Aerial view of the Food Production Zone (FPZ) of the Hyderabad Collective

Community. Permaculture. Food forests.
These have been the core of all our activities at Beforest Collectives.
With our forest-friendly collectives, we are on a mission to achieve food, water and power security by growing self-sustaining food-growing systems, driven by community members, through permaculture processes.

But what exactly is permaculture?
While this concept of growing food and regenerating soil has been adopted by quite a few individual communities across India, we are one of the first few in the country to explore permaculture at this scale (100+ acre landscapes). So far we have set a base in 700+ acres of landscapes in 6 forest-friendly Collectives spread across 4 locations (Coorg, Hyderabad, Mumbai & Bhopal) and have come across several challenges on the way. Let’s explore them in the context of Permaculture.

What is Permaculture?

Permaculture is a pod containing two peas – ‘permanent agriculture’ and ‘permanent culture’. The blend of the two denotes that the practice encourages sustainability in material form (food, resources, energy, and more) as well as non-material form (lifestyle, values, and culture). Permaculture is an approach to designing ecologies that resemble (or rather borrow from/imitate) the way natural ecosystems, like forests, work. The process builds on careful and sensitive research and experimentation.

The concept of permaculture is not just limited to designing nature that we can touch and feel but also extends to the way we think, interact with nature and its beings, and live in harmony with one another. This eco-sensitive design approach when applied to agriculture is nothing but Permaculture Farming (sometimes called Permaculture Agriculture).

What is Permaculture Farming?

Permaculture farming poses a solution to the problems persisting in the agricultural sector. The purpose of permaculture farming design is to build resilient, sustainable and self-replicating ecosystems based on specific ethics and principles. A well-designed permaculture farm yields healthy and nutritious food from soil that can retain its fertility and provide for several generations. It is a sustainable agriculture process that aims to build self-sustaining farmlands that can grow wide-ranging crops and house a diverse range of living beings that benefit mutually. The use of manufactured energy is also at a minimum. It is done by studying and tapping into the natural/organic cycles of the earth.

Such sustainable permaculture farming results in the creation of ‘food forests’ – forest-like ecosystems designed to generate an abundance of food. Conserving natural resources and reducing the human footprint is also a key concern while building these food forest farms.

The process of generating food forests or permaculture farmlands involves

• Restoring the natural balance and nutrients of the land
• Ensuring healthy water levels and soil diversity
• Generating abundance and diversity of food and resources
• Taking accountability for all the inputs and outputs of the land
• Building a self-replicating, self-sustaining and cyclical ecosystem

The permaculture process is built on a framework of ethics and principles that guide important design decisions. They form the backbone of permaculture farming and can also be applied to other non-material aspects of our lives. In short, permaculture is the way of building places where humans, animals, living beings and all the natural elements can coexist and evolve harmoniously for as long as time.

Permaculture Farming on a Large Scale: What Does it Take?

This harmony with nature and its beings is what we have set out to achieve at all Beforest Collectives. However, the impact we wanted to create couldn’t surface with small-scale independent and dispersed permaculture farmlands. That is when we came us with the idea of farming collectives, where people who aspire to lead a sustainable lifestyle can pursue their goals while regenerating the landscape through permaculture design and efficient landscape management. This made us go for 100+ acre landscapes in the most diverse parts of India to explore the breadth and depth of this field. 

But we realised that it wasn’t going to be a linear approach in any way. It takes a lot more than knowing how to farm or having the natural resources to support farming activities to carry out permaculture farming at scale.

1. Suitable Landscape

When searching for an ideal piece of land, it is important to consider several factors. Firstly, finding a vast and uninterrupted stretch of land with a diverse range of natural resources like water bodies and hints of a natural ecosystem is essential to maximize its growth potential. The landscape is what ultimately determines the zoning and design decisions for it.

Additionally, the location of the land is crucial, taking into account practicality and convenience. In the present day’s context, it is inconvenient to have land situated too far away from cities, as they have become the epicentre of various human-driven activities and their resources may need to assist the establishment of the landscape to drive it to self-sufficiency over time.

2. Diverse Team

A successful team in permaculture activities consists of people who complement each other rather than clash. Each team member brings their unique strengths, resulting in a stronger collective unit. This approach enables the team to have multiple perspectives simultaneously, leading to holistic solutions. By bringing out the best in each individual, the team fosters collective growth and achieves greater success.

3. Expert Partnerships

When embarking on a similar path, it is crucial to learn from those who have already walked it. Collaborating with experienced individuals in fields such as regenerative systems, water management, wildlife conservation, and more is invaluable. Their expertise enables us to bridge the gap between small-scale and large-scale endeavours with confidence. By tapping into their knowledge and insights, we can navigate challenges more effectively and achieve success on our journey.

4. Ecological Thinking

Respect and love for the ecological world serve as guiding principles for all our design decisions. Therefore, the team must be aligned with ecological thinking in every aspect of our operations. We prioritize the growth and well-being of the natural world, considering it the ultimate measure of success on our journey. By integrating these principles into our work, we ensure that our actions are in harmony with the environment and contribute to its flourishing.

5. Local Farming Wisdom

The wisdom of the residents in the region is invaluable. Their deep knowledge of the landscape and their instinctive reasoning behind every action make them indispensable. It is important to embrace and honour their wisdom, recognizing the invaluable insights they offer. By carrying this wisdom forward, we ensure its preservation and transmission to future generations, fostering a continued connection to the land and its inherent knowledge.

6. Test – Learn – Scale 

Recognizing the uniqueness of each landscape is essential, as it entails varying solutions tailored to specific environments. Therefore, implementing design solutions on a smaller scale and closely observing their outcomes before scaling them up adds an extra layer of confidence in executing the overall design. This iterative approach allows for adjustments and fine-tuning, ensuring that the solutions are well-suited and effective within the specific context of the landscape. By adopting this method, we can approach the implementation phase with greater assurance and adaptability, enhancing the overall success of the design.

7. Long-game Commitment

Finding sustainable and enduring solutions for food, water, and power security within a landscape is a gradual process that requires a long-term commitment. Permaculture emphasizes the value of steady growth, particularly as the scale expands. It is crucial to recognize that achieving these goals cannot be accomplished overnight. By maintaining a long-term perspective, we can remain dedicated to driving and witnessing the results of our collective efforts. This sustained commitment ensures that the solutions we implement have a lasting impact and contribute to the overall resilience and well-being of the landscape.

8. Community

While natural processes form the foundation of permaculture, it is essential to recognize that this approach to farming is deeply rooted in community engagement. The people living on and caring for the landscape bear the responsibility for its safety and prosperity, and they are the ones who reap the earliest and greatest benefits. Strong community action is vital for driving meaningful change. Without active involvement and collaboration within the community, the transformative potential of permaculture cannot be fully realized. By fostering a sense of shared ownership and collective responsibility, the community becomes a driving force in nurturing and sustaining the landscape, leading to long-term success and collective prosperity.

We believe that if all our efforts are aligned, we can gradually shift towards the lifestyle we have envisioned for ourselves and the community. If you share our vision too, join us on our path as a Collective member, a team member or a partner. We look forward to growing the community stronger and lusher as we grow!