic use of resources.

Here’s how they intersect:

• Diversity of Crops: Both encourage growing a variety of plants. Permaculture does it through companion planting and food forests, while regenerative agriculture does it to keep the soil rich and healthy.
• Soil Health: Healthy soil is a cornerstone of both practices. Regenerative agriculture might lean more heavily into practices like no-till farming or cover cropping, but permaculture practices like mulching and composting serve the same end goal.
• Closed-Loop Systems: In both systems, waste is seen as a resource. Whether it’s letting the chickens forage through your garden in permaculture or returning crop residues to the soil in regenerative agriculture, both aim to recycle resources within the system.
• Environmental Stewardship: Both are environmental do-gooders at heart! They prioritize the land, water, and broader ecosystems beyond just the garden or farm.

Where Do They Differ?

Although there’s a lot of overlap, there are some differences between permaculture and regenerative agriculture:

• Focus: Permaculture is a broader design philosophy — it’s about creating resilient, self-sufficient systems at any scale, from a small backyard to whole communities. Regenerative agriculture, on the other hand, is primarily focused on farming practices that regenerate the land, mainly targeting larger farming operations.
• Scale: You can apply permaculture principles to a windowsill herb garden or a vast piece of land. Regenerative agriculture is more geared towards farms and larger gardens where soil health is a significant concern.
• Approach: Permaculture tends to use a systems thinking approach, with careful planning and design upfront, while regenerative agriculture focuses more directly on farming methods that return health to the soil.

Should You Incorporate Regenerative Agriculture into Permaculture?

The short answer, Rebecca, is a resounding yes! These two approaches complement each other beautifully. Since you’re already practicing permaculture, you’re halfway there. Infusing regenerative agriculture principles can take the health of your soil — and the overall productivity of your garden — to the next level.

How? Imagine incorporating practices like cover cropping or focusing on crop rotation specifically designed to increase soil fertility and carbon sequestration. You’re already thinking long-term, and regenerative practices help accelerate your journey toward a thriving, even more sustainable ecosystem.

Cover Cropping

Incorporating cover crops is one of the easiest places to start. A cover crop is essentially a plant or a mixture of plants that you grow specifically to benefit the soil, not to harvest. They prevent soil erosion, add nutrients back into the soil, and even suppress weeds.

For smaller gardens, you might opt for cover crops like clover or buckwheat. These not only improve your soil but also attract beneficial insects, which is a win-win.

Crop Rotation and Diversity

While permaculture already values diversity, one trick from the regenerative toolbox is crop rotation. By growing different types of plants in the same spot from season to season, you reduce the risk of disease and pests while maintaining soil fertility.

Let’s say you’ve been growing tomatoes in the same spot for a couple of years. By rotating with a legume crop the next year, you’re not only giving that plot a break; legumes also fix nitrogen in the soil, leaving it richer for the next crop. It’s like a mini soil vacation!

Compost and Mulch Galore

Both permaculture and regenerative agriculture sing the praises of composting and mulching, so keep doing what you’re doing. But if you haven’t already, consider amplifying your compost game. A compost heap that includes inputs from your garden, kitchen scraps, and even some materials like wood chips or straw will keep that soil thriving.

Mulching, meanwhile, helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and involves less work on your end — you can never have too much mulch!

Advanced Insights: Beyond the Basics

Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals, it’s time to dig a little deeper. Here’s where you can really geek out on the finer aspects of integrating these two philosophies seamlessly.

Regenerative Agroforestry

If you’ve got fruit trees or a small orchard, think about incorporating some regenerative agroforestry concepts. This combines tree farming with regenerative agriculture practices, like planting nitrogen-fixing plants in the understory of your orchard. They’ll not only improve the soil but also provide a polyculture environment that’s more resilient to pests and diseases.

Ever consider planting your veggies or herbs under the trees as well? It’s a sophisticated way to use the space and improve the health of your trees at the same time.

Water Management Techniques

Permaculture is already big on managing water wisely through rainwater harvesting, swales, and ponds. Regenerative agriculture steps up the game by focusing on increasing the soil’s water-holding capacity.

Adding organic matter like compost or mulch can boost the soil’s ability to hold onto water, making your garden drought-tolerant over time. Building up that rich, spongy soil will help you capture every drop of rain, so you don’t have to rely as much on irrigation.

Troubleshooting: Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Every gardener faces their fair share of challenges, but when blending permaculture with regenerative agriculture, you might encounter specific hurdles. Let’s chat about those and how to overcome them.

Compaction Issues

If your soil is prone to compaction — which can stifle plant growth and reduce water absorption — regenerative practices like deep composting or even the addition of earthworms can help. Earthworms are natural tillers, and their tunnels help aerate the soil while adding precious nutrients.

Too Much Nitrogen?

Legumes and cover crops like clover are fantastic, but they can sometimes add too much nitrogen to the soil, especially if you’re not rotating them with other crops. If you notice your vegetables looking leggy or lush but with little to no fruit production, you might have a nitrogen overload.

Balancing your compost materials and rotating with nitrogen-hungry plants like corn or squashes can help bring everything back into balance.

Managing Overwhelm

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when trying to incorporate everything at once. The beauty of this journey is that you can take it one step at a time. Start with the practices that make the most sense for your garden and expand as you go. Remember, nature doesn’t rush, and neither should you.

Final Thoughts…

Rebecca, you’re already on an amazing journey with your permaculture practices, and layering in regenerative agriculture techniques can only make your garden healthier and more resilient. Whether it’s cover cropping, boosting your compost, or experimenting with crop rotation, these small efforts will pay off big in the long run.

Thanks for sending in your question — you’ve got this!