I’ve been asked about the flowers and nature photos on the website, my business card, the Project Simplify notecards, etc. “What do they have to do with organization and simplification?” they ask. How sweet to turn our attention to these images of life and rich color!

Nature knows what’s up. Her systems are efficient, exquisitely beautiful, intentional. What better inspiration and model for organization and simplification?

The International Institute for Ecological Agriculture is founded on Permaculture principles. Taken directly from their About Permaculture page:

Permaculture is the art and science of designing human beings’ place in the environment.

Permaculture design teaches you to understand and mirror the patterns found in healthy natural environments. You can then build profitable, productive, sustainable, cultivated ecosystems, which include people, and have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.

The easiest model by which to understand the principles of this philosophy is the homestead. That said, I completed a Permaculture Design Course in January 2002 and found the most valuable aspect to be the way of thinking that was encouraged–nay, required. Seeking the solution that is inherently embedded within any given “problem,” taking ample time to observe the natural flow of a situation rather than jumping in and blindly trying to fix whatever I can get my hands on, practicing 80% planning and 20% doing… This is just the tip of the iceberg.

When it gets right down to it, Permaculture is simply common sense. But common sense to a depth that we have, for the most part, become blind to in our abundant 1st world wealth.

I look forward to further exploring and further sharing Permaculture principles as they apply to this Project dedicated to organization and simplification. For now, I’ll suffice to conclude with my inspiration from nature as a sweet junction of beauty and efficiency.